Bargain Saturdays with a side of Entertainment

So...Saturdays in the summer = yard/lawn/garage sales.

We are up and out of the house at either 645 or 745 (depending on the time for the first sales a la Craigslist). Kids are usually dressed but often a little messy (hair/needing baths or something). I don't shower. I throw on clothes, brush the teeth and comb the messy hair. Cash. Mom gets coffee at DnD and we are on our way.

Why do I post about this? Because of the incredible deals we get. This week, I have become a fan of the SPF sun shirts. I looked online this morning to buy some (both kids but Z is literally living in one of them every day - 4 days in a row and G just asked for one yesterday). The cheapest I could find them was $19.99.

Yard sale today: 2 - one boy, one girl. $1 each = $2. Savings: $38 + shipping. Now, I think that is a great deal. G's is a plain white (she wanted pink but what can I say); Z's is a Micky Mouse - He loves it. I don't. If you know me, I don't really like animated things for clothing BUT...I saved $19 on that shirt alone and I like that more than I dislike Micky Mouse.


Other great finds:
Triangular tube for snow sledding $2
Bag of boy clothes for Z-man $6.25
Recorder (instrument) $1 (to go with the one we got last week for 50 cents)
New briefcase for me $2
BRAND NEW brown Merrill shoes for Z for fall (next size up) $6 (big spending but great quality)
Wooden bunk beds for G's dolls - $3
Misc books for kids and mom - $.25 - .50 each
square glass vase I've been wanting $1
basket for blocks $1
Halloween decorations $.75 (3 items)
Thomas the train jumbo floor puzzle (24 pcs) - $.50 (I'd have spent $3 but fifty cents works!) and a video for the same amount.
An Ariel Doll (for Z-man - He loves her) 75 cents
an LL Bean jumper for G - $.50; pants $1

FOUR HOURS of entertainment, out in the great weather, spending time with the family and meeting new people = priceless

Seriously, people pay sticker price at the store and they miss out on the whole experience.

We also got to see Baby "K" this morning. She'd lived with us for nearly a month in the spring, spent the night last Friday and came by for lunch today. We miss her. We knew she was coming so we found her a little yellow jacket for under a dollar.

Rules

Not sure I've ever blogged on this topic before but here it is.

In our home we have three rules. Why? It makes it easier for me to remember and the kids actually know them and Gianna can recite them:

1. You must obey.
2. You must be kind.
3. Mama does what Mama says.

You must be kind also includes: You can't beat, bite, hit or otherwise hurt anyone in our family including your brother/sister. I sometimes remind them of this by saying: "We don't hurt other people in our family because that isn't kind."...attempting to link the action to rule #2.

I hope this still works as they age (again, because I can remember three rules). For example, we are kind to our own bodies, to our friends, etc. We don't have a set bed time mostly because they can't tell time. Generally, they go to bed between 7 and 730. But, when they are a little older and begin to argue with why it is bedtime I can come back to either rule 1 or 2. Use the "children obey your parent(s)" line for rule #1 or another approach that empowers them to be responsible...We are kind to our bodies and therefore you need to go to sleep because yours needs rest.

Those of you with older children can laugh at that last line if you want but in the start of my 5th year of parenting this is working for me :).

Just thought I'd share. Summary: Simplify wherever you can and for our family, this works.

PS - The photo is from our visit to the circus this past week. Kids had a blast. Gianna was analytical without smiles until we left and then announced that she loved it and didn't want to leave; Zade got to ride a pony and this was the highlight of his week! Both got snowcones and we even came in under budget for this event! We took our own glow in the dark arm bands. Auntie & Memae came too. Oh what fun!