Money Mondays- Summer Cash 2

Did you know that summer effects our wallets more that the rest of the year? Welcome to the second half of a two part series of how to save money over the 100 Days of Summer.

4.) Entertainment costs rather on vacation or right in your own town can really put a damper on your summer cash. There are plenty of free festivals around. Visit them on a full stomach and a backpack full of half frozen water, juice and snacks. Go will a preset purchase amount in cash and that should keep you on tack. If you are visiting attractions such as an amusement park that requires an entrance fee, check their website for free or discounted days. Traveling with a medium size family of 5 or 6? Go with another family because many discounts begin at 10 people. No matter if you drink Pepsi or Coca-Cola or not, local area attractions partner with them to offer discounts. Pour the coke down the sink if you have to, but save $20 on your next family event!

5.) Nothing says Summer like a cool and refreshing drink. Every company from McDonald's  to Dunkin Donuts to the gas station has a fruity, colorful drink concoction. Drinks can suck up lots of cash in the summer. A slushy here, a frozen coffee there and you can spend upwards of $20 a week in refreshing drinks. That is an unnecessary $240 spent throughout the summer! Don't forget the calories that those drinks pack on either! Save yourself some cash and learn to make those drinks ahead of time and tote with you throughout the day. Another option is check your mailbox throughout the summer. Valpak and other home coupon distributing companies will at least make those drinks cheaper if not free once in a while.

6.) Last but not least, Food is another expense that sky rockets in the summer. Small to medium family farms are looking for people to pay for a share of their seasonal crops. Why not invest in healthy, straight from the earth goodies? It's also a great learning tool for your children because many farms allow for the shareholders to come, view and tend to the farm. Checkout You Pick Farms in your area if you rather have an abundance of one type of food. Already have a home garden? Well try your taste-buds on fresh farm meats. Beef, Pork, lamb, bison etc. are sold in various sizes in the summer. It's just Mr. Mind and I at the moment, but our small freezer can hold 20 pounds of individually wrapped meat. This should last us 4 months or so. It's a true savings of 30% or $100 for us and I know exactly whats 'in my meat'.

Food is expensive when you travel. Did you know that you can check=in a packed cooler full of food at the airport? Or that your suitcase can be stuffed with crackers, peanut butter, bread and more when flying? Make food on vacation cheaper by bringing it with you. If that is not an option, don't forget to grab coupons and pamphlets at the local Amtrak Station, the airport's baggage claim area (you don't need a plane ticket for this area) and my favorites Living Social and Groupon. Often times the food discounts accompany event, activities and entrance fee discounts. Talk about a 2 for 1!

Well I hope these tips leave a little money in your pocket this summer. No matter how much you spend and where you spend it, Please enjoy your summer!

Money Mondays- Summer Cash

Welcome to the last installment of Money Mondays. We will break for the summer and return for the Autumn.

Did you know that summer may effect our wallets more that the rest of the year? Read on for a two part series of how to save money over the 100 Days of Summer.

1.) Many people do not save throughout the winter for summer vacations, Small vacations such as a weekend trips to a new city may not break the bank, but a sudden trip to Disney World certainly can. Most families spend around $3000 for a family of four for a week to popular destinations such as Disney World, Chicago and New York. Planning ahead of time can save you lots of money. Waiting until off season to visit these locations will often save you a bundle on flights and hotels. Checkout Lonely Planet for a breakdown of every country, city and town throughout the world. It will also give you the best times to visit while taking in weather, Tourist crowds, and activities in consideration.

2.) Speaking of hotels! There are so many ways to travel and just as many ways to enjoy your sleep away from home. As for my family, we use timeshares and we camp. Timeshares and home rentals are great because we can stuff as many as 10 adults into one unit, cook nearly every breakfast, lunch and dinner there, and can accommodate guests that drop by for a day in the sun. Camping provides the same amenities except it's cheaper and under the stars. Check out Air Bnb for rentals of home, condo, townhomes, cabins and more worldwide! Also, Vacation Rentals by Owners can provide similar places.

3.) Air conditioning and Power Bills go up in the summer and that can cause a nice hit to your monthly budget. How to avoid it? Spend the day time outside of your home. If you homeschool throughout the summer, take your lessons outside. Try the backyard, library, park, community center, mall or even rotate lessons at another family's home. While you are gone, I know it is tempting to keep the cool air blowing so that the home is cool when you return, but all you are doing is keeping you furniture cold. Turn it off while you are gone or place a timer on it. This will save you a bundle! If you have a basement, the summer is a great time of the year to use it. Heat rises, typically leaving the basement cooler than the rest of the home. Another option is using a window air conditioner or wall unit in the one room you will use the most. With the room's door closed, a window unit can cool down a room in minutes and will shut off automatically when the room reaches a preset temperature. Also you can cut it off then you leave that room.

Well I hope these tips leave a little money in your pocket this summer. Please check back next Monday for the last half of Money Mondays-Summer Cash.

No matter how much you spend and where you spend it enjoy your summer!

Limited Blessings

I love blog surfing. I get to write down ideas of what I want to try to do and I learn so much! But something struck me yesterday and I can't stop thinking about. A blog I was visiting (can't give the name because I didn't ask permission) wrote "Children are the only blessings we tell God we had enough of!" Yikes!! That statement stung like a bee. I was frozen in my seat. My mind started to race and figure out what other blessings people might ask for in limited quantities. When a blessing of food, money, shelter, warmth, clothes etc come, no one ever says "Whats enough God." But with children so many people do.

I remember asking my parents when I was younger why they didn't have more children and they said "We have a boy and a girl, what more is there?" Now that Mr. Mind and I are trying to start our family, people are constantly asking 'how many children do we want.' I usually say 'two, no more than three' and he says 'three no more than four'. Well nine months into family making mode (wow, has it been that long?)  and I realized something, just because I want a child doesn't mean I get a child.  When I finally do, is it even right, respectful, unappreciative to say "That's it, one or two is enough"?

I was lost, I have a hard time surrendering. In married couples group last week, we discussed surrendering to our spouses and I couldn't do anything, but admit that its something that I don't do well. If I can't surrender to my husband then I know I hold back when surrendering to God. The blog I read went on to discuss how she and her husband prayed about surrendering her womb unto God. Let the number of children be determined by God. The first thing that came to mind was 19 children and counting. But I quickly remembered a family friend. She never stop preventing, but was only blessed with one.

So now I must learn to surrender for change it a must.