Aiden Savings

I'm stalking our bank account. haha not really just working on our monthly budget and plan since this is an expensive month! With the new roof and gutters, Aiden's birthday party, and my beloved Spring/Summer consignment sale...there is a lot more going out this month than the norm so I want to make sure I have the numbers correct. I'm all about keeping those excel spreadsheets up to date. Since I am in charge of finances for our household it's important, and if anyone else has that responsibility it does suck at times....when you look at those big bills (car, house, hospital, house improvements) and think OMG are these ever going away?! haha But it's so satisfying when you reach that last payment on something. HALLELUJAH! We've got a couple of those this year and I truly look forward to it. Paying off our new dryer and vapor barrier under the house. Now I'm able to shift that allotted month to other improvements.

But as we have money going out its definitely important we keep money in, because as we know there are those unexpected. Furnace dying on us, a $2500 hospital bill, etc. We may not get take fancy trips or going out to eat every month or go to the movies (hella expensive these days), but having that extra gives us the ability to upgrade on a few things. And trust me we do still splurge on ourselves, we do get things that aren't a necessity (movie channels, new clothes, video games, redbox movies). But it makes the times where we do go out more special.

Luckily we live in a town that has free events all the time. Art Festivals, Kid Events, BBQ Festivals, Charity Events, etc. So that REALLY helps! Gives us the ability to go do FUN things with only spending money on gas and maybe one meal. Can't beat that. Savings.

Back before Aiden was born we setup a Savings account for him. And every month since then we stash $150 away for him and Wes' parents contribute a $100. Then at every tax return we put in $200. So by the time he is 18 we will have $57,600. This money we are going to use for his college fund, either tuition or board/food. The one thing I'm thankful for that I never had to deal with because of my awesome parents was student loans. I don't want Aiden to deal with them either as I'm currently making a payment toward Wes'...can't wait for that last payment to arrive (3 more years hurry up! haha) If we do have to pay for his tuition out of pocket those first 2 years I'm going to urge him to go to a community college, because it's only basic classes (ENG, HIST, MATH, etc) and there is no need to pay the 4 year instituion rate for those kinda classes. But I'm not going to hold him back if he does want to go to one, which will more than likely be an out-of state school (I def can't see him going to UT! lol) which kills me...bye bye money! haha

So I guess the moral of this post is SAVE, appreciate what you have, and PLAN. You'd be surprised what you can do!