The Rambling Llama: Staying Under Budget + A Giveaway!

Morning, Y'all and Happy Monday. Yes, happy! On Mondays we share what we're grateful for while linking up with Emily for Grateful Heart Monday.

I want to start by saying last week and this past weekend were really amazing. In case you missed it:

I got a car
I did a vlog
Shamless plug: I'm offering sponsorships!
aaand, Saturday I went to a wedding. (more on that later this week probably... maybe next week. we'll see).

So here's to another amazing week! Right? Right!

Last week in my vlog I mentioned new things as far as the kids' babysitter. Lately we've been having to do a bit of scrambling, but we finally found something that works for us and the kids. Last week they both started full time at certified day cares.

I know what the moms reading this are thinking; "day care? Isn't that the opposite of staying UNDER budget??" Normally yes, yes it is. However, we've cheated the system in a way. Allow me to explain.
Zander goes to prek from 8-3 Monday thru Friday. It's state funded / lottery funded and therefore free for me. I don't even have to pay lunches. After 3:00 he now attends the after school program. Since he's almost five it's very inexpensive.
Then there's Ainsley. She's 19 months and obviously the bank-breaker of the family because putting her in a day care full time runs about $160-$200 a week, depending on where you go. The cheaper it runs the more sketchy the place tends to be.

However!

We found a Christian Academy. Yes... y'all read that correctly Christian. Academy. that had rates for HALF of what it would normally cost on the low end of the day care spectrum. Meaning we get top rated education / childcare for half the cost of sketchy day care centers. PLUS! It's a Christian based academy and so Ainsley will also be learning about God, Jesus and the Bible at a very young age. Ainsley totally loves going, too. Josh drops her and Zander off in the mornings since he doesn't have to be at work until 10, and she did amazingly last week, y'all. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Today I'm very grateful for being able to stay well under budget, for being able to put aside money each week towards my car payment, and for my children to get superior childcare while Josh and I are at work.
The best part is I'm off work by 4:30 so I am home with both kids no later than 5:15. I'm beyond grateful, y'all. I get to have more moments with my kids after work.

And now for something completely different!

You guys are in for a serious treat today! I've teamed up with some awesome lady bloggers to offer 19 - yes, NINETEEN - free ad spots to one lucky winner! The winner of this giveaway will win a ton of ad spots - see a complete list - and $25 PayPal cash. Who wouldn't love that?! Giveaway is open to everyone, and entries will be verified so don't cheat!