Frugal Friday 513

 Happy Frugal Friday!

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

- Last weekend we tent camped at Lynnville Park Friday and Saturday nights. My parents have a lakehouse on Lynnville Lake and since they bought it in 2000 we have wanted to camp out on a certain rock. This weekend we did it! Annabeth is not one for camping so she and Oscar spent the weekend in Evansville with Grandmama. We took along our tent, found firewood in the woods, and at out cold meals. We saw other people with big grills and elaborate camp equipment but we went for the basics this time. The park had their free Fall Festival on Saturday so Owen enjoyed pumpkin painting, bounce houses, hayrides, and more. 

This view!

I've wanted to camp here for over 20 years

Friday Night S'mores

Saturday Morning Rock Skipping

Our perfect, simple set up.

We told stories by the fire, looked for shells, and hiked in the woods. 

I loved the time away with my boys.

- We returned to real life this week. Mark worked overtime and I worked both my book business and my travel business. I'm busy finding winter and spring break deals for clients please reach out if you want to know more about those! 

- We spent just $70 on groceries for the week. We ate several simple suppers, used up leftovers, and enjoyed free potatoes that my dad gave us. 

- We have a new coffee shop in town, Scooters, that sent me a $2 coupon. I used that and enjoyed a coffee on Monday morning as a treat as we unpacked and settled into the week. 

- The kids have a birthday party next week and we needed one more item to put in the gift. I had hoped to find a certain book at our local bookshop, Wild Geese Bookshop, but they didn't have it. Instead the owner found me something even BETTER and we can't wait to gift it next weekend! 

- Last night, we enjoyed a FREE Halloween Party at Lucas Oil Stadium thanks to the Indianapolis Colts. They offered both free parking and free tickets to this event. We were able to go down on the field, play games, meet Blue the mascot, see cheerleaders, and more. While we aren't huge Colts or NFL fans both kids loved being in the stadium and enjoying all of the fun.

Last week, I posed a three point challenge - don't shop online, take three items out of your grocery cart, and list five items for sale from your home. How are you doing with those?

1. We chose not to shop online for the birthday gift and made a point of shopping small and local.

2. I did not add ketchup, mustard, or bread to this week's grocery cart. This caused us to use up other items we had on hand. Saved: $6.10

3. I listed some of my PaperPie overstock books for sale in my VIP Group. I have had this on my "To Do" list for weeks and this challenge made me do it finally. Made: $20+

We are looking forward to a very special weekend.

Happy Savings to All! 

Frugal Friday 512

 Happy Frugal Friday!

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

- Last Friday, we enjoyed Letters from Anne and Martin at Butler University. The show was phenominal and I really enjoyed the Q+A at the end. The actors and director allowed the kids in the audience to ask questions but also posed social justice and social action questions/challenges back to the kids. This was part of Butler's free educational series. We only paid for parking: Spent $3

- Saturday Mark and Owen enjoyed the day at the National Museum of the Air Force at Wright-Patterson Airforce Base, Ohio. The museum was free so they only bought lunch while away. 

- Saturday Annabeth and I picked up groceries for $85 for the week, she attended a birthday party, and I worked on computer work for my travel business. It's Fall Break season so I have many groups traveling each week. The theme parks are also beginning to roll out their winter and spring break specials so I have been working on quotes for clients as well. Interested in traveling in 2023 or 2024? Just message me at a.riley@magicalvacationplanner.com

- I helped clients book last minute tickets to Sea World. They saved over $60 off the Sea World website sale price by booking through me! Hooray!

- Owen was in need of new jeans and snow boots. Usually, I only buy undergarments, socks, and swimwear new and try to buy all other clothing items used. However, after visiting six thrift shops without luck we decided to buy new jeans. Mark found a steal at the outlet mall with $7/pair jeans. He also found a deal on snow boots there. Not used but still a great savings. 

- We took a stack of books to a free little library. It was a different one than we usually donate to and it only had adult books. That was just fine with me. We dropped our items off and didn't bring anything home! 

- We packed up a big tote of school curriculum, chapter books, unused coloring/activity books, and some shoes/clothes and took to the free table at our co-op. It's always fun to see people pick them and to watch them have the excitement of finding them there! 

- We had several free fun meet-ups with friends this week. The kids saw friends at the Franklin library on Monday, a park on Tuesday, and the Greenwood library yesterday. I so appreciate friends that we can just meet up with, enjoy some conversation, and not have to spend money!

Free Halloween Putt-Putt at the Greenwood Library

- We have been doing the budget billing plan for our utilities for years now. Even with that, we try to be very careful about how we use our resources. Last year, our electric bill had a big jump on it not really because of what we were using but just because of an increase in their prices. We have worked VERY hard to use less this year and on our new budget are able to owe $30 less each month! That will save us $360/year!

As grocery store, gas, and everything prices rise. How can we all quickly save a little money? Here are three things to do for the rest of October that can save/earn you some serious cash quickly!

1. Don't buy anything online until November 1. I rarely, if ever, shop online. Why? It's just too easy! Things just seem to jump into that online cart and it doesn't always feel like spending real money. But...if I have to load up the kids, drive to the store, go in the store, and part with actual cash...I realize that I don't really need that item at all. Keep track of each item you think you want but don't buy for the rest of the month and see how much you save! 

2. Take three things out of your grocery shopping cart. Whether you shop on the app and do pick up or shop in store, choose three items to take out of your cart each week. For lots of fun, keep track of how much those items would have cost you. By doing this you'll let go of non-essentials and save money in the process.

3. Look around the house and find five items to list on Facebook marketplace. That old room decor in the back of the closet - let it go! Those baby clothes that your 3rd grader wore - say good-bye! Leave them on Marketplace through October 31. If they haven't sold - donate them - you don't need them anymore!

Just three little things to help your load feel lighter and your wallet heavier.

Happy Savings to All! 

Frugal Friday 511

 Happy Frugal Friday!

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

- Friday night we celebrated Annabeth's birthday with one of her best friends. Annabeth had debated back and forth about a party theme, guest list, etc and in the end I felt like maybe she really didn't want to even have a party. Instead, we picked up her friend and shopped at Claire's, got Starbucks, and then picked up pizza on the way home. I am SO thankful that Annabeth has such a wonderful friend in Sophia and that her mom Melissa is one of my best friends. All four of us had a great night!

- We selected the girls' duet costume for the year. I have scrimped the past two years on solo costumes, spending $70 total across the two years, so we were able to spend more on a duet costume this year. We chose catalog over costume and plan to make our own enhancements. This saved us $80 over the last custom one that we purchased. 

- Saturday it was Owen's turn for birthday fun. He went to a Cub Scout friend's party and enjoyed Urban Air for the first time. He LOVED it and was excited to give J the books he had selected for him. 

- Saturday evening Mark did a handyman job for some neighbors. Made: $60

- Sunday after church we visited a new orchard to us, Anderson Orchard, with the Indy Rileys to celebrate Annabeth's birthday. We spent $20 on apples and pumpkins and enjoyed a packed picnic lunch near the petting zoo. The kids loved the animals, live music, and pumpkins. Annabeth received a CD player from Kristi and Disney coloring book from L+C so she has been holed up in her room every spare moment to listen to books on tape and to color. 

- We passed on ballet shoes, leos, and sports bras to a family that has younger daughters and a son. It was great to be able to pass along our very gently used items to them.

- I switched Owen's dresser out from summer to fall. I took some Camp Lakeview and character items that Owen has outgrown to my nephew. We also took his old Style Company jacket, which had been handed down to us, to a younger friend at the studio. 

- I did a quick sort of my own dresser. I eliminated 15 items as well as several unmatched socks. I had been hanging on to three belts "just in case" which is just crazy because with the exception of one tunic top in 2010, I have never worn belts. I was happy to pass on many items and to have space in my drawers! 

- We had remained committed to our every day evening walks. The kids and I typically walk in the morning or during the day but it's been nice to walk as a family in the evenings as well. This is a free, low commitment habit that benefits all of us!

- Wednesday morning the kids and I enjoyed a free showing of Light Wire Theater's "The Tortoise and the Hare." Butler University has an educational series that is free to schools and homeschoolers. We just had to pay $4 for parking.

- Wednesday evening Mark and I had a coffee date. We joined a couple's connection challenge through M+J's Illinois church. We're joining virtually and one of the date options this month was a coffee date. We used a Starbucks gift card, then walked downtown, and naturally ended up having some nachos as well. The kids' evening schedules have shifted this year and we've lost our weekly date night from last year. We're really feeling that missed connection time but are also trying to optimize the night that we have just O with the two of us.

We are looking forward to a busy weekend of learning, birthdays, and more fun! Praying hourly for peace in our world and for the lives so tragically lost. We are certain that Light will triumph over darkness. 

Happy Savings to All! 

Frugal Friday 510

 Happy Frugal Friday!

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

- I closed out a Cards for a Cause for a dance school in Indianapolis. In just three weeks they earned several hundred dollars towards class fees. For the next two weeks, I'll be helping our own dance studio run this fundraiser. Please let me know if you would like to support our kids with the purchase of card boxes.

- My mama and Lu came up for a Girls' Weekend to help kick-off Annabeth's birthday. We ate several meals at home making a sandwich lunch, homemade breakfast pizza, and homemade sushi. Annabeth chose thrifting as her birthday activity and we visited four Goodwills on Saturday. For around $100 each of the adults got 2-3 items, Annabeth got 22 items, we found a pair of snowboots for Owen, and scored two Matilda Jane tunics for my niece! 

- While we had girls' time, the boys all camped with Mark's Scout Troop. Owen loves going along with the older kids and my Dad is really enjoying it as well. They lugged home pounds and pounds of cool rocks and fossils. Owen hopes to use some of them for 4H this year. 

- Sunday afternoon we picked up remaining items from the Kids' Sale. We really didn't have very much left at all and will be taking the girls' clothes and all of the books to our co-op to share on the Free Table. 

- Wednesday we took the morning off school and Annabeth's dear friend Audrey came to play. The girls have been friends since preschool and I love the longevity of their friendship. She and her family moved away last year and we've been doing our best to get the girls together every couple of months. They played board games, made homemade pizza, and helped me taste test Annabeth's birthday cupcakes. 

- We visited the Indianapolis Zoo yesterday with our homeschool co-op. We had enough people to get the Field Trip rate which was SUCH a huge savings. It was $10/person. Saved: $40.25 

Annabeth LOVED these monkeys who gave high fives and "licked"

the kids' hands through the glass

Owen, in his rhino shirt, with "his" rhinos

- The zoo should have been $10 to park but I did not realize the zoo is cashless. I had brought exactly $10 cash along to keep us right on budget for the day so the parking attendant sent me to zoo services. Zoo services had someone in front of me that needed to convert cash to a giftcard for many things, taking quite a while, I waited patiently and was rewarded when the worker said "Don't worry about your parking fee. I don't want to deal with it." Saved: $10 

- Yesterday was Annabeth's 12th Birthday! We thank and praise the Lord for her 12 years of life. As always, the birthday person chose the menu and activities for the day. We made cinnamon rolls for lunch, packed lunchables to the zoo for lunch, and had her eat-out meal at a Mexican place in town last night. We rarely eat out and this was the first time the four of us have eaten out together since July. We made Grey Stuff cupcakes for dessert. 

- My friend Susie is a wonderful crafter. She had some great fall items leftover after a craft fair and sold them at great prices on her page. I snagged a Disney Halloween towel that matches new pillows we have. Thank you Susie for the fun new towel and to Kristi for the pillows! 

Susie is an incredible crafter and has made many special items for us 

over the years including the new Doby curtain holders in Annabeth's room.

All of the proceeds from Susie's projects go towards either her school classroom projects

or mission projects. Want to support her? Shop her page here 

We had a great week and are looking to much more birthday fun this weekend.

Happy Savings to All!