McCommunication

My exact conversation with the guy working the drive-thru window last night at Mickey D's:

Him: Welcome to McDonald's. Would you like to try one of our Angus Third Pounder burgers?

Me: No, thank you. But could I please have two double cheeseburgers, two small french fries and a 10-piece order of chicken McNuggets? (It's important for me to mention that I was ordering for another person as well. I totally wouldn't eat TWO orders of fries.)

Him: Anything else?

Me: No, thank you.

Him: Do you know about our special deal on pumpkin items, like our pumpkin shake?

Me: Oh, no. Tell me about it.

Long pause.

Him: Well. It's....um....new....and it tastes like pumpkin?

Me: No.....like, what's the special? How much is it?

Him: Oh! You can get two pumpkin pies for a dollar.

Another long pause.

Me: Well, what about the shake?

Him: It's just a shake.

Me: Okay, give me the pies.

The moral of this story? I can be talked into almost anything if you confuse me enough.

In Good Company

Meet my stapler. Meet my tape dispenser. And say hello to their primary function at my workstation over the past few weeks: propping up my almost-empty bottle of Bath and Body Works hand lotion. I'll admit it. I have a little problem. I'm a toothpaste tube roller, a hairspray bottle tilter and apparently, a body lotion up-ender. I've just got to get the last drop.

Earlier this week, I was sitting at my desk when out of nowhere, the site of this odd trio made me smile. I leaned back in my chair and thought: you probably did this too, right? Or at least something similar. Raising kids and working full-time. Cooking dinner every night, no questions asked. And learning to stretch a dollar as far as it would go.

Virginia.

Betty.

Grandma.

Mom.

Not cheap. Not frugal. Not thrifty. Responsible.

If it's broken, try to fix it before you replace it.

Expect to earn it, not to have it given to you.

Needs? Those come first. Wants? Well, save your pennies and pay cash.

Live within your means.

Use well what you already have.

And if the grocery store accidentally charges you .17 cents for a foil baking sheet that should cost $1.17, go back and get as many as you can without looking suspicious. Oh, Grandma.

So this is it. It's unofficially official. I've arrived and made it a trio. And I finally get it. It's not about spending or saving. It's not even necessarily about money. It's about appreciation, resourcefulness, discipline and setting a good example for those little eyes watching.

Yup, I got all of that out of an almost empty bottle of lotion propped up by a stapler and a tape dispenser. Whatever it takes. I'm in good company.