Category Archives: Trips

My Philosophy on Money

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Money is hard for me to wrap my brain around.

I know I need it to live, buy things, and enjoy life, but I don’t always know for sure how I’m going to do all of these things. I just do the best I can and it seems to work.

One reason why I think money is hard for me is because I’m not a number gal. I’m not good at Math, I don’t speak the language, I mean basics yes, but I’ve always struggled with remembering numbers.

Let me share an example; when I go to the store to buy bananas they have a price. The labeled price may be higher or lower than the last time, best price or average price. I would never know the difference. I don’t know how much bananas sell for. If I need bananas, I buy them. I know this sounds weird, like I never shop, but I do. I should know, but I don’t. Even right now I have no idea how much they are and I don’t care. Maybe that’s why I don’t know or pay attention, is because it’s not important to me. Interestingly enough. For years when I would make a trip to the store for some groceries, my total, without adding or counting what I had in the cart was almost always around $70-$75. No kidding! Yes, I bought a lot of the same or similar things but not always. If we needed it, I just bought it and if we didn’t I didn’t. I’m very frugal anyway and always have been. Now my average is more like $100-$120. Still that’s not much compared to what most people spend.

I don’t really like to shop for clothes much. I love to thrift! One of the funnest things about thrifting is the hunt. Looking for a treasure! “One man’s garbage is another man’s (or woman’s) treasure,” is truth. Something about buying a used item, and it’s still usable makes my heart happy.

I would also consider myself very humble as far a my looks go. Honestly I’m just an average looking gal. I went to cosmetology school when I was young, and still have my license, but I don’t spent much on myself. I remember my teachers in school telling us that what we do is enhance or compliment the natural beauty. What that tells me is blue hair, super long nails, and incredibly long and thick eyelashes are not natural. I have are hard time spending money on things that are not necessary, and cost a ton. I know that lots of girls get hair extensions and they can cost thousands of dollars. I know that is not a good thing. I colored my hair for years. Then I didn’t want to pay someone to do it, so I taught my sweety how to do it. He struggle with it a little and I finally thought “Why?” I don’t care about having my hair colored, I’m getting older and I think I should act my age. So I quit. I was only spending about $10-$15 dollars a month on my hair, so I decided to donate $10/month to our churches Humanitarian Fund. It’s not much, but I feel better about that, and I have grown very fond of my gray hair.

As far as going on trips and adventures go, we are very careful about that. We are trying to prepare for retirement, and feel like we don’t want to struggle then. Paying extra on our house, doing some investing, and living frugal will hopefully make retirement happen. But we do have very generous people in our lives who are always blessing us with fun things to do. My best friend is a gem about letting us visit and enjoy fun times with them. My siblings have helped us go on sibling trips by sharing the financial responsibilities. We mostly just do visits with our friends and family close to home.

When the kids were little money was such a challenge, but we paid our tithing and still do, and we have never gone without. We were able to help 3 of kids serves LDS missions, and enjoyed a few trips a year to Bear Lake and Park City. My in-laws had a trailer at Bear Lake and a timeshare at Park City. We had so much fun and spent very little money.

To some up, I’d say my philosophy about money is respect it, what it can do for you, even if you live modestly. Always have a grateful heart. Like I told the kids years ago, not all blessings are financial. We have everything we need and we are very comfortable. We use only what we need, and share with others.

Doctrine and Covenants 78:19 And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.

God is good. Money is a necessary part of life, but when you careful and always grateful there is always enough!

L.A. On a Shoe String

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Back in 1990, my Dad had given us the opportunity to travel to Los Angeles for the wedding of a dear friend. He won airline tickets in a Handball Tournament and didn’t want to use them. So he gifted them to us so we could go. Sandy was my first companion and trainer when I was a missionary in Texas back in 1983-84. She was getting married in Los Angeles because the Oakland LDS Temple was closed for renovations. She lived in the Bay Area.

We were really in no position to go on a trip. Very little money, and small children we’d have to leave behind, were the main things that should have had us thinking twice about going. But…I love her, she’s my friend and we can just be so careful about spending and make it happen.

We decided to go! We loaded us our carry on luggage with snacks and got on the plane. A few things I should say about this trip are, the only definite things were- “But, she’s getting married Saturday in the LA LDS Temple, and we’re staying across the street in the Travel Lodge Motel!”

We had no idea how we were getting to the motel. We had no idea where, when or what we were going to eat. We had cash, a little. When the cash was gone, we didn’t have any other way of paying for anything. This is before credit cards, cell phones and all of the conveniences we enjoy today.

On the plane I sat by a guy who was going home from BYU. This usually means he’s a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He offered to take us to the motel from the airport. Wow! That was a miracle. I had found out he was traveling back to BYU the same day we were going home and I was hoping he’d offer to pick us up on his way. He didn’t. I thought, darn, but we’ll be ok.

We got to the motel and happened to see my friend, Sandy. She was staying at the motel too. It was right across the street from the temple so that made sense. We went to bed and got up early on Saturday for the wedding, and walked across the street. It was beautiful. They had a nice dinner after at a local restaurant.That was another miracle. We didn’t have to buy any food. When we got hungry we snacked on our snacks.

Sunday we went to church at the little chapel right next to the temple. It was very nice and fun to see how this tiny ward belted out the hymns. So much spirit!

Monday, Sandy had asked us on Saturday if we wanted to tag along with them to Disneyland for the day. We said yes! We had enough money. We rode together and then split up for most the day, after all they had just got married. That evening they treated us to a movie in a nice California Theatre. She said they are bigger and more amazing than the ones in Utah. We went and had a fun time.

When we flew home, I can’t even remember if it was Tuesday or Wednesday, but we knew we didn’t have enough money to get a taxi. We decided to ride the bus. It was something else. I wouldn’t even ride the bus in Utah, let alone in LA with luggage. Just to make sure I knew what to do, I called the LA Transit and talked to a really nice lady who gave me directions. Where to get on and all the particulars. The most important thing she said was, “Whatever you do, DON’T get off the bus.” I thanked her and we headed for the bus stop. We got on the bus and as we’re traveling I see things the lady told me I would see. I was feeling confident for a while, but then it felt like to much time had gone by. Then I saw a street sign. It was one that she must have mentioned . I thought maybe we are supposed to get off here, and go the other bus stop on that street. We get over there, running with our luggage and then I felt like I made a mistake. I called the LA Transit again. This nice lady answered and I tell her what I’m trying to do. She says, “I told you not to get off the bus!” I said, “I know, but I got confused when I saw the street sign.” She then proceeds to tell me that all the buses end up at the airport, eventually. Well, why didn’t she tell me that before. Haha. We got to the airport with moments to spare, running to catch our plane.

We made it to Salt Lake City where Brett’s dad was waiting to take us home.

We had $2 in our pockets.