I have weathered the fear of the big picture of the financial reality the US is facing. Worse case scenario, I will sell the big house, move to the smaller house used as a rental property. My family will eat mac & cheese, I will have to volunteer all day/every day at the school my kids go to in exchange for free tuition. Bottom line: My family will not starve, be homeless, or be unable to educate our children as we see fit.

What is getting to me is the amount of money going out in dribs and drabs from the extra curricular things:
$4 to Booster Club to see DD play volleyball
$12 for same daughter to attend pizza party for Homecoming and cost for tie dye T-shirts
$35 fee for Tiger Cub scout
$25 Party fee for the school for all kids (missed that one in the original set of papers/checks in August)
$8 annual dues for mother/daughter book club

I understand that there is a cost involved for all these things. Bottom line is my $200 extraneous money for things like oil changes/dog grooming/classes for kids may need to be inflated.

I remain busy, watching the money, looking forward to Monday when there can be a ban on spending (big party here on Saturday, need to shop and decorate, etc).