We're in Kansas City this weekend enjoying a refreshing mini-vacation so I'm skipping my usual Super Savings Saturday post today. Instead, I thought I'd share a few pictures from our dinner tonight at one of our most favorite restaurants in the whole wide world–The Cheesecake Factory! 
While our bill for dinner and dessert ended up being just shy of what we usually spend on groceries for a week, it was worth every penny of it. Besides, who says you can't splurge sometimes, especially when you do it with
cash?
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I meant to post this some time ago…KC is my old stomping ground. I haven’t been there in about 12 years, though, so I’m sure it’s changed quite a bit.
A question: With so much focus on scrimping and saving (Like getting all the school supplies free at CVS this week) how do you MENTALLY prepare to spend $40 dining out? My hubby treated me this evening on “his dime” (His birthday money) and I could barely enjoy the meal knowing what I could do with the $40 for our family. I feel like I’m stealing from the family! I’d love any help on getting over the guilt of a splurge — even though it’s budgeted.
I’m from KC and follow your blog regularly. Hope you are having a great time in KC. It’s really a great place!
Looks like you had fun. Even the littlest member of the family appears to have enjoyed himself (so cute!). 🙂
Great photos, Crystal! The girls look so much like you – especially their smiles. It’s nice to have a splurge every now and then, just to make us appreciate all of our frugal work the rest of the time. Hope your holiday was fantastic!
Danelle Ice / Homemaker Barbi
You guys look like you had alot of fun 🙂 I love Cheesecake Factory! The best one is on the top floor of the Macy’s in Union Square in San Francisco…it has the best views from the balcony.
-Morgan
Hi Crystal-Silas sure is adorable, as are the girls! I am just amazed at all the great deals you find! It is great to enjoy a meal out, and pay in cash I agree! Well many blessings to you and have a great week!
You have such a beautiful family. What a blessing! I hope you have a victorious Sunday worship. =)
I ate at a Cheesecake Factory over the weekend too! LOVE LOVE that place! 🙂 You have a beautiful family, thanks for sharing!!
Your kids are so cute.
It is so good to see your faces….what a beautiful family!
I just have to comment on your beautiful son, Silas. I can’t get over his focus for such a young baby. Mark my words, he is going to be a very bright boy.
I live in Texas and visit your page everyday. My best friend lives in Kansas City and we go to the Cheesecake Factory every time I visit. (I also go to them in many other cities) They are great! Thanks for the lovely pictures of your beautiful family.
Enjoy KC! That’s where we live 🙂
I’m honestly surprised you got away with only spending $40 there for that big of a party. My husband and I can’t walk out the door spending that much for just our two dinners. But oh, how I love their thai pasta…fantastic!! And in the fall, their pumpkin cheesecake is fantastic. Mmmm…makes me want cheesecake factory!
what an adorable happy family you have.
Thanks for sharing!! Hope you have a wonderful vacation. Thanks for your blog and all your hard work!
Elizabeth
totally LOVE cheescake factory tooo!! sometimes my husband and I take out that Chinese Chicken salad!! and we share. its SO huge and we love it so much!!
Hi,
Nice blog! I canceled my gym membership ($60 per month), after doing some research on exercises that I can do at home.
I read this story in ConditionNutrition that gave great home exercise tips, e.g., pushups, using a ball for doing sit-ups. It even talked about how many calories you burn doing household chores or simply taking a walk around the block.
I take vitamins and protein whey, too, just to make sure that I’m not exhausting myself.
Here’s the link if anybody wants to read: http://www.conditionnutrition.com/reviews/the-most-effective-indoor-exercises-to-stay-fit-and-healthy/
Cute photos! Funny story, about 15 years ago I belonged to an investment club at work. Each person took turns suggesting a stock to buy. The one I suggested was The Cheesecake Factory. This was well before all their expansion they’ve had. They were only in a few states at the time. That stock did very well for us, that I even bought some on my own. I have long since sold it, but wonder if I made the right move? We have one right up the street from us (I’m in DC) and I hardly ever go! Sounds like you had a good meal and a fun time. Enjoy your mini-vacation.
The pictures are….priceless!
Cheesecake Factory is my favorite as well. I was taken there by a good friend my freshman year of college in Chicago in 1997. Ever since, my husband (we met freshman year) and I go there on special occasions such as our anniversary or birthday. It is worth the splurge (financially and calorically) now and then!
You all look like you had a GREAT time!!
I love seeing pictures of your family. It’s also nice to see other committed couponers splurging every once in awhile 🙂 Have an amazing vacation!
Yum! Have a great trip!
Adorable family. Thanks for sharing your pics.
🙂 So cute. Good for you Crystal!
Your family is adorable!!! Splurging after scrimping feels sooo good! Enjoy your time off, mama.
Welcome back to KC, if only for a few days. We miss having you as a local, Crystal!
YUM. I love Cheesecake factory, but would never take my kids there. Of course, I have five kids, and some of them are BIG and eat more than me. That would cost me a fortune.
The Cheesecake Factory is worth the splurge!!! Your kids are so cute, especially your little boy with those dimples :-).
I’m so glad you shared this because I think if people feel like the frugal life is about NEVER being able to have something you really enjoy, we get discouraged.
Hi Crystal,
So glad to see you and your family out “splurging” a bit.
With all the fantastic money savings and your strategic shopping you definately deserve a splurge trip once in a while IMO. LOL. I love your website and have become better at saving money.
Happy 4th of July,
Nikky
Oh my gosh, we were at the Cheesecake Factory in KC last night too – maybe we saw you and didn’t even know it! 🙂 LOL. I guess great minds think alike 🙂
Money Savin’ Momma
Engineer a Debt Free Life
I’m impressed you can eat there for under $40. Love that place! Enjoy your time away.
I agree with a previous poster – making it out of Cheesecake Factory for under $40 with a family of 5 is impressive! Also, your family is beautiful – it’s fun to see pictures of all of you!
Your family is just beautiful, Crystal! Ihope you enjoy the rest of your trip 🙂
Now, I’m craving cheesecake!!
Cheesecake Factory is ALWAYS worth the splurge! 🙂 We recently moved and have one close to us … we tend to splurge a little too often now! Thanks for the sweet pictures of your family!
My FAVORITE Place too! Although, we went to the one in Waikiki over & over, but….still dreaming of it….ahhhhhhh
holi
Pictures are too cute!
Happy 4th!!
Thanks for a great website!!!
If you made it out of Cheesecake Factory spending under $40 a week, you are impressive! That place can add up!
One of the reasons I am so frugal in our daily lives is so that we can splurge every once in a while GUILT FREE! And that is what being a good money manager is all about. With what I can save each week on groceries and other household essentials, we can take our whole family of 6 to an amusement park or other fun activity! It makes clipping coupons so worth it.
We are flying our 4 kids out to Kansas City in a couple of weeks to visit family outside of Topeka. Nervous about 4 little kids on an airplane, but excited for them to see a new city. Not sure what the heck we are going to do that one day we will be in the city, but appears to be lots from which to choose. I’ve visited KC lots on business, but will be different with kids!
Your family is absolutely adorable! Have a great trip together!
What a beautiful family! Silas is smiling at so young an age- he must love the Cheesecake factory too.
You’re family is sooo cute!
Couldn’t agree more!
Good for you! You have a beautiful family. I am glad you enjoyed yourselves! Have a wonderful holiday.
We haven’t been to the Cheesecake Factory in ages! Looks like you had fun! Thanks for hosting!
~Liz
Looks like you had a great time! I love the Cheesecake Factory. YUM! Enjoy the rest of your vacation.
So cute :). Lovely kids. Do post more snaps after the vacation.
I love Cheescake Factory. I’ve been to the one in Baltimore MD. They have it at the Inner Harbor. Great waterfront setting and scrupmtious food. I’m glad your family got to enjoy it!
I LOVE Cheesecake Factory. The only bad thing is I never manage to make it to eat dessert. If you’ve never tried the Fried Macaroni Balls, you def should! They are so delicious. I absolutely love their salads toO!
Hey, we were down that way last weekend!