Spin Cycle: Saving for our future, today!

(Give Away! Last Day! Today! Don't delay!)

I want another baby. I want another baby badly. I am not to be trusted around newborns in general for I tend to hold them a little too long, not share with the other family members, wasting that heady aroma of "newborn smell" on my own nostrils* before (grudgingly) having the infant torn from my grasp handing over the child to his or her parents. (Still sorry about that, Ryan and Karibay!)

John wants to wait and has his objections on Fast Play. "The economy." "The economy." "The eco-" Don't even utter another syllable, John. I know. We've had the talks, weighed the "what if's", discussed the seasonal migration of the retirees that descend upon our community every November through April. (The retirees ARE related to our discussion. If I were due in the winter time, we would have to redirect the hospital route. We consider ALL the options.)

So, in order to swing the vote my way (and just because his vote CAN swing, that does not give him leverage), I have devised a list of ways to save money with a new baby in an effort to give him some assurance about how having another baby will not put us into the poor house (or poor-ER house).

1. We will potty train Sprite before the baby is born. Since we're only in the talking stages of negotiations, we really have no idea when the second Sprite will be a twinkle in my eye, so since the first (and right now only) Sprite is in the throes of potty training now, she will (hopefully) be fully trained and without diapers by the time the next tushy needs them. That will save us between $20 and $50 a month, depending on how small a bladder we're dealing with.

2. I will not quit my job. I can't confirm whether or not the economic times will keep me employed, but I can guarantee you here and now, I will not voluntarily quit my job. (It totally counts.)

3. We will reduce our eating out expenses. I can learn how to cook! More crockpot meals to cover more nights! Or, if we have to eat out some nights, we'll bring our own milk for Sprite. Charging 2 bucks for moo juice when the kid may or may not decide her straw is worth more as a toy than a sipping device is a lot of money compared to the twenty cents I can pour into a sippy cup to bring with us. And kids meals. Pshaw! She can completely share my or your meals. She doesn't even eat that much. I know you'll argue back that she may not like what we order. Just put some ketchup on it. She'll eat it.

4. We'll save in daycare costs too. Yes, I know a newborn costs about $200 a week at our daycare, but a second child will result in a discount. And you know I love a good discount. Have a baby to get a discount? Sure!

5. I will reduce the number of children I want from three to two. That's right, John. I am willing to compromise and I only want two children for now. And seeing how raising just one child can be expensive, I've pretty much saved you a million dollars right there! You're welcome.

Okay, John. I've said my piece. Don't you see the potential savings of having another baby? Sure, we have to put out a lot of money for diapers, clothing, daycare, added mileage on the car, and possibly some therapy sessions for Sprite once she realizes the world does not revolve around her alone, but look at all the possible savings! Give a little to get a little!

-All right, folks. I wrote this post this afternoon during my lunch hour and then came home to a cryptic message on our machine. "At your next earliest convenience (Verbatim!), please call Creditors Financial at XXX-XXX-XXXX, extension XXXX." No information about why they were calling, who they were calling for, just enough information to make my overactive imagination begin to panic. Ironic, since I had just finished putting together a proposal on why we should add another baby to the mix. John and I tried to think of what we could possible owe to have a debt collector calling our home. I finally decided to just call. Turns out they had the wrong number, but at least we know our credit scores are good! 

*Most people this side of 26 years old remember when Strawberry Shortcake came out with the scented figurines back in the early 80's. My sister had one and whenever I would try for a sniff, she told me only to inhale once and if I inhaled too deeply, she would shriek, "Jenny, no! You're gonna take all the smell! You're ruining it!" She thought the figurine had a finite number of sniffs to its lifespan. Or, she was just being a typical older sister. I'm still not sure..

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Reading the following Spins and save a ton of money! Boost your credit score! Control your spending while spending quality time with these bloggers who care enough about you to share their best cost cutting secrets to help you get through these tough economic times. (Disclaimer: Reading these Spins may not actually save you money, boost your credit score, or control your spending. Results are atypical.)

Laufa over at Morgan Madness

Twisted Cinderella over at Happily Ever After...My Way

Shawna over at Stop The Train, I Wanna Get Off... -New to the Spin Cycle!

Wanna be amazed? I found this post on Shawna's site too!

Bex over at Adventures of the Grigg Boys -Song Spin!

Shangrila over at My Bella Figlia -Song Spin!

Michele over at It's A Dog's Life 

Kirst over at My Life for the World To See 

Bex over at Adventures of the Grigg Boys 

Alison over at Allinole 

Phhhst over at Pseudonymous High School Teacher 

Jan over at Jan's Sushi Bar 

Casey over at Half As Good As You 

HeatherPride over at Riding the Short Bus 

Debbie over at Buzzin' By 

Thistle over at Thistles and Maple Leaves 

DeeMarie over at My Life In A Nutshell

Carrie over at Cole Pack

Rachel over at The Ramblings of Rachel

Rikki over at Cowgirls Like Me

Wicked Step Mom over at Life and Times of a Wicked Step Mom -Updated today! Fresh Spin!

Jen over at Coconut Belly -Updated today! Fresh Spin!

Heather over at Geez Louise!!! -Updated today! Fresh Spin!

Jen over at Whoa My Horses -Updated today! Fresh Spin!

Ginger over at When Ginger Snaps... -Updated today! Fresh Spin!

What a week for Wall Street and the Spin Cycle! Thanks again for all the tips!

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Next week's assignment: Love.

Next Saturday is Valentine's Day. Romance is in the air, roses are being ordered by the dozens, chocolates are being packaged in big heart shaped boxes to prove that love is measured in calories. (And butter fat. Definitely in butter fat.)

What's your Spin on Love? Like it? Hate it? Love it? Spin it up and serve it here!

It can be anything to do with love. Now doesn't that just warm your heart?

We would love to see you back here next Friday for the next Spin Cycle!

Comments

[Casey]

I'm on your side in this one.. you need another kid stat. Need me to talk to John? Plus, Sprite is so great with her dolls that she might even be old enough to babysit when the kid gets here. Free childcare! ;)

[Laufa]

Take a look at Restaurant.com, so that when you do go out for food, it will some what cheaper

[i]

I soooooooooo want a baby too!!!!
I promised my mom I would be married first!

<3

[Laufa]

Here is my Love Fest -
http://morganrnl.blogspot.com/2009/02/all-you-need-is-love.html

[jen]

i spun (for cash) ...
here ...
http://coconutbelly.blogspot.com/2009/02/spinning-for-cash.html

[jen]

and then i went back and read ...
my post might just help ya too!
i'm begging for a third. jeremy wants another year (or so). as far as i'm concerned, he said yes.
it's so worth every minute and penny seeing your favorite little person in a big person role.

[HeatherPride]

Believe me, it took some smooth talking on my side before Skip would agree to have another one. I hope it works out for you! Something tells me it will....once those maternal baby-coveting hormones kick in, the men don't stand a chance!

[carrie]

I love a fellow :justifier:
I can justify ANYTHING!!!

[Michele]

If you could promise to pass down Sprite's clothes (girl or boy) that would help with expenses. You're budgeting for therapy anyway.

[Heather]

I'm really late today....here's my spin...and have fun "making" baby number 2!!!

http://www.geezlouize.com/2009/02/lesson-for-the-daydont-answer-the-phone/

[K]

Good luck with the plan for baby 2. Maybe you can use the arguement that college aid calcalation include the number of kids in college so if they over lap during the college years you actually save money? So maybe that's a stretch, but I'm trying here.

[Lisa @ Boondock Ramblings]

Money is only part of Hubby's argument for not having another baby. The other part is that he thinks we only need one. Got any arguments for that? I have a few, but dang, he is just not listening.

I think your ideas as great, by the way. I can't wait to read about you being pregnant with No. 2, but I swear, it had better not be before I am because then I'll...well, have to live vicariously through you and just be downright jealous.

(Seriously, good luck with the convincing, etc.)

[Captain Dumbass]

There's always some excuse not to have a baby, just do it.

[Ginger]

I hope I'm not too late to get in for the Dollars and Sense Spin!

http://gingereebs.wordpress.com/2009/02/06/home-entertainment-or-how-to-survive-when-youre-broke/#comments

[mrsbear]

Don't forget the tax deductions. That new baby will actually bring in some cash, granted it's in the form of your own tax payer money being returned to you, but still...I hope you get that new baby soon, they really do smell divine.

[bex]

mrs bear has an excellent point.

(i can't believe i am going to say this) i'm with captain dumbass here. there's never a "right time" to have a baby. you will never have enough money saved or earned. you will never feel stable enough. don't you know this by now?

i have two and i think that's the perfect number of kids. so go, get yourself knocked up, already!

[Pseudo]

I'm with the Captain on this one. My husband was putting on the brakes for our second child. I wanted them to be close enough in age to grow up together.

I told my mom one day how he wanted us to save X amount more money for our downpayment on a home we were saving for. she said, "you're never going to have enough money if you look at it that way. You're never ready enough. Just do it."

[Shangrila]

Oh! I want a baby, too! I'd never considered how a new baby could save money-I'll have to use that reasoning with my husband-lol! Loved your post-here's my LATE recession/money spin:

http://mybellafiglia.blogspot.com/2009/02/spin-cycle-money-matters.html

[Cameron]

You forgot the ever important $1000 tax credit...if you time it right and have Sprite II in say, December, you still get the $1000. Food for thought.

[blissfully caffeinated]

Oh, I have baby fever too. When I see an infant my uterus twitches and starts nudging me. Almost like it's saying, "Look at that baby. You could have one too. Don't let your last few truly fertile years go to waste." And then I tell my uterus to kindly SHUT UP. I have two already, and that's probably enough for us. But man I still want to hold another sweet smelling little baby in my arms.

[Jenny]

I want another, too! Hubby doesn't want more, but my mothering urges are taking over!

[Casey]

Woot woot, I didn't forget! http://halfasgoodasyou.com/?p=3827
Tomorrow at 6, baby!

[Mo]

Loving on some love.

http://thedailysnark.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/whats-love-got-to-do-with-it/