Summer is Expensive!

This is the first year with kids that I've had transportation and all I can say is WooHoo and ouch. Yes, it's exciting, yes we're having fun traveling to parks outside our own neighborhood, going to Summer movies, eating out with friends, taking part in church activities and going to the library, but this mom's checking account has almost bottomed out! lol

I know that Summer doesn't have to cost a lot of money and truth be known I'm probably not spending wildly, but I am spending and since I'm not able to work from home to the degree that I might if my kids weren't in tow with me 24/7, even spending $10... 4 or 5 times a week along with the gasoline it takes to get to all the everyday places we want to visit is adding up. On the upside I'm helping the economy... right? lol

It seems that everything costs money. Even having friends over... as I like to have fun munchies for the kiddos and if we meet at the park, what good mom doesn't come with juice boxes in hand? Oh, then there's the library which is of course free, but we can't get their without passing the Diary Queen and while I do have a lot of willpower as we pass the queen of dairy, by the time we get within a couple miles of our home, I have been known to break down at McDonald's for a $1 ice cream cone. Usually around that time I also realize that I could go for a nice cold Diet Coke with crushed ice, which is always available at Quick Trip. Oh... and while we're there anyway I better get some gasoline.

Then there's the fact that my son was given about 10 pairs of nice shorts this Summer by his cousin who'd outgrown them, but my daughter was left without, so mommy had to go shopping. And what great timing too... I was honored to have received the 30% off coupon through Kohls and so of course we made not one trip, but two to get 4 pairs of shorts and 2 super-cute Summer tops to match. This was a need and not want and yes I got each piece for right around $4, marked down from $12, plus the 30% off. What a deal, right?

What's the answer Lord? I guess all is good. He's managed to insure that I've made just enough month after month to not see red in my checking account, but the nice little cushion I'd had the privilege of knowing for nearly 2 years has been bitten into enough times that it's now the size of one of those things a seamstress sticks her pins and needles into. lol

So, how's your Summer going?