family

Vacations on the Cheap, Part 1 (The budget)

Abby H.
Screen Shot 2015-05-13 at 9.15.38 AM
A shot of us at D-land in September of 2013!

I was cleaning out some files yesterday and I came across some notes from when we planned our family vacation to Disneyland 2 years ago. I know with Summer vacation coming up, a lot of you will be planning trips to The House of Mouse and other locales. Here are a few tips to help you save on your summer fun!

The first part of planning a trip is budget. Where you’ll go, how long you’ll stay, what you’ll do while you’re there, those things are all (sadly) dictated by budget.

When we plan a trip, in order to keep our costs down, I’ve formulate a budget that takes into consideration a few things:

  1. We’re getting a m/hotel room with a kitchenette. That way we can eat some meals in room and save money. The average price per person per meal in most tourist areas is $10.00 plus tax and tip, so just by eating in our room three times we’re saving $90.00 plus tax and tip. The difference in price between a m/hotel room without a kitchen is about $10/day. For us, it’s worth it.
  2. I’ll be using high value and free item coupons for some of the menu items we’ll be eating. I trade coupons online on site like HotCouponWorld, and of course, my local coupon club. (For more info on coupon clubs and online forums, check out this post)
  3. I use as many deals and savings programs to earn gift cards and cash to defray costs. I’m save Swagbucks for a Paypal payout, I save Mypoints points for a gift certificate or a Paypal payout,  And if we happen to eat out, we’ll try to eat at Mogl restaurants to earn a little green back!
  4. I save various gift cards as well to be used on the trip (like the $20 pre-paid Visa Gift Cards I earn from SBKC)

So with our budget in mind, I set to finding a m/hotel that fits our budget and has the amenities we are looking for: swimming pool, complimentary continental breakfast, and free parking.

 

 

Cutting down on food waste in 30 minutes!

Abby H.

One of the ways that we save money is to cut down on food waste. For me that means once we are home from the store and all of the perishables are put away, I pull out the cutting board, a sharp knife, the spiralizer, some zip top bags, and reusable storage containers.

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This was last weeks fresh fruit and veggies (plus 3 bags of baby carrots and a cantaloupe- not pictured).

I set to work, chopping, packaging, and spiralizing.  In less than 30 minutes I had all of the fresh fruits and veggies prepped and measured into small bags to be dropped into lunches, or packed into plastic containers.

This of course is only for the fruits and veggies that require prep. The oranges, apples, and bananas require no prep to eat, so they just go into the fruit bowl.

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Fruits and veggies all ready for a week of healthy lunches!
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Cantaloupe chopped up and ready for my belly!! The bottom container has 3 spiralized Italian zucchini squash, ready to be made into “pasta” salad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By spending a little time each week getting veggies and fruit ready to eat, you’ll cut down on food waste, because the food is all ready to eat. No scrambling to cut up cucumbers for lunch early in the morning, no putting off eating something because you are short on time in the evening.

You will also be saving money over purchasing pre-chopped and pre-packed vegetables and fruit. All of this produce was purchased at 99 Cents only for less than $12.00. So you can eat well (and healthy) on a budget!!

And if it turns out atthe end of the week that you aren’t able to eat all of your veggies and fruit and they can be frozen (pretty much anything except melons), toss the bags in the freezer and you now have veggies for a casserole, or fruit for a smoothie!

The average American family of four throws away $25.00 in food a WEEK!  Here are a few more tips to help your family curtail food waste!

Eat your leftovers:  this seems like a no brainer. When you divvy out your portions for dinner, make yourself your lunch for the next day.  If you won’t eat it right away, pop it into the freezer- label it, so you don’t forget what it is.

When it looks like your fruit is about to go south, freeze it. This includes bananas!  You can use defrosted bananas in banana bread or frozen bananas are great in smoothies.  Other frozen fruit can also be used in smoothies.
Citrus fruits can be juiced and frozen or the juice can be consumed for breakfast or put in smoothies.   Apples can be peeled cooked into applesauce or made into apple butter.

When I buy fresh tomatoes and they get just a little too ripe- I freeze them whole, then I bake them with chicken breasts and herbs and top with fresh parm- Yummy!

Buy less. I know it seems like a strange concept, especially with all of the really great deals you will be finding, but, the one proven way to waste less is to bring less home to waste.

Moms Meet: Sharing Natural and Organic Goodies with Friends!

Abby H.6 Comments

Screen Shot 2015-04-28 at 8.17.15 AMI love free stuff. I also love sharing free stuff with friends and family. When I discovered Moms Meet a few years ago I was psyched! It combines everything I love: Free stuff, natural products, and sharing with friends!

Moms Meet offers exciting opportunities for Mom Ambassadors and their groups (moms groups, play groups, church groups) to sample the latest healthy, green products. Past sampling opportunities have included EO all-natural hand sanitizer, Wallaby Organic yogurt, and To Go Brands Trim Energy.

I receive 1-2 sampling opportunities per month. It’s nice to provide free snacks at play dates that accommodate so many allergies, and moms get coupons and samples to take home.

Screen Shot 2015-04-28 at 8.47.44 AMComing up next week, our play group will be sampling Applegate Half-Time meal kits! In addition to sampling the yummy lunch kits, we are going to decorate re-usable thermal lunch bags. Each friend will go home with a coupon for a free Half Time kit and a few other coupons.

If Moms Meet is something that you’d like to try, all you have to do to get started is fill out the form here, and Moms Meet will contact you when they have a campaign.

 

Inexpensive Summer Fun in San Diego County!

Abby H.2 Comments

Summer is on it’s way! The kids will be out of school soon and the choruses of, “I’M BORED!” will being heard across the county.

Here are some cheap and free things that you can do this summer around San Diego County to alleviate the boredom.

Screen Shot 2015-04-24 at 5.12.31 PMThe splash ground at Santee Lakes is GREAT! It’s only $2.00 per kid to play and if you park outside the Santee Lakes, you don’t have to pay to park! Take a picnic and it’s a great frugal outing! We go at least once a week in the summer and it’s always
a GREAT time!

The Santee Lakes hosts free summer movies throughout the summer.  If you park your car outside the gates (there is lots of street parking!), there is no cost of the movies.  If you drive your car into the park, it’s $8.00 per car, regardless of how many ppl are in your car.   Bring a picnic and some blankets and kick back for a fun family movie!
Balboa Park still offers Free Tuesdays at various museums in the park.

The San Diego Reader has a list of events on their website.

San Diego County Libraries have story time and various kid events each week.  I love taking Henry to the Santee library story time, and then we play at Mast Park right next door afterwards!

El Cajon, La Mesa, and Escondido all have classic car shows/rallies each week that are free.  Most have free music too!  Check out some sweet rides, cool tunes, and have a fun frugal night with the fam!
DiscoverSD has a list of free events and classes offered in San Diego (not all are kid friendly)
Speaking of Parks- San Diego County has great parks, as do most of the cities in San Diego County! Our favorite parks include Big Rock Park in Santee, Kennedy Park in El Cajon, La Mesita/Junior Seau Park in La Mesa, Harry Griffin Park in La Mesa (great for little kids).

If you are looking for a fun drive and an adventure, The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum in Campo is really fun for kids (and adults!).

What kind of stuff do you do to keep your family entertained for free?

Follow us on Instagram!

Abby H.

instagram-logo Did you know you can keep up with us on Instagram too? Sometimes I don’t have time to sit down in front of my desktop and write up a full post, but I’ve always got time to snap awkward photos and post them with with short recipes, frugal tips, and sales I discover while I’m out and about!

So check us out on Instagram today!

2015 Earth Day Freebies

Abby H.

file301243123568So this year there are not too many Earth Day Freebies. Earth Day is 4/22/15, but most events are taking place this weekend.

There are a lot of fun earth Day Events around San Diego, including the Earth Fair in Balboa Park (which is FREE)!

Now if you can’t make it out today, the fun continues throughout the month.  San Diego Family Magazine has a list of events here.

If you are on the hunt for freebies the only one that’s confirmed for San Diego, CA area stores is the free reusable grocery bag from the Disney Store! On Wednesday the 22nd, visit your local Disney Store to receive ONE FREE Reusable Bag when you come in and recycle 5 plastic shopping bags. In the past the bag has featured Cars (Lil’ Man’s favorite) or Apes (from a Disney Nature movie). I’m unsure what this years design features.

Origins Confirmed that they are not having a free Earth Day item, however, per their tweet to me: “We are offering a FREE reusable tote with any purchase!” 

Starbucks has not responded to my tweet asking if they are offering a free cup of coffee when you bring in a reusable cup. At this point, I would not count on it.

Not Strictly Earth Day Related, but I know ya’ll love a free RedBox Code! Text SHOPS to 727272 to get a unique coupon code for a free Redbox 1-day DVD rental (or $1.50 off your Blu-ray rental).

Fun, Free Weekend Activities

Abby H.

file4361308158952If you are looking for some fun on a budget, we have compiled a list of national retailers with hands-on workshops, classes and free in-store events for this weekend and many more that are coming soon.

Share this fun,money-saving list with your friends and family. And, if you know of any others to include, please let us know! It is always best to call ahead and make sure that your local store or retailer is participating to avoid disappointment.

 

 

 
Free National Park Entrance:  April 18-19th  opening weekend of National Park Week  Find out the list of participating parks (over 405 of them)
Barnes & Noble Saturday, April 18th at 11 AM Story time featuring Aqualicious plus related activities at many B&N locations. Most stores have free toddler story time, NOOK events, hands-on learning events and author events – find the times and participating Barnes and Noble stores here.

home depot workshops for adultsHome Depot Workshop for Adults

Saturday, April 18th from 10 AM to 11:30 AM – Organic Gardening

Sunday, April 12th from 1 PM to 2:30 PM – How to Install a Toilet

You can pre-register online here.

 

 

whirly twirly windwill Lakeshore LearningLakeshore Learning Store

Saturday, April 18th from 11 AM-3 PM and a few locations offer crafts every Sunday.

Kids make and take a Whirly Twirly Windmill Craft. Get more information here.

 

williams sonoma free jr chefsWilliams-Sonoma Free Technique Classes for Kids

Saturday, April 18th at 10 AM

Junior Chef: Baking Bundts – kids will learn to prepare different flavors and sizes of Bundt cakes with three different glazes. The Jr. Chef’s class is suitable for kids ages 5-13.

 

williams-sonoma free techniques classWilliams-Sonoma Free Technique Classes for Adults

Sunday, April 19th -contact your store for class time

Coffee Techniques Class: Be your own Barista and learn brewing methods and discuss various roasts and grinds that affect your finished drink. To reserve a spot, and find out specific class times, contact your closest store right here.

 

And Coming up in a few weeks:

Earth Day/Month Events in San Diego

4/21/15 at 11 AM: Pottery Barn Kids Decorate biodegradable flower pots and plant seeds for Earth Day. Call your local PBK store here for a reservation.

5/2/15: Free Comic Book Day.  Find participating stores here.

5/2/15 from 9 AM to 12 PM: Home Depot Workshop for Kids Kids Learn How to Build a Picket Fence Photo Frame ~You can pre-register online here. (Some Home Depot locations do a kids workshop each week, no pre-registration required)

5/8/15: Free Admission to National Public Gardens. A favorite annual events just in time for Mother’s Day. Find Gardens Near You

5/9/15 at 10 AM Lowe’s Build and Grow Kids make and take a Mother’s Day Planter. Register at the website here.

5/10/15 at 10 AM: Pottery Barn Botanical flower arranging. Get more information and RSVP here.

5/18/15: Free Art Museum Day. Many art museums will be offering free or discounted admission. Find our more information here.

Lego Stores Free Model Build. Usually held monthly in stores, kids ages 6 to 14 can build and binoculars. Contact your closest LEGO® Store here for details.

And one of my favorites…Bowling for Kids all Summer: Kids Bowl for Free all summer at select bowling centers. Get two free games for each child, every day, all summer long. She rental is not included. Check to see what nearby bowling alleys are participating here.

And Starting in June: Family Movies for $1 During the Summer Participating Regal Cinemas, United Artists, & Edwards Theaters offer 9 weeks of family movies, rated G or PG, for just $1 on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings at 10 AM. You can see the schedule, starting dates and movies here on the Regal website.
Be sure and check out your local library (San Diego County Library event website) and parks and recreation departments for free programs and events right in your hometown!

 

Thanks to Lori at More with Less

April 14, 2015: Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day!

Abby H.1 Comment

It’s BAAACCCCK!!!Screen Shot 2015-04-13 at 7.39.18 AM

Tomorrow is the day! Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s locations all across the US from noon until 8pm.

Find your local participating location here.

After our doctor’s appt, Lil’ Man and I will be heading down to Seaport Village for a free scoop, a walk, and a picnic lunch!

There are two locations in San Diego: Horton Plaza Mall and Seaport Village.

If you’ve never been, the line at Seaport Village goes pretty fast. It’s a great time, enjoying a tasty treat and watching the boats in the bay!

Family fun at The San Diego Kids Expo & Fair (and a giveaway)

Abby H.5 Comments

KIDS fESTSummer means tons of family fun all over San Diego! One of our favorite is the The San Diego Kids Expo & Fair and it’s right around the corner! It’s a
fun springtime fair complete with music, dance, sports demos, games, cooking classes, plus a NEWLY added Playland that kids will LOVE!

The spring San Diego Kids Expo & Fair is happening at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on Saturday April 25 and Sunday April 26 from 10am to 5pm.

I took kiddo last year and we had a blast. There is tons of fun stuff to see and do, including two of our favorite things: The play area sponsored by Playtown and Free Kids Workshop by Home Depot. If you’ve got a kiddo that loves princesses, you’re in luck, there will be character photo ops too!

Kidsfest 1 Kidsfest 2In addition to fun activities indoors, there are all kinds of fun activities and rides outdoors, including a zip line, Human Hamster Ball, Water Rollers, Laser Tag, Xorbing Balls, Body Bubbles.

You can learn all about The San Diego Kids Expo & Fair on their website, including hours and ticket prices.

Giveaway Time!! The awesome peeps over at the The San Diego Kids Expo & Fair have generously offered a family pack which includes two adults tickets and unlimited children under age 12, valid for either Saturday April 25 or Sunday April 26. It’s easy to enter! Just leave a comment letting me know why you are excited to win this giveaway. I’ll choose a winner on April 18th in the evening!

Giveaway Time: Dial Miracle Oil Hand Soap

Abby H.9 Comments

unnamedThanks to the nice ppl over at Purex Insiders, we recently got to experience Dial Miracle Oil Hand Soap.

Much like the body wash that I reviewed recently, the Miracle Oil Hand Soap is infused with Marula Oil to nourish and deeply hydrate your skin while protecting it from skin-damaging free radicals.

It’s got a great scent that is not overpowering. We’ve been using it non-stop for 2 weeks, and even the kiddo loves washing his hands with it! Thanks to the Marula Oil and vitamin E, our hands are feeling soft and clean!

Thanks to a recent episode of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, the battle of handwashing is now over. Everything goes a lot easier when you have a song to sing!

I’m super excited to be able to share Dial Miracle Oil Hand Soap with my readers! Two lucky fans will each win a coupon for 1 bottle of Dial Miracle Oil Hand Soap.

It’s easy to enter: Just leave a comment with your favorite spring time activity! I’ll select a winner on April 17th!

Thanks to Purex Insiders for supplying me with a full sized bottle of Dial Miracle Oil Hand Soap to facilitate my review. I was not financially compensated for my review.