With summer quickly approaching, you might be thinking of hitting the road or the air for vacation time. There's just one thing...you're on a budget and what you have been envisioning for a vacation, is just not going to factor in. What to do, what to do.
Enter the Staycation: your vacation on a budget. No packing, no sore rear ends from sitting in a car, no airport delays. Simply enjoying what your city and surrounding areas have to offer.
Here are a few of my tips to make your Staycation memorable:
Spend the week before playing catch up
This doesn't sound fun but believe me, when there are no chores or work to distract you during your staycation, you have no reason but to enjoy your family, enjoy time for your favourite hobby, and enjoy your break from your regular routine! If playing catch up the week before really doesn't sound appealing, make a conscious effort to deliberately avoid household chores or work during your staycation.
Order your local Entertainment coupon book
Currently, Entertainment coupon books are on sale for $12 each with free shipping. That's a great price for a book that's jam packed with coupons for your local attractions. More often than not, the coupons are for 2 for 1 admission! You can order your Entertainment coupon book here, if you'd like. The books also feature dining coupons and shopping coupons.
Be Adventurous
Try a restaurant with an ethnic cuisine you're not used to. Hike the tallest mountain in your area. Take a local art class. Try something you've always wanted to try, but you've kept putting off because you've been scared or lacking the push to be confident!
Enjoy what your area is famous for
Why do all the tourists flock to your city in the summer? Where I live, we're famous for our wineries, orchards and lakes. It wasn't until we had family come for a visit, which I partook in my first winery tour experience. Even though I'm not a wine drinker, I thoroughly enjoyed the history and even the free wine tasting!
Know it's okay to splurge if the budget will allow
You're on vacation. Eat every meal out if you want. Or spend your entire budget on that river rafting excursion you've been saving for. Step out of your normal every day, non-vacation, routine.
So, are you excited to start your fabulous Staycation? I sure am! I've got some great ideas going through my head!
I have a friend, a wonderful, long-time friend who is quite the hostess. She's an inspiration to me really. Often she hosts little gatherings with only a few gals while other times she hosts big gatherings with many friends and family. Each and every time I head home feeling very loved and taken care of. She has that knack, you know? She seems to be completely in control without an ounce of stress showing.
But, on a few occasions she's confided in me saying that she does stress out. Especially when she's putting on a large gathering. She wants everything to be perfect and pretty. She also says the more she practices, the easier it gets.
It's silly really, how we strive for perfection in showing others what we can do to make a good party when really, hospitality is all about loving on the people who gather.
Hospitality is something I really want to practice more. I make excuses all the time because I don't think our home is very good for entertaining. Our kitchen only fits one person at a time, and our dining table only sits four. And the toys, oh the toys everywhere! But, on the few occasions that I have had people over, it's been wonderful! It's been a nice time catching up with the people that I've wanted to catch up with! That's what really matters.
First of all, the key to hospitality on a budget is to keep it simple. Here are some ideas to help keep things simple:
Allow others to help
I really appreciate it when the host allows me to get in there and help. Whether it be with dishes or with setting the food out, I love having a task to do. Since I'm not particularly great at interacting with a whole crowd of people at once, this allows me to gather and speak with only a few people that are near my "task" area. I'm more comfortable that way. I'm pretty sure allowing others to help also frees up some of the burden the host may be feeling!
Serve tea/coffee with a simple treat
If you want to have several people over, but can't afford to serve a crowd of people a full meal, just have them over for tea or coffee and a simple treat! The friend I mentioned earlier always has a loaf of banana bread in her freezer that she can easily pull out! On another occasion, a friend invited me over at the spur of the moment and served me coffee with these oven S'mores. It was so simple, but the thought amazed me!
Buy store bought treats
Sometimes to make things really easy, I buy a bag of two bite brownies and serve them up with a dollop of whipping cream. Who doesn't love two bite brownies? Same goes for meals. Sometimes a store-bought lasagna costs less than the homemade version.
Make it a Potluck
If you'll be having a large gathering, turn it into a potluck! Why be responsible for everything when others love to bring some of their favourite dishes?
Plan ahead
Maybe this isn't quite keeping things simple because planning can be extra work in itself, but by planning ahead, you might just be able to stash some homemade goodies in your freezer for an impromptu get-together. Or maybe you'll be able to stock up on a few party friendly things when they go on sale. Or maybe you can spend some time compiling a list of guest friendly meals so you don't have to spend time stressing about what you'll feed your guests.
Don't wait until things are perfect
You or your home don't have to be perfect before inviting someone over. That person may very well be blessed just to see that things aren't so perfect in your life! So what if you haven't done last night's dishes? Or there's crumbs all over the floor? If true hospitality is opening our homes and lives to others then it doesn't matter what state you or your home are in because you're inviting them in where you are at in life. While we generally want our homes to be inviting, and relatively clean, don’t let imperfections hinder your from sharing your home!
Forget about food
I know, I know, a gathering without food is not as fun, but it's doable! Serve some drinks, offer good conversation and bring out a game to get the good times rolling. After all, Hospitality is simply about welcoming others into our homes and lives.
Do you have any frugal hospitality tips? What do you do to keep things more simple? Please share!
Sometimes it feels as though the only way to have fun is to spend money. This doesn’t have to be the case at all! Whether you want to learn a new hobby or a new skill, I’ve rounded up 42 things to learn for free!
It’s no secret that I love a good cup of coffee from Starbucks. After all, I do head there every Thursday with my computer to work on coupon matchups! (It makes the task a little more bearable for me 😉 )
While I buy most of my coffees with gift cards that I’ve earned through Swagbucks and I consider it a treat, I’ve still learned a few tricks to help my money go further. Want to know my secrets?
Here’s how to save money on Starbucks coffee:
Firstly, if you have a Starbucks card, you’ll want to register it right away. Head here to register. Once your card is registered, for each transaction you make you’ll start earning stars, which lead to free perks. Here’s how it works:
Use your registered card once to receive a Free drink or food item of your choice, plus a coupon for 15% off a purchase at StarbucksStore.ca for your birthday.
Use your card 5 times to get you to the Green level. In addition to your birthday drink or food reward you also earn Free brewed and iced coffee and tea refills in the Store.
Collect 30 Stars within 12 months and you’re at the Gold level. With Gold level, you get the birthday and Green level rewards plus a Free drink or food reward every 12 Stars (12 transactions).
Secondly, after registering your card, you should opt in to get special offers and coupons via email or text message. Go to www.starbucks.ca/account to opt-in. I regularly receive emails offering me 50% off a sandwich or $1.00 off a drink and even offers for BOGO drinks!
Oh, one other thing about the rewards, when you have a free drink to redeem, make sure you get the biggest, fanciest drink possible. For example, a Venti Caramel Flan Latte. You’re saving yourself over $5 that way!
Finally, the last trick I’ve learned is for those of you who take your brewed coffee with cream, like me. If you normally order a Grande size, for example, next time you buy brewed coffee, order a Grande but in a Venti cup. This way, they’ll fill the Venti cup up to the imaginary Grande fill line and then you can proceed to fill your cup with cream…without having to pour any precious coffee in the garbage or having to ask for less coffee!
So, what do you think, will these tips help you save some money on your Starbucks coffee? How do you save on your coffee runs?
Does winter have you singing the blues? It's about this time of the year when I start to feel like Winter is never going to end. The endless cold and snow just gets me down! Here are some of my ideas to beat the winter blues on a budget:
Make Summer plans
Start planning your spring or summer activities. This is a great way to forget the cold momentarily and have some plans to look forward to!
Buy a bouquet of spring flowers
This is my favourite way to perk myself up! Tulips and daffodils are an affordable option to bring some life and colour into your home. I've seen daffodils as low as $1.99/bunch in the past.
Pamper yourself
Get your hair cut, get a manicure/pedicure or do your nails yourself. Pick a bright cheery colour for your nails. Spend some time making yourself pretty!
Try something new
Have you been wanting to try an art class or a pottery class? Do it. (Check out your local recreation or art center for budget friendly options.) Enjoy baking or cooking? Try an entirely new recipe that may challenge you a bit further.
Exercise
Bundle up and head out for a long walk. Try out some snowshoes. Put in a fun exercise video. It's a proven fact that exercise releases endorphins that make you happy, more relaxed and more alert!
Invite a friend over for coffee or tea
I tend to hibernate in the winter months so inviting a friend over or inviting myself over to a friend's, really is a great pick me up! It's so nice to indulge in great conversation and if you have children, a great excuse for a play date.
Read a book
Stop in at your local library and pick up some books that take place in the summer months or that will "take you away"!
What are your favourite ways to beat the winter blues on a budget?
The following is a guest post by Liz from Sturm und Mom.
As a Mom of six kids, I rely on hand-me downs to stretch my budget. But sometimes an item doesnʼt get “worn out” enough by the time the last child has outgrown it. And what about the oldest — where can I get hand-me-downs for her? The solution: childrenʼs consignment stores!
Consignment stores are gold mines for the de-cluttering Mom. Buy and sell all types of childrenʼs gear: clothing, toys, footwear, swings, strollers, high chairs, books, tapes — in other words, the works. They are an fantastic place to get barely used childrenʼs clothes, often with the tags still on, for a fraction of the price.
Consignment stores work by selling gently used items for you, and keeping a portion of the price (usually around half.) Unlike thrift stores, they pre-screen and organize all the merchandise into a shopper friendly format, making them a super go-to resource for the frugal parent.
Here are some tips to make your consignment shopping and selling, something youʼll be doing again and again.
Research your Store’s Policies
Before you bring your items in, either phone or drop by to see what your local storeʼs policies are. For some stores you need an appointment, and others are drop in. Find out if they pay you up front for the items they take, or after they sell. Most stores have a limit on the amount you can bring in at one time, and the type of items they will take, so check ahead to avoid aggravation and a wasted trip.
Bring in Great Condition Items
Make sure the items you want to sell are clean, in good repair, freshly washed and folded (if clothing.) If itʼs been washed so many times that you canʼt read the tag, itʼs not suitable for consignment. Time your items to correspond with the seasons (bring in summer things during the spring, not November.)
Find Out of Season Clothing Easily
Camping trip in August and no warm sweaters that fit, or swimming birthday party in February but the swimsuitʼs bit the dust? Consignment stores are great places to get out of season clothing in a pinch.
Shop with a List
Come shopping with a list. Donʼt undo your savings by buying what you donʼt need.
Check Consignment First
I donʼt know how many times Iʼve ended up paying full price, only to find the exact same thing on consignment for significantly less.
Check Back Often
My experience has usually been that consignment stores have a lot of what I am looking for in stock, but not always. Supply can vary from week to week, so check back and donʼt get discouraged.
So, attack those kid piles! Your local consignment store is waiting and ready to turn your bursting drawers and over-flowing toy box into some money for your pocket.
Liz is a Mom to six kids 10 and under, who is always trying to get her dollars to go further, and do things better. Her hobbies are cooking, reading and crafting. She blogs about motherhood at lizsturm.wordpress.com.
