Vowing to spend less means doing so much more

For the first time since the weekend, I am sitting on the couch with the lap top, TV on and a Shiner in my hand. The kids are outside playing in the hose.

And I am relaxed......

Really. 

It's ironic. This summer I vowed to spend the lowest amount possible on summer activities. I did--seriously, I have spent about 1/4 what I usually spend. Yet, the insanely cheap activities the kids are doing seem to have about triple the time commitment. Really.

A very cheap small town track club is three days a week--2 hours each time.

Community theater ranges from 3 to 6 days a week--anywhere from 2 to 5 hours each time.

Vacation Bible School for the whole week, always cheap.

Swim lessons from an awesome friend for about 1/2 what everyone else charges--four times a week, four weeks.

And this leaves me amazingly pleased and tired all at the same time. I am thrilled to have found such great alternative activities for the kids I don't feel like I should complain at all. So I won't.

I'll just lift up this Shiner and wish you all a very fun-filled summer and a bit of advice--check out the cheap and free stuff your hometown offers, if you haven't. I promise--you will be shocked and thrilled all at once.