people first, then money, then things

I’ll never forget shopping with boy2001 when he was about 3 years old.  We were in Target and he had a Little People playset in his hands and was looking at it in the cart.  We really didn’t want to buy it because he had so many little people already (thrift shops are stuffed with little people!!).

We told him that we had to budget and if he wanted X (can’t remember what it was) we’d have to wait on the little people set.  He was upset but didn’t put up much of a fuss and put it back.

Later on, Big B was looking at label makers (he LOVES office supplies)… we were talking about it and boy2001 said, “daddy, that’s not important, people are first”.  Of course he was talking about his little people, but it rang true for us in another way.  So that’s become our motto when we want something that we really don’t need or even want.

Suze Orman is one of my favorite finance personalities… her motto, “people first, then money, then things” haunts me many times when I go shopping.  Just keeping that in my head while shopping has saved me countless dollars.

This holiday season, keep an eye on the sales but also keep a tab on your credit lines and maybe keep to a budget.  It is really hard when things are on sale and you’re “saving”.  When you decide to purchase, come back and share your buyology with us.

 

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The cutest clothes for girls at Gymboree

I bought the cutest girl outfits at Gymboree over the weekend!

I bought everything in Miss N’s size 3, I figure I’m getting double bang for my buck, since Miss L will be along shortly in this size.

I got dresses, tights, hair accessories and shirts.  They had a additional 30% off for “friends and family”.

Gymboree

Technorati tags: gymboree, girl’s clothing, toddler dresses, shopping, clothing

Apple iPod

Another recent addition to our household in the last 6 weeks have been our new iPod nano(s).

I got one free from Key Bank for opening an account, that one became my husband’s.  He likes Motown and Luther Vandross with some hits from the eighties and rock, rap mixed in.

He bought me one as a surprise which he gave me a week before the other one came along.  I thought he’d intercepted the mail or something and spilled the beans about the one that was on it’s way from the Key Bank promo.

On my iPod you find great hits like, ok, so they are not ALL hits, but I love them just the same!!!

Diamond Girl by Stevie B

Be My Lover by La Bouche

Jam on It by Newcleus

The Message by Duke Bootee/Grandmaster Flash

Running Down a Dream by Tom Petty

Toxic by Britney Spears

Let the Music Play by Shannon

Jesus Walks by Kanye West

Walking in the Rain by Orange Juice Jones

My Heart Will go On by Celine Dion

Small Town by John Cougar Mellencamp

With Arms Wide Open by Creed

Feels Good Inc. by Gorillaz

Barbie Girl by Aqua

Anything Vanilla ICE

for a small sample, what’s on your iPod?

 Trivia — Which song did this quote come from, “now close your mouth ’cause you cold busted…” and “I gave you things I couldn’t even pronounce”.

TomTom 510

One of my favorite recent purchases for my husband was the TomTom 510.  We bought it in July, the excuse was a trip from Maine to North Carolina.  I tend to be on the low-tech end of the spectrum of life.  I like to travel light and not have to care for lots of gadgets, etc… but i have to confess this is now a need for me.

It is super easy to use and very easy to understand.  I love the independence it’s given me.  I no longer have to ask my husband what roads to take to get to places I’m not familiar with.  I’ve never been one for maps personally.  (In a strange twist, I am looking for an old one to put on the wall in a decorative manner.  I like the way the old blue looks.)

Now, I’m planning my very own trip in to Boston with the kids! I would have never considered doing that before, but now it seems possible and accessible.  If you haven’t got a navigation system, or are looking for one, TomTom is a great choice.

Yesterday, Miss N was crying because her brother has his leapster and she wants one.  I’m almost tempted to get her one of her own because she knows how to use his.  It is a lot of money to spend on a two year old, but we would just have to get the player because we have a game (and will buy more soon anyway) and we have the battery charger.  So if I save up enough Amazon gift certs, I will consider getting one of her own.

We got two DVD’s yesterday…

Strawberry Shortcake : Play Day Surprise

Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Fairy  Tales

A Unique & Exclusive Forum Where Professional Bloggers Share Their Secrets!

Blog Carnival!!  Blog Carnivals are great ways for bloggers to join together and gain some post exposure!

The great lady @      Mom Gadget    Gayla, has organized a fantastic schedule, and guess what?

                   Buyology is on it!

All you have to do is… write a post dissecting things that you bought for Christmas and post your link to the comments section.  You can describe the items, reactions, prices, where you got it… whatever!

http://buyology.wordpress.com

Dissect your holiday purchases:

* the most interesting thing you bought

* the most expensive

* the cheapest that brought the most pleasure

* the smallest

* the biggest

* the ______

 Deadline: December 29, 2006 I will then compile all the lists with links to your blogs.

Black Travel Dress @ Coldwater Creek $59

Doing your Christmas Shopping? Don’t forget to buy your Barefoot Books!

I also went to the Dollar Store today!

My prize find today was a DVD movie starring Todd Bridges, Art Carney, Sissy Spacek, Jane Wyatt, Julie Kavner and Henry Winkler.  A “Riveting Drama Inspired by True Events”.  The title:

KATHERINE 

So far, very good movie!!