DD2 is in her last year of daycare. So I’m also counting down the months until that payment drops off. I always dreamed of when we will finally be done with daycare but I feel like the savings won’t feel as significant by the time it happens. Aftercare keeps going up too so the savings will likely be only around $600 a month, which will probably go right into a new car payment.
OMG, my twins are in their last year of daycare. I am counting down the days, but also feel like we won't feel as "rich" as we are hoping to.
Whatever you do, keep them away from $$$ extracurriculars. There's a tax hit re kids older than 6, the increase in food volume, activities.... I haven't crunched the numbers but ballet and all year swim cost so much
re: Aldi - what do people buy there at a discount? I popped into the one near us a while ago and left quickly, but I was looking for something very specific that they didn't have. Is it the produce? I usually buy ours at Trader Joe's but am curious about Aldi though it's not as convenient for me as TJ's.
They have off brand girl scout cookies and little debbies that I usually throw in when I shop there because they're cheap and my husband likes them. Prepared meats/meals and frozen chicken and fish are all really well priced. I also like some of their seasonal items and snacks (mexicali dip).
re: Aldi - what do people buy there at a discount? I popped into the one near us a while ago and left quickly, but I was looking for something very specific that they didn't have. Is it the produce? I usually buy ours at Trader Joe's but am curious about Aldi though it's not as convenient for me as TJ's.
In order from how I shop the aisles:
-Cauliflower crust take and bake pizza (veggie) -Refrigerated pumpkin and butternut squash ravioli (seasonal - should be right now) -chopped kale -scallions and cilantro -bagged salad kits (Asian and Southwest are our favorites) -Ciabatta rolls -Brioche sesame seeded burger buns -crackers (their knockoff Triscuits and Wheat Thins, and these seeded crispbread ones that rotate seasonally are my favorites) -Multi-grain tortilla chips -hummus -mozz. cheese balls -other cheeses that look good. I got a blue stilton last week that was really nice. -salad dressing (the red wine Greek vinaigrette is my favorite bottled dressing) -salad toppers like stuffed olives, jarred artichoke hearts -bagged onions and multi-colored peppers -cold smoked salmon -tofu -the Priano bronze-cut pasta in the paper bag/wrapper -sundried tomato pesto -organic brown eggs -plain soy milk -pre-marinated cilantro/lime chicken breast
And then some of the seasonal or random frozen items are staples when they have them - they have a bag of roasted vegetables with garlic, boxed frozen falafel, and breaded eggplant that I stock up on when they are in rotation.
So Pepsi is now taking a strategy from Hermes/LV/etc and focusing on fewer, high buying customers? Soda isn't a need, but I don't think I'd ever have called it a luxury good. What's next? Cheerios?
The price of cereal is crazy! Rice Krispies were $5/small box! It’s literally puffed rice so WTF
OMG, my twins are in their last year of daycare. I am counting down the days, but also feel like we won't feel as "rich" as we are hoping to.
Whatever you do, keep them away from $$$ extracurriculars. There's a tax hit re kids older than 6, the increase in food volume, activities.... I haven't crunched the numbers but ballet and all year swim cost so much
Agreed! Wrestling for DS2 is $160/month it’s in season and karate for Ds1 is $155/month.
Even doing sports through the YMCA is expensive these days.
We got VERY lucky with Ds1s piano teacher and she only charges $30/30min lesson.
Still that puts us at over $400/month for kid activities …. DS2 hasn’t started an instrument yet & Ds3 isn’t in anything.
So Pepsi is now taking a strategy from Hermes/LV/etc and focusing on fewer, high buying customers? Soda isn't a need, but I don't think I'd ever have called it a luxury good. What's next? Cheerios?
The price of cereal is crazy! Rice Krispies were $5/small box! It’s literally puffed rice so WTF
Even the Malt-o-meal bagged cereal is over $5 for a large bag.
Whatever you do, keep them away from $$$ extracurriculars. There's a tax hit re kids older than 6, the increase in food volume, activities.... I haven't crunched the numbers but ballet and all year swim cost so much
Agreed! Wrestling for DS2 is $160/month it’s in season and karate for Ds1 is $155/month.
Even doing sports through the YMCA is expensive these days.
We got VERY lucky with Ds1s piano teacher and she only charges $30/30min lesson.
Still that puts us at over $400/month for kid activities …. DS2 hasn’t started an instrument yet & Ds3 isn’t in anything.
It just gets worse as they get older and more 'specialized'. My 12 year old swims year round - it is $400 a month plus the cost of meets (it is between $7-$10 every time she swims an event and, for example, we have a 3 day meet this weekend out of town with 11 events and a 2 day meet out of town at the end of the month, plus hotel/gas); my 15 year old takes guitar once a week which is $260 a month, and plays in a high school training tennis program which is $375 a month. It is painful.
Agreed! Wrestling for DS2 is $160/month it’s in season and karate for Ds1 is $155/month.
Even doing sports through the YMCA is expensive these days.
We got VERY lucky with Ds1s piano teacher and she only charges $30/30min lesson.
Still that puts us at over $400/month for kid activities …. DS2 hasn’t started an instrument yet & Ds3 isn’t in anything.
It just gets worse as they get older and more 'specialized'. My 12 year old swims year round - it is $400 a month plus the cost of meets (it is between $7-$10 every time she swims an event and, for example, we have a 3 day meet this weekend out of town with 11 events and a 2 day meet out of town at the end of the month, plus hotel/gas); my 15 year old takes guitar once a week which is $260 a month, and plays in a high school training tennis program which is $375 a month. It is painful.
Also I noticed today that toilet paper at costco, which has always been around $22-$24 was $29. Sigh.
Agreed! Wrestling for DS2 is $160/month it’s in season and karate for Ds1 is $155/month.
Even doing sports through the YMCA is expensive these days.
We got VERY lucky with Ds1s piano teacher and she only charges $30/30min lesson.
Still that puts us at over $400/month for kid activities …. DS2 hasn’t started an instrument yet & Ds3 isn’t in anything.
It just gets worse as they get older and more 'specialized'. My 12 year old swims year round - it is $400 a month plus the cost of meets (it is between $7-$10 every time she swims an event and, for example, we have a 3 day meet this weekend out of town with 11 events and a 2 day meet out of town at the end of the month, plus hotel/gas); my 15 year old takes guitar once a week which is $260 a month, and plays in a high school training tennis program which is $375 a month. It is painful.
Meet fees and pool fees are the bane of my existence! As none of the clubs here have our own pools, we have to pay pool fees whenever they train. It is only $2 per session, but they have to have cash whcih is really annoying so I am always collecting small notes.
Post by EvieEthelGarland on Oct 12, 2023 15:43:52 GMT -5
My DS is 15 and wants to learn to drive but understands that getting licensed will depend on insurance costs. I called and it will only be about $105/mo and that's with us having 3 cars. It's far less than I expected--even the guy on the phone was surprised! We switched 2 years ago to Costco and our rates fell almost 50% for the same coverage. I haven't had a claim so no clue as to their service, but I trust that Costco wouldn't partner with a crappy company
Post by melmel4854 on Oct 12, 2023 16:36:43 GMT -5
Cut out Fubo even though I really want it for NESN so I can watch the Bruins. I got an antenna for local channels.
Food shopping at Aldi and really trying to curb my eating out. Really paying attention to things using electricity and making sure I turn off lights when not needed. Using coupons and offers for cat food and litter when possible.
re: Aldi - what do people buy there at a discount? I popped into the one near us a while ago and left quickly, but I was looking for something very specific that they didn't have. Is it the produce? I usually buy ours at Trader Joe's but am curious about Aldi though it's not as convenient for me as TJ's.
I buy things that are impossible or nearly impossible to taste different - fruit, vegetables, standard cheeses, lunch meat, eggs, milk, creamer, meat, salmon, rice, beans, good tuna, canned tomatoes. I find that the more processed things taste a little to a lot different. Sometimes I don't care. This includes chips, crackers, chocolate, spreads, dips, breakfast sausage, flavored yogurt.
OMG, my twins are in their last year of daycare. I am counting down the days, but also feel like we won't feel as "rich" as we are hoping to.
Whatever you do, keep them away from $$$ extracurriculars. There's a tax hit re kids older than 6, the increase in food volume, activities.... I haven't crunched the numbers but ballet and all year swim cost so much
too late My 6.5 yo is in competitive dance. LOL But... the entire year all in is less than 2 months of daycare.
Post by fancynewbeesly on Oct 12, 2023 20:39:59 GMT -5
Cereal is CRAZY. We rarely buy it. And when we do, we rotate it. So DD1 picks this week and then the next time DD2 picks. I like DD1 having cereal because she needs to increase her calorie count and she uses whole milk with and drinks the milk in the cereal (she doesn't like milk on its own).
It just gets worse as they get older and more 'specialized'. My 12 year old swims year round - it is $400 a month plus the cost of meets (it is between $7-$10 every time she swims an event and, for example, we have a 3 day meet this weekend out of town with 11 events and a 2 day meet out of town at the end of the month, plus hotel/gas); my 15 year old takes guitar once a week which is $260 a month, and plays in a high school training tennis program which is $375 a month. It is painful.
Meet fees and pool fees are the bane of my existence! As none of the clubs here have our own pools, we have to pay pool fees whenever they train. It is only $2 per session, but they have to have cash whcih is really annoying so I am always collecting small notes.
We are about to start letting her wear tech suits so that is an additional insane amount of money that I can’t even wrap my head around!