Take advantage of all the free events in your town. We live in a suburb of a medium sized city and there are so many free events every weekend - there is no excuse to have nothing to do. Pack a lunch or snack and head out. If you don't know how to find something, look on the internet, in your local paper or visit the tourism bureau.
We have several free events this weekend to pick from - not sure which one we'll attend, but it will be fun.
Check out all the other Frugal Friday ideas at Biblical Womanhood
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Travel Thursdays - Real life examples
I thought it be fun to wrap up this series with the details of some of our recent trips:
Ski vacation on the cheap!
Our daughter was almost four and so we decided to get her on skis this year. Flying to one of the big resorts out West seemed like a waste of money for such a beginning skier, so we decided to drive up to the Boyne, MI area - it's about a seven hour drive for us - very doable. Skiing can be a VERY expensive vacation, but I think we did pretty well.
We knew we would need someone to help us watch our daughter while we skied, so we enlisted the Grandparents to come along - a free trip for them in exchange for some childcare! On the agenda was skiing, a little shopping and a waterpark day - this was based upon what we knew was available in the area from previous trips and a little internet research.
We took one vehicle so gas (at the time) cost us about $55 each way. We used one of our timeshares - trading in a measly 42K points got us a two bedroom slopeside. Cost of 1/3 of our points and the RCI trade in was $347.00.
With transportation and lodging covered, we needed to get down to activities and food. We are lucky in that we have our own skis, but my daughter did not. Rental skis for her were $15. We decided we would ski two days, sign up for one lesson for her and take her ourselves one day. Luckily the resort we went to had some nice deals. The beginner lift (which had two nice runs) was free if you asked for a lift ticket the day before. Sundays there was a ski special $22 if you ski 12:30 - 4:30. Finally, you could purchase half day tickets (any four hours) for $33. We found out all this info by checking out the site before we left home.
Food was covered by packing our own breakfast, lunch and snack foods - this was easy since we were driving. Once we arrived, we picked up all the dining guides and entertainment guides and spent some time looking through them. We found some great deals and coupons this way!
Here's how it panned out:
Friday - we left afterschool and arrive late night. We stopped at Ruby Tuesday's on the way for dinner - we all got salad bars and one kids meal for the kids to split. A little pricey at $50 for the 6 of us.
Saturday - breakfast at the condo then we walked over, signed dd up for ski school (very pricey at $60) and bought ourselves two half day lift tickets ($66). I bought a large pizza at the resort with a 10% off coupon for $20. This was lunch for all of us today along with our drinks at the condo. We skied all afternoon, then came back and went exploring for dinner. I actually can't remember where we ended up for dinner, but I'm sure it was reasonable - no more than $40 for all of us.
Sunday - relaxed at the condo in the morning, then hubby and I skied the afternoon session $44 - a great deal! My parents took advantage of the kids program at the timeshare and the kids did free activities all afternoon. We ate leftover pizza and sandwiches for lunch. Dinner was a local whitefish place (the area is known for whitefish) we found in one of the dining guide - it was fantastic and inexpensive. We purchased one dinner and one kids meal for the four of us and my parents split one meal. $30 including drinks for all of us.
Monday - we got up early and did the timeshare presentation - both my husband and I first and got three free waterpark passes, and then my parents did it and got $100 in gift cards. Breakfast was also included. It was interesting to see the other resorts as we really liked this place. The kids participated in activites in the morning while we took turns doing the presentations. After a lunch in the condo we went to the waterpark while my parents relaxed and did some sightseeing. The kids had a blast and we spent the entire afternoon there. We spent $4 on a pretzel and drink for a snack. For dinner that evening we tried a local Mexican place that had a happy hour special of $2 for any taco or enchilada. With free chips and salsa, a side of rice and beans for our kids and even a few drinks the price was an amazing $20 for all of us - and the food was FANTASTIC!!!! That night, the kids stayed at the condo with my parents and we took my dad to the local casino. They had quarter roulette and $3 tables - we gambled $20 each and spent several hours there.
Tuesday - we had gotten the free lift tickets so took my daughter skiing on the beginners runs - it was a blast and cost $15 for her rental - what a bargain!!!! In the afternoon we went to downtown Petosky and shopped around. At the timeshare presentation yesterday we had also received coupon books so we had a couple of buy one get one free lattes at the local coffee shop. Total cost was $5.00 for 3 lattes and one hot chocolate. YUM! Dinner was another local spot - decent food, but nothing spectacular. We used some of my parents gift cards from Monday, so the cost was $20 out of pocket for all of us. We went back to the casino for a few hours and my dad ended up winning $1500 - good bonus for him.
Wednesday - we had to get back to school, so we had to forgo the last few days of vacation. We drove home, stopped at Subway for lunch $25 but used a gift card so $15 out of pocket.
It was a fantastic trip - we all had a blast and agreed it will have to become an annual vacation.
Gas: $110
Lodging: $347
Food: $214 for 4 adults and 2 kids (15 meals) I packed food from home, didn't buy anything special.
Skiing: $200 - 2 half days, 1 day ski school and 3 hours "free" skiing on one lift
Waterpark: $0 (included the snack in food)
Other: activities at the condo were free; gambling ended up free as we won back all our money plus some (and we started out with their money signing up for the awards card)
Total cost: $871 for a ski vacation for six - pretty darn good as our old trips out West were easily $2500 for the two of us!!!
Lessons learned: hit the Mexican place twice - it was THAT good; don't bother with the ski lesson; get our hands on a coupon book earlier in the trip`
Sorry this was so long, based upon that I think I'll wait until next week to review our recent trip to Disney! Hope this was interesting - it was fun for me to re-live our fun time!
Ski vacation on the cheap!
Our daughter was almost four and so we decided to get her on skis this year. Flying to one of the big resorts out West seemed like a waste of money for such a beginning skier, so we decided to drive up to the Boyne, MI area - it's about a seven hour drive for us - very doable. Skiing can be a VERY expensive vacation, but I think we did pretty well.
We knew we would need someone to help us watch our daughter while we skied, so we enlisted the Grandparents to come along - a free trip for them in exchange for some childcare! On the agenda was skiing, a little shopping and a waterpark day - this was based upon what we knew was available in the area from previous trips and a little internet research.
We took one vehicle so gas (at the time) cost us about $55 each way. We used one of our timeshares - trading in a measly 42K points got us a two bedroom slopeside. Cost of 1/3 of our points and the RCI trade in was $347.00.
With transportation and lodging covered, we needed to get down to activities and food. We are lucky in that we have our own skis, but my daughter did not. Rental skis for her were $15. We decided we would ski two days, sign up for one lesson for her and take her ourselves one day. Luckily the resort we went to had some nice deals. The beginner lift (which had two nice runs) was free if you asked for a lift ticket the day before. Sundays there was a ski special $22 if you ski 12:30 - 4:30. Finally, you could purchase half day tickets (any four hours) for $33. We found out all this info by checking out the site before we left home.
Food was covered by packing our own breakfast, lunch and snack foods - this was easy since we were driving. Once we arrived, we picked up all the dining guides and entertainment guides and spent some time looking through them. We found some great deals and coupons this way!
Here's how it panned out:
Friday - we left afterschool and arrive late night. We stopped at Ruby Tuesday's on the way for dinner - we all got salad bars and one kids meal for the kids to split. A little pricey at $50 for the 6 of us.
Saturday - breakfast at the condo then we walked over, signed dd up for ski school (very pricey at $60) and bought ourselves two half day lift tickets ($66). I bought a large pizza at the resort with a 10% off coupon for $20. This was lunch for all of us today along with our drinks at the condo. We skied all afternoon, then came back and went exploring for dinner. I actually can't remember where we ended up for dinner, but I'm sure it was reasonable - no more than $40 for all of us.
Sunday - relaxed at the condo in the morning, then hubby and I skied the afternoon session $44 - a great deal! My parents took advantage of the kids program at the timeshare and the kids did free activities all afternoon. We ate leftover pizza and sandwiches for lunch. Dinner was a local whitefish place (the area is known for whitefish) we found in one of the dining guide - it was fantastic and inexpensive. We purchased one dinner and one kids meal for the four of us and my parents split one meal. $30 including drinks for all of us.
Monday - we got up early and did the timeshare presentation - both my husband and I first and got three free waterpark passes, and then my parents did it and got $100 in gift cards. Breakfast was also included. It was interesting to see the other resorts as we really liked this place. The kids participated in activites in the morning while we took turns doing the presentations. After a lunch in the condo we went to the waterpark while my parents relaxed and did some sightseeing. The kids had a blast and we spent the entire afternoon there. We spent $4 on a pretzel and drink for a snack. For dinner that evening we tried a local Mexican place that had a happy hour special of $2 for any taco or enchilada. With free chips and salsa, a side of rice and beans for our kids and even a few drinks the price was an amazing $20 for all of us - and the food was FANTASTIC!!!! That night, the kids stayed at the condo with my parents and we took my dad to the local casino. They had quarter roulette and $3 tables - we gambled $20 each and spent several hours there.
Tuesday - we had gotten the free lift tickets so took my daughter skiing on the beginners runs - it was a blast and cost $15 for her rental - what a bargain!!!! In the afternoon we went to downtown Petosky and shopped around. At the timeshare presentation yesterday we had also received coupon books so we had a couple of buy one get one free lattes at the local coffee shop. Total cost was $5.00 for 3 lattes and one hot chocolate. YUM! Dinner was another local spot - decent food, but nothing spectacular. We used some of my parents gift cards from Monday, so the cost was $20 out of pocket for all of us. We went back to the casino for a few hours and my dad ended up winning $1500 - good bonus for him.
Wednesday - we had to get back to school, so we had to forgo the last few days of vacation. We drove home, stopped at Subway for lunch $25 but used a gift card so $15 out of pocket.
It was a fantastic trip - we all had a blast and agreed it will have to become an annual vacation.
Gas: $110
Lodging: $347
Food: $214 for 4 adults and 2 kids (15 meals) I packed food from home, didn't buy anything special.
Skiing: $200 - 2 half days, 1 day ski school and 3 hours "free" skiing on one lift
Waterpark: $0 (included the snack in food)
Other: activities at the condo were free; gambling ended up free as we won back all our money plus some (and we started out with their money signing up for the awards card)
Total cost: $871 for a ski vacation for six - pretty darn good as our old trips out West were easily $2500 for the two of us!!!
Lessons learned: hit the Mexican place twice - it was THAT good; don't bother with the ski lesson; get our hands on a coupon book earlier in the trip`
Sorry this was so long, based upon that I think I'll wait until next week to review our recent trip to Disney! Hope this was interesting - it was fun for me to re-live our fun time!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
August Goals update
Well, I didn't accomplish everything (but it was pretty ambitious) mostly because my job got out of control - I logged an actual 63 hours last week - that means any free time was strictly spent with my family. Hopefully things will slow down next month. But, regardless, here are my goals and an update:
1. Office:
Find a chair - there is a perfect spot in the front of my office for a nice big chair and a half. This would be a great spot to take a quick work break, read late at night without bothering my DH or for my kids to read books while I work. We found one, just waiting for it to go on sale!
Rearrange furniture - I have a floorplan, just need to take the time to do it. I moved most of it, but I haven't flipped the desk yet - I'm not sure I want to actually.
Clean up the piles - there are about four or five "piles" that need sorted, put away, etc. As I look around, I only see two piles left - so definite progress!
Sort and purge files - didn't get to this one
2. Scrapbooking:
Put all old pictures in albums (not scrapbook, just put them in photo albums) Halfway done!
Sort & purge supplies Progress, but not finished
Finish organizing supplies in the credenza in the office - this is where I am currently keeping the bulk of my supplies and I'd like to get them all in there Progress, but not finished
Buy plastic page protectors, pages and put together all the finished pages in an album Purchased two sets, need to buy two more - waiting for more coupons!
Create space on the bookshelf for an "idea book/ files/ etc." Haven't done this one yet.
Actually, not bad overall - based on how busy I've been, I'm pretty pleased. I'm still very happy with my monthly focus plan Monthly Focus - it has been nice to really focus on one area of my life each month. September is deep cleaning and organizing the house and that couldn't come at a better time - things are way out of control!!!
1. Office:
Find a chair - there is a perfect spot in the front of my office for a nice big chair and a half. This would be a great spot to take a quick work break, read late at night without bothering my DH or for my kids to read books while I work. We found one, just waiting for it to go on sale!
Rearrange furniture - I have a floorplan, just need to take the time to do it. I moved most of it, but I haven't flipped the desk yet - I'm not sure I want to actually.
Clean up the piles - there are about four or five "piles" that need sorted, put away, etc. As I look around, I only see two piles left - so definite progress!
Sort and purge files - didn't get to this one
2. Scrapbooking:
Put all old pictures in albums (not scrapbook, just put them in photo albums) Halfway done!
Sort & purge supplies Progress, but not finished
Finish organizing supplies in the credenza in the office - this is where I am currently keeping the bulk of my supplies and I'd like to get them all in there Progress, but not finished
Buy plastic page protectors, pages and put together all the finished pages in an album Purchased two sets, need to buy two more - waiting for more coupons!
Create space on the bookshelf for an "idea book/ files/ etc." Haven't done this one yet.
Actually, not bad overall - based on how busy I've been, I'm pretty pleased. I'm still very happy with my monthly focus plan Monthly Focus - it has been nice to really focus on one area of my life each month. September is deep cleaning and organizing the house and that couldn't come at a better time - things are way out of control!!!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Greeting Cakes
You may have noticed the link on the side of my blog to the Greeting Card Cakes - I thought I'd take a quick moment to explain. These are little microwave cakes (like Warm Delights) that you can send in place of a card - they come complete with cake mix, icing, sprinkles, a tiny spoon and a candle. It's a fun way to brighten someone's day and you can order them with a ton of different designs. They would also be a great fundraiser.
My daughter really likes them (she's a big baker already at 4!) so I signed up to "sell" them, just to get a ready supply for her to give to her friends as part of their birthday gifts. I thought they were so cool I figured I'd add a link to my blog in case anyone out there needs an unusual (and inexpensive) gift. So, take a look if you are interested!
Tomorrow I'll share my progress on the August goals - I didn't accomplish them all, but I did make a difference! Thursday will be the last of the Travel Thursday series and Friday I think I'll share my goals and plans for September.
My daughter really likes them (she's a big baker already at 4!) so I signed up to "sell" them, just to get a ready supply for her to give to her friends as part of their birthday gifts. I thought they were so cool I figured I'd add a link to my blog in case anyone out there needs an unusual (and inexpensive) gift. So, take a look if you are interested!
Tomorrow I'll share my progress on the August goals - I didn't accomplish them all, but I did make a difference! Thursday will be the last of the Travel Thursday series and Friday I think I'll share my goals and plans for September.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Menu Plan Monday
Lots of tomatoes from the garden this week - we are using as many as we can and drying what we can't!
Monday - Shrimp Diablo; fresh bread
Tuesday - Red beans & Rice with sausage
Wednesday - Salmon on the grill with cucumber salsa
Thursday - Fresh tomato sauce with pasta; fresh bread
Friday - Grilled Shrimp cocktails
Saturday - Onion soup and grilled cheese
Sunday - Balsamic Chicken over spinach salad
Sounds yummy doesn't it? I have a few packs of shrimp in the freezer so that's why we are having it twice this week - also a pretty light menu (except for Saturday) as it's very hot outside!!!
For lunches: Gazpacho (YUMMY!), BLT's, leftovers
Breakfasts: Whole wheat blueberry muffins, pancakes, cereal, oatmeal
I'm also going to make some snacks this week - oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and I'm going to try a recipe I've had for a while for baked "fried" chickpeas.
Monday - Shrimp Diablo; fresh bread
Tuesday - Red beans & Rice with sausage
Wednesday - Salmon on the grill with cucumber salsa
Thursday - Fresh tomato sauce with pasta; fresh bread
Friday - Grilled Shrimp cocktails
Saturday - Onion soup and grilled cheese
Sunday - Balsamic Chicken over spinach salad
Sounds yummy doesn't it? I have a few packs of shrimp in the freezer so that's why we are having it twice this week - also a pretty light menu (except for Saturday) as it's very hot outside!!!
For lunches: Gazpacho (YUMMY!), BLT's, leftovers
Breakfasts: Whole wheat blueberry muffins, pancakes, cereal, oatmeal
I'm also going to make some snacks this week - oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and I'm going to try a recipe I've had for a while for baked "fried" chickpeas.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Notebook Experiment
Amy over at MomAdvice has a fun weekly post called notebook experiments Notebook they are great ideas that would be fun to try. This week she has opened them up to her readers and so I thought I'd join in. This week I've been busy working on a price book. Here's the link to the original post: http://joannal.blogspot.com/2007/10/finally-price-book.html.
And here's my start of a pricebook - this is something I've been wanting to do for a while, so thanks for the kickstart Amy!
Give this a shot - it's a lot of fun!!!
Travel Thursdays - Miscellaneous Tips
This has been a fun series to write - one of my favorite topics. We are nearing the end - next week I'll showcase a few examples of some of our recent trips. Today I thought I'd share some miscellaneous tips.
1. Read guide books - this is a great way to get ideas of things to do, places to go, etc. Don't buy them however, get them from the library. They are typically updated annually, so why spend money on something that will be out of date in less than a year.
2. Keep a file for future trips. Whenever I find an article about a place I'd like to go, I rip it out and put it in my vacation file. Then, when it's time to plan a trip I pull out the file and see if there is anything useful. I do clean this file out annually to keep it from getting too big!
3. Involve the whole family. If the kids (and spouse) are involved in the planning, they will be more excited about the trip. This also takes the burden off of you as sole entertainment provider!
4. Go with the flow. It's good to have some things scheduled, but it's also fun to just go with the flow sometimes. Often the best memories are unplanned - and a little flexibility can make for less stress and sometimes more fun!
5. Ask the locals. I know I've mentioned this in past weeks, but I can't emphasize it enough - you can get such great tips on everything from where to eat to what to do - information you could never find on your own. Plus, you will meet some interesting people along the way.
6. Try something new. Just because you haven't done it, eaten it, etc. doesn't mean it's not fun. Vacations are a great time to step outside your comfort zone - your kids will love it!
7. Don't overpack. If we are gone for more than a week, I'll still only pack a week's worth of clothing (or less). It is easy to find a laundromat (if your lodging doesn't have one) and it only takes an hour to do laundry. I send the kids off with hubby, get a coffee and read a book while the clothes are being washed. It's relaxing and so much easier to have less stuff to lug around.
8. Take pictures. These are the best souvenirs. We will usually buy each child one item on the trip - we encourage them to look at everything and think about what they want - it's often a $5 stuffed animal versus the $50 lego set - lol!!! Then we take lots of pictures. When we get home I'll scrapbook some and sometimes make a photo book at CVS or Meijer with the rest.
9. Speaking of souvenirs, buy ahead. On our last few trips to Disney, I've shopped the Disney store for clearance items in the months before the trip. I'll also pick up a few new DVD's or CD's on clearance here or there. Then, I wrap them up and pack them in my bag. The kids get a nice little surprise and I'm not paying an outrageous price for it.
10. Check out the outlet mall. When we go to Orlando, we always visit the outlet mall - there is a Disney outlet located there and we often find great gifts for the kids, Christmas presents, etc.
11. Do the unexpected. Have ice cream for breakfast, pack a picnic lunch, let the kids stay up late for fireworks, say yes when they ask for that $1 treat at the gas station, go to McDonald's if that's where the kids really want to eat. Vacation is a great time to break the routine and do things you would never consider at home - it's fun, the kids love it and it creates great memories.
12. Just go! Even if you can't afford a long trip, try to create something close to home. There are deals out there - camp at a nearby State Park, stay overnight at a local budget motel with a pool, whatever you can do, just do it - the memories will be priceless.
1. Read guide books - this is a great way to get ideas of things to do, places to go, etc. Don't buy them however, get them from the library. They are typically updated annually, so why spend money on something that will be out of date in less than a year.
2. Keep a file for future trips. Whenever I find an article about a place I'd like to go, I rip it out and put it in my vacation file. Then, when it's time to plan a trip I pull out the file and see if there is anything useful. I do clean this file out annually to keep it from getting too big!
3. Involve the whole family. If the kids (and spouse) are involved in the planning, they will be more excited about the trip. This also takes the burden off of you as sole entertainment provider!
4. Go with the flow. It's good to have some things scheduled, but it's also fun to just go with the flow sometimes. Often the best memories are unplanned - and a little flexibility can make for less stress and sometimes more fun!
5. Ask the locals. I know I've mentioned this in past weeks, but I can't emphasize it enough - you can get such great tips on everything from where to eat to what to do - information you could never find on your own. Plus, you will meet some interesting people along the way.
6. Try something new. Just because you haven't done it, eaten it, etc. doesn't mean it's not fun. Vacations are a great time to step outside your comfort zone - your kids will love it!
7. Don't overpack. If we are gone for more than a week, I'll still only pack a week's worth of clothing (or less). It is easy to find a laundromat (if your lodging doesn't have one) and it only takes an hour to do laundry. I send the kids off with hubby, get a coffee and read a book while the clothes are being washed. It's relaxing and so much easier to have less stuff to lug around.
8. Take pictures. These are the best souvenirs. We will usually buy each child one item on the trip - we encourage them to look at everything and think about what they want - it's often a $5 stuffed animal versus the $50 lego set - lol!!! Then we take lots of pictures. When we get home I'll scrapbook some and sometimes make a photo book at CVS or Meijer with the rest.
9. Speaking of souvenirs, buy ahead. On our last few trips to Disney, I've shopped the Disney store for clearance items in the months before the trip. I'll also pick up a few new DVD's or CD's on clearance here or there. Then, I wrap them up and pack them in my bag. The kids get a nice little surprise and I'm not paying an outrageous price for it.
10. Check out the outlet mall. When we go to Orlando, we always visit the outlet mall - there is a Disney outlet located there and we often find great gifts for the kids, Christmas presents, etc.
11. Do the unexpected. Have ice cream for breakfast, pack a picnic lunch, let the kids stay up late for fireworks, say yes when they ask for that $1 treat at the gas station, go to McDonald's if that's where the kids really want to eat. Vacation is a great time to break the routine and do things you would never consider at home - it's fun, the kids love it and it creates great memories.
12. Just go! Even if you can't afford a long trip, try to create something close to home. There are deals out there - camp at a nearby State Park, stay overnight at a local budget motel with a pool, whatever you can do, just do it - the memories will be priceless.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Check your receipts!
Remember to please check your receipts at the store. When I got home from the grocery I reviewed my bill (as I always do) and I was overcharged by $12!!! Three different items were incorrect. Luckily the store is nearby so I went back the next day and got my money back.
Although it isn't really cost savings (just a mistake) it's still $12 back in my pocket.
Although it isn't really cost savings (just a mistake) it's still $12 back in my pocket.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Menu Plan Monday
I hit Meijer last night and got some fantastic deals! I should be stocked up for at least a week and a half! I spent $79 (which is high for me), but I saved $60 in coupons/ deals. That also included 5 packages of panties and 1 pack of socks for my daughter and food for euchre night.
Monday - corned beef and potatoes - we didn't get to this over the weekend
Tuesday - Chicken enchilada soup, salad, bean dip
Wednesday - it's cards at my house, so a ton of appetizers: shrimp cocktail, cheese and crackers, veggies and dip, chile con queso and chips, cheesecake dip and graham crackers, chocolate chip oatmeal cookies
Thursday - pasta with chicken in pesto sauce
Friday - at my mom's
Saturday - Birthday party
Sunday - turkey burgers on the grill (something fancy a la Rachel Ray), oven fries
Breakfasts will be: pancakes, oatmeal, cereal
Lunches will be: sandwiches, leftovers, mac & cheese, BLT's
Monday - corned beef and potatoes - we didn't get to this over the weekend
Tuesday - Chicken enchilada soup, salad, bean dip
Wednesday - it's cards at my house, so a ton of appetizers: shrimp cocktail, cheese and crackers, veggies and dip, chile con queso and chips, cheesecake dip and graham crackers, chocolate chip oatmeal cookies
Thursday - pasta with chicken in pesto sauce
Friday - at my mom's
Saturday - Birthday party
Sunday - turkey burgers on the grill (something fancy a la Rachel Ray), oven fries
Breakfasts will be: pancakes, oatmeal, cereal
Lunches will be: sandwiches, leftovers, mac & cheese, BLT's
Friday, August 15, 2008
Frugal Friday
I thought I'd join Crystal and the other ladies over at
BiblicalWomanhood.com in Frugal Friday today.
I make myself a pot of coffee every morning - usually I drink most of it, but yesterday got away from me and I only drank half the pot. Sometimes if I don't drink it all I freeze some of it in ice cube trays to add to homemade coffee drinks. Yesterday I didn't even do that. So, this morning I got up to make my coffee and realized in my extreme laziness I hadn't even emptied the pot. I almost threw it out, but I do buy fairly expensive coffee (one of my little luxuries) and it's a hot day, so I grabbed some coffee cubes from the freezer, put them into my Magic Bullet, poured the rest of the coffee in, added some skim milk, some French Vanilla Coffeemate and blended it up.
Sweet caffeine . . . for something I was going to pitch in the trash!
I make myself a pot of coffee every morning - usually I drink most of it, but yesterday got away from me and I only drank half the pot. Sometimes if I don't drink it all I freeze some of it in ice cube trays to add to homemade coffee drinks. Yesterday I didn't even do that. So, this morning I got up to make my coffee and realized in my extreme laziness I hadn't even emptied the pot. I almost threw it out, but I do buy fairly expensive coffee (one of my little luxuries) and it's a hot day, so I grabbed some coffee cubes from the freezer, put them into my Magic Bullet, poured the rest of the coffee in, added some skim milk, some French Vanilla Coffeemate and blended it up.
Sweet caffeine . . . for something I was going to pitch in the trash!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Free Gift Pack
This is a great freebie - you have to be one of the first 10,000 to sign up, but I've gotten in before and the goodies come quickly:
http://lm.logicalmedia.com/z/5473/CD3487/
This is gone now, but thanks for checking it out.
http://lm.logicalmedia.com/z/5473/CD3487/
This is gone now, but thanks for checking it out.
Travel Thursday - What to do?
Almost at the home stretch of this series! So, now that you know where you are going, how you are getting there, where you are staying and how you will eat, what else will you do?
This is a fun and pretty easy topic. There are definitely ways to save money on almost anything you want to do. Since you looked at the area when you decided where to go, you probably have a good idea of at least some of the activities.
1. Sit down with your family and brainstorm what you would like to do - get everyone involved. If your kids are too little, think about their favorite things to do - for many little ones a pool or a playground is as much fun as an amusement park.
2. Make a list of 5 or 6 "must do" activities - include something for everyone.
3. Do a search on the web for the location you are visiting. Look for the tourism office, check citysearch and check a few travel forums like frommers or fodors. Check for activities as well as discounts.
4. Go to the library and check out a tour guide on the area.
5. Combine your ideas from #2 -#4 and pick out your top ones. If your kids are older, consider letting them each take a day and "plan it out" - that can be a lot of fun for them and if they are more involved in the trip, they will enjoy it much more.
6. Now, get back on the internet and look for deals - type in the name of the attraction and then the word "coupon" or "deal" - this will often pull up a few sites where you can get discounts. If that doesn't work, call the location and ask about deals. For example, last time we went to Sea World I called and asked them if there were any deals on ticket prices. They told me that if I brought in a Pepsi can or bottle we would save $10 off admission - quick and easy. Another place to look for deals is if you are a member of AAA. There are often discounts associated with that membership. Of course check the Entertainment book also.
7. Don't forget while you are on vacation to ask the locals (at restaurants is a good place) if there is anything special you should do while you are there. Last time we were in Florida near the ocean the waitress at breakfast (a nice local joint) told us where to go to see Manatees. It was free and fun! This is a good way to find State or County parks which can be a lot of fun - especially if you pack a picnic lunch.
8. Finally, don't pack your days too full - especially if you have little ones. Sometimes the most fun can be had playing in the pool at the hotel, stopping at a school playground to play or just relaxing on the patio with a good book and a coffee while the kids nap or play in the room.
If we are visiting a place like Disneyworld, we usually only go to the parks 2 days out of 7. Then 2 or 3 days are spent at the pool and the other days just exploring Orlando - the outlet mall, parks, other attractions, etc.
This is a fun and pretty easy topic. There are definitely ways to save money on almost anything you want to do. Since you looked at the area when you decided where to go, you probably have a good idea of at least some of the activities.
1. Sit down with your family and brainstorm what you would like to do - get everyone involved. If your kids are too little, think about their favorite things to do - for many little ones a pool or a playground is as much fun as an amusement park.
2. Make a list of 5 or 6 "must do" activities - include something for everyone.
3. Do a search on the web for the location you are visiting. Look for the tourism office, check citysearch and check a few travel forums like frommers or fodors. Check for activities as well as discounts.
4. Go to the library and check out a tour guide on the area.
5. Combine your ideas from #2 -#4 and pick out your top ones. If your kids are older, consider letting them each take a day and "plan it out" - that can be a lot of fun for them and if they are more involved in the trip, they will enjoy it much more.
6. Now, get back on the internet and look for deals - type in the name of the attraction and then the word "coupon" or "deal" - this will often pull up a few sites where you can get discounts. If that doesn't work, call the location and ask about deals. For example, last time we went to Sea World I called and asked them if there were any deals on ticket prices. They told me that if I brought in a Pepsi can or bottle we would save $10 off admission - quick and easy. Another place to look for deals is if you are a member of AAA. There are often discounts associated with that membership. Of course check the Entertainment book also.
7. Don't forget while you are on vacation to ask the locals (at restaurants is a good place) if there is anything special you should do while you are there. Last time we were in Florida near the ocean the waitress at breakfast (a nice local joint) told us where to go to see Manatees. It was free and fun! This is a good way to find State or County parks which can be a lot of fun - especially if you pack a picnic lunch.
8. Finally, don't pack your days too full - especially if you have little ones. Sometimes the most fun can be had playing in the pool at the hotel, stopping at a school playground to play or just relaxing on the patio with a good book and a coffee while the kids nap or play in the room.
If we are visiting a place like Disneyworld, we usually only go to the parks 2 days out of 7. Then 2 or 3 days are spent at the pool and the other days just exploring Orlando - the outlet mall, parks, other attractions, etc.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Spending money challenge!
The last few months, my hubby and I noticed our credit card bills were getting out of control. We pay them off each month, but the amounts to pay were creeping up higher and higher . . . So, on our last date night (a Mystery Shop of course!) we created a new challenge. Until December, we are limiting ourselves to $50 a week (or $200 a month) each for spending. That's a bit high, so we may lower it to $25 in the next few months, but for now it's $50. That is for anything we want - clothing or fun stuff for the kids or ourselves, restaurants, scrapbooking supplies, tools, etc. Basically everything except groceries and gas. We decided to go to the bank that night and withdrawl $240 (we had $60 on hand) for the remaining three weeks of August. Now for the fun part:
Whoever has the most money left at the end of the month, gets $25 of the other person's money. That can be saved for later, used for something unnecessary, or whatever, but it can't count towards the next month's $200 - we start fresh each month.
It's going to be a lot of fun to try to out do each other and I think it will really help us curb spending. We are also going to track everything we do spend our money on - which I do already in a little notebook by my computer - to will help keep us honest.
Our other goal is to keep groceries at $400 a month. I think I can do it for $300, but DH thinks we should keep more in that category in case there is a killer deal out there (like the Walgreen's diapers last month).
Fun ways to budget and save money! Feel free to join in with your own challenge - I'll post our totals at the end of the month!
Whoever has the most money left at the end of the month, gets $25 of the other person's money. That can be saved for later, used for something unnecessary, or whatever, but it can't count towards the next month's $200 - we start fresh each month.
It's going to be a lot of fun to try to out do each other and I think it will really help us curb spending. We are also going to track everything we do spend our money on - which I do already in a little notebook by my computer - to will help keep us honest.
Our other goal is to keep groceries at $400 a month. I think I can do it for $300, but DH thinks we should keep more in that category in case there is a killer deal out there (like the Walgreen's diapers last month).
Fun ways to budget and save money! Feel free to join in with your own challenge - I'll post our totals at the end of the month!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Menu Plan Monday
Back on a somewhat normal schedule (is there ever a normal one?), so here is my menu plan for the month:
Monday - Thai Chicken with Peanut Sauce (one of our favorites)
Tuesday - leftovers
Wednesday - Meatball sandwiches, corn on the cob, oven fries
Thursday - Ham casserole; fruit
Friday - Chicken enchiladas, refried beans
Saturday - Chicken pot pie
Sunday - Corned beef, cabbage, potatoes
We are STILL eating out of the freezer. In fact, this week all I have to buy is cabbage, pinto beans, eggs and a loaf of bread.
Monday - Thai Chicken with Peanut Sauce (one of our favorites)
Tuesday - leftovers
Wednesday - Meatball sandwiches, corn on the cob, oven fries
Thursday - Ham casserole; fruit
Friday - Chicken enchiladas, refried beans
Saturday - Chicken pot pie
Sunday - Corned beef, cabbage, potatoes
We are STILL eating out of the freezer. In fact, this week all I have to buy is cabbage, pinto beans, eggs and a loaf of bread.
De-Cluttering
I am always on the hunt for new de-cluttering methods - I've read Pete Walsh's books, books on 30 days to a Simpler Life, numerous blogs, etc. The latest method I've discovered is a great new e-book on de-cluttering. As I'm currently working on my office I thought I'd give it a try. It seems promising for me, so here is the link Click Here! take a look if you are interested.
Today in my office I'm finishing up the piles and I'm going to sort through part of my scrapbooking supplies.
As promised, above is a before picture! Scary, I know!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Need more coupons?
It's nice to have multiples of the good coupons - that's how you can really get the great deals! I'm not keen on buying them online (although I have in the past) and I don't have any friends or family that will give me their inserts. I'm not into dumpster diving and I haven't gotten up the nerve to try to work out a deal with one of the gas stations. In the past, I've always just bought an extra paper if there are enough good coupons to cover the cost of the additional paper.
Luckily for me Village Pantry (VP) has a terrific new promotion. For every $15 of gas you purchase you can get a free paper. I don't know if this deal is at all of it's locations, but all the VP's near me are running this special. So, we've been waiting until Sunday to get gas. Then, we make several stops. On the way home from church we'll stop at the VP near church, put $15 in, I run in and get a paper and then my husband pulls up to another pump, puts another $15 in and he runs in to get another paper.
We have two other vehicles and a VP very close to our house, so we make two more trips over for two more papers - one per vehicle. That gives me a total of 5 sets of coupons every week! Score!!! My husband figured out it costs 30 cents more per $15 than the gas station across the street, so in reality I am paying 30 cents for the paper. I can do that! I am running into the problem of coupon storage though! My little coupon folders can't handle all the wealth!!!
Luckily for me Village Pantry (VP) has a terrific new promotion. For every $15 of gas you purchase you can get a free paper. I don't know if this deal is at all of it's locations, but all the VP's near me are running this special. So, we've been waiting until Sunday to get gas. Then, we make several stops. On the way home from church we'll stop at the VP near church, put $15 in, I run in and get a paper and then my husband pulls up to another pump, puts another $15 in and he runs in to get another paper.
We have two other vehicles and a VP very close to our house, so we make two more trips over for two more papers - one per vehicle. That gives me a total of 5 sets of coupons every week! Score!!! My husband figured out it costs 30 cents more per $15 than the gas station across the street, so in reality I am paying 30 cents for the paper. I can do that! I am running into the problem of coupon storage though! My little coupon folders can't handle all the wealth!!!
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Big Restaurant Savings!
Today and tomorrow, go to http://www.restaurant.com and you can save 80% off of your purchase. I just picked up three certificates (one for $25 and two for $10) for less than $4.00!!! I've mentioned this site in my blog before. Make sure you read the fine print as there are restrictions for use - must spend a certain amount, 18% tip is usually added to the bill, one per table, etc. but overall this is a terrific way to save money on a meal out. I bought three for my hometown this time, but I have purchased them for vacations before - in fact on our recent trip to Vegas I used two $25 certificates, and we had $35 - $40 meals for $14 - $19.
After you select your items, use the code: FIRST at the checkout.
Enjoy! This will be some fun inexpensive date nights or vacation meals!
After you select your items, use the code: FIRST at the checkout.
Enjoy! This will be some fun inexpensive date nights or vacation meals!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Frugal Friday
Yesterday was a fun one! My hubby and I celebrated our 15 year anniversary by running around town - which we love to do. That included a stop at CVS, Walgreens and Walmart! We also looked around for a chair and a half for my office. We topped the day off with a wonderful dinner at Kincaids. Here is what we did - it's a great frugal tip for a really nice meal out:
If you have a Kincaids near you, you must check to see if they have this awesome deal. From 3 - 7 they have a half price appetizer menu in the bar. We got three of their appetizers - Seafood Deviled Egg Trio (not that good), Spicy Ahi Tostada (WONDERFUL), blue cheese & chipolte chips (yummy and huge for only $3.50). I got a margarita (for $4) and my hubby got a diet coke. Our total bill was under $30. We ate outside on the patio. For the atmosphere, quality and amount of food, this was fantastic. Perfect for a special event!
http://www.kincaids.com
If you have a Kincaids near you, you must check to see if they have this awesome deal. From 3 - 7 they have a half price appetizer menu in the bar. We got three of their appetizers - Seafood Deviled Egg Trio (not that good), Spicy Ahi Tostada (WONDERFUL), blue cheese & chipolte chips (yummy and huge for only $3.50). I got a margarita (for $4) and my hubby got a diet coke. Our total bill was under $30. We ate outside on the patio. For the atmosphere, quality and amount of food, this was fantastic. Perfect for a special event!
http://www.kincaids.com
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Travel Thursday - Where to eat?
Well, it's technically Wednesday night but since tomorrow is our anniversary I'm not going to be online at all!
Next in the series is all about food! What to eat?
This is a great area in which to save money. You can blow a lot of cash by eating out while on vacation, but I have some great tips to help you keep the costs to a minimum!
- You don't have to eat out for every meal. How easy is that one? Seriously, there are alternatives. If we are in a condo, we almost always eat breakfast in the room, often lunch and even a few dinners. I pack easy foods from home if we are driving or make a stop at the grocery when we arrive if we fly. I also always pick up a case of water, pop, etc. as this will really cut your costs. It can be fun to eat out on the patio with the kids after a full day of sightseeing. Or sandwiches on the beach, or after dinner drinks looking out over the ocean, etc.
- When you do eat out, ask the locals. My family is not a fan of chains. Oh, they have their place in life, but when I'm on vacation I want to eat something from that area. I'm not picky about going to a "dive" either. We usually ask a few people throughout the trip for recommendations. Maybe ask someone you run into at the grocery store, or run into a video store if you are near a college campus. Even ask your waiter at a place you are eating at and enjoy. We always make sure and ask specifically for something local, good and not a chain. What's so funny is many times we'll get told "Chili's, Olive Garden, etc." What part of not a chain didn't they understand? Don't get discouraged if you don't get good answers every time you ask. I'd say for every four people we ask, we actually take the recommendation of one. But that one can be a good one - some of our best were the $7.50 (for both of us) Mexican restaurant in a trailer (yes, really) in San Antonio, or the wonderful Tapas place in Saint Louis . . . yum!
- Do some research ahead of time. If you love to eat out (like I do), do a little research ahead of time. I usually check out http://www.frommers.com/, go to http://www.citysearch.com/ and maybe do a general search on the location and then see what I can find in the way of restaurants.
- Split a meal or order less food. Unless you plan on taking your leftovers back to the condo (which can be a good idea), don't order the full nine yards. For my family of four, we usually order one entree and either an appetizer, side dish or one kids meal. We typically don't have leftovers and our bill is half the price. My philosophy is that if we are still hungry, we can always order more food. Guess what? In the fifteen years we've been doing this, we have never ordered more food - not once..
- Look for happy hours, early bird specials or kids eat free nights. Most restaurants in a touristy area have at least one of these options. This can save you a considerable amount of money. A great example was our recent trip to Las Vegas. One of our favorite restaurants there is a tapas place with great Sangria. From 4 - 6 a huge selection of tapas and all their sangrias were half price.
- Don't be afraid to use coupons. You use them at home, why not on vacation? Some great sources are http://www.restaurant.com/ and http://www.entertainmentbook.com/If we are going to be someplace for a week I will sometimes order the entertainment book for the region. We have found some terrific new places this way and I always get my money's worth. When we leave I either give it to someone there, or put it on freecycle when I get home.
We often make a game out of saving money on food - while still eating well. You know the show Rachael Ray's $40 a day? My husband and I often will keep track of what we spend and try to keep it at $40 a day for the two of us - then we'll joke about how we beat her at her own game - we're dorks, I know . . . but it does go to show that you can save a lot of money on food and still really enjoy your trip!
Yogurt and Starbucks deals
A few new deals I've found:
http://www.yoplait.com/products_yoplaitkids.aspx
Go here for a $1.50 off coupon for yoplait kids yogurt. Since the 8 packs often go on sale for 2/$4, if you wait for a sale, you should be able to get a pack for 50 cents!
I also just got an email from Starbucks - if you purchase a drink before 2 pm, take your receipt back after 2 pm and get a frappacino for $2. I don't think I'll be going out of my way to hit Starbucks everyday, but you can bet if I do happen to go, I'll probably go back later in the day for the frappacino!
http://www.yoplait.com/products_yoplaitkids.aspx
Go here for a $1.50 off coupon for yoplait kids yogurt. Since the 8 packs often go on sale for 2/$4, if you wait for a sale, you should be able to get a pack for 50 cents!
I also just got an email from Starbucks - if you purchase a drink before 2 pm, take your receipt back after 2 pm and get a frappacino for $2. I don't think I'll be going out of my way to hit Starbucks everyday, but you can bet if I do happen to go, I'll probably go back later in the day for the frappacino!
Back home!
Whew! After a full day of traveling yesterday - it's not easy flying across the country with two little ones, we are back home. Since I have a stack of mail to go thru, five or so piles of laundry to deal with, and my actual job to get caught up on, my hubby took the kids to his doctor's appointment, McDonald's for lunch and then the grocery store. I'm pretty scared about the grocery store bit - I sent him with a list and the corresponding coupons, so we'll see how he does . . .
Tomorrow is our 15 year anniversary. My mom is coming up for the day to watch the kids so we can do something special. I've been so busy I haven't planned it out yet, but I guarantee it will be frugal and fun!
I'm also going to attack one of my August goals today. I'm going to sort and put away two of the piles in my office.
Tomorrow is our 15 year anniversary. My mom is coming up for the day to watch the kids so we can do something special. I've been so busy I haven't planned it out yet, but I guarantee it will be frugal and fun!
I'm also going to attack one of my August goals today. I'm going to sort and put away two of the piles in my office.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Vacation
Still on vacation in California. And for the last few days I've actually been taking vacation. No work, no email, no blogging, nothing but sun and sand. I'll be back online Wednesday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
