Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2014 0:27:38 GMT -5
I'm not really sure you want to... But that's your choice, not mine.
I somehow get the feeling you really don't want to change your spending habits ........ you WANT it all. It sounds like you are doing all of this for you ...... not her. The security and well-being of the family unit is more important than the wants of a child, especially one that is too young to remember any of this.
Your DD needs/wants her parents ..... not more stuff. We didn't take our kid/g-kids to Disney until they were 7. Old enough for all of us to enjoy seeing everything through the eyes of a child. I've seen too many little ones miserable because they need a nap but the parents kept them going.
But it's your choice, not mine. I do want to make some changes, there is no doubt about that. But I probably won't go to t he other extreme of being a penny pincher who never spends anything on wants. You only live once. I know on my death bed I won't ever wish I had worked more, but I will probably wish I had seen/done more interesting stuff, which requires money. Just keep in mind that fun doesn't have to involve lots of money. I just spent 4 hours playing Farkle with the neighbors and it was a great way to unwind from a rather sucky day at work. Experiences can be had without spending a fortune too and really 3X to Disney in a year...I think you have that one covered and can move on to something else. We did a 10 day trip out west, Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Black Hills and Mt Rushmore for less than $1000 (we camped). Last year my Mom and I took the kids on a 4 day whirlwind trip that stopped in Chicago, toured Mammoth Caves in Kentucky, and went up the arch in St. Louis. We had a timeshare for one night and hotel for two, but other than that most of the cost was gas. We packed 90% of our food and skipped all the crappy souvenirs. Tons of experiences on that trip and cheap.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Dec 27, 2014 0:35:50 GMT -5
Yes having a fun and interesting life doesn't equal spending money.
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moneymaven
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Post by moneymaven on Dec 27, 2014 1:30:50 GMT -5
I just set one up with Vanguard. Took me less than 10 min. Another 5 to link a bank account. I will look into them, thanks. How much money do you have to have to open. An IRA? Is there a minimum? I believe $1,000.
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quince
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Post by quince on Dec 27, 2014 1:39:41 GMT -5
My son is 2 and has had 3 sets of footwear: one is because we a cheap set of slippers before picking up a pair of crocs: might as well not have gotten that first pair. I'm from Hawaii and believe that footwear is for formal occasions and foot protection from cold, hot pavement, or sharp things. Not worn indoors, or even outside unless it is muddy. I need to knit myself some tabi socks so that I can wear them with slippers and manage to only actually put on shoes when I go to work out, now that I live somewhere without snow.
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wonderland
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Post by wonderland on Dec 27, 2014 6:45:03 GMT -5
My son is 2 and has had 3 sets of footwear: one is because we a cheap set of slippers before picking up a pair of crocs: might as well not have gotten that first pair. I'm from Hawaii and believe that footwear is for formal occasions and foot protection from cold, hot pavement, or sharp things. Not worn indoors, or even outside unless it is muddy. I need to knit myself some tabi socks so that I can wear them with slippers and manage to only actually put on shoes when I go to work out, now that I live somewhere without snow. 1) Until the past 6 months, she has grown like a weed. She is almost 2 and a half, she wears a 4T clothing size, and she has almost outgrown her size 7 shoes. 2) we live in central Kentucky, where we see a wide range of weather. I can ' t let me daughter go without proper footwear. 3) she loves shoes. Loves them. Get excited about shoes of all kinds. She also loves jewelry and bows and purses and pretty clothes. She is a true girly-girl. Is some of it learned behavior? Probably. 4) Different colors of clothes require different colors of shoes. Some things match brown, some things match black, some things match pinks, etc.
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wonderland
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Post by wonderland on Dec 27, 2014 6:46:43 GMT -5
I do want to make some changes, there is no doubt about that. But I probably won't go to t he other extreme of being a penny pincher who never spends anything on wants. You only live once. I know on my death bed I won't ever wish I had worked more, but I will probably wish I had seen/done more interesting stuff, which requires money. Just keep in mind that fun doesn't have to involve lots of money. I just spent 4 hours playing Farkle with the neighbors and it was a great way to unwind from a rather sucky day at work. Experiences can be had without spending a fortune too and really 3X to Disney in a year...I think you have that one covered and can move on to something else. We did a 10 day trip out west, Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Black Hills and Mt Rushmore for less than $1000 (we camped). Last year my Mom and I took the kids on a 4 day whirlwind trip that stopped in Chicago, toured Mammoth Caves in Kentucky, and went up the arch in St. Louis. We had a timeshare for one night and hotel for two, but other than that most of the cost was gas. We packed 90% of our food and skipped all the crappy souvenirs. Tons of experiences on that trip and cheap. I think gas/food for a trip out west would be over $1000 for us. We are planning a cross country out west trip in a few years, but I don't think we could do it for $1000. We do lots of day trips. While we haven't been to mammoth, we do take advantage of all there is to see/do in our area. We have done chicago before for $1000 but it was just a 3 day trip. I want to really do chicago, spend at last 4 days and tour the museums, visit the zoos, and yes, shop til I drop at stores we can't visit here. Taking DD to the Lego playplace and the American girl store would be amazing. I also really enjoy eating at independent restaurants in the cities we visit, to eat food we can't get at home. I thrive on new experiences.
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wonderland
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Post by wonderland on Dec 27, 2014 6:54:19 GMT -5
I know this isn't popular... But we DO parent our kids with keeping in mind the lifestyle they are going to be able to afford when they get their first job out of college (or whatever type of education they get.) So, yes, my kids are "deprived." They don't go out to eat more than once a month. We don't have cable. They got 4 gifts from us parents (including the Santa gift) for Christmas. We buy cars in cash and are open about why have the debt we have. Until my kids got to be 5, MOST of their clothes fit in two dresser drawers. DS got a dumb flip phone that's prepaid (as do DH and I.) Actually, on Christmas, I reminded #1, again, that what he sees at his school is NOT normal, in terms of spending patterns. (Most SAHMs don't have nannies, Most kids don't get $400 Easter Baskets, Most parents don't have a second home in Mexico.) If you continue to raise your kid to think that several vacations a year, lots of shoes and clothes, etc is "normal" then you also need to groom her to 1) make sure she marries someone that can earn a big salary and 2) tell her that she needs to find a major/profession that pays 6 figures. Heaven help your kid if she thinks her lifestyle is normal and either wants to be a SAHM or a social worker as an adult, still expecting to have everything. So I shouldn't give my daughter anything she won't be able to afford as a minimum wage worker? That's kind of silly. She sees that her dad and I work hard for the things we have/do. I'd like to show her that having a good work ethic is rewarding and important. If she sees us go to work, and still come home and deny her any luxuries in life, that will make her think there is no point in going to work and doing your best.
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wonderland
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Post by wonderland on Dec 27, 2014 6:58:13 GMT -5
That would be less than 3 pair of shoes a year. At the rate toddlers feet grow wouldn't you have to change their shoes at least 3 times a year to have them in shoes that fit properly but aren't too tight? Depends on the kid. Actually, last year DD2 got two pairs: we put socks under her sandals to keep her toes warm. She wears her sister's boots. She's not outside for even an hour at a time in the winter. None of my kids were. In fact, she wears DS's snow pants. At two he HATED going out in the snow. The kids also take their shoes off when they get home. The littlest only really wears shoes at preschool and in the car driving to activities. We do go to the park and what not, but not again, for a long time. Her feet are the *last* thing to grow on her. She's also a small kid. She was wearing some 24 month clothes comfortably until just recently (she's 2.5) DS is now entering the stage where he grows through shoes every 4 months or so. We still rotate shoes..he keeps his school gym shoes and or shoes that are OK but going to be grown out of any second now as outside "play" shoes. It makes his newer shoes last longer. My kids also have play clothes and normal clothes. No need to have DS roll in the mud in his school clothes. He can do that in his crap clothes. Same thing with DD2 and preschool. I don't want to spend a lot of money on clothing, because I want to be OK if it got ruined. And in my experience (for what it is), my kids did not discriminate..the expensive clothes/brand new got stained from whatever just as easily as the second hand ones. You're right, it very much depends on the kid. We spend a lot of time outdoors, proper footwear is essential. No way could I get away with socks under sandals in 20 degree weather. Especially since I can afford to buy her warm shoes. Until recently, my child, who is also 2 years 5 months, was growing so quickly that she seemed to need a new clothing and shoe size every few months. She wears a 4T now. So yes, every child is different. As far as stains, since she is an only, I am able to tackle stains pretty well. And I am careful about what she eats/plays with in the more expensive items.
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wonderland
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Post by wonderland on Dec 27, 2014 7:02:59 GMT -5
Yes. Consider the choice, would you rather direct your $7500/yr to building a $1.6M fund? Or direct it to $15k or $20k of rolling debt? The sooner you get a lump sum of money growing at 11%/yr and compounding the sooner you'll get to $1.6M. Most people never start cuz the goal seems so insurmountable - so instead they dribble money away on "now" stuff. But consider compound interest - the first $7500 that you put away will be $172,000 of your $1.6M in 30 yrs - ie, that's an important one it has 30 yrs to grow. And getting that $172,000 on the way is way more important to your future than using it to kill a $7500 debt.Always direct your income to it's highest and best use. And it's important to place the IRA/401k money in 11%/yr investments, avoid 1% savings accounts and CDs. BTW, DW & I, before we retired in 1998, probably didn't earn the $120k that you guys do - if we did it was for only a few yrs. So I know that you can do $1.6M, not just giving you theory. 13 shoes? - lol - During the War, when the US was under govt rationing, Mom cut cardboard insoles for our shoes to cover the holes in the bottom - didn't work too well, especially in the rain - and snow. She went to the feed store and picked out the prints in the cloth on the feed bags, the cloth was for our shirts - I didn't have 13 shirts either, lol.. And one winter she made a red coat, it was mine for one winter until I grew out of it and passed it down. Your mom did what she had to do in order to survive and take care of you during a time of very limited resources. I admire that. But I am not living in a time of rations, and I think it would be horribly selfish of me to put my daughter in cardboard shoes and feed sack dresses. I do make some of her clothes, but I spend a small fortune on fabric, patterns, and notions! Thank you so much for the savings/investing advice. I am really excited to open an account now.
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wonderland
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Post by wonderland on Dec 27, 2014 7:06:57 GMT -5
That would be less than 3 pair of shoes a year. At the rate toddlers feet grow wouldn't you have to change their shoes at least 3 times a year to have them in shoes that fit properly but aren't too tight? Their growing slows way down. He MAY have been in 3 sizes that first year that he walked, but I think it was more like 2. After that, it has been about 1 size a year. (We didn't put him in shoes before he walked.) Boots and sandals are 2 sizes. He owned 7/8, and then 9/10 in boots. He should have new boots tomorrow, and he's just about ready for the next size up for regular shoes. That will probably get him over the lifetime 13 pairs. This astonished me. I'm pretty sure that up until August we needed a new size of shoes roughly every 3 months. She started wearing a 7 in august, and they are getting snug, she will be in an 8 soon, so we got 4 months out of this shoe size.
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wonderland
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Post by wonderland on Dec 27, 2014 7:09:57 GMT -5
I do sell her old shoes and clothes to a resale store for cash, and I have bought some stuff occasionally at the resale shop. I give some of it to a friend who has 2 girls smaller than DD as well. She is on welfare and can use all the help she can get. I am planning on a trip to resale store on Monday, to clear out some old clothes and shoes and toys. One trip I walked away with over $200 in cash for selling her old stuff.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Dec 27, 2014 7:31:04 GMT -5
There is a lot of good advice here so hopefully you have found some u can apply.
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Dec 27, 2014 7:43:24 GMT -5
So I shouldn't give my daughter anything she won't be able to afford as a minimum wage worker? That's kind of silly. She sees that her dad and I work hard for the things we have/do. I'd like to show her that having a good work ethic is rewarding and important. If she sees us go to work, and still come home and deny her any luxuries in life, that will make her think there is no point in going to work and doing your best. Really? What about person integrity? Or does character not count for anything? And, what about my kids, they know their best is expected, even though they don't to disney 3K a year? What if your daughter wants to work for the public sector? I work hard, get better at my job, advance my skill set. I don't get raises. I get pats on the back, because you know, I've had furloughs and/or no raises for 6 of the past 8 years. Or, are you telling me I should do a crap job because I don't get financially rewarded? What if your DD wants to be a SAHM? Do you expect her husband to pay her for that? Would you want her to have a good work ethic while taking care of your grandkids? Or would you encourage her to do a crap job because she isn't getting paid? I'm suggesting that you consider taking a millionaire-next-door approach, which is what we are doing. And I'm not suggesting denying all luxuries. My kids are going to graduate from college likely debt free. We vacation. They go to private school. We travel. We make quite a bit less than you, and are not in a LCOLA. I also should be able to retire early, knock on wood. This is what's important to us. It's not everything, it's really three things: education, travel, and early retirement. My 10 year finally figured out Santa was bummed Santa wasn't real for like a week. There's no way in hell I'm setting him up disappointment in his early 20s, because he's going to be able to afford jack shit out of college. I don't plan on supporting them in their early 20s. I WANT my kids to forgo a few things so they saves, first. Not last. I want my kids to grow into adults that understand the value of delayed gratification. I think it's hard to teach your kids about delayed gratification if they never get any. My kids also will have money when they are 18. If we teach them it's OK to spend ALL it now either two things are going happen 1) there will be nothing left when they are 18 or they WILL spend down all that money to keep up with their lifestyle/spending habits. I want my kids to understand that sometimes you work hard, and you have to make "not fun." decisions. I'd much rather take my kids to Europe over dropping 8K on DS's braces. I've been planning to take them to Europe for 6 years...now. And part of it is selfish, because there's places I've never been yet. But, know what, having my son avoid bad mouth problems when he's 40 IS more important than taking him to Europe when he's 13. And, like others, I'm done now. Good luck in your choices. I'm not sure why you are posting here, though.
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wonderland
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Post by wonderland on Dec 27, 2014 7:56:50 GMT -5
Gira- I don't think completely denying yourself in life is the only way to have personal integrity. Just because she sees rewards doesn't mean she won't have to earn them. At age 2, that means helping me pick up her messes, and eating her vegetables, and being a good sharer. As she gets older, it will mean good grades and more chores and having a good attitude. In college, it will mean studying and earning good grades, avoiding breaking the law, volunteering her time as she can. When she is grown and married it will be on her. While she's still growing, I don't expect her to have to provide for herself, including the college years. That's a parenting decision DH and I have made from our own experiences.
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wonderland
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Post by wonderland on Dec 27, 2014 8:00:49 GMT -5
There is a lot of good advice here so hopefully you have found some u can apply. You are right, there has been a lot of great advice. And even the advice I am not implementing has been helpful. It has given me some different perspectives, which is great.
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973beachbum
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Post by 973beachbum on Dec 27, 2014 9:02:54 GMT -5
Gira- I don't think completely denying yourself in life is the only way to have personal integrity. Just because she sees rewards doesn't mean she won't have to earn them. At age 2, that means helping me pick up her messes, and eating her vegetables, and being a good sharer. As she gets older, it will mean good grades and more chores and having a good attitude. In college, it will mean studying and earning good grades, avoiding breaking the law, volunteering her time as she can. When she is grown and married it will be on her. While she's still growing, I don't expect her to have to provide for herself, including the college years. That's a parenting decision DH and I have made from our own experiences. Just for the record no one, including gira said you need to completely deny your family any luxeries. There is a vast middle ground in between total deprivation and total living for the moment which is what it seems you are doing right now with things like clothes for your toddler and vacations. She loves shoes so get her a few and letting her have fun doesn't have to be buying her every color in the rainbow and every different type. It doesn't have to be only one pair of sneakers either. At some point you are going to have to make a decision between your wants. And having literally every possible pair of shoes that can go with every color and situation just isn't reasonable for anyone for a toddler it is way beyond. So find some good middle ground. Maybe one or two pairs of sneakers, a pair of pink work boots and a couple of pairs of shoes. Add in a pair of snow boots and that gets you to 6. Not the thing to get you to disney but IMO it is a obvious picture of overspending to make someone happy. Kids don't need tons of stuff to make them happy but as a parent it does seem like it does sometimes. I know that from experience!
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Dec 27, 2014 9:20:53 GMT -5
Gira- I don't think completely denying yourself in life is the only way to have personal integrity. Just because she sees rewards doesn't mean she won't have to earn them. At age 2, that means helping me pick up her messes, and eating her vegetables, and being a good sharer. And here's where we differ. My kids don't get rewarded for picking up after themselves, eating veggies, and sharing. We expect this behavior, without being rewarded, really, other than a thank you. DH has never gotten rewarded for things he's supposed to do. In our family, it's a decade of diaper changing, doing most of the laundry, and going grocery shopping and the cooking. We all expect this behavior from my husband per how we've set up our house. My DS went above to help get ready for holidays. He deep cleaned two bathrooms, and touched up one twice. For that, he got $5, hugs, and a thank-you.. Not a trip to Disney or a crapton of toys. Man, I was so MEAN I made him wait like 2 months to replace an iproduct that broke, though it wasn't his fault.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2014 9:27:39 GMT -5
For all your income, you still have a mentality of poverty. The problem with that is, should anything happen to the income, you can easily find yourself in poverty again.
Seriously, I don't care how people choose to spend their money. Spend every penny. Go to Disney 3 times a year... Just be honest that your main goal in life is not to deny yourself or your daughter anything for as long as the money comes in. Don't suggest that your goal is a secure future in which your daughter never knows what it's like to be poor.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Dec 27, 2014 9:35:28 GMT -5
DS1 is almost 5. I don't think he's owned 13 pairs of shoes combined, from his first baby shoes to the boots he wears now. I admit, I'd be tempted to shop like crazy for a girl. There just isn't much to buy for boy clothes that's cute. I do get disgusted when he grows out of stuff he's barely worn. If I were you, I would have a goal of at least requiring a lot of use out of any article of clothing. I bet there's tons of barely worn, gorgeous used girls clothes to be found. (Tends to be slim pickings for boys.) If you must indulge, go that route. She does wear most of her shoes on a weekly basis. I admit the snow boots and some of the dress shoes don't get worn regularly, but she does rotate through the various casual boots and sneakers. The snow boots were necessary to keep her little feet warm while playing in the snow. The kid needs snow boots. She isn't out in the rain long enough to need rain boots. One pair of sneakers. One pair on sandals for summer. Dress shoes as needed. I have 7 and 8 year olds. They rarely need dress shoes. 2 or 3 pair of shoes is sufficient.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Dec 27, 2014 9:38:53 GMT -5
My son is 2 and ihas had 3 sets of footwear: one is because we a cheap set of slippers before picking up a pair of crocs: might as well not have gotten that first pair. I'm from Hawaii and believe that footwear is for formal occasions and foot protection from cold, hot pavement, or sharp things. Not worn indoors, or even outside unless it is muddy. I need to knit myself some tabi socks so that I can wear them with slippers and manage to only actually put on shoes when I go to work out, now that I live somewhere without snow. 1) Until the past 6 months, she has grown like a weed. She is almost 2 and a half, she wears a 4T clothing size, and she has almost outgrown her size 7 shoes. 2) we live in central Kentucky, where we see a wide range of weather. I can ' t let me daughter go without proper footwear. 3) she loves shoes. Loves them. Get excited about shoes of all kinds. She also loves jewelry and bows and purses and pretty clothes. She is a true girly-girl. Is some of it learned behavior? Probably. 4) Different colors of clothes require different colors of shoes. Some things match brown, some things match black, some things match pinks, etc. Sounds like my 7 year old. She hears "no" on a regular basis. My job as a parent is not to indulge her every whim.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Dec 27, 2014 9:39:41 GMT -5
It does seem like you are asking for change but then defending all of your current practices. Nobody has suggested having your child run around in "cardboard shoes" and a potato sack and you making things out of dryer lint. As many of us are saying, Money is more about the mindset than actual dollars and cents. And, what is "reasonable" for a vacation is completely RELATIVE to your goals and income. You have the means to very quickly get out of debt, save and invest, and live a very nice, comfortable and fun lifestyle. But, you have to be able to have that vision in that regard to do so. If you wish to maintain the status quo, that is entirely up to you as well. You will probably be able to continue spending as you are and manage to get by. However, there might be a point where you wish to have another child. And, maybe you will wish you would have managed your life a bit better so you can cut back some at work if that happens. I don't know. That is up to you to really make that assessment.
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zibazinski
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Post by zibazinski on Dec 27, 2014 9:45:52 GMT -5
Raising a princess is not good for her. I realize you want for her what you never had but she doesn't need "things" she needs security. They aren't the same thing.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2014 9:49:46 GMT -5
Gira- I don't think completely denying yourself in life is the only way to have personal integrity. Just because she sees rewards doesn't mean she won't have to earn them. At age 2, that means helping me pick up her messes, and eating her vegetables, and being a good sharer. As she gets older, it will mean good grades and more chores and having a good attitude. In college, it will mean studying and earning good grades, avoiding breaking the law, volunteering her time as she can. When she is grown and married it will be on her. While she's still growing, I don't expect her to have to provide for herself, including the college years. That's a parenting decision DH and I have made from our own experiences. I don't think anyone here completely denies themselves and nobody is saying you should either. They're just saying you should live within your means. Spending everything (and more) that comes in is not living within your means. Get an emergency fund, set aside a reasonable amount for retirement, college if you're going to cover that, "unexpected" expenses, like home maintenance, car repairs etc, and then go wild with what's left. I make much, much less than you, (with daycare expenses) and still travel, (besides places in the lower 48, we go to Hawaii ever 2-3 years) I live in the country and have horses and other critters, my kids have i products and are in activities....while setting aside plenty for retirement and my kids have almost triple in college savings as you have for retirement.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2014 9:52:57 GMT -5
My son is 2 and has had 3 sets of footwear: one is because we a cheap set of slippers before picking up a pair of crocs: might as well not have gotten that first pair. I'm from Hawaii and believe that footwear is for formal occasions and foot protection from cold, hot pavement, or sharp things. Not worn indoors, or even outside unless it is muddy. I need to knit myself some tabi socks so that I can wear them with slippers and manage to only actually put on shoes when I go to work out, now that I live somewhere without snow. 1) Until the past 6 months, she has grown like a weed. She is almost 2 and a half, she wears a 4T clothing size, and she has almost outgrown her size 7 shoes. 2) we live in central Kentucky, where we see a wide range of weather. I can ' t let me daughter go without proper footwear. 3) she loves shoes. Loves them. Get excited about shoes of all kinds. She also loves jewelry and bows and purses and pretty clothes. She is a true girly-girl. Is some of it learned behavior? Probably. 4) Different colors of clothes require different colors of shoes. Some things match brown, some things match black, some things match pinks, etc. No, they don't. At that age, my daughter wore Stride-rite Mary Janes. I think they were black. They went with everything. I guess if you have snow, you probably need a pair of boots. But that's all.
If everything has to "match" to the extent that you describe, you choose clothes that don't clash with black.
The "loves jewelry and bows and purses and pretty clothes" sounds like you need a dress-up box.
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phil5185
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Post by phil5185 on Dec 27, 2014 9:53:05 GMT -5
Integrity, honesty, character, are not related to wealth/luxury.
LOL - yeah, my point wasn't to suggest that you make feed-sack dresses. OTOH, don't let your rationalizing replace 'intellectual honesty' (the "horribly selfish" part doesn't wash.)
As you grow older, your fixation with accumulating material things wanes - and your interests shift toward experiences. That will help your finances - eg, going ice skating or bike riding with old friends is way cheaper than 'shop til you drop' trips in Big Cities. (it might even reverse, there may come a time when we couldn't pay you to shop in Chicago).
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Dec 27, 2014 9:55:27 GMT -5
Expenses: Mortgage $1100 Rav 4 payment @ 0% interest $400 Electric $150 during the winter Water $35 Trash $20 Tmobile $120 Internet $50 Hulu $8.99 Netflix $7.99 Rhapsody$ 15 Groceries $800 Gas $250 Parking $ 100 Student loans $350 Car insurance $50 Life insurance $35 Gym $20 Gymboree $60 I try to pay $600/month towards debt repayment but I am spinning my wheels on that. Every else... I have no idea where that money goes. There are a lot of expenses not covered here. Your vacations, the money you are spending on clothes and shoes. Eating out. Car repairs. Doctors and medications, tuition and books. Birthday parties, Christmas gifts and presents, home decorations, makeup and toiletries, etc. It doesn't take long for one's entire salary to disappear.
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Deleted
Joined: Oct 6, 2024 15:34:51 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2014 9:57:16 GMT -5
I think gas/food for a trip out west would be over $1000 for us. We are planning a cross country out west trip in a few years, but I don't think we could do it for $1000. Gas was $2.50/gallon then. We put on 3000 miles in our car which got around 35-40mpg (Tercel), so only about $200-$250 for gas. Food wasn't much more than we'd normally spend on food as we packed a ton and stopped at grocery stores instead of restaurants. We were gone 10 nights and a lot of them were tenting in State Forests (free). A couple nights in the hotel, but I think we used airline points for those...
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Lizard Queen
Senior Associate
103/2024
Joined: Jan 17, 2011 22:19:13 GMT -5
Posts: 14,659
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Post by Lizard Queen on Dec 27, 2014 10:34:12 GMT -5
Their growing slows way down. He MAY have been in 3 sizes that first year that he walked, but I think it was more like 2. After that, it has been about 1 size a year. (We didn't put him in shoes before he walked.) Boots and sandals are 2 sizes. He owned 7/8, and then 9/10 in boots. He should have new boots tomorrow, and he's just about ready for the next size up for regular shoes. That will probably get him over the lifetime 13 pairs. This astonished me. I'm pretty sure that up until August we needed a new size of shoes roughly every 3 months. She started wearing a 7 in august, and they are getting snug, she will be in an 8 soon, so we got 4 months out of this shoe size. Both of my boys are tall and have big feet. DS1 got a couple pairs of shoes as an infant that he was never able to wear, since his feet were so big. DS2 is a few months younger than your daughter. He's been in an 8 since he turned 2. This is the age where my DS1 slowed down a lot with the growth. I think there's a bigger step between the subsequent shoe sizes as well. I expected to replace DS1's size 10's months ago, but they still fit. It helps that they are tennis shoes, or sneakers as you call them. They have more give. I don't bother with dress shoes for them at all any more. As for myself, you could call me Imelda Marcos. I get the draw of cute shoes, I really do. I also hate waste, but I don't grow out of my shoes like little kids do. Buying dress shoes for my boys is a waste because they might wear them once or twice. Unless they're in a wedding, it's just not happening.
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Deleted
Joined: Oct 6, 2024 15:34:51 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2014 10:35:43 GMT -5
And if you have enough mom friends you can generally pass dress shoes around or down as needed, as they don't wear out.
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taz157
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 20:50:06 GMT -5
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Post by taz157 on Dec 27, 2014 10:40:31 GMT -5
4) Different colors of clothes require different colors of shoes. Some things match brown, some things match black, some things match pinks, etc. You do realize your DD is 2, not 13! My DD is 3 and she has 4 pairs of shoes, 2 sneakers and 2 pairs of flip flops (we live in south Florida). Actually, now it's 1.5 pairs of flip flops as 1 of the shoes is missing. She has no dress shoes. The last time she had dress shoes was when she went to a wedding 2 years ago and I got them at a second-hand store. She also wore them for Halloween a month later. One of the things of being so young, they get an excuse of not always matching. My DD is currently wearing an Elsa dress, but I don't have specific shoes that go with it. She'll wear what shoes she has when she and I go out in a few minutes.
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