The Impossible Errand List

     It is the end of the school year, the end of the month and my husband has been traveling a lot. I could tell that a list in my mind was growing. I needed to return shoes that didn't fit to one store, a broken cable for a refund to another, a replacement zipper for mending, the copy store- you know those little errands. I felt the mounting pressure. I didn't see how I could get these all done. I thought that I just might have to take a day when my husband got back and drive around doing dumb errands. Or my worse thought was that some of them just might not get done. I hate that because then it is just like losing money. I could get $20 just for bringing the cable back to the Apple Store because we are part of their Apple Care program. I could get $25 for bringing my son's shoes to Target and returning them because they didn't fit. I bought them without him because they were on sale. I could tell that the person waiting for the new zipper was impatient because I found the sweatshirt in the garbage. I took this as a hint that I was taking too long. I am sure that you have had similar lists.
    I decided to write down everything that I needed to do in what I called in my mind "The Impossible Errand List". Well much to my surprise I started to see that the errands- because the list was so long-could be grouped. Some of my errands could be done at the same store and some the same area of town. Encouraged, I organize everything I needed to accomplish the list- the shoes, cable, sweatshirt, coupons, library books, tuba- Oh yes I told you this list was impossible! I made a plan working around two music lessons and a trip to the library and set off with four of my children. I wasn't sure how far we would get but I wanted to try. Miraculously we did it! The whole list! I calculated that we saved a least $150 by doing them. When we came home I made homemade frosties to celebrate. The kids looked a little wilted. It did take a little longer that I anticipated because they were having so much fun shoe shopping at Target's 70% off rack. Next time I will pack some drinks and snacks in the car to keep up our strength. This weekend my family can do something fun together instead of the "Impossible Errand List".


 

Budget Ballet Teacher

    I love our Ballet Studio. Our Ballet instructor keeps all of the fun in ballet and takes out the run away expenses. For example, each year for our recital the girls wear simple lovely tulle skirts over their regular black leotards. Each class has their own color. These skirts are reused every year. They receive a simple handmade hair piece that they get to keep. The girls feel fancy, grown up and elegant. They are comfortable dancing in their leotard that they have practiced in all year instead of some scratchy sequin monster that cost an outrageous amount.

Thrift Store Success

     I had a real Thrifty Store Success this weekend. For Mother's Day I wanted to play board games with my family. (If you couldn't tell on your own, I can be pretty geeky sometimes.)I wanted to play a specific game. It is a 1989 Geography game made by National Geographic called Global Pursuits. I bought it for $3 a couple of weeks ago at Goodwill. I didn't know anything about the game. I didn't know if it had all of the pieces. 1989 was a long time ago and it might be too dated. I thought that it might be a fun way for my kids to learn some geography. Anyway, my family played it with me and we had a wonderful time. My husband was the banker and read the trivia cards to us. Some of the questions were dated but since my husband and I remember 1989 quite well it was fun to discuss some of the changes the world has gone through with my kids.
     I am thinking that when the summer gets miserable, hot and sticky we might play a lot of board games together as tightwad entertainment. Amy Dacyczyn from The Complete Tightwad Gazette suggests jigsaw puzzles as a nice family activity. There are tons at the thrift store. Maybe for Memorial Day.....