(At the end of this post are some questions about really important matters like Easter egg dye. Would you please leave your response in the comments? That would be nice.)
As you can see by the picture above, spring is heavy in the air around here. The sunshine is shining, the kids are playing outside, and we have new sidewalk chalk.
The new sidewalk chalk has a story behind it. Or, a story closely related to it, that is.
While at Target getting some milk, sidewalk chalk and new flip-flops for the kids, I wandered into the Spring aisle. Why did I wander into the Spring aisle? Mostly because a trip to Target isn’t complete without some wandering.
Has anyone else noticed how Target has a knack for transforming their entire store to fit a theme? A theme, which you, incidentally, are probably shopping for that day? Case in point: just a few weeks ago I was in Target shopping for some luggage-type staples to help our kids travel to California. It’s like the masterminds at Target had read my mind. I discovered aisles of cute kid suitcases and snack bags and TSA-approved liquid bottles.
Just when I would think, “Oh, but Target doesn’t have any of those little purses I could carry around Disney that conveniently strap across my front and make my cell phone easy to access…” I would turn around to find another aisle of purses JUST LIKE THAT.
This is the reason moms spend hundreds of dollars more at Target than we intend to–because the store does away with every other unneeded product to use its valuable square feet for exactly what you need.
It’s a racket.
Anyway. Sorry for the tangent.
Next to the aisles (and aisles!) of cute spring flip-flops and sidewalk chalk was the Easter stuff. Lined up in all its pastel beauty was every kind of Easter egg dye a mama could hope for. Dye to make scented Easter eggs, kits to make eggs featuring white-crayon murals, and packages that promised the brightest Easter eggs ever.
Suddenly I remembered a conversation I had with my mom about thirty years ago. I was just about Catie’s age and at the grocery store with her. Gerlands in Galveston surely didn’t have a Target-sized selection of dye, but there were lots of kinds to chose from.
I said, “How do you know which one to pick?”
And my mom said, “You know how I chose things. I always buy the cheapest one.”
Over all the years of buying Easter Egg dye for my dorm room friends, for M and I to use, and now for my kids, I’ve never bought the cheapest dye. In the back of my mind, I’ve believed that the more expensive the dye, the better the Easter eggs. Or, in other words, I’m a sucker for marketing. I’ve been happy to pay two-times for the promise that this specific dye might deliver a brighter-colored Easter egg.
I’ve believed that I NEED a brighter Easter egg.
Friends, I think I’m growing up. Or, at least, I’m starting to learn how to save a little money.
You see, lately, M and I have been sticking to a budget. Which is crazy because I’ve never really even tried a budget. I haven’t tried a budget because I’ve always believed I’d be terrible at it.
But in January, the two of us sketched out how we could save some money for big purchases we want to make. And here’s the crazy thing: I’ve been sticking to it. I’ve not only become the person who buys the cheapest Easter egg dye, I’ve become the mom who makes dinner at home rather than making reservations. I’ve become the person who shops in my own closet rather than at Boden.com. I’ve become the person who carries snacks rather than going through drive-thrus.
Who is this person?
Really, the Easter egg dye story is just a small example of how my relationship with money and stuff is changing. And, at the risk of turning a trip to Target into an epiphany from God, I believe my new spending habits have to be from Him. Only He could help me say no to new boots for the rodeo, new kitchen tools (my weakness), and the most expensive Easter egg dye.
So, that’s the shopping-at-Target, budget, Easter egg dye news around here.
What about you? Do you have a budget? Do you stick to it? Do you pray for God to help you to stick to it? Which Easter Egg dye do you buy? Do you ever feel like you’re turning into your mother? Do you think Target does a theme better than any other store?
1. Yes, I have been creating a budget for the past 2 months (Dave Ramsey style), and yes it’s taken me two months just to figure out how to do it, so, no we haven’t stuck to it yet because again, the two months of making it. Ask me again in April.
2. Yes, Budgeting is hard for us and it’s a constant prayer for me. Just read Kisses for Katie and you’ll want to give all your possessions away and never be concerned about money.
3. I go with the middle-ground egg dye. I stayed away from the $5.00 BIG KIT, and skipped the off brand white box that was only 98 cents and instead went with the $1.99 one that offered 8 colors instead of 5.
4. Yes, all the time. Ask Kenny – he’s always getting a little taste of Gloria.
5. And yes, again. I just gave Target $100 all because of Spring fever.
Jen,
All of your answers made me smile. You turning into your mother made me laugh. Thanks for responding. And sticking to a budget–even though you’re really rich with your new job.
I think the last time I bought an Easter Egg dye kit was when they first came out with the fancy swirl ones that looked really cool. Generally I stick with food coloring and vinegar (no kit required!), or simply re-fill the 500 leftover plastic eggs we have from previous years. Yes, we have a budget. And I’m not totally certain if I’m turning into my mom or my dad. Depends on the day.
Your dad, Amy. Clearly.
Huh. Food coloring and vinegar? Really? Next you’ll be telling me we can make our own pb&j at home instead of buying those Smuckers Uncrustables.