Frugal Friday 537

 Happy Frugal Friday!

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

- Last Friday opened Owen's spring baseball season. We had dinner at home and did not buy any concessions. We will continue this trend throughout the season. We do get ice cream after the final game of the whole season. By setting that rule the first year, the kids know not to ask and to wait for the last game for the treat.

Pitching the first inning of the first game of his first Minors Season

- Saturday and Sunday Mark was gone camping with his Scout Troop. They had a great, but rather cold for this time of year, camp and enjoyed a beautiful state park hike on Sunday.

- The kids and I did school Saturday morning and then enjoyed Cartoons for Cans at the Artcraft in the afternoon. This has been a tradition in our town since the 1930's - you take a long at least one canned good per person and receive admittance to a cartoon show at the movies. The kids love this and we also love supporting the Interchurch Food Pantry. 

- Sunday after church we dropped 500+ items at the Here We Grow Again Indy South Sale. The kids were huge helpers so I treated them to an item each from Hoosier Candy Cupboard on the way home. As the parent at home and teaching parent, most of my interactions with the kids are school based or driving them to and from activities. Mark and the grandparents are generally the ones who take them out for movies or treats and so it was fun for me to get to be the fun one this weekend! 

- Tuesday evening I went by the funeral visitation for our neighbor. Much to my delight, the kids' pictures were featured on the "Grandkids" poster which I thought was the sweetest thing. We miss Mrs. W so much already and are so thankful to have known her and loved her.

- Wednesday Annabeth made a new cookie recipe. She made cookies and homemade frosting for Pastor Susan who came over to visit yesterday afternoon. Together they planned the VBS music program for this year. I am SO thankful for a church that truly asks people of all ages to lovingly serve our Lord! 

- We took some beauty products to a Little Free Pantry. I love free samples and gifts as much as the next gal but my personal rule is that if they don't get used in the first 6 months, they get donated. 

- Last night, Mark worked four hours at a neighbor's house doing handyman jobs. They ask him several times a year and always pay very generously. This money will be set aside for incoming medical bills. 

We are looking forward to a weekend of dance! Let's go SDA!

Happy Savings to All! 

Frugal Friday 536

 Happy Frugal Friday!

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

- Saturday we had a BIG work day. The boys took care of our yard and our neighbor's yard. If you would, join us in prayer for her family as our neighbor entered the Life Eternal early Monday morning. Owen is especially devastated as she was one of his very best friends. She would have been 93 in a few weeks but that didn't stop them from sharing most afternoons telling stories, doing chores, and sharing special snacks in her garage. I am forever thankful for this dear friend. In lieu of flowers, we opted to plant a tree in her memory as we shared many hours underneath her front tree playing with the kids.  

- I spent Saturday tagging 500+ items for the kids' sale for our family and our Express people. Annabeth helped me and then also baked cookies for Sunday dinner. 

- I mentioned that we went on a Field Trip last week. I was really reminded of how far we have come on our decluttering journey. At the end, they had all kinds of handouts, booklets, and even plastic fireman hats. Each of the kids quickly knew they wouldn't use any of the items and didn't take any. 0 clutter!

- Sunday after church and a meeting, we had lunch at Mark's mom's house. Luke and Cassidy made everyone pulled pork nachos for lunch which was such a treat! Thank you all! The guys spent the afternoon working on Kristi's lawnmower and got it all fixed up for the season. Annabeth and I left a bit early so we could come home and make dinner for youth group. Different church members take different weeks to make dinner and this week was our turn. We made two kinds of pasta bakes, french bread, and homemade cookies. 

- I very much overestimated how much the kids would eat so we had leftover pasta bake for Monday lunch and dinner. I froze the rest BUT one of the children defrosted it for me again on Tuesday so we again had it Tuesday night for dinner also. We still have a 9x13 pan in the freezer. We spent around $18 on the meal and it's fed us all week plus the youth group kids on Sunday.

- Already this year, we have needed quite a bit of blood work and imaging done. Unfortunately, this is not new territory for our family I share to remind you to SHOP AROUND before you have medical scans/bloodwork done. It may not be the best deal at your doctor's office or hospital that you generally use. Always be sure to have insurance pre-approve scans as well. We have already saved over $3500 OOP this year by having imaging done at one location vs another. 

- Last night was our homeschool co-op's Spring Review. As the Lead Chair this year, I felt a great responsibility for this group and am so thankful for the 20+ women who have served us so well each meeting. It is, honestly, a relief to be nearing the end of this huge commitment. On top of homemaking, homeschooling, and working part-time this volunteer job has really stretched my capabilities and taught me a whole new level of organization. I am so thankful for these dear friends who boldly live in faith without fear of the world's reaction. 

So thankful for the Spirit led, God guided community 

that we do school with! 

Owen's class studied Marine Biology first semester and

American History second semester. 

Annabeth's class dove into Biology all year long.

We had a great week and are in the home stretch of the school year! We can't wait to finish 3rd and 7th grade strong in the weeks to come.

Happy Savings to All! 

Frugal Friday 535

 Happy Frugal Friday!

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

- Saturday Owen had his Cub Scout Raingutter Regatta. He had a great time making his red pirate ship with Mark during the week and then a great time racing his friends. 

Mr. O and his Pirate Ship

- My sister arrived for the weekend on Saturday evening. We ate pasta bake for dinner, watched HGTV, and she took Owen out on a date to the car wash. He LOVED helping her wash and vacuum out her car. I love the special time that she pours into each of my kids. 

- Sunday we did not have church, it was closed due to the eclipse, so we mowed our lawn and then headed downtown. We walked and browsed many of our small town shops. I did take advantage of a sale and purchased two gifts from one shop - I love to buy locally when I can. We did stop at one food truck and split an order of fried Oreos between all of us.

- By Sunday evening my parents were in town to. We had a great time playing lots of games, cards, outdoor games, and eating together. We all went to Vienna, IL in 2017 to view totality and were excited to all be together again in Franklin for this one. Monday the view of Totality was everything we remembered and we were SO excited to share the moment with the kids at ages where they will remember. 

Eclipse Crew

*Taken before totality so I could just enjoy the moment when it came

Oscar Chase didn't seem bothered by the eclipse at all. 

He DID enjoy sitting on Owen's chalk drawing of an eclipse

- Mark worked many, many, many hours over the weekend and through Monday. For the sake of our town, our locals, visitors, and especially allllll of our first responders working I was SO thankful for the careful planning to keep everyone safe. Mark did earn quite a bit of overtime and it will go towards a summer trip we are taking. 

- Mark took our eclipse glasses to his work. They are making a large shipment to South America for people to use there during the eclipse this fall. We were happy to recycle. 

- Tuesday morning Disney released their summer deals. I changed current clients' reservations, saving them hundreds of dollars, before the sun was even up! THIS is one of the many advantages of using my FREE travel services - I love love love to save people money! Want help with your travel plans? Message me at a.riley@magicalvacationplanner.com

- Tuesday evening, my dad and I took care of my neighbor's lawn. She has just been diagnosed with cancer and is unable to care for her lawn and it's our honor to care for her during this time of her life. I mowed and Dad trimmed/blew off the driveway and sidewalks. 

- Wednesday my parents treated us to a Costco shopping trip and lunch out. It was so hard to say good-bye when they left. We look forward to seeing them in a few weeks though! 

- Yesterday we took a field trip to the Survive Alive House and Firefighters' Museum in downtown Indianapolis. The staff there was incredibly kind and fantastic with our group of 45 homeschoolers! I cannot recommend this field trip enough to other school groups. I was so thankful that our friend Billie organized the trip - thank you! The field trip was free but I didn't find free parking. Total Cost: $4.55

Our weekend plans have been canceled due to the rain so Mark and I have each planned a work day tomorrow to get through a couple of projects. 

Happy Savings to All! 

Frugal Friday 534

 Happy Frugal Friday!

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

- We spent Thursday to Sunday down in Evansville and Owensboro. We were able to spend two whole days in Kentucky with Momaw and Lance. Thursday we went just for lunch and to visit and then Saturday we did a massive workday at her house. Mark and I did the powerwashing and were able to get the patio, walkways, porches, and driveways all done. We bought a new hose and some cleaning sprays which we will leave with the power washer -  my dad is kind enough to let us borrow it whenever we need it. The rest of the family moved furniture, worked on flowers, weeded, and completed many other projects.

- My parents treated us to dinner out at Fujiyama. It was wonderful and it just wouldn't be a holiday weekend without sushi and visiting our friend Miss Helen who works there. Helen even had sugar cookies on hand for the kids. I am so thankful for her friendship!

- Sunday we celebrated Easter at Old North, the church I went to from middle school on and where we were married. After church, my parents did an egg hunt and lunch for everyone. 

- Total money we spent on Easter - $0. We all wore clothes we already had on hand, no matching outfits here. We do not give our kids eggs/candy/baskets/etc but have always allowed the grandparents to do whatever they would like. Each year I do send Easter cards to our nieces and nephews, writing in a Bible verse or Easter hymn that is on my heart that year. All in all, Resurrection Sunday exists only because of Jesus - not a bunny, candy man, or any one else and therefore I like to keep the focus on Jesus. 

Easter 2024

- I hosted a meeting last night. I made black bean enchiladas, rice, chips and salsa, and special cookies that I only make for this group of ladies. It was one of the last important co-op meetings of the school year. I am so thankful for these women who choose to volunteer dozens of extra hours a year so the whole group can run smoothly. 

- 2,024 in 2024 Check-In. Our home is 934 items lighter and we've made over $200 selling items we are finished with! Hooray! 

This week I was reminded, twice in fact, of just how much our words and actions affect others. Both can be such a blessing, an uplifting moment to others but if we aren't careful they can also cause so much pain. My friend Lauren shared a reminder that our JOY doesn't come from the circumstances of our days but from the Lord. I pray as I move into the next week that I can let go of hurt. I pray that I can remember to speak only kind words, show only actions that support and affirm to others that they are loved, and that I can live in the joy that Jesus gives.