The trip was a success in unexpected ways! My son is starting to really get the whole frugality thing.
I had to make an early morning Walmart run while my son (22) was still sleeping, and when I got back home he'd gotten out a large cooler, filled it with ice, ham, bread, and sodas. I added a bit of fruit, and brought the snacks into the car and we were happy for quite a long time. Turned out that was a good thing, because we didn't eat a meal until 11pm that night. My daughter charged the pizza on a credit card... She was supposed to take my son and I out for dinner for different celebrations but had little $$ to bring. I think she expected that everyone else would pay her way as we'd done before. She's 26 now, and it's time she carry more of her own weight. I paid for the rental car, gas, 1 lunch, most tolls (son picked up up the rest), tip for room maid. My sister is willing to eat the whole cost of the hotel we stayed at because they chose an expensive one. ($600 for 2 rooms 2 nights). This is nearly my house payment! I think I'll send a check for $150 to my sister and brother-in-law. they are very good to me, and my daughter made my immediate family all late for the graduations we'd gone to see. We were so late that we only made it to 1 of 2!
Our spending was pretty under control, and planned for. I had no credit card debt, and expect to pay the charge for the car as soon as the bill arrives. I expect to spend money on gar and groceries, pay the mortgage this week, but hopefully no other bit expenses. Anyone have ideas on how not to feel like the poor relation?