A little more than a week ago, I bought a set of patio furniture for Kathy’s birthday, as discussed in Birthday Bash. I was feeling very virtuous because I had used my hoarded computer fund to purchase the furniture, but God was just looking for a chance to show us His love.
It has been a hard month for the budget — we’re over in kids’ clothes and Kathy’s haircut was more than we expected. All year long she cuts hair for the four males in the house — probably 30 haircuts or so — and we put aside a little money each month so she can have a salon cut and some highlights. Somehow she ended up with some higher costs and a third color, and went over by $46.00.
We also save a lot by never washing our cars …
We recorded some birthday expenses, because I wanted to know if I had any money left. Seeing that I still had a little cash in my Tim’s Miscellaneous, I offered to pay the difference for her haircut. “After all,” I suggested, “a man’s gotta have his wife look good.”
Actually, I’m just pathetically grateful that she’ll cut our hair. I’d be shelling out at least $300 for all those haircuts, and I’d still have to pay for her to get her hair cut.
“No,” Kathy demurred. “I’ll pay some, too. How ’bout you pay $26?”
I bargained her up to $36 (I’ve always been a sharp bargainer) and she rushed off to Target and Fred Meyer to spend some more. She called me from the store while I was out puttering with my tomatoes. It turns out that the patio set was on sale (even more than it was when I bought it). I encouraged her to ask if they would do a price adjustment (or whatever they call it) since we’d bought the furniture so recently. “Yep, they will,” she told me gleefully.
David was gleeful too …
I jumped in the car with the receipt as soon as she returned home, and rushed to the store, fearing that the clerk who agreed to give us the deeper discount would leave, quit or be fired before I could get there. But my fears were groundless; they cheerfully agreed to credit me the difference of $108.80!
There are several morals to the story:
- Don’t be afraid to spoil your wife if you can afford it
- Don’t be afraid to ask — they can always say “no”, but they might say “yes”
- If you try to be more generous than God, you’ve got your work cut out for you.
“Anyone want to take a turn washing? I’ve got to do my nails … “
A special thanks to Fred Meyer stores for giving me such a good deal on patio furniture. An even bigger thanks to God, for leaving me some money in Tim’s Miscellaneous so that I can balance the budget at the end of the month.
Tim
Project 366, Day 201
WOW. What a great story!! How faithful is the Lord!!
Keep up the good work. I love you kids. Aunt Kate
Hooray for you! I had to laugh at your thoughts of the clerk being fired, leaving, or the offer voided…I’ve been in the same position – it’s worth using the gas to get your money back! Now the question is…does the money go back into the Tim account since it was a gift for future computer games? heh.heh..
I love Freddies! We shop there for just about everything, and have returned so many things without a problem. They probaly just recognize us at this point. Thor was just telling us today about how they had a cardboard cut-out for a new videogame up in the entertainment center where people in the check out line could see it, and he thought it was inappropriate so he wrote a comment card. Within 24 hours, the manager called him, apologized, and they removed it. You’re right the worst they can say is no!
Happy for your blessings!
Isn’t it great when things work out like this. My husband is always the first to ask these kinds of things. He is a gem at talking to the library ladies to reduce fines and such. Way to go!!
i just learned the lesson of asking yesterday. we were at a mikky d’s while out for a long family drive, and trying to be frugal my hubby asked if they had $1 coffee. i clearly saw that it was posted at $1.50 and the helper confirmed that. but hubby persisted cuz they had run a promo on $1 coffee last mo. they didn’t have that promo but the gal gave my hubby the senior discount. coffee for 27 cents! now i have to admit we are closer to being seniors (55) than seniors (18) but still …. in the end it was a sweet deal that he got his coffee for under a buck.
glad to hear that freddies did the right thing for you. and yes, us women need our haircuts, highlights, and color. good man, tim!
EXACTLY. if people only understood, we will always be in debt to our heavenly father, the more we try to do for our neighbors or be silent in good deeds, the more we are blessed so we are in debt to god more. What a great post you have done. I wish the world would read it and UNDERSTAND. Thanks for being nice to your wife over her hair. You must be a great husband, like mine. We need more of those also.
What a GREAT story. I love it when those types of things happen.
“If you try to be more generous than God, you’ve got your work cut out for you.”
I think that is my favorite quote for the week, Tim — thanks for sharing such a great story
What a beautiful testament to God’s care and provision. Thanks for sharing, Tim.