So how has it been going for you?

My week has been very tough!! We ended up with my 3 yr old grandson for a week. So I had to buy pull ups and wipes. I also needed someone to watch him while I worked, so for the first 2 days I drove an hour away and picked up my oldest dd who did not have to work for a couple of days and she watched him. Then of course, I had to take her back home (Ick!! Gas money galore) Then on the last 3 days I arranged for him to go to daycare with my 4 yr old. $25 reg fee and $3 an hour . Of course he started throwing up the second day so dh stayed with him today. Don't know if I have to pay for that at daycare or not.

Also, on Saturday, dh sent the kids out to play in the melty snow. Well they were all wet of course, so he threw everything in the dryer. It was too full with 6 pairs of snow pants and coats, so the zippers melted on 2 of my boys' coats. So $48 later they both have new coats. Thank goodness they were on clearance.

Also, things have been so hectic this week that I ended up getting Subway for dh, dd and I one night and tonight we ordered pizza. Thankfully, we only had 6 of us home, so it wasn't too much.

I did turn down a couple of offers to eat out at lunch time at work though and did not go wild in the grocery store or Walmart.

Next week is a new week, hopefully it will be better

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~Happiness is a large family~

Yuck, sounds like a hard week!

Not too bad here, I haven't spent a penny (besides groceries) since this whole thing started! Of course I've only been out of the house 6 times since the 1st and 4 of those times were to take ds1 to and from school! Of course I'm planning a trip to Target tonight or tomorrow to pick up a gift for my niece's birthday so we'll see how I do!

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Stay at home mom to my 3 boys... ages 5, 3 & 1!

I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

It is going good. I did go to the store, but got only what was on the list. No oreos even though they were on sale. I did get a pop at work last night, but I used my gift card and get my employee discount as well.
Today we did not go anywhere. I wanted to just to get out of the house, but beings I did not need anything we stayed put. Boys cleaned their room, I finished packing up all the Christmas stuff.
Tomorrow, I have my Christmas partry for work, but I am not going. Kinda bummed since it is turning down a free meal at a great resturant, but oh well. Dh will be out of town so I do not want to go by myself and I do not have a babysitter anyways. Most likely we will just stay home. I have to work all day Sunday so I will not have time to go out and spend money. I do need gas so I will get that after work. I make that last me at least two weeks. I will pick up a newspaper or two for coupons on my way home as well.
This week was good as far as not spending money.

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Nothing is as important as passion. No matter what you want to do with your life, be passionate.
Jon Bon Jovi

It was so-so for me.

It started off really good this week- got a lot of house things done. Tuesday I went to ebay (trying to use up my ebay gift card!) and was looking at dolls for my youngest- she feel in love with Groovy girl dolls - anyways- their prices are a little high on shipping and recalled seeing a ton of them for cheap at Tuesday Morning before Christmas. So Thursday I ran a few errands- hit the dollar store (for tape and Valentine's stuff- only spent $4.24!), tried to go to Tuesday Morning- they were closed though, and hit Target (only spent $2.50 for a dumptruck for my nephews b-day coming up!) and TJ Maxx (spent $4.99 on a Groovy Girl doll ). Then today broke my "somewhat" good week! I took my youngest to get her haircut- there was too many people so we stopped at Tuesday Morning- she spent her Christmas money on Groovy Girl stuff and I spent money on Groovy Girl stuff (can't beat $2.99 for a cabana, $1.99 for outfits, $9.99 for a bride and groom set)- so needless to say- I spent more than what I was planning- BUT compared to the regular price and what the going rates on ebay are- I made out like a bandit! Oh- on the good note when we went to the grocery store I did stick to my budget and did not spend more than I alloted for it- I actually came in under $20!

Lets see this week I didn't spend anything until today. That is quite a victory for me. I even took my Mom to town once this week and I turned down things at the store and only spent gas to get her there.

Today however, I went to Walgreens and spent $65 on pictures. They were 10 cents each so I think it was a good deal normally I spend 19 sometimes 15 each. I then went to Wal-Mart and spent $46.72 for groceries and other things we needed and I stuck to my list!! After that I went to Sam's to get somethings I needed there and I spent 44.43 plus 3.72 for "lunch" for me and my ds, he was complaining that he just couldn't wait. . On my way home I thought I would check out the toy clearance at Target and you know all 5 of the isles that they had when it was 30% off were gone. Yea I really don't need anything now and if I store it I might forget it. If you read my other posts you will see why I say that. I did however find slippers on clearance and I got all three of my kids a pair and some conditioner and I spent 11.00. My ds NEEDED his slippers now the girls can wait until next year so there's are a little big.

I think most of the week was great. I probably could have waited on the pictures but I LOVE to scrap so I would have done it anyway and at a higher price. The slippers could have waited too for everyone but my ds and lunch well it wasn't bad and who can say no to a hungry 4yr old?

Happymom don't worry sometimes thing just happen and you just have to do things you don't normally do. Things will be better next week.

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I did really good this week. The only money we spent was on gas and orange juice. Tomorrow I have to get milk, eggs, some pedialite and a prescription and probably gas for the car. It is going great! So far I have spent $400 less than the first two weeks of the last two months.

Pretty good! My husband and I are amazed at how much extra cash we have lying around! I will admit that it is really hard because there are so many awesome clearances around! Next year we are going to put money aside so that we can "crazy shop" after Christmas instead of before! I guess last year I was so focused on the fact that I had a baby coming that I did not realize how awesome shopping can be in Jan.

I did spend money on ice cream! It have been warm here and I was craving it!

Other than that, things are great!

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Bekah
Co-founder and CEO of the NOVITZKE FAMILY INC.

Wow -Am I reading this right?? You Got 650 pictures??

I haven't done as well this week as I would have liked but at least most of it wasn't wasteful spending. Like I said in another post dh got himself two pairs of track pants and a pair of sneakers for the gym and I got ds a pair of jean and a top. These were things that were needed but probably could have made due for a few more weeks, maybe? I failed last night though and bought pizza for supper and a book! I had a dr's appointment in the morning and then we book shopping (I'm having surgery next week and wanted a book to ready while in hospital...I know I could have went to the library, but I wanted something Christian that I thought wouldn't be in my little library), and then to a friend's for lunch (where she proceded to loan me two Christian books to read ). I knew ds was having a friend home after school and I just didn't feel like trying to come up with something that everyone would like so I caved and got pizza ! Oh well, I'm sure it could have been much worst! Oh ya...I forgot the two coffees out that dh and I got !