Frugal Friday 441

 Happy Frugal Friday!

Here is how we saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money this week:

- Last week, while I was still in recovery mode, our sweet neighbor Gloria called to check in each day. One evening, she offered a giant box for the kids to play with. Gloria was a stay at home mom and grandma and has been the BEST encouragement to me over the years. They moved in when I was expecting Owen and she just has such a beautiful way of seeing me and the work I do. Often she'll meet me at the mailbox in the afternoon just to check on me. The kids have LOVED the big box and it's been a vet, pet shop, house, jack-in-the-box, and more! I feel so blessed by our lovely neighbors. 

- Friday evening through Sunday evening Mark and Owen camped with the scouts. This was Owen's first time primitive camping for the whole weekend and I think he loved it! We gifted him three of his birthday gifts early - a sleeping pad, cot, and camp chair. He really didn't have much of a wish list and it felt like a better decision to invest in some good, quality camp gear that he will use year after year.

Friday Evening - Ready to camp!

- Annabeth and I had a Girls' Weekend. She asked to order in Mexican food, to watch a "girls" movie, and to paint pottery so we made all of those things happen. She also went to the studio for classes, we went to church, and youth group.

- Sunday afternoon, Annabeth and I dropped off 500+ items for the Here We Grow Again - Indy South Sale. I took only one express consigner this spring and it was a great break for me! I plan to take more again in the fall but just needed to not have quite so much stored/to work on this spring.

- Tuesday night was the Raingutter Regatta for Owen's Cub Scout Pack. This was the first time that his pack has run these races. Owen had a great time building and painting his boat with Mark and the races were really a great time for all of the families. 

My Favorite Tiger

- Tuesday through Thursday, the kids and I stayed at Mark's mom's house to watch her dogs while she traveled. The kids LOVE helping with the dogs and the fun of sleeping at Nana's house. She generously left fruit, yogurts, chicken, and other snacks for us as a "Thank You"

- Wednesday afternoon we stopped by the kids' sale to look for bikes for each of the kids. No luck on the right size bikes BUT we did find a scooter for $4. We also found a leotard ($3), work-out shirt for O ($4), and Matilda Jane top for me ($8). I am sure we would have found more if we had looked longer but since we really only needed bikes I hated to find too many good deals. I considered it a win to get out for $20. 

- A family we are friends with has boys older than Owen. About once a year, Rebecca will message me and ask if I want to buy any of their outgrown clothes before she lists on Marketplace or garage sales. This week I was able to get 5 nice church shirts for $10. 

- I worked my book business, Mark had his first repeat customer in his Etsy Shop, and Mark worked both his office hours and nights this week. Dear Readers, if you see a police officer, thank them today! Last night at Owen's baseball game our team and the opposing team had guys who had each worked 14+ hours day and then came out to support their sons. Thank an Officer please!

We had an absolutely crazy week running all over but I am thankful to be feeling back to 100% and ready to close out our last 3 days of school next week!

Happy Savings to All! 

Frugal Friday 440

 Happy Frugal Friday!

Here's how we saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money this week:

- We stayed home from Wednesday through this Tuesday. That meant that we used very little gas and didn't do any shopping over the holiday weekend.

- We do not do any kind of Easter candy or gifts for the kids. When they were younger, we did purchase The Easter Story for them. That has been our one Easter purchase over the years.

- My parents drove up Saturday and brought the kids an egg hunt. This is a tradition that is very important to them and we were thankful to be able to make it happen while social distancing. The kids loved their eggs and candy. Thank you all!

- We also gifted my parents their birthday gifts. We have been really trying for homemade or consumable gifts the past few years. Mark redid a comforter and made it into a lap blanket/two pillows for my mom's birthday and we gifted my dad candy, rootbeer, and a gift certificate to our local candy shop. 

- Sunday evening Mark and the kids went for an outdoor visit to Mark's mom's house. She was very glad to see them, we were supposed to be traveling over Easter so this was a fun surprise for her. The kids declared our small scaled, at home Easter "the best ever!" Proof that children just want the people they love with them.

- While recovering from COVID, I obviously had a lot of time at home. One project I worked through was sorting my middle, high school, and college pictures. My teenage self apparently needed 2 copies of every picture I ever took - even if it was blurry or out of focus. I condensed 8 books into two books spanning 6th grade through my midtwenties. This project was inspired my Mai Zimmy's most recent YouTube video where she sorts her memorabilia. This project cleared up nearly an entire shelf of storage space for me and did great things for my mental health. I now truly only have pictures that spark joy! 

- I tagged over 400 items for the Here We Grow Again Indy South Sale. I only took one express tagger this time as we had a large amount of our own items to sell this spring.

- Yesterday was co-op Field Day and Spring Review. It was such a wonderful way to wrap up the school year with our co-op friends. Even with the rain, our Field Day committee put together wonderful games as well as Kona Ice for the kids. Spring Review was a great evening out sharing what the kids have learned this year with the dads and grandparents. Thank you to my Mama for loaning Annabeth and me pioneer dresses and dolls for our Wax Museum. Annabeth decided early in the year to be Laura Ingalls and asked me to be Caroline - I couldn't resist matching my girl!

Kona Ice at Field Day

It was chilly and rainy outside but the ice was still a HUGE hit with the kids

Wax Museum Laura Ingalls

We had a busy week of COVID recovery for me and sale prep. We are looking forward to a busy, fun weekend.

Happy Savings to All! 

Our Easter

For all of my childhood, we did Easter church, then egg hunt for eggs with jelly beans at my parents, and then egg hunt at Grandma and Grandpa Chico's for our 6 eggs. Easter was simple, filled with the Good News, and a little bit of bunny fun.

After marrying we began alternating years between Indy and Evansville but still following that same fairly simple Easter pattern. Church first then everything else.

Two years ago the world stopped just before Easter. It was the first holiday of my life spent without time in church or with either family and yet in the end, Easter still came. No bunnies, no baskets, no ham or macaroni and cheese, no family pictures with coordinating outfits, and yet Jesus rose. Two years ago, in the middle of quarantine, God gave me my most blessed Easter. In those quiet hours, of being home alone just the four of us, I realized more than ever how complicated we make things. 

Jesus came to earth as a baby. He lived a simple, sinless, blameless life just trying to tell everyone about God's love. Then he died. He died an awful, painful, horrible death on a cross for us. For me. For you. When I think about the darkness of that Friday, I don't want to do baskets or candy or anything silly. I want to sit in the quiet and be ever so thankful that the One who made the universe, who placed in the stars in the sky, also saw fit to save us all. 

Last Thursday, I tested positive for COVID. We cancelled our travel plans to visit Evansville and that was that. Because we keep the holiday simple and small there wasn't a last minute rush to make baskets or buy candy or cancel an egg hunt - we just continued on. 

Easter Sunday at our house passed quietly. Yet, even without the "holiday" activities - Sunday came. The sun rose. The sun shone. We shared time in scripture and were reminded once again that "He is not here. He's risen!" And just like Mary, on that first Easter morning, we were shocked, in awe. Grateful. 

Easter 2022.

We didn't get dressed until afternoon so the sun was bright in their eyes.

No one wore a special, themed outfit.

Owen's teeth are 1st grade crazy.

They fought over Scrabble before this picture.

And you know what?

That's all okay. 

Jesus came for sinners. Messy, chaotic people who can't always get their

hearts focused in the right places. Jesus came for us. Died for us. Rose for us.

And we can't wait to live with Him forever. 

Frugal Friday 439

 Happy Frugal Friday!

Here's how we saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money this week:

- Last weekend the kids and I went to Ft. Wayne with my sister for a long dance weekend. The kids both danced really well and we all had a great time! With competitive dance there are times when travel/hotels can't be avoided but I do my best to save money as we go.

- I booked our hotel through Booking.com. I get 10% off most stays on Booking and they price match so I know I am finding the lowest/best price plus that 10% off. There were three choices near the dance venue and I chose the most affordable one. This saved me nearly $200 compared to the hotel next door. Unfortunately I didn't realize until we were checked in that our hotel did not have a pool. That wasn't a big deal for me but the kids were VERY disappointed. I made sure to click the Rakuten and Ibotta cash back on for more than $30 cashback on my stay between the two. Saved: $230. 

- Because we had saved that $230 on the hotel, we ate out three meals and saw several museums/attractions. My sister generously treated Annabeth to dinner/shopping on Friday night and took Owen to the Auburn Car Museum and the Botanical Gardens. They both really enjoyed each place. Annabeth and I went to the Fort Wayne Museum of Art for a few hours. It was $14 for both of us and a great visit. We both love glass art and they had a great deal of that. 

- We did eat out three meals. Somehow, with tip, I managed to spend $42 on each meal. Owen and I had sushi Friday night, Saturday lunch the kids and I had the Burger Bar (BEST meal of the trip!), and for dinner I treated all of us to pizza. I'll let you decide which place I got the best deal for $42. 

Owen and me on our sushi date.

He LOVED the fancy restaurant and live piano music

Owen. In a nutshell. 

Annabeth had a great time creating her own art at FWMOA

Sunset on Fort Wayne

- On the drive home, we surprised the kids with some stops on the Garfield trail. My kids LOVE the Garfield comics so this has been on my to-do list for a while. I was glad we had not made a special trip for this as several of the Garfields were put away for repair and some needed repair. The kids didn't care though, they loved it!

- We had a busy week of dance and school this week. We have less than 20 days left in our school year so we are well into review mode and looking forward to summer vacation!

This weekend we look forward to shouting "He is Risen!" and singing "Up from grave He arose." We don't do bunnies or baskets or candy instead we leave the focus on the One Who came for us all. The One who although sinless, blameless took our sins to the cross. Who died for us. Who rose again all so that we might have the Life Eternal. We don't deserve it, we didn't earn it, and we certainly can't pay Him back. While, I am thankful to be passing through this beautiful earth, I cannot wait to live with Jesus forever. Amen. 

Happy Easter to All! 

Frugal Friday 438

 Happy Frugal Friday!

Here is how we saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money this week:

- Last Saturday Annabeth had a special day out with Mark's mom. Kristi treated her to her first pedicure as well as lunch and shopping. They found her a new top and sandals for the summer. Annabeth felt so special to have a whole afternoon with Nana to herself!

- Saturday evening we hosted Kristi as well as Luke and the kids for dinner. We served two kinds of chicken, spring rolls, veggies, and rice. The kids had the best time playing with their cousins and I so love having a house full of people that we love.

- Sunday after church we went out for pizza. While eating out is not frugal this was the FIRST time we have been out to eat as a family since January and only our second time in 2022! Mark surprised us all after church and it was wonderful!

- Sunday evening Mark took Annabeth to youth group and shopped in Greenwood. He cashed out a giftcard from his birthday for a new flashlight. Owen and I took an evening bike/hike on a local trail and came home for a picnic dinner out back. We wrapped up our date night with a game of Scrabble. 

- We visited a different library this week. This always makes the kids really happy and is such an easy, free way to perk up an every-week errand. We read aloud at least an hour every day and then they read on their own as well. Recent read-alouds: Charlotte's Web, Harriet the Spy, Harriet Spies Again, Stuart Little and we're now working through the Wayside School on audio book. 

- A good friend has done an incredible amount of work losing weight and posted her larger clothes for sale. I reached out to see what size she was in and took a big bag of clothes closer to her new size. This helped me clean out the "fits but snug" section of my closet - four pairs of jeans as well as some capris and shorts. I am happy to have someone wearing them instead of having them passed over in my own closet for items that fit better. 

- I packed unpopular pantry items for our picnics this week. This is how I finish up the fruit, snacks, etc that everyone passes over at home. When we're out and about and they are hungry - they'll eat them :) 

- Yesterday after co-op we met friends at the park to play. It was pretty chilly/windy but we got more than an hour of fresh air and movement in. 

Our old house is just north of that church in the picture. When Annabeth was a baby,

we used to walk to this park all the time. It was small and old though - this makeover

is incredible!

We are looking forward to a visit from out of town family and a little road trip for some of us this weekend!

Happy Savings to All! 

Frugal Friday 437

 Happy Frugal Friday!

Here is how we saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money this week:

- Saturday afternoon we took the scenic way to an out of town wedding. I was very happy to share in the wedding day of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The bride and I have been friends since middle school and it was such a blessing to pray over the happy couple and their family. I also really enjoyed watching her daughter play and dance with my kids. Having lived away from Evansville since I was 18, I don't have many close childhood friends and the opportunity to catch up with a couple and to watch our kids together brought me so much joy.

Happy to celebrate another wedding with my Forever Wedding Date. 

- The happy couple had an online honeymoon registry. Guests were encouraged to shop for an item on the list - like portions of the cost of hotel, plane tickets, special meals, etc. We gifted them part of a waterfall tour. I thought that was SUCH a fun idea it made for easy shopping and they are getting experiences vs stuff!

- Sunday after church we enjoyed lunch and games at Mark's mom's house. She treated us to pizza lunch and sent over a bunch of leftovers as well as some food for the week. Thank you Kristi!

- I cashed out a free offer and a $25 off $25+ offer from Shutterfly. I had additional of the $25 coupons but the website would only let me use one of them since they all were rewards from the same place. I sent the others I had on hand to friends so they could save money on their orders. I also shopped through Rakuten for 2% cashback.

- I mentioned at the end of February that instead of doing one big New Year's Resolution this year that I am doing Monthly Challenges. I did a low-spend January, 10 Minute Pick-Ups in February, and in March I committed to adding every dollar made online to a Principal Payment on our home mortgage. I listed and sold many items online and was able to make a $45 Principal Payment. It was great to make money on items that we are done with and to put that money to work in a good way.

- Mark made another sale in his Etsy shop and we added Arizona as a state that he has shipped to! 

- I finalized most of our homeschool book plans for next year. God is truly SO gracious! A few weeks ago, two friends shared (for free!) the exact history and language books that I had planned to buy for Owen. This saved us over $50. This week I chose his readers ($40+ new) but was able to find them on a homeschool resale page and got them both for $15! 

- After Mark had some items delivered, Owen went to work crafting with the box. He cut it how he wanted, painted it, and then created this campfire scene. I love watching our kids build and create.

- Last night we took dinner and dessert to a family in our homeschool co-op that just welcomed a new baby. We took some extra time and made a special cake for the family. This is something our neighbors did for us when we had Owen and it was so meaningful to us. 

Overall we had a great, busy week as we are in the homestretch of our school year and in the busy season of juggling dance, baseball, 4H, and scouts. I pray that we are building memories that will last a lifetime!

Happy Savings to All! 

**I realize that to some it may seem silly, or maybe even "pointless", to make a $45 payment. But friends, when Mark and I married we were nearly $30,000 in student loan debt and for nearly 2.5 years we threw every additional penny we had towards those payments until they were paid off. It has NOT been luck or chance that we've made big financial things happen for our family. It's been a lot of hard work and sacrifice to achieve the goals we set - $45 payments at a time.