The Frugal Gourmet

They are having a pizza party next week to welcome Wm's new teacher (Ben) to the classroom.  Wm got to meet him today (he is currently an assistant teacher at OSU who is being promoted to master teacher) and is very excited because Ben said he liked his Lego Star Wars tshirt.  So we were baffled when Wm insisted he did NOT want to go to the pizza party.  Then he said he'd go to the pizza party, but wouldn't eat any pizza.  We kept asking him why, and he just kept repeating that he really didn't like pizza.  Which is a TOTAL lie.  Steve and I were at a loss.  So we let it go.  Then later tonight Steve and I are talking about it again and I say to him, "well, why don't you just pay for the pizza in case he changes his mind?"  (Cost of attending pizza part is $3/adult and $2/child.)  Wm screams, "NOOOOOO!!!!!"  So I was like, "OK...well why don't you just pay for yourself and Wm just won't get any pizza."  Wm screams, "DO NOT PAY FOR THE PIZZA!!!!!"  Joking around I go, "well, how about he just eats it and doesn't pay for it?"  Wm says, "fine."  So I go, "what if we don't pay for your pizza...would you eat it then?"  He says, "Yes."  Suddenly, it dawns on me.  I ask, "dude, are you trying to save money for your Lego pyramid for your birthday?"  He turns bright red and nods.  This whole business was about Wm trying not to spend $5!  Steve starts laughing so hard he has a coughing fit and Wm yells, "you just stop that!"  So I had to tell him that I will take $100 and put it in the bank and we will not spend it no matter what before his birthday.  Then we can spend "other money" until his birthday and he will not have to worry about it.  He's all happy now and very excited to go to the pizza party...and eat pizza.  Wm is turning out to be quite the little saver.  I nearly told him that $100 was not that big of a deal, but then the little goober would be demanding things all the time. So we had to act like saving this $100 until his birthday was doable....but barely.  Big sacrifice. BIG.