Economical vs Extravagant

Although my husband and I both earned degrees in mathematics, we are not financial wizards.  We signed a 4-year lease agreement on a truck, then used up the mileage allowance in two.  We spent way too much on our wedding, and much of the debt ended up on our credit cards.  Some of our less intelligent, extravagant decisions have included... 2 kayaks costing $2,000, 2 Devils season tickets totaling $1,800, and here's a good one...we bought a timeshare on our honeymoon.

Bill and I anticipated that surviving on one teacher's salary would be difficult.  We budgeted carefully throughout September, October and November.  We quit eating out and looked for things to do that were relatively inexpensive.  I had one or two tutoring jobs and I taught a 3-hour SAT course each week.  We were paying the bills and had just a little left over for incidentals.  We were being thrifty and smart and... economical.

Now, in December, we're really getting spoiled.  I had eight tutoring jobs last week, five today and I have five more scheduled for the coming week.  With all the extra money coming in, we're reverting to some bad habits and some excessive purchases.  

Friday Night

Extravagant:  Spending $15 on the light display at the Arts Center.  Bill and I think this display is getting smaller and smaller each year.  We also spent $10 at the 7-11 on hot chocolate and donuts.

Economical:  After the display, we found a deserted spot in the parking lot and Bill let Will drive.  Although Will enjoyed the light show, he loved sitting on Bill's lap and driving.  Cost: $0... or $1.55/gallon, which isn't too bad.

Saturday

Extravagant:  We bought tickets to see Disney on Ice at the Prudential Center.  Parking cost $20 and while there, we spent $36 on food and treats.  We also bought a plastic sword for $16.  The sword does not light up and now that we've gotten it home, it's causing all kinds of problems.

Economical:  Bill actually found the tickets on Ebay.   For the same price as the regular tickets, we got tickets to a private box.   And while other parents were spending $20 to get their kids a photo with a character,  we had Will sit on the floor next to the promotional posters (see above).

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Sunday

Just Economical:

Every year, we go to a local firehouse for a pancake breakfast and pictures with Santa.

For a total of $10.00, we got three complete breakfasts and all the photos with Santa that we could take.  Will preferred to stand, rather than sit on Santa's lap and he devoured the candy cane within minutes.  Did I mention that the candy cane was free?  Cha-ching!