Through my blogging experience here, I realize that I'd rather blog about my family more and money less (I have better clarity on what I need to do for a stable future and to be honest, my plans have brought me a sense of contentment and less worry about the future) I think I initially blogged just to complain, and while I'm not proud of that, it did serve its purpose in causing me to have a better perspective on things (money and other).

So upon the encouragement of some family friends, I'm taking my family life public and I'll be blogging about that. It will be a good way to stay in touch with some out of state friends and family as well as chronicle the adventures of our life.

I will check in periodically and will hopefully post once a month on the set of goals that I do have which are monetarily related.

Good luck to everyone in reaching your goals for 2009! Peace and happiness.

(1) Healthy and happy children who weren't overly "gifted" but were happy with their presents and remembered to say thank you to the gift-givers. They are getting along really well given the extended nature of the "together" time. This is the best gift.

There is a child from the kids' school who is hospitalized after having an acute reaction to some medication that landed him in the burn unit. Can't even talk about it imagining how badly he is feeling and how the family is doing.

(2) The grown ups behaved as grown ups during our faily get togethers. There was a fight on the 24th between my father and his gf (always fighting) and I said that if they weren't getting along, maybe they should skip the Eve get together and just come to the Day celebration. (Old me would have never said a thing and just HOPED they would get along). Ended up that we didn't see the gf at all, but I did phone her at her mother's to say Merry Christmas.

AND I had a dry get together. No alcohol - the consumption tends to correlate to the discord that can be created. My FIL asked if I would mind if he went and got beer. And I said, "Yes, I would." Conversations were happier, I think people had their behavior regulators working better sober.

(3) For the first time ever I was content with what I had accompished, rather than what I didn't. So the B List of Christmas cards didn't get out, so what if I didn't make dozens of Christmas cookies from scratch and we ate Trader Joe's cookies? I had nice gifts for everyone that didn't go overboard and I didn't freak out if I didn't spend the same amount on each person (I kept it in a general ballpark per couple).

(4) we received a nice amount of Christmas cash (about $700) to be distributed at some point. Still enjoying family time. My inlaws didn't get anyone individual gifts and rather got the family a wii! This is really fun!

Have a nice day!

to all the SA bloggers. In the true spirit of Christmas - spending quality time with family - the computer is going to be off until Saturday. After I check the checkbook balance and finish this post, it will be time to play games with the kiddos (even the littlest one is managing his own version of UNO), reading Christmas picture books, and no screen time. The TV will only be on when we agree to watch a Christmas show.

I have one more gift to get - a gift card for brother and his gf for a restaurant in town.

Well, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all you SA bloggers and readers. May peace and happiness be yours now and i the upcoming year!

We are a sad lot, here at the house of mom-sense. DH has back pain resulting from shoveling the heavy snow of yesterday. Five children are all hacking away polluting the air that we all breathe. At this point, it isn't even worth purell-ing, though I am running around with Clorax wipes occasionally doing bathroom fixtures/door handles/phone. The 1st grader was too sick to go to his last basketball game (sad! I was so looking forward to it). We were too awful sounding to go to Mass - might try to go tomorrow depending on how we sound. Certainly sure our Church family would frown upon sharing a pew with us, given so close to the holidays.

No money was spent today. Christmas shopping is done - and I have several poor impulse items to go back to the tune of about $75 dollars on debit card, my mom will reimburse me $60 in gift purchases I made for her. My girls are amassing their own personal collection of gift cards ($20 to Borders and $25 to Justice). My grandma sent $20 to each child and a $200 check to DH and I which I will put into our vacation fund - now at $700.

Tomorrow in the Midwest we are to supposed to have a high of 10. Monday is DD2's 10th birthday; my xSIL will surprise her (she is newly engaged and in town for Xmas) like she did last month for the DD1's birthday. DD2 wants to go ice skating (indoors at the ice arena) and Pizza Hut. Looking forward to that outing!

Stay warm! At least in this wintery weather, most of us are home not spending money, right?

I love sock monkeys for some reason, don't know why, but I find them charming and adorable cute and cozy.

My DD11 went to a "crafting" party today at one of her friend's house. It was a snow day, no school, but the party went on as planned. She "crafted" from 11:30 to 5:00, and came home with a present for me.

My very own (and first homemade) sock monkey named "Bob" (short for Robert). He is adorable quirky and unique. The best gift I'll probably get this year.

$50.00. That is right 5-0. Apparently the 07 Grand Caravan is known for its incredibly long windshield wiper blades.

DH is a friend of the owner of the local Citgo. He got a $6 break on the purchase - down from $28 to $25.

YIKES! But at least I will have a windshield I can see through!

and a white one at that. More snow predicted here in the Midwest.

I am finding the Christmas spirit again (being sick brought out the Scrooge in me - not really the bah humbug scrooge, more the "why can't we all just be friends" whiny place that I sometimes go to). All it took was watching the Charlie Brown Christmas and attending my children's Christmas show, and I'm back in the spirit. It also might help that my family received about ten Christmas cards in two days.

I made six loaves of lemon cranberry bread for the kids' teachers and one of our favorite tenants at my dad's apartment. I will bake more next week for the Christmas baskets I'm assembling. I finished up the shopping.

I found out that my brother will be joining his girlfriend for Christmas Day in the next state over and won't be around. He asked if they could stop by on Christmas Eve after we get back from church. I invited he and his girlfriend over for dinner (Italian beef sandwiches and some deli salads - that is about all that I am up to given I cook the Christmas ham for the next day). I also invited my mom and stepdad. It is more entertaining that I wanted to do - my only hope is that it is short and sweet and everyone gets along.

As far as the girlfriend's daughter who has been mean to my daughter, I have decided to try to be nice to her. I am so annoyed with her behavior that I have ignored her in certain circumstances (after saying hello). I could be a better example in courtesy and civility for my daughter. This came after a conversation with my wise old Gran who shared the Hungarian addage "you catch more flies with honey than you do vinegar" (might be a non-ethnic cliche actually). The teen hasn't exactly has a stable upbringing and I do think that she has had her share of disappointment following empty promises from her mother.

I shopped today and really tanked through the money - my dad gives me money to shop for my kids and I picked some things up today for my mom as well. I am looking forward to not using the debit card that much - I was totally cash last week (two debits) but today it was $112 at one store, $92 at another, $30 at another ...

Well, snow is headed our way!

That's it for now!

My goals for today are ambitious. This is two-fold, given that (1) I am feeling better after a day of medication and asecond night in a row of quality sleep, and (2) winter advisory for snow storm starts tomorrow at 3 PM, and I don't want to have to worry about driving in it to get Friday's To Dos done. And my smallish one is doing better (sounds bad at times, but his fever has been gone for twelve hours and he is snoozin away).

I need to:
(1) grocery shop
(2) attend DD 11's class play at 1:00 - she is the "Introducer" and helped with the scenery
(3) Pick up a gift for a party for Friday
(4) Pick up gift bags for teachers' gifts for Friday
(5) Pick up tights and a neck tie for tomorrow's Holiday show
(6) Wolf camera has $.05 prints - 3 1/2 x 5 glossy one-day pick up - great price for the size (I like to use those scrapbooking) and we have cute pics for the girls to include in their thank yous for their party guests
(7) Hallmark store for some inexpensive ornaments ($10 limit each) for the gift baskets I am giving to grandparents/uncle
(8) New windshield wiper blades for my car (nothing more to say about that)

DH had some snarky moments in the past 12 hours - one had to do with the "lost" basketball prior to practice. How fast he was to say to the 6 yo, "It is your ball. You should keep track of it." I pointed out that he should at least look in his vehicle (last place it was) before saying he coudldn't find it. I totally agree that at moments my children lack self-sufficiency. He then said to me, "It's my car. I should know what is in it." Then he looked and low and behold it was there in the back. His retort (or snort, I should say) "Like I have the time to know what is in my backseat." Mind you he is the major organizer bootcamp guru at my house.

Good luck tackling your to-dos today! Everyone be safe and happy.

engaged couples registering online for honeymoon contributions?

I was a bit floored by this. I was married almost 20 years ago and when my DH and I "registered" it was for practical things like sheets, towels, dishes, pots and pans - granted we were 20 years old and didn't live together.

I have a second cousin who is getting married for the first time to a gentleman who was previously married. She is 32 and they live together. I received the "Save the date" postcard and there was a notation that they are registeredat a site for their honeymoon.

They are apparently going to a tropical paradise and would like a total of $3,000 (the gift options were available in denominations of $50 or $100. They would like 20 of each. Or would like to.

What are your thoughts on this? I think I would have been less offended had it had an option for a blank "donation". I know that $50 and $100 are customary amounts.

It is sad that at 40 I am feeling "old fashioned" ...

Made it through the night with some solid sleep so I am feeling better than I predicted; however, my smallish one is now feverish and hacking.

I had to: (1) cancel speech for the 6 year old - they have a no sick siblings policy. (2) Had to have DH cover lunch supervision at the kids school.

I was able to delegate those two things off the list. I still have a dentist appointment for the oldest two at 2:00 PM. I hope OTC medication can help him improve to the point of going out.

Yesterday our tenant was supposed to pay her rent. Out of the $1,450 she paid $300 and will pay the rest in two weeks. She offered to pay the late fee (we have waived this is the past for her) and DH didn't decline the offer. This won't wreck our finances. I am glad to have moved away from the point of being totally dependent on that. But looking back as a recap over what I've spent since August 2008: (paid cash for these)

Property tax payment 2 (primary) $3,200
Property tax payment 2 (rental) $2,186
Vehicle emission repair (car 1) $788
Brake work repair (car 2) $400
Trip to Columbus $606
Dress alterations for daughters $200
Plumbling repair to rental prop $450

Had to use credit card convenience checks for these (0% through July 2009)

Roof on rental property $2,800
Solo dresses for daughters $3,000

It is a bit exhausting to see all the money that has flowed out. I am glad that I was able to cover 60% cash and am paying down the credit card balances as fast as I can.

I think I can put off shopping for another day.

Hope everyone is warm and healthy.

I am getting sick. I have a sore throat, losing voice, and am ultra-sensitive. Good thing was my mom got the school-aged kids from school and they had a little get together at her house. Tree got decorated, had snacks, etc. Sounds like a cozy little party, far better than yesterday's get-together.

What is different about this illness? I have a medicine chest that is stocked for various ailments (don't have to send DH to stop anywhere on the way home). My freezer is full as are my cabinets. DH can crack open two cans of soup and veggies to feed the kids. I did have to come on line to pay my mortgage. Not a biggie. Money is there in the checking account. I have been buying things on sale, stocking up with loss leaders, taking advantage of ECB at CVS. End result: not having to brave the elements for the necessities.

I am going to curl up and try to doze. Have a good night, and stay warm if you are in a freezing area like here.

This is non-money related and has to do with family relations. It isn't really a vent, rather a reflection on a family get-together gone wrong.

My mom and step-dad invited my family over for lunch and to help decorate the tree. My brother, his girlfriend, and her daughter were invited as well. GF's daughter is 15 and has a general bad attitude in life. She isn't particularly nice to my 11 year old who is sensitive to things. This girl is very inconsistent with my daughter (nice at one gathering, mean at dance class. She is a disrepsectful eye-roller who didn't want to help my daughter carry in two trays of cupcakes for her birthday at dance class just this past week). Anyhow, my daughter asked if "EC" was going to be there. My mom said no, well the EC showed up and my daughter was quiet and to herself.

Our visit didn't last long enough to decorate the tree. My brother's GF and her daughter were on the couch whispering and it just didn't feel too much like a family gathering, so we left. My mother was in a snit, not quite understanding the dynamics that are at play here. My daughter is only 11 (for two weeks) and sensitive, and she is my first priority.

I tried to explain this to my mother in a phone conversation later. Come to find out, she is annoyed that I am not going to a party at my brother's this upcoming Sat. He has invited 50 people according to his evite. These are work friends, college friends, etc. The last party he had several years ago I assumed that it was okay to bring my kids. Only later did he say that he really didn't want them there and I "should have known that." I was more shocked and hurt than anything. This is an adult party, I'm not getting a babysitter and I am staying home. My mother (who is deeply immersed in denial, said I must have "misunderstood" him and that she heard my 10 year old be asked directly if she was going to "the" party). Snit moment #2.

Final snit moment #3, when I said my DH wasn't exactly keen on entertaining this year (mind you, our family difficulties are multi-layered like an onion, there is dysfunction at all levels) my mother said "Well,, maybe we'll be going to the movies instead." And then promptly said good-bye and hung up.

So here I am ...

(1) I wish we could all just get along, and that all of my family's togetherness doesn't need to be all inclusive.
(2) My child's feelings are of paramount importance to me - she is still a child and has a right not to have to continually interact with "EC" who has had some significant issues in the past and can be downright mean

I am not feeling well right now, which doesn't help matters. I feel misunderstood, and just generally disappointed that things have to be so complicated.

On a monetary note, I bought my girls new Christmas dresses for their holiday show and Christmas Eve mass at Kohl's. Totally cute, on sale. Also throw in three new pairs of shoes for the three oldest. Total damage $113 plus tax. They just love their new dresses. I am glad about that.

I am going to bed. I feel like crying.

I did a shopping trip to Walmart yesterday (my least favorite place to shop). I spent $150 (lately my purchases haven't been nearly that high, but more frequent). It seemed like a lot until I broke it out and deducted $33 from the gift category, and $35 from home decor (found a better curtain solution for my daughters' room- so back goes the $36 purchase from JCP), household items included: toilet paper, paper towels, light bulbs, vacuum cleaner bags. I bought some regular grocery items, plus all my baking items.

So taking into account deductions from the budgeting categories, it wasn't so bad. This might help toughen me up mentally for a trip to Sam's Club!

Tonight is that slumber party with the tweenagers (seven plus my two). I cleaned the family room carpet for the gazillionth time and found it satisfactory for other people's children to sleep on. I got a lot of the baking done, hit the grocery store for snacks, and have some general cleaning to do. Nothing too major.

Have a good day!

I didn't accomplish as much as I had hoped yesterday from my to-do list (that's what I get for over-ambitious!)

I did spend some money on cosmetic home updates:
$135 cash for a new 5' x 8' Oriental rug for my living room (the size is right and the colors are close) I bought it at LNT on clearance - was marked $140 down from $530 - though I doubt it was really that much - I hemmed and hawed and the guy knocked off another $15. $10 tax) Pleased with purchase.
$33.62 at JCP (paid for with debit card)- new valance for DDs' bedroom (only have sheers and blinds) and two matching panels to obscure some of their doorless closet. The color is a deep purple so that will add some punch to their pink/green/lilac pastel walls/bedding.
$45 ($35 after return) (paid for with gift card) at Target on a small list of groceries, dog food, waterproofing spray, a $10 gift card for Goddaughter, and an impulse gift of $9 which is going back.

Today starts my BAKE-O-RAMA and my prison sentence in the kitchen begins:
(1) For today, cupcakes for DD11's dance class
(2) For tomorrow, 2 dozen cookies for DD11's Girl Scout cookie exchange
(3) For Saturday, cupcakes for the girls' party
(3-A) For breakfast on Saturday, girls asked for an assortment of muffins and fruit -more baking (forgot about that as compiled original list)
(4) For Monday, DH was assigned to bring a dessert for his dept's potluck
(5) For Tuesday, cupcakes for DD10's dance class

I am going to try the cake mix cookie recipe that appeared earlier in the week on the SA blog. So I shall be spending a bulk of the afternoon in the kitchen!

Have a good day -

We have spent no money from the checking account (with the exception of 1/2 tuition payment plus donation to our church on Sunday).

I entertained on Saturday, so we've finished up the leftovers through yesterday (gotta love left-overs).

Yesterday I finished up the Christmas cards and am mailing them out today. I am earlier on that task by weeks!

I've got some running around to do today and I have my list, coupons and gift cards all set. I have my bank slip filled out too. I think that this the result of DH's stinging comment last week on my lack of organization!

I added $75 to our vacation fund bringing it to almost $500 (my inlaws gave me $50 for my birthday and my mother paid me $20 for walking her dog).

My daughters are having their friend party on Friday. I am not sure how it will fare - a slumber party with nine tween-age girls (two being mine). The girls pooled some of their birthday cash and I picked up for them a Playstation 2 Hannah Montana Tour game.

That is all for now! Have a good day!

I breezed through 2008 goal-less, shifting my efforts and concentrations, wandering aimlessly in my thoughts and plans about what to do with money, etc. I silently pined away as everyone commented on their progress towards goals, and I lamented woefully.

The time of 08 was not totally squandered away. I did overcome some psychological barriers and obstacles. I have moved away from a point of pettyness and grudges, and I am pleased with my self sufficiency and determination. I have also seen a gradual shift in my outlooks - moving away from negativity (Look what I didn't accomplish) to valuing my productivity (Look at what we paid for without the use of the credit card). I weathered the battering of our retirement funds happy that we aren't retiring next year.

With that in mind, here are some goals to be finalized and possibly reworked for specifics by start of 09.

(1) Save an additional $5K for retirement for 09.
(2) Pay off $4,500 in credit card debt as a bare minimum (more than half of what we owe)
(3) Save with better regularity for kids' college.
(4) Get serious about having another baby or get the ball rolling for international adoption.
(5) Get a "cash hold" accout up and running so we aren't exactly paycheck to paycheck and have more funds liquid. Goal for account at end of 09 $2,500
(6) Increase savings account by $150 a month
(7) Pay cash for our trip to NYC in May/June ($450 starting balance)
(8) Split extraneous money between 50% debt and 25% savings and 25% vacation fund
(9) Continue to keep a lid on living expenses
(10) At least one family outing a month (local attractions/restaurant outing/etc)
(11) At least once a month outing with DH
(12) Lose 15 pounds by May (I am hanging out int he high 130s) and exercise at least three times weekly

and last by not least (13) Report on goal achievement progress on a monthly basis

... relief ... the party is over.

My girls had a really nice time at their party yesterday, and that is all that matters. They received some very nice gifts: a combined birthday/Christmas gift of an electronic keyboard with instructional keys that light up when accompanying pre-recorded songs, a video camera, each got money (1/2 to savings, 1/2 to spending), plus some warm winter clothes and boots.

Some of the relatives behave disappointingly - I have a MIL who is in tears most of the time (she fights with her husband, misses the grandkids since they've moved up North - AND we didn't see that much of them when they were 15 minutes away for 2 years). I have a father who fights with his girlfriend who is my age and they can't be in the same room with one another (they don't fight in public anymore, but you can cut the air with a knife). My adult brother (lawyer) falls into some weird state of juvenile behavior and talks about farting and generally inappropriate things like, and his snobbish girlfriend chastises him. My parents had to go to yet another party after ours and left early. People complained that my house was cold - set at 68.

We are hosting Christmas as we always do. However, this year I am being bold and the Open House concept isn't going to work. Everyone is invited to come at 4 PM, eat at 5. If you are from out of state, you may spend the night of the 25th only. I am instituting the ritual of family time on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.

My MIL said she thought they would come on Christmas Eve and stay overnight and leave Christmas Day. There are now limits to my hospitality; I boldly said that wouldn't work for us. They are welcome to come to the Christmas dinner celebration at our home on the 25th - if they get here a bit early, that is fine. They are welcome to stay overnight afterwards, but her ideas won't work.

I didn't acquiesse to hurt looks and tears. DH was somewhat silent, I thought he could be a little more vocal in support of our plans. We had discussed this, and he failed to pass them on to his family as he said he would

My goal is to provide my children with a peaceful experience of the holidays, and unfortunately I cannot count on the grown-ups to behave like grown-ups.

... or dealing with other people's shit. (I am woman with Christian values who hates obscenities of all forms, though I am feeling shitty enough to use the word shit.) WARNING: Non-monetary related vent/rant/tirade ...you got the idea ...


DH just yelled at me. I know he is right to a point that I could be better organized in the AM now that it is single digits and the three that go to school need all need winter gear.

This stemmed from the fact that my 6 yo couldn't find his gloves and they were running late. He (son) is a perfectionist who doesn't exactly enjoy school and was worried that he didn't have his gloves for outdoor recess (yes, they send them out in this cold for 15 minutes at lunch - Catholic school so no AM or PM recess). He couldn't find them in my minivan and he started to cry when I wanted him to take mittens. Mind you, this all went down in 2 minutes flat.

DH yelled at he, said if he was in charge this would never happen (actually, we'd never survive his version of Organization Bootcamp), he couldn't deal with the hovel of my car to look for the lost glove (oh yes, I regularly drive around five messy children), he couldn't be late for work and they would dock his pay! Another mind you: He is salaried and still has five days vacation this year.

End result was he took the crying child (had to carry him) to the car. DH had a physical yesterday and I have to deliver some sort of sample which required bathroom work. Are we both dealing with each others shit? I hate that word, but it is fitting in this instance.

I am hosting a combined birthday party for my daughters' tomorrow at 4:00 - I have to do a general clean, spot clean my carpet, go to two grocery stores, take the little ones to the Y, deliver DH's "specimen", AND bake a cake and cook three Italian dishes for the dinner. AND I shopped for gifts because my father can't shop for kids who are turning 10 and 11, I have to wrap those gifts plus do some sort of decorating amidst the Christmas stuff. Oh yes, I am my mother's paid dog walker (15 minutes for $5 - again, dealing with poop).

Oh a happier shit note, I am delivering to Salvation Army's truck in the Walmart parking lot several bags of shit. Worthless items that I don't need or want. On a good note, I am delivering to a friend albuterol for a nebulizer that we won't use (we have three month supply and our pulmonologist worked miracles with our asthma management for DD11).

Well, I am off to face my day of ... an endless list of To-Dos!

Thanks for listening. I am still not happy, but at least it is off my chest, out of my mind, and my thoughts are floating to you thru cyber-space!

I was in a snit yesterday when I posted about a conversation pertaining to gift-giving in my family this season.

I need to preface this by saying that I spend time perseverating over gifts. Is it the right color? Will it be liked? Will is go with home color schemes? Etc.

Yesterday I came across a very nice sweater that I gave to my brother for his birthday three years ago - tags still on it. It was in a pile of things she was donating to the thrift store. My brother wanted my mother to return it to Eddie Bauer (there was a $68 price tag on it - though I know I bought it on sale online for far less than that) and she apparently never made it there and the item was forgotten. Mind you, I just purchased another sweater for my brother for Christmas.

I purchased my mother a really nice cashmere sweater from Kohls for $30 down from $100. Yesterday my mother complained about how the cheap cashmere from China is itchy.

I was somewhat disheartened after that and then there was the whole whammy of the conversation that followed, which I posted.

My family is in the same situation as my brother and my parents. We lost $50K since the market tanked, my parents more than that, my brother has no money invested. I try to balance the budget and buy gifts for everyone which are nice, while trying to stretch to cover my own kids. And I don't think that my kids need to be receiving tons of gifts that aren't really meaningful. And I believe that my family gives gift to one another because it is expected. Guess what, I am not expecting anything from anyone. And I am adjusting the expectations I place on myself.

What I took away from the responses yesterday is that I shouldn't worry whether or not I will be receiving a gift. I TOTALLY agree. What hurt my feelings was that gift in a box three years later. Guess what? The sweater that I purchased this year is going back.

My brother's household shall be getting a "family" gift - probably a gift basket with a board game, box of candy, home-made cookies, hot chocolate mix, maybe a gift card for the local discount theatre for admission for the three of them.

Same thing for my parents, though they aren't board game people. They're getting a framed photo of the kids, gourmet coffee from the Boys Scout Wreath Sales and some coffee mugs. A gift card somewhere too.

Ditto for the inlaws.

I want to enjoy the specific religious aspect of the Season, and unfortunately got bogged down by consumer-ism.

Doesn't help that I am PMS-ing as well.

My mother to me: In the future, your brother wants to forego buying gifts for one another and buy only for "the kids".

Me: This year included?

Mother: I don't know. He said "the future".

Me: Is ****** (his live-in girlfriend's 15 year old daughter - status of relationship is questionable) deemed a "kid"?

Mother: I am not quite sure.

Me: Did he elaborate on his plans? Like a dollar limit? $10 per child. If he spends $50 on all of my children, am I supposed to spend $50 to be equitable on *******?

Mother: You know, I'm not really sure.

Me: Did he say anything about buying gifts for you?

Mother: I think he just doesn't want to shop.

Me: I think he just doesn't have the money to spend.

Mother: I'm not sure.

Me: What should I do with the gifts I got them (brother, live-in girlfriend, her daughter)?

Mother: Give them as gifts at Christmas.

Me: I'm not sure I want to do that, given the uncertainty of the plans.

Mother: Maybe you should talk to your brother.

Me: But he was the one that brought it up to you. He could have talked to me as well.

Mother: I'm not sure ...

As we were heading out of town for three days (two nights), I decided to turn OFF the heat. Not down. Off. Competely off. I figured that DH might not remember to turn the heat down, so I simply turned it off.

Fast forward to Saturday night. There are five tired children under the age of 11 who are cranky and cold. The house temperature is 53 degrees. Certainly not cold enough for us to freeze to death.

My DH just said "And what kind of frugal trick is this?" To that I simply said, "Well, I thought it was a good idea".

Happily we have a fireplace in the family room. DH had a blazing gas fire up and running in a few minutes and we had to take all the comforters off the bed pull out the sleeping bags for a slumber party.

My 9 year old muttered "This would almost be fun if I wasn't so cold and if we had marshmallows."

Maybe next time we go away in the winter, I will leave it set at 63.