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DAY 1: It doesn't feel like a spending freeze!

Its Saturday. And that means Bahala Na Escrima for our family. Every Saturday from 10-12 noon at the Daguhoy Lodge. Joel, my husband, is the Second Master and teaches class. Usually we eat out after class for lunch but since we are doing a spending freeze, that is out of the question. After class Annie, Chop(our dog) and me headed home. Joel and Leo were taking a student, David home. Right when we got home I made hot dogs and beans for lunch. About an hour later I got a text from Leo saying that Sherry and Chris (our friends who are visiting this weekend from Orange County taking care of wedding stuff. They are getting married in Stockton in October) will be treating Leo and Joel to lunch at Island Gourmet. So, free lunch for them.
Then in the afternoon, Annabelle went to her friend Alorah's birthday party. We went to Walmart to get a present. I told her the budget was $10. I had a Walmart gift card ($25) that I found a few weeks ago while cleaning around the house.We spent about $13. We got a Sparkle Girls doll, a stuffed dog and bag of bracelet bands. Annabelle made her a birthday card with decorative paper I had from a project from last year. She used her glitter machine that she got for Christmas to decorate the card on the inside with glitter stickers.And we re-used a gift bag. It was a princess one. We always try to save and re-use gift bags.
Afterwards we finished the night with a Crab Feed fundraiser for the Little Manilla Foundation. Joel and Leo took care of security so they got their meal included. My ticket was paid for last month. We took 3 bottles of wine that we had in our wine collection to share at our table with our friends and family. I did have to leave a few bucks as a tip for our server.
All in all it was a busy and fun-filled Saturday with only a few dollars spent for a tip at the Crab Feed. Busy Saturdays are totally normal for our family and I wouldn't want it any other way because when it comes down to it that is what is most important. The great thing is that spending time with the ones we love doesn't have to cost a lot of money.

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