That's the Sound of Money

I LOVE when my babies reach their 1st birthday and I can spend $40/mo on whole milk, rather than $180 for formula!!

I also love when they're old enough that I don't have to bring the diaper bag with every place we go--I can simply leave it in the car, just in case.

I guess mine was day care! Wow!
But all of these moments were quickly replaced by something more expensive. No more formula? Good, because the older two want to go to summer camp. No more diapers? Good, because the oldest wants to play club volleyball. No more daycare? Good, because the oldest is off to college. ...and so it goes..... hahahah

I hear ya. The day I stopped having to buy kids' flavored toothpaste was a great one! And new shoes every three months!

However that glory was short lived as soon afterwards came the Iphones, trips to Europe, and (get ready for it) COLLEGE.

And NOW I'm on the downswing AGAIN, sort of, since during the months when the boys are away at school, the utilities and grocery bills are next to nothing.

:)

My "opposite" is realizing that I have to spend more money each week in groceries to feed a growing, starving constantly 10 year old. (and she's a girl) God only knows what I'll have to spend once the 5 year old boy turns 10.... Explaining the "expanding" grocery budget to the husband has been a humorous conversation as he has even noticed that we go through food like crazy now. <sigh> :)

I always think when something is paid off we are going to have "extra" money, N.E.V.E.R works out that way. My oldest got her braces off, then the middle child had to have them put on. Pay my daughter's car off, then she goes to college. One bill always seems to come around at the same time another ends. O'well. I guess I will just count myself fortunate that we can pay them. :) Maybe I will have "extra" money when they are all married and moved out. One can dream. :)

My poor children had to suffer through my efforts to learn to cut their hair.
They were little, they didn't care. My first had curly hair and it hid every wrong move. The last had straight hair and it was impossible to hide a bad cut..off they went to our hairdresser.

It's easy to believe that we pay less when they are off to college but we are paying there too. Soon, maybe, soon, there will be a light at the end of this tunnel.

Haha. Yes, you sound like my husband and he was so right.

Those are our two top money savers for my son:
-no more diapers and
-trips to the barber instead of the first 3 visits to the kiddy hair salon

Now, if we could just find a way to save $ w/our teen girl.
I figured out a few: coupons on expensive hair products & shopping at the local discounted store instead of the high priced drugstore. No other
wiggle room in her "caviar tastes on our grilled cheese budget". Aahh.

Poop.In.The.Potty.

That's all.

(And lots of dancing and squealing.)

My son is 15.
His costs are just escalating every year!
Sports associated fees (uniforms, equipment, travel, treatment of injuries, etc), brand closes and shoes (when he was little he did not care about labels, now is the whole different story when he is in HS!), orthodontist fees every 6 weeks (he is in braces), outdoor adventure summer camp just paid more than 3K (no more park district camps for the big kids!). And a lot more! There is a huge bump in spending when the kids become teens, it is like another mini-adult living in the house, even more expensive, because they grow fast and can only wear that Abercrombie T-shirt for 1 season, the Nike sneakers last about 6-7 mo due to rapid feet growth or excessive wear and tear (toes start to poke out).

The next thing,my son will be 16 and will want to drive. Car, insurance, etc. the list goes on. Then there will be college.
Brace yourself! 10 is the good age - enjoy your baby!

Right now I wish it was diapers and haircuts with murals.

My almost 23 yr old is costing me a fortune. Didn't listen to dear mom on where to go for wisdom teeth extraction. She finds an Oral Surgeon with good online reviews. Got herself a good infection and spent 8 days in hospital & have surgery. Which means no work at her waitressing job. So then mom & dad get to fork over big dough for her Magnificent Mile apartment.

Cha-Ching in the wrong direction over here

FKA Momof4 ~ can't remember my password, lol

I love our baber. They have taken my children since they were little little. $7 a haircut and they trim my daughter's bangs for $3. Sweet.
Now, if only my eldest didn't need a haircut every month!
I am getting excited about diapers leaving the house again in a couple of months. (just being lazy about the potty training, I guess)
Not having to pay for preschool! ($200 back in my pocket)
When the CAR was paid off!!

Not really too financial, but I love it when they are able to finally communicate what hurts! No more mystery visits with the pediatrition. No more "I hope its just a virus, lets give it a few days".
I get to hear," Mommy, my tummy hurts" etc. and that is why we now know that one is lactose intolerant! We could actually focus on where it hurt! Of course not having all those copays is nice too.

When my son finished preschool and started in public school Kindergarten. Woohoo - we suddenly felt like we were saving so much money! Now he's in 3rd grade and his sister is in preschool...for 2 more years. ugh.