Thank your for reading my blog!

I do love writing a blog (and wish I had more time to post!) but was really hoping for more of a discussion board effect (lots of comments/responses to each other, ect) I can see lots of people read it, and many want to respond but don't know how. I am thinking I might want to move this whole thing to another format that would be easier for comments.  Does anyone have any ideas of where it could move to??? I am wanting more feedback from you all, in some ways, I want to know if I am "normal" about various topics.  Lately, I have been thinking about my grocery spending.  I try to be "frugal", yet I am still spending over $600 a month (last month, close to $800!!!) I do have a family of five, and we eat in (not out often) and pack lunches for most of us every day. I am concerned maybe I am spending too much on groceries because I do alot of shopping at Sam's Club, and have to buy in bulk there, PLUS need a trip to a grocery store each week for produce/other items that I don't buy there. It is almost impossible for me to leave that store without spending more than $50, and usually it is around $100 or more.....

We've Got the Fever

But I don't know what kind of fever it is?! What is that kind of fever you get when you get cooped up inside because outside is just too (hot, cold, or in our case right now in north Florida, too smoky from wildfires). Well, whatever it is, we've got it.  We live in Florida for (our jobs, our house we can't afford to sell...ok those too but mostly...) the wonderful weather.  After school (work) we spend our evenings in and out of the house playing in the yard, walking the neighborhood, or visiting the playground you can see from our living room window.  But today, it wasn't raining men, it was raining ashes from the sky.  It is so smoky, I don't how the asthmatics can make it to work and school. We are TRAPPED.  What do you do when you get that stuck inside fever with little kids, little money, and little time?  If you are like us, you could do what we did tonight...Have a Don't Break the Ice or Don't Spill the Beans marathon (my little kids LOOOOOVE those games), visit PetSmart (it is like a field trip and dog show all in one trip), read a few extra books at bedtime...how do you try to make the days(and nights) a little more fun when you are cooped inside???

A Tisket, A Tasket, What's in your kid's Easter Basket???

Where are my holiday junkies out there? There must be some like me out there!  I love traditions, even though admittedly some get in the way of holidays true significance.  It is my job to teach my children the difference of what we do for fun (Easter baskets, egg hunts, bunnies, chicks, ect.) and the true significance of each holiday (for Easter, we teach the holiday is celebrated as a reminder of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus).  A few thoughts to consider as you are putting together baskets for your children this Easter....

1. Do they need a new basket every year? Can you reuse a basket from last year?  Or could you use another container as their basket? For example, I considered using a bathtub toy bin for my son, a cute lunch tote for my teen, or a bin or basket that could be used after Easter to organize in a bedroom or bathroom.

2. What is going inside?  I know candy  is popular and inexpensive, my children will have some, BUT the true cost of candy should include what it will do to their body and their teeth.  I will be putting a SMALL selection of candy in each basket, but do not want it to be the main event.  I use Easter Baskets as a fun way to give a new book, hair things, bubble bath, art supplies. It might be a bit of a cheat, but it is just a good excuse to give my children something I want them to have anyways!

3. Start early. Like the day after Easter, start your stash for next year (not candy) like egg decorating kits, or a new basket if you need it.  I constantly pick up inexpensive finds and hide them in my closet for the next holidays to come (Yes, I have already begun Christmas stockpiling)

Please comment on any other Easter basket thoughts or ideas for us to share! Thanks!

The "Great" American Road Trip

I was an extremely fortunate little traveler as a kid....although my dad took me frequently to California and Mexico (occasionally in First Class, spoiled!) I have just as many fond memories of myself squeezed in a teeny Dodge Colt with my mom and our family of 7.  The car was so small, I had to sit in the hatchback WITH my stepsister, sitting backwards for what felt like endless miles.  My mom is probably cringing when she reads this, but I will reassure you all (MOM!) it was great fun and I think I complained out of childishness and not harm!  Lunch on the road consisted of a budget. My stepdad and mom would give a number, and we had to stick to it, no ifs, and, or buts (it was a far cry from the swordfish I was served in first class, but we were being taught some important lessons...

1. Who cares what you eat, if you are fed, you are fine!

2. The memories are in the PEOPLE, not in what you did 

3.  Live your life within your means, no matter how meager

4.  Whatever your budget, you can have a vacation with your children. And you all can have fun. PERIOD.

There were times our trip consisted of a trip to a beach, or camping (LOTS of camping) or a weekend at grandparents. Yet still, I could write a novel of the family fun that was had on those trips.

Now our plans are in the works for our annual summer trip to Minnesota to visit our families.  My bank account looks more like my mom's did when I was a child, so we are working hard to act our WAGE and not bust the budget on our trip.  Here are a few things I am beginning right now to get the max for the minimum (thank you TJ MAXX) on our summer trip.

1.  Of course, the gas calculator...how much needed to get there and back multiplied by $5 which could be our price per gallon this summer...AND where the $ for gas is coming from. We also try to fill up at Sam's Club (saves around $2/ fillup) and buy any gas cards we can find at a discount for other national chains.

2.  Lodging expenses...where to stay (if possible, how much you estimate it to be, and where the money comes from)

3. Food...One of the most difficult parts of the road trip.  We pack a large cooler for cool drinks, produce, hard boiled eggs, sandwiches...yet still treat ourselves to one meal out a day on the road so we don't turn into sandwiches. We also start collecting fast food coupons a month before the trip in case that is where we stop.  I am also cashing in my Coke points for coupons for free Coke products for those times you just are craving something cold, sweet, and different on the road (My mom calls them Emergency Cokes, haha).

4. Activities...we take time looking on the map of our route and computer and create a list of interesting things close to our course.  This is a way to maximize your gas budget,by multitasking your route to final destination with some fun detours.  This year, we are traveling with a list from our local zoo of all the US Zoos that will reduce our admissions since we are members at our zoo. Redbox movies are also great for passing the time in the car since you can pick up and drop of hundreds of miles later.

Please comment on any other tidbits you can offer to travel comfortably at a price you can afford. THANKS FOR READING!!!