Birthday Budget

The last few months we have been on strict budget and have had very little disposable money since any normal "extra" money has been going to something. It started in March with the twins' preschool enrollment fee and Mike's office moving across town, then April we had to pay federal taxes and an accountant, in May we had to pay state taxes, May is mothers day (gifts times 3 (4 if it counts something for me),  My mom's birthday, my grandmother's birthday, and my mother in law's birthday, the twins birthday, and also paying to join the pool which we are still in limbo about for this year. May is probably going to be a hard finical, budgeted month for us for a long time.

Even with a small family gathering birthday party everything adds up fast and I have tired hard to stay on a small budget... and have failed, and I am still failing huge!

It started with the 1st birthday outfits, I wanted those super cute ones from Etsy with their names, a tutu for Presley and a birthday bow. Birthday bibs, birthday cones hats, decorations galore (dollar store and ebay) and since I couldn't make up my mind I have way too much stuff. I will hopefully be able to return the left overs.  The small party alone with probably cost $250 when it is all said in done and that is on the cheap. Cake, ice-cream, food, and decorations. Their outfits with all accessories was easily probably $100.

The "theme" for the party is "balloons!" So I decided Balloons was great for 1 year olds and is gender neutral.We are just going to have a crap ton of balloons.
Then in addition to party there are presents, which I said I was only going to get them a few things. This is true but when you have two, a few things adds up super fast. I am at $140 right now and that's if I don't add anything, due to excitement, amazon internet shopping with in the next few days.

Then I am going to order two photo books from shutterfly that have all their pictures from birth to 1 years old. I played made one the other day and it was $130. Now shutterfly as great coupon codes and groupon has specials for this all the time so I will hunt out a deal. I am going to order two because this is going to be there "baby" book and I want them to each have one. I will most likely make and save the book and wait for a good deal, then buy. I may buy one at a time to get the best deal.

On Sunday after their birthday we are doing their one year photos and well those things are expensive!

So yeah even attempting to not make a big deal out of their 1st birthday it adds up fast.  It pains my frugal side/ My frugal side says, "they don't know the difference." But my mommy said says, "who cares it's their 1st birthday!"

I started buying things for their birthday in early April to help budget and spread out the cost. Trying to budget, penny pinch for their birthday, I decided to makes some extra money by selling some old stuff around the house on Ebay. I have been calling my ebay funds the birthday funds! (It's not quite enough but surely helping!)

I have been quite successful on ebay and in the last month I have made $229.35 and have another $35 coming my way this week. So seriously people sell your stuff on ebay! I use the smartphone app and it couldn't be any easier to sell your unwanted stuff and make some extra, easy, fast money.
I am sure there will be many more birthday post coming up this week. I can believe my babies will be one NEXT Saturday!