I'm a sellout

Those of you who were readers this time last year will remember how excited Peter and I were to finally pay off our line of credit. We paid off $13,000 (thousand!!) in less than five months. That was no small feat and it definitely didn't come without major sacrifice.

The crazy thing was that we didn't really have anything to show for that debt. It's not like we'd been on vacations or had a house full of clothes and toys and electronics. It was debt that had slowly grown over the course of a few moves and times when I wasn't working, unexpected costs associated with buying our first house, etc. We're not big spenders. We never had been. Thirteen thousand dollars worth of debt notwithstanding, we're really very careful with our money. 

We're practical.

We haven't taken a family vacation in the last eight years (so none since even before we had kids), we buy used or second hand when possible, we never just "go shopping". When we get money for Christmas or birthdays, we have to fight against the urge to just put it in the bank. When we get our tax return or other lump sums of money, we always do the sensible thing.

The problem is that "the sensible thing" is never much fun...

This years tax return will once again be spent wisely (savings, extra van payments, our portion of my dad's funeral marker), used sensibly (some needed home renos), or put towards otherwise worthy causes (donated to charity, a new World Vision sponsor child -our fourth!!). But... BUT... Peter will once again be getting some retro pay for something-or-other, and he has decreed it fun -or blow- money. NOT A PENNY OF WHICH IS TO BE SPENT SENSIBLY!

So last weekend we bought two wine kits that we've started*, the first of which should be ready in about three weeks. 

We also decided to buy the boys brand new bikes**. 

Anther idea we had was to start a list of fun family things we can do this summer in the Ottawa area that we'll set money aside for. Things we wouldn't normally do, or wouldn't do as often. BECAUSE WE'RE SENSIBLE WITH OUR MONEY. Things like bowling (which the boys LOVE), Upper Canada Village, the Diefenbunker, maybe Park Omega again (last year's trip is here and here), taking the boys to Toy Story 3 in 3D, possibly renting paddle boats on Lansdowne Lake. We'll put all the ideas in a jar, then pick one whenever we have a free day together, knowing we have the money to do anything (and everything) in the jar. I'm super excited about this idea and can't wait to have a ton of fun with the boys this summer. Not everything in the jar will have a price tag, but there will be some activities that we just wouldn't normally be able to justify. So, Ottawa peeps, fire your best ideas at me!

More to the point of this post, however, is that some of that blow money has been ear-marked for a purchase that was previously considered absolutely UN-necessary, ILL-advised, and pretty much the antithesis of frugality and sensible money management... a Nintendo Wii (had to throw the "Nintendo" in there just incase you've been living under a rock and didn't know what a plain "Wii" was *rolls eyes at self*).

Liam has, for the last year, been bearing the full brunt of the unfairness of the fact that WE DO NOT OWN A GAME SYSTEM. Even though ALL OF HIS FRIENDS OWN A GAME SYSTEM. And, in his mind, every (other) living being on the planet MUST OWN A GAME SYSTEM. His insistence that we, too, must own a game system was enough to make me swear one would never enter our home. That sense of entitlement is one of the very reasons that we hope to move our family to Africa in the next few years... to shock it out of them! And yet last night I found myself frantically calling all the Best Buys and Future Shops in a 50km radius in a desperate attempt to track down a store that has them in stock so I can buy one in time for Easter.

Let me assure you that it was not Liam's heavy pout that finally broke us down. Rather, Peter and Liam (and Simon to a lesser degree) have started playing a couple of computer games together -only on the weekends- and they really enjoy it. I will keep claiming that I don't know how to play for as long as possible, which not only gets me out of ever having to play, but also ensure that it's a special father-son activity. Truth be told, Peter's been drooling over a Wii since they came out and is secretly giddy that I've finally relented on my strict no-game-system attitude (no, my iMac doesn't count thankyouverymuch), cause, you know... it's for the kids.

So there you have it. We're getting a Wii. Four words I swore I'd never write/say. (sigh)

Don't be silly enough to think that we're just going to hand it over though. No siree. Even though we'd already made the decision to buy a Wii, we told Liam that we would get one once he learned how to ride a two-wheeler. Not in a negative-consequence-for-if-you-don't-let-go-of-your-training-wheels kind of way, but as a reward/encouragement/motivator for learned to ride on two wheels. This might seem shocking to some of you who don't parent by way of rewards, but you have to understand that Liam only got a bike near the end of last summer and, up until now, has been very, VERY nervous about even riding up and down our driveway. He lacked confidence, feared falling (ie, failing... what can I say? he's MY SON), and had zero motivation to learn to ride. Even WITH training wheels.

So about a week and a half ago, we sat him down and explained that we knew that riding his bike made him nervous and that he wasn't very excited about practicing. We also explained that, with summer coming, all of his friends would be wanting to ride bikes and we knew he wouldn't want to be left behind. We told him that we knew he'd love it once he figured out how to ride a two-wheeler. We told him we knew he'd do great if he'd just commit to practicing every day. And we told him that, once he'd mastered riding on two wheels, we'd celebrate his effort and determination... by buying a Wii.

Folks, 10 days out and he can speed up, ride, right himself, slow down, and stop. He needs to practice starting and turning, but a few more days and he'll be golden. Ergo my frantic calls to track down an available Wii.

Our plan is to have a scavenger hunt in place of/in addition to an easter egg hunt with the Wii as the treasure.

Liam doesn't know that we were going to buy the Wii regardless. 

I guess he'll find out when he reads this post! *hi grown up Liam*

*Okay, that's a bit sensible since we'll be paying less than $5/bottle for the exact same wine that would cost $28/bottle at the wine store, but this is not something we would have been able to fit into the budget and, hey, it's wine! wine + summer = sangria 'round these parts! yummo!)

**Okay, we initially had decided to get the boys brand new bikes, but then I googled "ottawa used bikes" and found myself dragging the boys down to Bike Dump and spending $30 for a bike for each of the boys... but cmon! Thirty bucks! For two bikes! (*hangs head* I'm such a tightwad) 

P.S. A post without pictures! *shock*

bits and bites

Tasty little morsels too small for their own blog post, but too good to forget...

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We were discussing getting a dog while having supper around the table. We were explaining to Liam that a dog would need to be walked EVERY DAY, even when it's hot, even when it's raining, even when it's cold and snowy.

He paused then asked, "Do dogs sleep all winter?"

Me - "Do you mean hibernate?"
Liam - "Yeah. Do dogs hibernate?"
Me - "No, they don't."
Liam - "Too bad."

* * * * * * * * * *

Although I'm slightly scare of tempting a backlash by the Universe, I'm going to risk it and hesitantly, hopefully state that Simon is...

Ready for it? Should I really be doing this?

...Simon is potty trained. There! I said it! It's out there and I can't take it back. Although he still wears a diaper at night, he's only had one accident in the last ten days. We don't even have to remind him anymore. He just goes on his own, sometimes telling us first, sometimes not.

Our recipe for success?

A 2.5lb bag of Swedish Berries.

One berry for pees, two for poops. Yeah, we're those parents. Some might call it bribery, I prefer to think of it as "positive reinforcement". The other thing that helped with motivation, was that each time Simon earned a treat, Liam earned one too. Guess who Simon's biggest encourager was? Guess who clapped and cheered the loudest when Simon has success? Can you guess? If you guessed his six year old, treat-loving older brother, you'd be right.

Cost of potty-training one 2 1/2 year old? $8.99 at Costco.

I'm actually pretty proud of myself.

(Except that I'm sure I've eaten about a pound of them myself. I have NO self-control.)

* * * * * * * * * *

I posted this video a few weeks ago, showing Andrew crawling at 6 1/2 months. I haven't mentioned yet that, a few days later, he started pulling himself up to standing... at the couch, at his excersaucer, on our legs, in his crib, even using only the knob on our cabinet doors.

Unfortunately, while able, he is definitely not stable. He falls often, usually hitting his chin on the way down or his head on the floor. He also has four teeth, so has had no fewer than six bloody lips in the last two weeks.

Given the bloody, swollen lips and the bumps and bruises on his head, we don't look like the greatest parents. Problem is, there's just no stopping him.

WE. ARE. IN. TROUBLE.

* * * * * * * * * *

After three brutal, tear-filled, sleep-less nights, I've decided to try cutting dairy out of my diet for Andrew's sake. Ugh, I hate this part of breastfeeding... the worry that things I'm eating might potentially be hurting my baby. He's over seven months, so some would say to just wean him, but I really do LOVE nursing my babies. A sacrifice on my part is worth it to be able to keep breastfeeding... even if that sacrifice means no milk, ice cream, cheese, ice cream, yogurt, ice cream, milk chocolate (I'll still let myself have a bit of the 75%+ dark stuff)... ice cream.

I really shouldn't lament the ice cream too much (I'm being dramatic) since I made some D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S. ice cream on the weekend out of coconut milk, honey, eggs, real vanilla bean and raspberries. I'll take pics next time I make it so I can share the recipe.

* * * * * * * * * *

I really have to do better about making a meal plan and shopping with some control a grocery list. After being SO focused on paying off our debt and SO determined to save every possible penny, we've gotten a bit lacks with our budget. Actually, I think it would be more appropriate to say that there's been a bit of a budgetary hemorrhage.

Once you starts, it can be hard to stop spending.

It's not like we've been out shopping and buying whatever tickles our fancy, but with my birthday, a few dinners out, grocery shopping without a clear plan and a list, needing to buy some work clothes for Peter, etc, it has DEFINITELY ADDED UP.

We really need to recommit to spending carefully, saving, and being good stewards of what we have.

(Especially if we decide to get a dog.)

Maybe I'll start by making a meal plan today.

can I get a high five?

We've paid off our line of credit! I made the last payment this morning (we had the money to pay it yesterday, but the bank wouldn't let me make THAT BIG of a payment at once). See the graph in the side bar?? It feels awesome to have that thing paid off and no longer hanging over our heads, all the more so because of how hard we worked to get it done.

It definitely helped to have received some big chunks of unexpected money these last five months: a larger than anticipated income tax return, a huge retroactive payment for Quebec child tax that we didn't know existed so hadn't applied for, and a lump sum payment for Peter's Collective Agreement having been re-signed.

All that money could've easily (EASILY) been spent on other -ie. more fun- things. How bout a little family vacation? A few new camera lenses and an external flash? A new vehicle when we needed to upgrade? A new kitchen (oh for a new kitchen!)? The deck we'd like to build in our backyard?

Believe me, there's a list.

In addition to having to exercise A LOT of self-control when those cheques came, we also really cut back on expenses. Reeeeally cut back. As in, cut back in every area possible.
- no eating out
- no shopping (if we absolutely needed something, we looked second-hand first)
- no renting movies (maybe one every other month... if we had a coupon)
- smallest cell plans possible (because we were in a contract and couldn't cancel completely)
- basic cable (which we could've cut too, but we needed something)
- buying a three year old van when we needed to upgrade to something that would fit three car seats
- keeping our grocery bill under or around $400 a month (NOT EASY!)
- and cutting down on other household expenses: cloth diapers instead of disposables, homemade cleaning supplies, baking bread, winter temperature set at 15C (59F) at night, 17C (62.5F) during the day and 21C (70F) at night (I'm nothing if not a benevolent dictator), etc.

Basically, we lived as frugally as we possibly could. Our moto became:

Use it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do
Or do without.

And it worked. Thirteen thousand dollars in less than five months, is no small feat. We're excited and proud of ourselves. Next on the chopping block is our van payment. It's supposed to take another 4 1/2 years to pay off... think we can do it in one year??

Living frugally to pay off debt definitely Works For Me.