1. Write the dreaded weekly check to daycare. They deserve every penny of that money for taking such good care of the kids, but it's still al ot of cash. I can't even bear to say how much.
2. Go grocery shopping for the first time all week, stock up because you have the car (usually on foot), and buy specialty stuff for two eating events over the weekend. Discover when you go to pay that you have forgotten the gift card you were saving to use for this major shopping event.
3. Pick up your new contact lenses, not just any lenses, but gas permeable lenses which cost $75/each.*
4. Hit Costco for some diapers. Discover when checking out that membership is up for renewal. Fork over $50 more than planned to cover another year's worth of buying in bulk.
5. Go to IKEA to buy the kids comforters and sheets for increasingly chilly fall nights. Discover upon arrival that you have forgotten to bring an item for return that would have given you enough store credit to pay for the bedding. Seeing as IKEA is 30 miles from home, nix any thoughts of going back for said item. Instead, adopt, "Fuck it" attitude and buy not only bedding, but a digital scale, a few storage bins, a clock, and some fun ceramic bowls to replace your cruddy plastic ones that have been around since the dawn of time. Oh, and lunch. Buy lunch, too.
At least I'm going to a free pizza party tonight. We're going to check out a co-op playspace. Forty-five dollars buys a season's membership into a church basement gymnasium playspace with a toddler climbing area, balls galore, riding/push toys, etc. I'd have to work three 45min. shifts at the space over the course of the season (open now through late spring), but a shift can take the form of running the dress-up clothes through my washing machine or handling various admin tasks. Seems like a good deal for the upcoming stir-crazy days of winter. The commercial drop-in playspaces around here run about $7/child/visit, so $45 is a serious bargain. Plus I'd rather support a local co-op than a commercial venture.
*Of course, you only have to replace them every few years, and you'll get reimbursed from your flex med spending account, but still.
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11 comments:
Ikea is deadly for me. Mainly, because when I get home and examine all of my wares, I realize that although they looked awesome in the store, they look out of place in my home.
I DON'T know how you do it with only your income!!! you go girl..
your doing an amazing job..
Ikea gets me every time.
The co-op play space sounds amazing! That should help get you through the winter.
that's awesome. I love shopping. I know it wasn't exactly fun shopping but shopping nonetheless. It sucks to pay for bills and such but I'm sure your kiddies love you for spending so much on someone that takes care of them so well. :) And they will love you more for keeping them warm at night in their new comforters. :)
The co-op play space sounds awesome--what an excellent idea!
You don't live in my mirror, do you? Cause I've certainly done the grocery store thing, the COSTCO thing, AND the IKEA thing.
I go to a standard grocery store for standard stuff, Trader Joe's for stuff I can't live without, Costco for diapers, another store that carries some high-fiber items that help me, well, you know...
Don't worry, you are not alone...but it seems we should really start a support group. We could meet at Ikea.
ITA with the above. Ikea likes my wallet. Waaaaay too much.
Arghhhhh....day care. The money we spend isn't nearly enough for the care the people provide for our kids. It's also almost what many people make in a month. Scary shit, sister.
Love that co-op situation. I'd wash the damn dress-up clothes AND dry them on low just to have access to such a place.
Have I told you lately that I admire your tenacity, survival instinct, and pure love for your children?
But seriously, what is life without visits to Ikea? We just put our down comforter on our bed today--complete with Ikea duvet cover, previously purchased for 29.99. Gotta love the place.
Co-op play space sounds great. I wish I'd had access to something like that when mine were younger.
Gas perm contacts. I've had mine for 8 years and the only reason I'm getting new ones is my prescription is changing (though this is only the first change in probably 15 years!)
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