Finding Freedom

This new year has been a busy, yet productive one. I started working again this past fall, going to work three days a week. After the holiday break, I picked up another day of work...sort of. I only added enough work hours to cover the extra day of daycare for Lily. So, now, I spread my hours out over four days instead of three. What I am essentially doing is buying myself some guaranteed "me time". That's how I was able to catch the Hobbit matinee earlier this pay cycle.

So, aside from seeing a movie every now and then, what's a mama to do with all that free time without the kids? For starters, I have had two "gym dates" with Corey. I added myself to his Snap Fitness account for $20.00 a month (not out of my Fun Dollars, mind you). Now we can go to the gym together. I love having a "personal trainer" teach me about proper form with dumb bells and squats. We go in the mornings, twice a week after the kids go to school and before I go to work.



Of course, aside from working out and catching movies, there is my all-time favorite free-time activity, Bargain Hunting. I don't say shopping because that's not as fun for me. What I enjoy is pricing, looking, waiting, deciding, then pouncing on a great deal. It's not as easy to do with the kids in tow. If I take them with me, I get distracted, or frustrated, and I might make an impulse buy, or pass up a great deal. It's not entirely impossible to go shopping with one or both of the kids, but if I want to stay focused on what I'm doing and enjoy it, that means I need to be solo. I don't want to have to entertain them or keep their hands off the shelves as I'm shopping.

So on one of my workdays, I got off early enough to make a trip to the Village of Oak Creek Outlet Mall. It's a small outlet, but it has some really great gems in there. Allie Ollie is one place I love finding  threads. Famous Shoes gets my business on a regular basis. Tuesday Morning is an inexpensive place to get birthday presents for all the childrens' birthday parties we attend, and the Gap Outlet runs sales that are too good to miss for kids and adult clothes.

I realized after the holidays that the sweatpants that I took with me on our two-weeks trek to visit family were ones that I bought when I was pregnant with Lily. I had an XXL hoodie and size L sweatpants that I actually bought with my Fun Dollars back in late 2012. Since I no longer have a pregnant belly to cover up and a booty to match, it was time to retire these two items from my wardrobe. Since Gap still had their 70% off sale still running, what better time to replace these outdated clothes from my closet?

I found a pair of  light brown sweat pants (in a size that fits), a white Gap sweatshirt with silver glitter letters that I drooled over all season long, as well as a pair of silver flannel striped pajama pants. I was also sad to see a pair of pink flannel pajamas that I already owned finally bite the dust, thus they needed replacing. Sounds meticulous, but I have found that having an excess of clothes just makes more work. So I try to keep a balance, when an old thing goes out, a new thing can come in to replace it. I don't go out just buying stuff for fun, or just because it's "on sale". If I don't truly need something, then it doesn't matter how much the discount is, I am still spending money on something I don't really need, so I am actually loosing the money, not saving it. True savings only comes when you actually need something.

Building the skill of deciding what is needed and important has been a valuable one that I have strengthened over the past year. Ever since I started looking at my Fun Dollars expenditures, it has become easier and easier to say no to something that I truly don't need. By doing this, I have sustained my Fun Dollars and got some really good use out of them. They are always there for me because I handle them consciously. I splurge sometimes, it's true, but I never have regrets because I know what I want and how it fits with what I need. It's all about finding the balance, and therein lies the freedom of spending that comes with Fun Dollars.

Two pairs of "lounge" pants and a sweatshirt at GAP- $26.00
Balance this pay cycle- $0.00
Happy Spending!

Into the Woods to Battle Five Armies

Of course, right after I declare that I gave up bubbles for my New Year's Resolution, I find myself sipping on Sprite.

It's a lame excuse, but it was my "night out". I had scheduled a movie night with a friend of mine, which commenced shortly after Carrick's karate class let out. Corey was at home while I was at karate, and when I returned home, supper was not as ready as I had hoped. I knew that I wouldn't make it until the movie was over to eat something, so I the ticket and a medium bag of popcorn (with the last of my Christmas money) and took $2.00 out of Fun Dollars to cover the soda.  I even looked for a non-carbonated alternative like Powerade, but alas, all I saw were bubbles. Oh well, One drink of bubbles in a week's worth of not having bubbles seemed OK. Sometimes a "break" in a fast helps keep the fast going.



My karma for breaking my fast was dropping my soda on the floor, missing the cup holder I was aiming for 20 minutes Into the Woods. That will teach me, right?

Well, as fate would have it, I was given another chance to go to the movies earlier this week. On Monday, Corey and I hit the gym while the kids were at school. It was a nice "date", where he explained some of the gym equipment to e and we did a 20-minute cardio together. I only did the 20 minutes because it was my last chance to see the Hobbit. A perfectly-timed matinee at 11;45 guaranteed me some alone time before the kids were released from school.



I used my empty popcorn bag for a free refill, and once again, refilled my Loyalty Cup. (Did you know that if you don't get your free popcorn refill during the movie when you buy it, you can take it back the next time you see a movie and get the free refill then? Well, at least at the Sedona 6 Harkins Theater, that is the case.)

This time, to get into the movie, I used my free pass they gave me when I left early with Lily on opening day of the Hobbit. (Hey, I tried.) Between the pass and the free refill, I only spent $2.00 on the soda. This time I filled it with half Coca-cola and Dr. Pepper. This was my lunch, too, after my workout, no less. But after two and a half hours of Middle Earth, I was able to walk home in the sunshine, adding to my "workout".

Even though I have treated myself to soda twice since New Year's I have not purchased it at Circle K on an afternoon whim, nor have I bought hard cider or champagne. It's hard to stick to it, but having those two little encounters with bubbles at the movies, I do feel a renewed sense of dedication to my cause.

On another note, these two movie experiences highlight another intention I have set for myself in the New Year: Time to myself. As life with two children has slowly spiraled into chaos, I have determined the time has come for more time to myself. This time is just for me to recharge, thus helping me have more "mommy-power" to handle the chaos. I love my kids dearly, but as the are both still young, and have many needs that need to be met, I need to remember to restore myself every now and again so that I can meet their needs with love, and not frustration. So if that means giving myself bubbles once in a while, it seems like a small concession for a much bigger reward.

Two soda refills at the movies- $4.00
Balance this pay cycle- $26.00
Happy Spending!

A Year Without Bubbles

Now that I have a year's worth of observation related to my spending habits I can now make informed  buying decisions based on what I know. I feel empowered to take steps to better myself through my spending. I feel wiser about my relationship with money, and a lot less impulsive.

That said, I have come to a conclusion about a singular New Year's Resolution. I am going to give up beverages with bubbles/carbonation for an entire year.



?????? Why??????

After observing the way that I spend, I realized that certain cravings and urges would surface when I drank soda, beer, hard cider and champagne. If I bought a soda, I would often buy chips to go with it. If I had a glass of champagne, it would turn into three glasses without me even noticing. If I had a burger, I would want a beer. If I ate pizza there was usually a hard cider to go with it.  In each of these cases, my fizz-fix would lead to consuming more calories than I would otherwise.

I'm not a calorie counter, or a health nut, but I am one person inside one body. If this body doesn't function at its best, what am I left with? It's something I have heard my father say before, and while I agreed with it, I had never fully put it into practice. I think that by taking this small step, I can start a snowball effect to becoming a healthier version of myself.

The added benefit of eliminating bubbly beverages is that I won't be spending my Fun Dollars on them. Last year, I easily spent over $100.00 on bubblies. That is $100.00 I could put towards a plane ticket to visit my sister, or a day trip to Phoenix to go shopping. It's like a bonus pay cycle of Fun Dollars.

I also noticed that if I am not spending money on those drinkables, I am also not spending money on the "extras" I crave when I  consume them.  Think about how many Fun Dollars I spent on Domino's last year? It's probably in the $100.00 range as well. I'm not saying that I won't spend some money on pizza, or chips at Circle K, but if I am not drinking the beverages that put those cravings into my psyche, I am far less likely to actually act on the cravings and urges, thus saving even more of my Fun Dollars.

The truth of it all is, folks, that no matter what I am buying with my Fun Dollars, if it goes into my mouth, it comes out in the toilet. I want to reduce the amount of money I flush down the toilet this year. Taking out the bubble factor will be the easiest and the greatest impact on that decision.

What are you resolved to do in the new year? Does it involve money, or eating? Is it something that is sustainable, something you can actually stick to doing? How will it make you a better person, and what do you hope to achieve by doing it?  Food for thought....that you can't flush down the toilet.

Current balance this pay cycle- $30.00

Happy Spending!

Back and Ready for 2015!

WOW!!! I forgot how much money can slip through my fingers when I'm not paying attention to it. Corey and I set a Christmas budget that we followed strictly....until we landed in Macomb, IL for Christmas. From the Winter Solstice to Christmas Eve, he and I were both spending money on last-minute presents, tissue paper, and stocking-stuffers. (I don't want to brag, but because of his last-minute spending, I am now the happy and proud owner of a pair of diamond stud earrings from the Diamond Den in Macomb, IL. This is the first diamond anything I have ever received other than a wedding ring. Woo-hoo!)



Before we left for Illinois on a two-week vacation to visit every single family member we could squeeze in, we took out $400.00 cash. $200.00 of that was our Fun Dollar allotment for the trip. The other $100.00 that we each received was to just have "cash on hand". We used it to pay for dinner at Denny's in Tucumcari, New Mexico, picture frames for family members' Christmas presents with the kids' portraits in them, and mostly food-related things. I went to Walgreen's to print off the copies of the pictures for the kids, and ended up filling up the cart with other Christmas presents, and lots of chocolate for the stockings. I whipped out my $100.00 extra cash and paid for the $97.00 worth of merchandise I piled into my cart. I don't think I have ever before been so smitten with holiday spending!

I also made three different trips to the Dollar Tree in Macomb in search of stocking-stuffers to accompany the Lindt Chocolates from Walgreen's. It's amazing how I can preach all year about accountability with money, and in three days' time manage to blaze through almost $200.00. Christmas doesn't come from a store? Ha! It shouldn't, but it does...mostly...I can't argue with that one. As idealistic and frugal as I might like to think that I am, I will still spend money if the "why" is right.

So, after reflecting on the spending habits for the past year, and looking at my "generosity of spirit" this Christmas season, I decided that my first purchase for the new year should be a present for someone else. My Aunt Peggy's birthday is tomorrow and I want to get her something special. After seeing her as a part of our holiday visiting spree, I decided that a pair of L.L Bean Shearling Slippers would be the ideal gift to send her using my Fun Dollars. Corey bought me a pair last year, and I use them every evening from October to March. Every time she puts on these slippers, she will remember her niece who lives 2,000 miles away. And since I have never before sent her a birthday gift, I think that splurging a little is definitely OK. I will still have money left for the rest of the pay cycle (and some Christmas gift money left over too, yay!)


Happy New Years, Fun Dollars readers! I hope that your 2015 is prosperous and wonderful.

L.L. Bean Shearling Slippers for Aunt Peggy's Birthday- $70.00
Balance this pay cycle- $30.00
Happy Spending!

Kids and the Holidays

My last few Fun Dollars were spent enjoying the Christmas Season with my kids. I took them both to see the model rail road setup at the Basha's Plaza. Every year, the Sedona Model Railroaders set up their layouts for the community to enjoy for a few weeks leading up to Christmas. I have taken Carrick every year since he was two. This year, Lily is old enough to enjoy the trains too. I gave each of the kids a dollar to put in the donation jar.

I spent some time with Carrick the week before school let out for break, and we each spent a Fun Dollar. I picked him up after school and too him to the Chapel of the Holy Cross for a special time, just him and me. Last year, we both lost our grandmothers. I took him to the Chapel to light a candle for his grandmother and to say a prayer to her. I did the same. It was a reverent time for us to reflect on the wonderful women that we knew and lost. We we each put a dollar in the donation urn for the candles we lit.



And this Friday, we left on a road trip to visit family over the holidays. My last two Fun Dollars was spent at a gas station to buy some sweet treats for the car ride.

Happy Holidays, and don't forget to enter the Fun Dollars New Year's Giveaway!

Donation to the Sedona Model Railroaders- $2.00
Donation to the Chapel of the Holy Cross- $2.00
Treats on the road- $2.00
Balance this pay cycle- $0.00
Happy Spending!

Don't Forget to Enter!

The Fun Dollars New Year's Giveaway is only a few weeks away. There is still time to submit your entry. Check out the previous post of "Fun Dollars New Year's Giveaway" for all the details.

That said, I have been doing a lot of pondering about what I would write for this particular submission if I were entering to win the $100.00

Over the past year of recording and writing about what I spend my money on, I have found several areas of growth with relation to money. The first, and most obvious to me is accountability. Just by writing in this blog week after week, I am holding myself accountable to how much I spend and what I spend it on. Never before have I ever attempted this. Money has always been a taboo. People don't talk about money, they don't divulge how much they make, they don't announce where they spend every penny, they don't reveal sources of income sometimes...Money is a very touchy subject. But by opening up about my spending, I have found a great respect for money that I never had before.

The respect that I hold for our family budget has increased because of this accountability and awareness. Now that we have two kids, and not just a preschooler and an infant, every penny counts. Lily is in school, she eats real food, she gets her clothes dirty, all of that adds up. If I just go out spending as if our budget is just a magic fluff ball, then I am screwing up the income framework of three other human beings. It really matters that I adhere to our family budget. I am so grateful for the growth I have experienced as a result of paying attention to what and where I spend.

The other area of change where growth has happened is  with my attitude about others. I have spent more of my personal money on others this year than I have in previous years. We're not talking about tithing for church, that is a separate part of the family budget. No, what I am talking about is feeling the generosity of spirit to share my "extra" with others. Before this year, I would hold on to every penny and every dollar, and find a way to spend it on myself. But this year, I have given money to others, spent money on others, and "provided" for others more so than in the past. I use the word "provided" to cover several examples. I hosted a clothing swap and spent $80.00 on refreshments and drinks for others. I used my Fun Dollars on multiple occasions to buy gifts for others. I even took my family out to eat more often using Fun Dollars; which brings me to my last area of growth...

Food....

Before this year I had a dark and dangerous love affair with fast food. I would do anything to rub four quarters together and get a a dollar chicken sandwich. Since I have started paying attention to my spending, I have drastically reduced my fast food spending. Instead of it being a weekly thing, it is now a once every-other-month kind of thing (if that). I don't feel like I am sneaking around in the shadows, trying to get my next fix of french fries. Instead, I am spending more on better quality food. Taking my family to India Palace or Golden Dragon once a week feels so much better than the frequent trips I would make to Wendy's or Burger King. (Now, Domino's is still on my love list...some things don't change...at least not yet....maybe in another year.....)

I am so grateful to all of you who have shared this journey in spending with me. I look forward to the next year to see what Fun Dollars will bring my way. I am so excited to give $100.00 to a lucky reader in the New Year.

Given the Holiday schedule of our family, I will be posting what I spend from now until the New Year, but it will be bare bones. I get to take care of two little munchkins for two weeks, and I want to focus on them over the Holiday Break. Thank you for following me through the year on Fun Dollars. Lots of Love to you in 2015, and Happy Spending!

Christmas Giveaway Money- $10.00 (money in the pot- $70.00)
Cookies at Safeway- $2.00
Lunch at Golden Dragon- $11.00
Money paid to Carrick for helping out- $2.00
Earrings and leggings at Cato- $20.00
Sleep mask at Beall's Outlet- $6.00
Chips at Circle K- $1.00
Balance this pay cycle- $6.00

Happy Spending!

Firehouse and Flatiron

What do the words firehouse and flatiron have in common? They are both local eating establishments that I patronized for the first time this past Monday.

About a month ago, when I hosted a clothing swap at my house, my best friend and I made plans to take a Girls' Day Out and head up the hill to Jerome. Jerome is a historic town precariously perched on the side of Mingus Mountain. It's Arizona's Mile High City. Ravaged by fire twice in its history, this old copper mining community still holds an air of Old West about it. It's not a place that is especially child-friendly, so we don't take family trips there. But, since my friend and I both have one child in kindergarten, and one child that will ride in a stroller, we decided to make the trek up the hill with our youngest kids while the elders were in school.

My friend sent me a text message on the morning of the long-expected trip to see if I wanted to make a stop at Firehouse Doughnuts as part of our day out. Firehouse Doughnuts is a recently-opened bakery next to Schoolhouse Restaurant in Cottonwood, and owned by the same person. It was on the way to Jerome. We had heard rave reviews about this place and since we were out enjoying the day, we figured, why not? The parking lot was tiny, but the inside space was generous. There was even a space just for kids to play. They had painted some walls with chalkboard paint, and there was evidence of tiny artists all over. Lily enjoyed playing with another little girl there.







The doughnuts were divided into "regular" and gourmet. The regular doughnuts had choices like caramel long john, glazed, apple fritter and pink glaze with sprinkles. The gourmet side and choices like chocolate/chocolate/chocolate (chocolate cake with chocolate chips and chocolate icing), s'more and Oreo crumble. In between the two types of doughnuts were the gluten free chocolates and confections.

I opted to get the most for my Fun Dollars and bought 4 regular doughnuts. I knew Lily would want the pink with sprinkles, so put one of those in my box. I also chose an apple fritter, a chocolate creme and a chocolate glazed. I am almost ashamed to admit this, but, I sat there in the cafe, revelling in my day out, and I ate two of the four doughnuts. (I opened Pandora's box with this one. Ever since the NYBD doughnuts last month, I have had more doughnuts in 4 weeks than I have in 4 years!)

After sugaring myself up, and adding to my morning caffeine intake with a decaf (yes, there is still caffeine in it), we drove up the hill to Jerome. We made our first stop at Nellie Bly, the kaleidoscope shop. This shop is the largest brick and mortar store of kaleidoscopes in the world. I purchased some tear-drop prisms to make window light-catchers for some lovely ladies for their Christmas presents. (I also stopped by the Bead Garden in Sedona the next day to pick up some crystals to add to the window light-catchers.) 

After stopping into several shops with our strollers, and burning off the doughnut calories, we headed to the Flatiron. The new owner, Amy, bought the Flatiron almost two years ago, and is a friend of ours. We keep in touch mostly on facebook because she's a busy gal. When I first moved to Arizona, we all used to work at the same restaurant in Sedona. Since then she has bought a business, and my friend and I have had two kids each. Life changes us all, but it was so nice to reconnect with such a loving soul. She made the best pastrami sandwich ever. I was more than happy to give her a $20.00 for the sandwich, iced tea, and tip. She was so kind to Lily, as she banged on the table, rolled around on the floor, and asked for more raspberries. Tiny though it may be, the Flatiron has now earned a coveted place on "Rachael's List of Family-friendly Dining".

After another store or two after lunch, we packed up the strollers and merchandise, and purses, and babies, and diaper bags, and everything we stuffed into our strollers, and headed back down the hill. With the curvy road, our babies were soon lulled asleep in the back seat. What a wonderful day out with someone I enjoy spending time with, but don't get to see that often. Life with two children adds some element of craziness to both of our busy schedules, so making time just for us girls to hang out gave us both something we needed: sanity! 

Cheers to a Girl's Day Out!

Doughnuts at Firehouse Doughnuts- $5.00

Light-catchers at Nellie Bly- $12.00

Lunch at Flatiron- $20.00

Beads at Bead Garden to go with the light-catchers- $5.00

Balance this pay cycle- $58.00

Happy Spending!