July 13, 2010 by Christine
Micah and I say that we are “poor†now that I have quit my job to return to school full-time. To be sure, our annual income has decreased significantly. But still, we live in a gorgeous home, we can afford to eat well, and we are rich in love and experiences.
We will be cutting back on the extras these next two years. Still, some things are worth spending money on. Thought I would share some of the best dollars I have spent in the past 6 months. Forgive me if I have left off other exciting things that should have made the list.
$32: Earrings from Vespertine
In November last year I saw some earrings at Vespertine, my favorite little hand-crafted store in Pittsboro. I told Micah that they were all I wanted for Christmas, and that was true. I do not spend $32 on earrings for myself. But these were gorgeous: carnelian stones in a gentle gradient, trickling their way down hand-blackened silver chains. The next time I went to Vespertine, they were gone. I had the faint hope that Micah had purchased them for me... only to find out that they were already gone when he returned to get them.
I kept thinking about those earrings. For months. I visited Vespertine regularly, and one day when we went there, there they were! Another pair of those earrings! You have to keep in mind that these are not the kind of earrings where you can find 20 identical pairs at Kohls, but rather handmade pieces of art. Ginna had made another pair!
Pretty!
Micah asked me if I wanted them. I hesitated. So much money! Christine, do you want them? Yes. He bought them for me then and there. And they are delightful.
$7: Tears of Joy Tissue Holder
My good friend Rebecca and her husband Michael want to adopt a child. Adoption is mighty expensive! Did you know that adoption fees for a single child can range from $15,000 to $30,000+? Eeek! I had no idea how pricey it was.
So Rebecca, her Mother, and Grandmother, picked out fabric and made these little tissue holders that are available on Etsy. For $5 plus $2 shipping, I have a cute little tissue holder for my purse. (Because really, don’t you hate it when the tissues have been in your purse too long, and then they end up a crumbly mess?) Also, I am helping out a friend to pursue her goal of adopting a child. Win-win.
Oh, the composition! hehe...
An extra bonus: I was in a hurry as I was leaving the house and wanted to throw my new phone into my bag. I am still scared of scratching the phone, so wanted an easy way to protect it. I saw the tissue holder and gave it a try- voila! My phone was protected when we went to the library. (And iphone holders on Etsy start at $15!)
Peek!
$85: Membership to the Museum of Life and Science
When we went to the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, I was in awe. I love science museums. In fact, I spent a fair piece of my youth wanting to be Bill Nye the Science guy. So when we went to this awesome museum, I was debating all day if we should take the plunge and buy a membership. I do not spend $85 lightly, but in the end I thought I would buy the membership. Our admission fee for the day was applied toward the price of the membership. For two adults the price of day admission is $25, so the membership was an additional $60 investment.
The outdoor space at Life and Science is awesome.
This has turned out to be a great investment not only for being able to visit Life and Science when we want, but because of all of the reciprocal museums. When we went back to Indiana, we were able to spend some time with the Rusts at WonderLab, just by presenting our membership cards. ($14 for two adults if we had to pay admission)
Julie and Lucy, playing with the bubbles at WonderLab.
Once the new Terre Haute Children’s Museum is finished, we will be able to visit there with friends and family at no charge to us. (Currently $8 for two adults)
I am also planning a day trip to Charlotte, NC for this Fall. Where will we go when there? Almost certainly we will visit Discovery Place for free. ($24 for two adults)
When I pulled out my list of reciprocal museums in the San Francisco area, I realized there were five (5!!) in the Bay area. I am not sure if we will see any more in the remaining few weeks that we are here, but we surely enjoyed Zeum and the Exploratorium. (Zeum $20 for two adults, Exploratorium $30 for two adults)
Playspace at Zeum
Micah at the Exploratorium
So if we only do those things I have listed, the membership has more than paid for itself. Having the membership also allows us to just go someplace for an hour or two, without feeling the pressure of getting our money’s worth. If you weren’t keeping track, just visiting each of the museums I listed above once, we would have spent $121. We have already visited Life and Science twice. :)
I paid $126 for the earrings, tissue holder, and science museum membership. Notice that the largest ticket item was good because it gives us the opportunity to explore and experience things as a family. Not to mention that I love science museums, and some of my money has gone to support them. Sounds like a good investment of $126 to me.
We will be cutting back on the extras these next two years. Still, some things are worth spending money on. Thought I would share some of the best dollars I have spent in the past 6 months. Forgive me if I have left off other exciting things that should have made the list.
$32: Earrings from Vespertine
In November last year I saw some earrings at Vespertine, my favorite little hand-crafted store in Pittsboro. I told Micah that they were all I wanted for Christmas, and that was true. I do not spend $32 on earrings for myself. But these were gorgeous: carnelian stones in a gentle gradient, trickling their way down hand-blackened silver chains. The next time I went to Vespertine, they were gone. I had the faint hope that Micah had purchased them for me... only to find out that they were already gone when he returned to get them.
I kept thinking about those earrings. For months. I visited Vespertine regularly, and one day when we went there, there they were! Another pair of those earrings! You have to keep in mind that these are not the kind of earrings where you can find 20 identical pairs at Kohls, but rather handmade pieces of art. Ginna had made another pair!
Pretty!
Micah asked me if I wanted them. I hesitated. So much money! Christine, do you want them? Yes. He bought them for me then and there. And they are delightful.
They make me feel elegant,
and I supported one of my favorite local businesses!
and I supported one of my favorite local businesses!
$7: Tears of Joy Tissue Holder
My good friend Rebecca and her husband Michael want to adopt a child. Adoption is mighty expensive! Did you know that adoption fees for a single child can range from $15,000 to $30,000+? Eeek! I had no idea how pricey it was.
So Rebecca, her Mother, and Grandmother, picked out fabric and made these little tissue holders that are available on Etsy. For $5 plus $2 shipping, I have a cute little tissue holder for my purse. (Because really, don’t you hate it when the tissues have been in your purse too long, and then they end up a crumbly mess?) Also, I am helping out a friend to pursue her goal of adopting a child. Win-win.
Oh, the composition! hehe...
An extra bonus: I was in a hurry as I was leaving the house and wanted to throw my new phone into my bag. I am still scared of scratching the phone, so wanted an easy way to protect it. I saw the tissue holder and gave it a try- voila! My phone was protected when we went to the library. (And iphone holders on Etsy start at $15!)
Peek!
$85: Membership to the Museum of Life and Science
When we went to the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, I was in awe. I love science museums. In fact, I spent a fair piece of my youth wanting to be Bill Nye the Science guy. So when we went to this awesome museum, I was debating all day if we should take the plunge and buy a membership. I do not spend $85 lightly, but in the end I thought I would buy the membership. Our admission fee for the day was applied toward the price of the membership. For two adults the price of day admission is $25, so the membership was an additional $60 investment.
The outdoor space at Life and Science is awesome.
This has turned out to be a great investment not only for being able to visit Life and Science when we want, but because of all of the reciprocal museums. When we went back to Indiana, we were able to spend some time with the Rusts at WonderLab, just by presenting our membership cards. ($14 for two adults if we had to pay admission)
Julie and Lucy, playing with the bubbles at WonderLab.
Once the new Terre Haute Children’s Museum is finished, we will be able to visit there with friends and family at no charge to us. (Currently $8 for two adults)
I am also planning a day trip to Charlotte, NC for this Fall. Where will we go when there? Almost certainly we will visit Discovery Place for free. ($24 for two adults)
When I pulled out my list of reciprocal museums in the San Francisco area, I realized there were five (5!!) in the Bay area. I am not sure if we will see any more in the remaining few weeks that we are here, but we surely enjoyed Zeum and the Exploratorium. (Zeum $20 for two adults, Exploratorium $30 for two adults)
Playspace at Zeum
Micah at the Exploratorium
So if we only do those things I have listed, the membership has more than paid for itself. Having the membership also allows us to just go someplace for an hour or two, without feeling the pressure of getting our money’s worth. If you weren’t keeping track, just visiting each of the museums I listed above once, we would have spent $121. We have already visited Life and Science twice. :)
I paid $126 for the earrings, tissue holder, and science museum membership. Notice that the largest ticket item was good because it gives us the opportunity to explore and experience things as a family. Not to mention that I love science museums, and some of my money has gone to support them. Sounds like a good investment of $126 to me.
1.53