Happy Frugal Friday!
Here's how we saved money/spent money wisely/made extra money the past two weeks:
- This year's Nationals Trip took us to IL, IA, and MO!
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- We left for our trip Saturday, July 9th. We returned our nieces and nephew to their parents in IL. They had been here visiting Mark's mom for the week and this saved their parents a trip (nearly 6 hours each way) picking them up. We also had to take two cars on vacation anyway due to schedules so it felt better to have each car full of people with gas prices being so high.
- On the way west, we stopped a bit over midway at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, IL. The visitor's center and house were both free! We did pay $8 to park both cars.
- While at Matt and Jenn's we had a make-your-own sushi night, neighborhood walks and bike rides, park play, and Sunday morning church and Bible Class at their new church. We pray for Matt's Vicar year at St. James Lutheran.
- Our kids have never been to Iowa. Matt and Jenn's new house is within 2 hours of Iowa, Jenn's home state, and so I said "Where can we take the kids?" Jenn planned a whole outing for us. We all drove up to the Starr's Cave Nature Preserve for a hike and creek stomp. We drove into Burlington where her mom made dinner for us (thank you!), drove the famous Snake Alley, and then we stopped along the river so the kids could see the Mississippi River on the drive home.
- Monday night we split up from the group and took the kids bowling, the Tangerine Bowl in Quincy has $1 Mondays so it was just $8 for all of us to bowl with shoe rentals, and to dinner. They really enjoyed a bit of time just the four of us.
- Once we had the dance schedule, and knew we would be staying a few nights with Matt and Jenn, we cancelled three nights in our hotel. This saved us $400 which was AWESOME!
- This is the first trip since having Oscar that we have paid a pet sitter. The only other trips we have taken my parents have kept him but they were coming along this time. We paid a family from our homeschool co-op to keep him. Saving the hotel room money certainly made the cost of a dog/house sitter less painful on the budget.
- Our friends Chad and Melissa found an awesome deal on our hotel LAST August! We were able to get a two bedroom, two bathroom suite with kitchen and living area for a great price. This worked especially well as Mama and Dad joined us for this trip. A HUGE thank you to my parents who surprised us by covering the hotel for the week. Thank you!
- Wednesday was our off day from dance. We spent the day exploring the Lewis and Clark Boat House Museum and Historic St. Charles. We did a bit of shopping, lots of window shopping, and ate lunch/ice cream on Main Street.
- Over the holidays, I took part in a COVID 19 research study. I was paid in a Visa gift card. I set it aside and saved it for this trip. With the gift card I was able to cover gas for my car, two meals out, and souvenir dance shirts for the kids. I also got coffee with my sister-in-law and ice cream with my Mama and Owen. It was well worth saving the gift card from February to now as it made vacation much more fun and affordable.
- The kids and I returned home late Saturday evening. We spent Sunday getting settled back in the house, doing laundry, and giving Oscar LOTS of love!
- Monday and Wednesday mornings we enjoyed the fair before the heat set in. Monday morning Mama and Dad came along to see the kids' 4H projects. Thank you to our friend Ann and her family for letting us park at her house for free both days.
- We enjoyed two free library programs this week - a class on prairie plants from DNR as well as the end of summer reading ice cream science class. After the ice cream class, everyone got a free bowl of ice cream. On the way out, a friend told me that those bowls are about $8 at the actual shop! What a savings. I am SO thankful for our incredible library system and all of the classes they offer.
- Yesterday we drove down to Charlestown for what felt like the fastest day of summer. We haven't seen our best friends since February due to busy busy BUSY schedules and the day just flew day! The kids had the best time swimming and we can't wait to spend several days with them next month!
In light of all of the wonderful adventures we had, a heavy fog has hung over this week. One of our nation's most recent mass shootings came to our county this past weekend. Mark, despite being away serving at Scout Summer Camp, came back to serve with the bomb team and to help with evidence. I have been praying for all those who witnessed the senseless acts of violence, for the victims and their families, for the Good Samaritan and his mental health as well as his family, and also for the shooter. There is no amount of hate in the world that could separate me from Christ or for praying for His people, ALL people.
Happy Savings to All.
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