Vacation time

We leave in a few short hours to head to the cottage we've rented at Ipperwash Beach. I'm so excited.

I've still not packed, and there are tons of things on my to-do list that haven't been done yet, but that's OK. Nothing is stopping me from enjoying my holiday. I won't allow myself to feel any guilt over what should have been done but didn't get done. I am, however, going to try to make a big dent in that to-do list before we leave.

I scheduled a bunch of posts for you to read while I am away. Most of them consist of questions meant to get you thinking about your spending habits and to share your tips about saving money where you can. I am working toward getting our family to that level where we are reducing spending on everything not important so that we have to the money to do the things that are important to us.

I spent gobs of money on Hubby's car yesterday. Since last weekend we've had to get the trunk lid realigned, adjustments made to one headlight, and the driver's side window repaired. The repair cost more than what we thought, because the regulator needed to be replaced, as well as the window. The car was also in need of an oil change, and then I took it to the detailing place to get it cleaned inside and out, including the carpets. They haven't been shampooed since I don't know when, and there was a terrible chocolate milk stain on the rear floor.
Cost of repair = $323.00
Cost of oil change = $45.00
Cost of cleaning = $93.00
Total spent on the car yesterday = $ 461.00

It was expensive, but well worth it. It made Hubby happy and that is priceless! ;)

My van however, went into the shop yesterday where it will stay for the next 7 days while we are on vacation. It needs the air conditioning fixed, the driver side sliding door repaired (it's stuck closed),  an alignment, the brakes checked, the transmission checked, and some areas repainted where it has flaked off and rust is setting in. I have been putting this work off for some time, and now it can get done all at once. I'm looking forward to coming home to a better looking and acting vehicle, but not to the bill that will come with it.
This is my work vehicle, so I need it to look good and be reliable, even if I am only going to drive it into the ground. I plan on trying to keep it until it hits 500,000 on the odometer, so I have to take care of it. I put somewhere between 28 - 29 thousand kilometers on it per year, and am hoping to keep it going for at least another 2 years. To hit the 10 year mark with it would be a bit too optimistic for me, but I'm going to try to keep it going as long as possible.

I'm going to work on my to-do list, and get ready to head to the beach.

See y'all when I get back!