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Monday, July 20, 2009

Balancing Billls and Fun

I am once again forelorn over bills and the lack of money to pay them :( My husband is working hard I am stretching every dollar and beating every penny, but he just doesnt make enough to live on. (Notice I DID NOT say "earn")

We have a birthday every month during Summer (sometimes 2.) This summer is not bringing about huge celebrations but I DID want to do something special. Our babies first birhtday
kind of came and went. A dear friend met us at an amazing park
and brought cupcakes.

Good Good times deserving of thier own post..watch for it :)

We traveled to a Farmers Market a few towns over (I had gift certificates) and walked and talked and found our way into a toy store. My husband fell in love with a train table. My toddler cried to leave it. Do you know how much those things are?? Put that out of your mind. Not going to happen. We don't have room, in this house busting out of its seams and the babies don't have a room. No way no how.

SOOOOO....I was wandering around the local GoodWill and under a pile of furniture...


A TRAIN TABLE....... for $7.99.


Sounds like a no brainer huh? But, I didn't have $7.99. Not if I was going to buy food (and gas) for the week with the $45.00 in the bank....I went back and looked at it twice. My husband went and looked at it once. Neither of us wanted to be the one to spend the money and then not have it for food.....and where would we put it? We thought and thought. We thought of amazing and ridiculous ideas....finally:


I had some other great "luck" recently:

brand new for $2.99 (my son has since worn them :)

and this little pretty
Can you see all the distressing and detail? for ninety nine cents?
Yep! 99 cents for this little guy
who LOVES this guy:

CowBoy Dan

I feel so blessed. These finds weren't becasue I am so smart and saavy and they weren't just luck. They were obviously so much more and I dont ever want to take that for granted. I am hoping for a post very soon about a blessing or a celebration that isn't prefaced with my worry and guilt. I want to be both a good steward of all that I've been given AND trusting and in the moment.

You can check out more thrifty fun at :








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25 comments:

Rachelle said...

I like it! It's like a coffee table the whole family can enjoy.

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Hi, Kathy, so sorry you are having such a hard time, but I love your outlook on things. Hang in there, glad you found some treasures.

Sue said...

Kathy, Your two boys look like they're enjoying your purchase.I hope everything works out well for you.
:-) Sue

Rose said...

7.99? that is an awesome deal!

Miss G said...

I like the way you wrote this. Thanks for sharing the real life. Kelly

Nicole A. said...

What awesome finds!! 7.99 for a train table rocks! My 7 month old is named Gabriel, such a beautiful name! Love the little shirt, so cute!

ThriftyAnnabella said...

So glad to hear that you were blessed with just what you were looking for.

Helen Joy said...

I grew up the oldest of 5 children. We homeschooled and moved around a lot. We seriously didn't have enough money sometimes to eat. But God provided every single time. And He still does. I'm so glad you got to get the train table! I'm sure a lot of little boys will get a lot of fun out of that!

MiriamR said...

that train table will bring years of fun so it is a great investment! I am glad you have a great outlook on life. Hang in there!

★Carol★ said...

I'm so glad you bought the train table! The fun your kids will have with it will be priceless! Hang in there. I hope good and prosperous times are coming your way, because I can tell, you and your family deserve it!!

Melissa said...

Kathy~what great finds! I hope better financial times are ahead, but it sounds like He's looking out for you and put some treasures in your path. :)

Jen said...

Our baby Gabriel will turn 1 on August 2!

Jen said...

Hi Kathy! I stumbled in from a SITS link and I am so glad to have found you! I have 4 children, Im a Christian, and I love finding a good deal too. Your train table has inspired me to get one for our living room! My youngest son turns 2 in October, and has declared a love for Thomas the Train! I will put you in my blogroll, and would love to know if you get a minute to stop by my blog!

Heather @ Simple Wives said...

What a great deal on the train table!!!

The Redhead Riter said...

Love the sign!

Enjoy a Tremendous Thursday!!!

Mommy Bear said...

I'm so sorry you are going through such a rough time right now. I know exactly how you feel. We are in the same situation. I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers. I'm so glad you got the train table. That was such a great deal!

Eileen said...

Stopping by for the first time from SITS. Love your blog! You are such a great bargain hunter. Good deals!

Night Owl Mama said...

SCORE!! great buy on the train table I actually pasted one up for 10 bucks cause I didn't have room to get it home in the truck Sad
Happy birthday to your little ONE

Stopping by from the SITs to say HELLO

Anonymous said...

I know how you feel with the birthdays! We start the first day of spring and finish the first day of Fall. I'm all birthday's out by then. Whew! What great finds! My husband made our train table. He did such a great job!

Everything's a real walk in Faith right now for us, too. Let's be in agreement that God is taking care of everything in perfect timing!

Be blessed!

http://www.papermoonies.blogspot.com said...

oh Kathy boy do I understand your plight. Been there a few times with the hubs and kids. I am not beyond dumpster diving to this day. And I love curb finds. And I love the freebee section of the paper! Yard sales too, with a needs list in hand so you get what you need only and no more. The train table was a blessing from God which I am sure your certain of.
God is good and so are you
Blessings
Brittany
http://www.papermoonies.blogspot.com

Tania @ Larger Family Life said...

Your kids are so cute!

Unknown said...

Great items, lovely family :)

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Hi from N Ireland.

Summer said...

I love thrifting! Half my closet are gems from the thrift store!

Nice work!

Unknown said...

first you have a beautiful family! second I love my local goodwill! that was a genious idea of turning the table into a coffee table...kinda justifys the exspense...you found some awesome bargains!

Christine H. said...

That's such a cool story.