What I've taught my children

As I was driving DS2 to a birthday party Friday night in the new vehicle, we're ooing and awing over things it had that my 2000 van did not have. Then he says "Now I won't be embarrassed to drive around". He's 12. I honestly was floored.

Now there was nothing horridly awful about my old van. It did not have giant rust spots, nor dents. It did not belch smoke or make odd noises. It was just needing between $500 and$1000 in repairs a year and it was time to cut the strings because the van wasn't worth much more than that at a dealer.

This is the same son who has asked why he doesnt have a cell phone when all his classmates do. Why t heir houses are giant and ours isn't. Why they get to go to hawaii or mexico every year and we don't.

I am sure I perpetuated a big part of this with my own whining, which I've worked really hard on deleting. We had a big talk about money and debt and credit cards after he came home from the party. I am not sure if I got through to him, but it certainly was an eyeopener for me.

Our children really DO listen. One must be careful what one incidentally teaches them.

Money Jars - Month 5

Dining out - only 21.8% saved. I swear I eat out too much. sigh. I just love food.

Gas - 50% saved. no road trips so that helped. Every little bit I am saving to put towards my plates/insurance due at the end of August.

Household - 50% saved. I scoped out prices for a sectional for downstairs. Holy I'll be years saving if I just use this money.

May - 33% saved. It's not that I have bought anything special for myself. Just a high month replenishing make up, shampoo, hair products etc

Groceries - sadness. totally. 6% saved.

Monthly Progress

Where the money stands

June 1st

Debts
Mortgage - $39,269.58
Consolidated Loan - $10,157.05
Total Debt - $49,426.63

SavingsChristmas Savings - $1000
Emergency Fund - $1000
New Van Downpayment - $2500.00

This will totally be different for July 1st with the new vehicle purchase!

wheee

It's here it's here! my new vehicle is here! I feel so rich AND so poor. and paranoid I'll get hit.

The next step

I will seal the deal tomorrow on a brand new vehicle. I am very excited as I've never had a brand new vehicle. I am getting a Torrent so I am slowly moving away from the land of minivan :P It's a huge amount of money. I can afford the new payments and the old ones on a personal loan but you can bet your ass I will be putting every red cent down to pay off first the old loan, then snowball it onto the new vehicle loan.