Whew. Hello! Miss me?
I can personally attest that the longer you stay off the saddle, the harder it is to get back on. Lots of things going on: new routines with John back home; kids getting ready to finish school; me writing checks and throwing money around like it’s going out of style — either that, or we’re trying to make up for the lost time while we were rolling our first debt snowball down the mountain, I’m not sure which.
What have I been doing with my time and spending money on? Well, let’s see…
Among other things, I’ve been taking my daughter to get her dance pictures taken. And changing her in and out of three different costumes: ballet; tap; and jazz.
And taking my daughter to dance rehearsal. And changing her in and out of four different costumes: ballet; tap; jazz; and a costume for a skit from a scene in Annie.
Little Orphan Olivia
And taking my daughter to dance recital. And changing her in and out of four costumes — again. Don’t forget the hair and makeup. I don’t even wear (much) makeup. As I was putting hers on and fighting frustration when the mascara kept clumping, it occurred to me that it was probably over a year old… LAST year when we used it. And doing her hair…? Well, let’s not even go there. Suffice to say, I used no less than 17 bobby pins to get those wispies to stay in some semblance of a “bun” (I know: we counted them as I took them out) — along with about $5 worth of hair spray. I need some kind of tutorial on How To Get Thin, Fly-Away Hair To Stay in a Bun, because this won’t be the last time this mom finds herself the designated Hair and Makeup Person.
Yes, she eats this stuff up. I tell you, we’re just getting started with this girl. And it’s not going to be cheap. I just ran the numbers…
The cost of one season (nine months) of dance lessons: $1,010.00
The cost of three pairs of dance shoes: $54.52 (I scored some tap shoes at the thrift store for $3.) (The exact size that she needed.) (That’s like, a miracle.)
The cost of theater classes: $157.00
The cost of (three) costumes: $157
(Yes, the costumes cost the same as the theater classes.) (And no, I never realized that until just now.)
Total: $1,378.52
And no, that’s not the only thing I’ve been spending money on; it’s just been the funnest thing. An update on our debt progress is forthcoming. But I’m telling you: It’s just not much fun now that our initial snowball is gone and everything else is on hold until this house is sold. Any available cash is going into savings, waiting to find out if it needs to come to a closing table — for when the house sells. Which it will. For now, at least, I’m glad we aren’t having to move anywhere — yet.
More from Jolyn
Yakezie Posts
- The Biggest IPOs of All Time By Eric
- Drink Water – It’s Cheap and Frugal By Mrs. Accountability
- My House Poor Scale By Crystal @ BFS
- The Ideal Body Weight: Finally Losing The Last 10 Pounds By Financial Samurai
- Broke People – Stop Giving Me Financial Advice! By Roshawn Watson
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Phew! Our dance recital is coming up this weekend. Only 1 number and 1 costume for us. I cut her hair last week and I am kicking myself for not waiting until after the recital. No way I am getting it into a bun now.
I’ve not calculated what I spent on activities. It’s a good excercise. Scary, though.
[Reply]
jolyn Reply:
June 9th, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Blogging about it is what motivates me to calculate the cost of these things. I’ve been sticking my head in the sand way too long! But it is worth it — the cost, that is.
[Reply]
I feel your pain. Only in my case it was dance, soccer, basketball, softball and cheerleading, for 3 daughters! Okay the older 2 didn’t dance, but everything else!! I could retire on the money spent on all those activities!! But it WAS worth it. Kept them out of trouble and we enjoyed it so much.
[Reply]
jolyn Reply:
June 9th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
I do think it’s worth it. For me, I’m not calculating the cost to try to talk myself out of spending so much; rather, to acknowledge the cost and recognize that it is a choice I’m making instead of just blindly throwing money around and never facing the full weight of it.
Would you believe that kids around here already get into cheerleading by first and second grade? That I did steer away from. I’m just not seeing that type of investment — money and time — already at this age. I do wonder how many parents pay several thousands of dollars for their kids’ activities every year and then have nothing set aside to help them pay for college…
[Reply]
Oh girl, you need a sock bun!!
http://www.squidoo.com/sock-bun
I also read the related post and I can say it IS worth it!! I danced for 13 years and its my favorite part of my childhood, and I wanted to be a dance teacher but Im not even gonna get into why that didn’t happen. I’m so excited to start my daughter in dance this fall!
[Reply]
jolyn Reply:
June 9th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
That is so good to hear! I never did take anything like dance, but I totally see the value in it and want that for my daughter, so long as she does. Was there ever a time growing up when you wanted to quit? But you’re glad you didn’t?
And thank you SO MUCH for the link! I had no idea! I’m so going to try a sock-bun next time around.
[Reply]