Frugal Friday 404

 Happy Frugal Friday!

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

- Last Friday, Owen joined Mark at Scout Camp. He enjoyed the last 48 hours of camp and did some hiking, creek stomping, swimming, etc. He really enjoys scouts and Mark loves having him to share it with. They came home Saturday evening and we were so happy to have them home!

- Annabeth and I enjoyed a short musical at the dance studio. One of their summer camps was a musical production camp and they put on an amazing end of the week show! Annabeth had a great time cheering for her friends.

- We picked up the kids' premium money from their 4H projects. Our county awards money for completed projects. Our kids save the money from year to year as the base budget for the next years' projects.

- Saturday we had a nice girls' day. We made tie-dye from a kit my dad gave the kids. Annabeth also chose the special activity of pottery painting so we enjoyed several hours at uPaint. 

- This week BOTH kids had class at the same time so we took advantage of rare date opportunity (this was our 2nd in 2021) Mark made homemade crab cakes and we enjoyed dinner, alone!, at our dining room table. We had enough for leftovers and I felt very fancy enjoying crab cakes for lunch the next day.

- In May, we started a new Tally Rewards System in our house. Mark and I are working on being more consistent and more positive. We reward 3 Point Obedience with a tally mark. Once the kids earn 30 points they can draw a prize from a bucket. I wrote out tons of prizes some free and all low cost. Some examples - "You choose the library we visit this week" or "One item at the ice cream place" or "Date with Dad" This week Owen cashed in his date with Dad and they had burgers and Annabeth cashed in an item from Starbucks which I used a giftcard for. Our goal is to recognize and praise obedience and positive attitudes while, hopefully, eliminating troubling behaviors. 

We had a hectic week as we are back to school and back to dance. We are looking forward to some downtime this weekend.

Happy Savings to All!

Frugal Friday 403

 Happy Frugal Friday!

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

- A few weeks ago, Annabeth and I cleaned out her closet. She's had a growth spurt so many summer dresses were becoming too short. I listed them on Facebook and sold most of them. Made: $100

- I generally keep my PayPal payments, like from the sales above, in my account and use it for "fun money." Last week Zulily had some great deals on a few items the kids wanted for Christmas. I was able to check out with PayPal making most of it "free" aka the money didn't come from my checking account. 

- I grocery shopped using Walmart Pick-Up. I LOVE shopping that way because it's super easy to stay on budget as I can easily price compare items and can watch my total closely. After nearly $15 in cashback from Ibotta, I spent just $50 for the week. 

- I won a half-off item in my Matilda Jane Facebook Group! Thank you Danielle! Need a Trunk Keeper? You can shop with Danielle here. 

- My best friend entered me to win a contest in a boutique Facebook group that we are both in. I WON! The boutique owner sent me the cutest pair of animal print sandals. Check out Sunflower and Blooms here. Thank you Jac! The two of us also won a contest that I will post more about later this fall! :) 

- Thanks to their friends, my kids have gotten REALLY into Harry Potter. Annabeth has read the first three books and with Mark they have watched the first seven movies. I have found a lot of great looking books, games, legos, etc online but everything HP seems to be really pricey. Thankfully our local library had a ton of great resources in addition to the main books. We picked up a Harry Potter fact book and Lego game last weekend. 

- Sunday afternoon we visited the fair with my in-laws. The kids had a great time with their cousins and the rest of the family. We went again on Tuesday with my dad. Both times we parked at my friend's Ann's house (saving us the cost of parking) and Tuesday we left Ann and the kids hidden painted rocks as a "thank you"

- Since I saved the cost of parking, $10 total saved, I did splurge and buy ice cream each time. We spent $14 on ice cream but packed in our own waters and lunches. 

Fair day with Grandpa

Mr. O fit right in with his boots, jeans, belt, and tucked in 4H shirt.

He has big cowboy and goat-owning dreams now. 

And now, as a 10 year 4Her who is raising my kids in 4H, here is my 4H Fair PSA:

Please take your kids to the fair! Show them the projects, walk them around the barns to see the animals, enjoy a livestock show or demonstration, and have a good conversation with your kids. I LOVED growing up in 4H and many of my childhood, college, and adult friends run farms. I am PROUD to know the farmers who grow our vegetables, chicken, beef, and pork. I LOVE showing my kids the family farm names at the fair and that my kids know where their food comes from. Obviously, enjoy the carnival games and rides if that's your thing but be sure to enjoy the 4H part of the 4H fair as well! Help them see it takes hard work and grit to grow/raise the food that we all eat. 

Happy Savings to All! 

Frugal Friday 402

 Happy Frugal Friday!

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

- Last week we went to St. Louis for a long weekend for the Applause Nationals. We had originally booked more nights in the hotel than we ended up needing. We were able to cancel several nights. Saved: $400+

- On the way down, the kids and I took the long way and dropped Oscar off at my parents' house. I was too nervous to kennel him and he LOVES being spoiled by the grandparents. I am not sure the cost of boarding but I know we saved a bundle. Thank you Mama and Dad! 

- We ate down a great deal of our fridge/pantry before leaving town but still had many fresh veggies that we wouldn't be able to cook in our hotel room. We took snap peas, corn on the cob, and tomatoes to my parents' house.

- The first morning we drove about seven minutes from the hotel to see the World's Largest Catsup Bottle. We saw it two years ago when we stayed in Collinsville for dance and the kids have talked about it ever since. It was just as exciting to them this time. 

- We only had one eat out meal on our trip. We met our dear friend Brianne for dinner at Fitz's Root Beer. It was wonderful to catch up and the atmosphere/food was great!

- Before meeting up for dinner we walked the Delmar Loop, St. Louis Walk of Fame, and stopped in United Provisions. It was such a fun, unique (to us) grocery and we allowed each of the kids to choose some international treats. We spent under $20 and felt like it was a good souvenir stop for the kids.

- Originally we had planned to drive an hour, both ways, for a mine tour on our off day from dance. That day the kids had zero interest in leaving the hotel pool. We had not made tour reservations so we stayed and swam. We saved about 120 miles in gas AND nearly $100 by not taking the tour. 

- We did spend around $50 at a Walmart near our hotel for fresh fruit, veggies, meat, and eggs for the weekend. We chose a hotel that served both breakfast and dinner but saved a ton by making our own lunches each day. 

- Annabeth danced nearly all day Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. We took our own food over and only spent $20 on a t-shirt for her. We do not buy any other competition gear during the year but she has always gotten one shirt from nationals.

- Thursday evening we met up with Mark's brothers' family at the Concordia Seminary in St. Louis where he is studying. We had not been to see their house there and enjoyed a tour of the beautiful campus! We especially enjoyed seeing the unique stained glass in the chapel. It was great to spend an evening with them.

- We spent less than half of what we spent on Nationals two years ago and I am proud of those savings! We are saving for a big trip, that the kids don't know about yet, so we tried very hard to let them do big vacation things without a big vacation budget. They had a great time and came home very happy!

- This week we came home to unpacking, school, and MANY trips to the fairgrounds to drop off 4H projects. We are looking forward to FAIR WEEK!

Happy Savings to All! 

Frugal Wednesday

 Happy Frugal Wednesday!

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

- Mark worked overtime and I worked my Usborne Books & More Business.

- On Friday, Mark was able to get off "early"since he had worked so much overtime the rest of the week. He and Owen enjoyed a date out buying groceries and Annabeth and I enjoyed a spa-day with nails from Color Street. I had been saving some stars and stripes nails for the 4th of July Weekend. 

- Friday night we surprised the kids, with a NOT frugal, evening out at the movies. We saw the movie "Cruella" which was AMAZING! The costumes, sets, and Emmas were INCREDIBLE! I don't generally like kids movies but I never wanted this to end! It was so good. I had planned to redeem two free popcorn coupons so each of the kids could have a snack. In the end, the popcorn wasn't Anna-Safe so I did buy her candy ($6 ugh! :( ) but Owen very much enjoyed his free popcorn.

- Saturday Mark went out to some fishing stores with a friend. The kids and I went to a local farm market, another frugal fail, as it was much higher priced than I remembered. Oh well, if I am going to feel like I overpaid at least it was at a local farm stand vs the grocery.

- Saturday evening we went down to our friends the Otte's lake house for swimming and snacks. It's so kind of them to open their home/lakefront to everyone. The kids swam for nearly three hours and I enjoyed seeing them swim with the children of friends I have known for fifteen years or more. We really feel so blessed and refreshed after time at the lake with great friends.

- We did take time to take a little walk to the bridge where Mark proposed! We also left the group to go watch the fireworks on the chapel hill. Fifteen years ago I walked down that hill to the fireworks as Mark walked up the hill and I prayed "Dear Lord, please let me be Mark's wife." A year later, as the fireworks ended, he asked me to marry him. 

With my now and forever.

The kids loved hours of swimming followed by 

running chapel hill with their glow lights.

- Sunday after church we hosted the Rileys for a cookout. Others brought salad and fruit and we supplied pork chops, turkey burgers, grilled veggies, and corn on the cob. We did ice cream treats for dessert and had such a great 4th of July together. 

- Monday Mark was off for his holiday and we divided the kids up for school and dates. Mark took Owen fishing in the morning while Annabeth and I did school. After lunch, Mark took Annabeth bowling while Owen and I did school. Mark also took Annabeth out that evening for her first fly fishing lesson.

- I stopped by CVS to get gallon zip lock bags. They were free with a coupon. Saved: $3.59

- Owen and I had a little date at Culvers this week. We each had a free ice cream coupon from Summer Reading. Saved: $5.58

We spent the past two days doing school, cleaning house, and getting ready for Dance Nationals (thus the Wednesday post) Best wishes to all of our SDA Company Family as they dance at nationals! Good luck to our Little Bit as she dances her heart out!

We'll be back next Friday with a super-sized Frugal Friday!

Happy Savings to All! 

Frugal Friday 401

 Happy Frugal Friday!

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

- Friday morning the kids and I enjoyed a trip to Reimann's Farm Market with my Mama. She treated us to fresh zucchini, peaches, and yellow tomatoes. The kids enjoyed putt putt and playing with the cars before heading back to her house. My sister treated me to lunch from Manna, an Evansville favorite of mine.

- Friday evening Mark grilled out for us to welcome us home. We had planned to go to the pool but it was overcast and sprinkling and I didn't want to chance getting to the pool just to have to leave in a storm. Instead, we all rolled change that the kids got while visiting my Momaw last week. They each chose to add their money to their savings account. 

- Saturday Mark and Annabeth had a little date. They took a two mile loop on a path in town. Owen and I went to the bank, to get groceries, and to deliver books. We spent the afternoon finishing 4H projects.

- Sunday morning we enjoyed church at Grace once again. It was my first time being in church, without a mask, since March 2020. It was GLORIOUS to praise the Lord, with song, in a fellowship of believers. It was such a joy to see everyone's faces (and tears)

- Sunday afternoon we had lunch at Mark's parents' house and then met with friends at a local park. The kids had a great time playing with friends and Mark and I had a wonderful meeting with a new group of believers. This group will meet once a month for the next year with the purpose of Intentional Gospel Sharing in our neighborhoods. (If this is of interest to you - please ask me for info! You could be such a blessing to your neighborhood!)

- We ran many errands this week, combined trips to save on gas, and tried to use coupons as much as possible. The kids have now completed all but the food items for 4H and are ready for the fair! Many of our errands were for last minute supplies for those projects and to ask questions at the fair office.

- Monday, while Annabeth had dance, Owen and I took a two mile walk. We always try to make good use of one-on-one time with our kids and Owen loved walking, looking at ducks, and racing me back to the dance studio.

What the child finds worthy, is worthy.

Duck watching.

- Tuesday morning with met with teachers/friends from our new Co-Op. The kids played with friends on the playground and I was able to meet with my team teachers to lesson plan for the year. We took last year off from being in a co-op and we are excited to get back into the swing of it in the new school year.

- Tuesday, after our park play, we enjoyed some time in the sprinkler. Owen got this as a birthday gift from my parents and it is a HUGE hit!

- Wednesday we woke up at 6 and drove down to spend the morning in Charlestown with our best friends. The kids enjoyed swimming in their pool and Rose and I enjoyed chatting while they swam. The Eblings treated us to lunch and ice cream cones before our drive home.

- Wednesday night we did eat out, a rare treat! We met up with Mark's family and had everyone (expect for one) in town. It was a great night out with everyone and worth the extra money in this week's budget.

- Mark worked overtime and I worked my Usborne Books & More business. I took my ESR class this week and renewed my School and Library Certification so I can continue servicing schools and libraries as an Usborne and Kane Miller rep.

- Yesterday, we started our homeschool year. Our 9th year of homeschooling! WOW! Annabeth is in 5th grade and Owen is in 1st grade. I cannot wait to learn together all year.

Happy 4th of July to you all and Happy Savings to All!