I have always longed for a simpler lifestyle. I want to be home and homeschool my children, and I want to learn to live more off the land. Not completely, I don't want to suffer, but I do want to be more self-sufficient.
In the middle of this desire is Karl. Karl wants to make me happy, but I am not so sure this is his dream. Karl wants the kids to grow up, and to move around following the band phish all year. While an RV lifestyle could definately work for me for awhile, I can't imagine doing it all the time. Can't you just see us as sixty year olds, following osme band around all summer?
Anyway, I am torn. I guess I feel urgent now because of Liam. As soon as he was born, the clock started ticking down to his admission into the public school system. Don't get me wrong-schools do educate. I went to public school, and I am okay. I just want at least one of my children to escape the rat-race that is peer pressure. When a 10 year old is asking for a hundred dollar hair appliance, I think something is wrong. Now, my kids are smart. They don't usually ask for many brand names, except that Taryn has heart set on a pair of Uggs this year. And frankly, there isn't anything wrong with brand names. But, when a child's self-esteem is tied to the name on their sweatshop made tshirt, I have a problem.
I guess I want more for Liam. I don't think putting small children in a room with 20 other small children all day is good for them. I don't. This so called socialization is damaging. I want freedom for Liam. I just have to figure out how to get it and still make all the important people in my life happy.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Cheap Christmas Ideas!
I have been scanning for new cheap christmas gift ideas and here are some links:
Gifts under ten dollars
Cheap Christmas Gift Giving Ideas
Of course, the expense of Christmas doesn't end with the gifts. There is all that decorating and baking to do!
My advice on the baking, is to look for sales and stock up. The only time this is a problem for me, is when I try and stock up on chocolate chips. Then I just find myself making chocolate chip cookies several times a week. I can whip up a batch in a couple of minutes. In fact, it's the only real recipe I have memorized. But it's also the BEST. We love cookies.
One major expense is the tree. The most frugal idea is the artificial tree, but I just love a fresh tree. I can't smell them anymore. I don't know if it is my nose or if trees have been genetically engineered to smell less, but I still love the look and feel. I have yet to see an artificial tree than can stand up to a real tree.
Of course, here in Springfield, Mo, a seven foot tree runs between 50 and 60 at the lot I visit. It's worth it, though. Even going and getting a tree becomes a memory. Even more memories are created if a three has a crooked trunk which has to be compensated for when you try and stand it. I don't think I will ever forget the year when dear Karl had forks and a cup saucer, among other items, stuck in the tree stand, trying to get the thing to stand straight. It was a bad tree. I had bought it for half price. When he finally got it standing, we went out into the dark of the December's night, to admire it in the window. As we stood watching...it fell over. Priceless.
Another benefit of a real tree is that you can cut branches off to decorate the mantel or bookshelves.
A lot of cute decorations end up in thrift stores for a dollar or so. Check them out first!
Decorating is cheaper if you have a cool place to save candles from the previous year. When I was little, my mom would burn them on Christmas Eve night. Now that I am older, I have found that limited their burning time to "special" nights, means you can use them a few years in a row. Just dust them off when you pull them out and they are ready to go! Doing something infrequently makes it more special. I think we forget that our in our modern world. A candy bar once a week tastes a lot better than one once a day.Just remember to keep them (the candles, not candy bars, though if you are stocking up on candy bars, the same advice goes) somewhere cool, like a basement. You don't want them to melt. It might be wiser to keep them in their own small container, so you don't find melted wax hardened onto your precious ornaments.
Ornaments are a little more personal. Some people prefer the manicured look of matching balls perfectly set in the tree. I love a cozier, more homemade look. Paper snowflakes are my favorite! Just make sure you have a place to save your glass balls. Sure they are fairly cheap, but really, nothing "disappears", it just sits in a landfill. Take care rather than replacing. Of course, if you have cats, you might find a large amount of ball disappearing. Don't ask me!
I don't have time for crafts,but if you run a search (Cheap Christmas crafts) you are bound to find some goodies!
Gifts under ten dollars
Cheap Christmas Gift Giving Ideas
Of course, the expense of Christmas doesn't end with the gifts. There is all that decorating and baking to do!
My advice on the baking, is to look for sales and stock up. The only time this is a problem for me, is when I try and stock up on chocolate chips. Then I just find myself making chocolate chip cookies several times a week. I can whip up a batch in a couple of minutes. In fact, it's the only real recipe I have memorized. But it's also the BEST. We love cookies.
One major expense is the tree. The most frugal idea is the artificial tree, but I just love a fresh tree. I can't smell them anymore. I don't know if it is my nose or if trees have been genetically engineered to smell less, but I still love the look and feel. I have yet to see an artificial tree than can stand up to a real tree.
Of course, here in Springfield, Mo, a seven foot tree runs between 50 and 60 at the lot I visit. It's worth it, though. Even going and getting a tree becomes a memory. Even more memories are created if a three has a crooked trunk which has to be compensated for when you try and stand it. I don't think I will ever forget the year when dear Karl had forks and a cup saucer, among other items, stuck in the tree stand, trying to get the thing to stand straight. It was a bad tree. I had bought it for half price. When he finally got it standing, we went out into the dark of the December's night, to admire it in the window. As we stood watching...it fell over. Priceless.
Another benefit of a real tree is that you can cut branches off to decorate the mantel or bookshelves.
A lot of cute decorations end up in thrift stores for a dollar or so. Check them out first!
Decorating is cheaper if you have a cool place to save candles from the previous year. When I was little, my mom would burn them on Christmas Eve night. Now that I am older, I have found that limited their burning time to "special" nights, means you can use them a few years in a row. Just dust them off when you pull them out and they are ready to go! Doing something infrequently makes it more special. I think we forget that our in our modern world. A candy bar once a week tastes a lot better than one once a day.Just remember to keep them (the candles, not candy bars, though if you are stocking up on candy bars, the same advice goes) somewhere cool, like a basement. You don't want them to melt. It might be wiser to keep them in their own small container, so you don't find melted wax hardened onto your precious ornaments.
Ornaments are a little more personal. Some people prefer the manicured look of matching balls perfectly set in the tree. I love a cozier, more homemade look. Paper snowflakes are my favorite! Just make sure you have a place to save your glass balls. Sure they are fairly cheap, but really, nothing "disappears", it just sits in a landfill. Take care rather than replacing. Of course, if you have cats, you might find a large amount of ball disappearing. Don't ask me!
I don't have time for crafts,but if you run a search (Cheap Christmas crafts) you are bound to find some goodies!
Christmas!
Christmas time is always a major budget killer. I generally try to stick to $150 per kids, but that doesn't include stocking stuffers, which can really add up. This Christmas I have stuck to the 150, but I still need to buy for my mom and brothers (the ones who will be in town), sister-in-law, and niece and nephews. Frustrating, since my wallet is screaming in agony "Нет" (or nyet) each time I open it. I don't want to stoop to dollar store stuffers, because I can imagine how I would feel to wake up to a sock full of dollar store stuff. But the budget is really tight. I would like to stick in Barnes and noble cards or something, but for 3 kids, that adds up!
I guess I will just have to really curb the extra shopping. We spend 10 to 20 several mornings a week on our way to school/work. I think I will stock up on cheap candy to pass out as rewards at school. I am usually afraid I will eat it, but recently I have discovered a new willpower.
We'll see.
I guess I will just have to really curb the extra shopping. We spend 10 to 20 several mornings a week on our way to school/work. I think I will stock up on cheap candy to pass out as rewards at school. I am usually afraid I will eat it, but recently I have discovered a new willpower.
We'll see.
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