Well, vacation is over and I'm finding it very hard to be back at work.
It seems that any small step that could have been taken to save me a ton of work was studiously avoided. It's not about having to do the extra work- it's about the little bit of thoughtfulness that clearly no one had. It's about the lack of respect- just pile it up on Kristen, she can deal with it all when she gets back, even when it is as simple as walking two extra steps to do it themselves.
Yes, I'm a little more bitter than usual. Does it have anything to do with my raging headache? Maybe.
Does it have anything to do with Tim being gone for a week, leaving me with ALL the chores? Perhaps.
Mostly, it revolves around the fact that I truly dread going to my job. I wonder what stupidity I will have to deal with each day. Who is going to be overly dramatic about everything? Who is going to try to use me as their personal slave for the day?
There is so much more to life than this.
I'm planning a meal schedule now, then hitting the budget hard again. A church yard sale coming up will net us some additional money and I plan on cutting down the rabbit herd for the summer- less to feed and money in my pocket, if all goes according to plan with the sales.
Meanwhile, it's back to job searching. Vacation is over, the good times have stopped rolling.
Back to work.
-Kristen
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vacation. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Monday, May 6, 2013
Nearly Vacation Time!
Tim and I are gearing up for vacation time and I have to say- mentally I've already pretty much checked out. It has been a trying time recently, with stress over my job(s), tragedy striking some dear friends and just the gloomy weather we have been subjected to for the past week and a half or longer. I try not to focus on how long it has been dreary (and cold!) so I hopefully don't struggle with every minute of it.
This year we are going on vacation with a pair of friends. I am so excited because they are making the trip down from Toronto, Canada to visit with us! I'm feeling a little pressure to get us some extra good deals because of their costs in flying down.
So far, my attempts at cutting costs haven't been the most successful thing ever- with the economy beginning to recover, everywhere is stopping the constant promotions. I have heard Disney World is even trying to cut back on Free Dining Offers, with the thought of cutting them out entirely in the very near future. If Disney World isn't doing promotions, what hope do I have of finding something in Tennessee?
Still, we'll do our best! We plan on doing some cooking while on vacation and of course I will stop at the state border to pick up pamphlets and brochures, which often contain money saving coupons. Several days we have "free" activities planned, such as hiking. My trust "gas buddy" app will help us score the cheapest gas in the area. All in all, as things stand the vacation isn't going to be too expensive as is. However, every penny counts!
-Kristen
This year we are going on vacation with a pair of friends. I am so excited because they are making the trip down from Toronto, Canada to visit with us! I'm feeling a little pressure to get us some extra good deals because of their costs in flying down.
So far, my attempts at cutting costs haven't been the most successful thing ever- with the economy beginning to recover, everywhere is stopping the constant promotions. I have heard Disney World is even trying to cut back on Free Dining Offers, with the thought of cutting them out entirely in the very near future. If Disney World isn't doing promotions, what hope do I have of finding something in Tennessee?
Still, we'll do our best! We plan on doing some cooking while on vacation and of course I will stop at the state border to pick up pamphlets and brochures, which often contain money saving coupons. Several days we have "free" activities planned, such as hiking. My trust "gas buddy" app will help us score the cheapest gas in the area. All in all, as things stand the vacation isn't going to be too expensive as is. However, every penny counts!
-Kristen
Monday, January 28, 2013
Getting Nervous
We have the absolutely incredible opportunity to go to Israel for eight days (not including travel). So far I've been great- no nerves, just that vague thrill of excitement that comes when a trip is far away.
Now I'm getting freaked out- in that super excited but oh-no-what-am-I-forgetting?
We ended up spending $35 today (ouch) on a travel alarm clock and a voltage converter for charging our appliances. While we thought we could get away without the voltage converter, we ultimately decided it wasn't worth risking the more expensive Kindle Fire to save $25.
This does mean I can bring my cell phone. We're planning on going to check on long distance texting costs- I realize that International calls will be entirely too expensive, but hopefully we can send a few "We're here and not dead" texts to family members without going broke.
I can't wait to go, but it's going to be so different from anything I've ever experienced- my first time out of country! Eeek!
-Kristen
Now I'm getting freaked out- in that super excited but oh-no-what-am-I-forgetting?
We ended up spending $35 today (ouch) on a travel alarm clock and a voltage converter for charging our appliances. While we thought we could get away without the voltage converter, we ultimately decided it wasn't worth risking the more expensive Kindle Fire to save $25.
This does mean I can bring my cell phone. We're planning on going to check on long distance texting costs- I realize that International calls will be entirely too expensive, but hopefully we can send a few "We're here and not dead" texts to family members without going broke.
I can't wait to go, but it's going to be so different from anything I've ever experienced- my first time out of country! Eeek!
-Kristen
Monday, April 18, 2011
"That's Going to be One Expensive Bag of Candy!"
At Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, we were hanging out in the Harry Potter section- Hogsmeade. I was in Honeydukes's, the candy store (having sticker shock) while Tim was waiting in like to get a butterbeer, when I heard the best quote of the trip.
"That's going to be one expensive bag of candy!" It doesn't sound awesome, but imagine being in Hogsmeade, listening to a preteen british girl berate her father and her little brother as the two males giggle wildly at the dispenser of Bertie Bot's Every Flavor Beans.
And she was right! 1/4lb of candy was almost $4.00. As the father discovered, when he was ready to turn off the despenser, another large handfull cascaded down before it shut off- adding that much more weight to his already hefty bag. But it is such fun to see the colorful jelly beans drop down through the dispenser, isn't it? The fact is, based on just a naked eye estimate, I'd guess he had a good $15 worth of jelly beans there. That's all they are- jelly beans.
A Chocolate Frog? $9.95. A small glass container of old fashioned candy? $12.95. Don't get me started on the chocolate wands or "candy floss" (cotton candy)... or even worse, the prices of the homemade fudge and handdipped candy apples.
It is SO easy when you're immersed in an experience, like Disney or Universal Studio's Hogsmeade, to want to buy. Buy buy buy buy buy. Chocolate frogs, just like in the book! But they aren't. They don't move. They don't chirp. They are a molded piece of chocolate candy and to be frank, it's probably not even very good tasting chocolate. Yes- the "every flavor beans" really do have some nasty flavors, like in the book. I imagine it's hilarious the first time you get ear wax or vomit...but after that, I imagine it gets very irritating. Not to mention you've paid $4 a quarter pound to be grossed out and toss out handfuls of candy! Chocolate wands- who cares? You're going to eat it and then your $10 will be a distant memory- as will the cleverly molded chocolate. I'm not saying don't go, don't buy, don't enjoy- but recognize why you're buying what you are. Tim wanted to try a butterbeer- well why not? This is the only place you can get them, they aren't bottled and it adds to his experience both on our vacation and in reading the books.
I struggled hard, standing in Honeydukes, with not buying anything. I wanted a chocolate frog so badly. The package was brightly colored and it was a chocolate frog, omg, just like in the books, and I would buy it in Honeydukes and omg.... It's not real. I didn't want the candy, I wanted the experience. I wanted the books to be real. The people that pushed past me with well over $70 in candy (no joke) wanted it to be real as well. I'm sure they'll enjoy the first bite of their candy, but the feeling is going to fade. If it's awful, then what? A waste of money. Even if it's good, is it better than a $0.50 Hershey or Dove chocolate bar? Sometimes, it's best to just step back, remove yourself from the area and seriously consider what you're about to spend. Once I left Honeyduke's, I didn't feel like I had to have a chocolate frog. In fact, as I am sitting here I'm very glad I didn't buy one. There is so much more I'd rather do with my $10- like save up for next year's vacation!
-Kristen
-Kristen
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Disney Savings Tips
Well, we returned from Florida last year! I've got some fresh and interesting blogging ideas, but I'm going to cop out today with just a few helpful tips-
Did you know that you can order FREE water at any of the places that sell fountain drinks in Disney? It's true, and I love them for it! I talked Tim in to going with water and saving $2.50 a drink. I had to promise the opportunity for a snack or a special something later on, but hey- $5.00 in our pockets right there and most of the times the "special something" was a strawberry lemonade from McDonalds- only $1.59!
Split meals! Especially if you take kids, split the adult meals either between kids, or one adult and one kid! Tim and I split one meal in the parks a few days- it keeps you going until dinner and we didn't drop $20 on some frankly forgettable food! It was also easier than trying to haul around a cooler all day.
Did you know Disney allows soft-sided coolers? Yup. So feel free to pack your food if you want to! I'd recommend getting a locker and then going back to it later on, unless you have a stroller you can pile it on top of.
Take advantage of free park-reentry. We would go in after eating an early lunch and then leave for dinner. Then we'd just come back in, or park hop! Or, we'd go in before lunch, split a meal, then leave around dinner time. Just make sure you know when each park closes, so you don't do this and miss out on the last few hours at a park, when a snack could have kept you going until closing!
If you head to Universal Studios, I'd take advantage of the free refills cup. It costs $6.00 (at least the one Tim bought as part of the meal plan package did) and you got FREE soda refills all day. We shared the drink and definitely got our money's worth. You also get free locker rentals for each ride, so you don't have to deal with trying to carry a full drink on a roller coaster, or leaving it sitting unattended while you ride.
Speaking of meal plans- you're not supposed to share the one at Universal Studios. IF you are willing to break that rule and IF you are willing to get caught and have to pay for the additional meal... you can share them and make a $20.00 meal plan much more affordable. Just sayin'- that's completely up to you and what you think is right.
-Kristen
Did you know that you can order FREE water at any of the places that sell fountain drinks in Disney? It's true, and I love them for it! I talked Tim in to going with water and saving $2.50 a drink. I had to promise the opportunity for a snack or a special something later on, but hey- $5.00 in our pockets right there and most of the times the "special something" was a strawberry lemonade from McDonalds- only $1.59!
Split meals! Especially if you take kids, split the adult meals either between kids, or one adult and one kid! Tim and I split one meal in the parks a few days- it keeps you going until dinner and we didn't drop $20 on some frankly forgettable food! It was also easier than trying to haul around a cooler all day.
Did you know Disney allows soft-sided coolers? Yup. So feel free to pack your food if you want to! I'd recommend getting a locker and then going back to it later on, unless you have a stroller you can pile it on top of.
Take advantage of free park-reentry. We would go in after eating an early lunch and then leave for dinner. Then we'd just come back in, or park hop! Or, we'd go in before lunch, split a meal, then leave around dinner time. Just make sure you know when each park closes, so you don't do this and miss out on the last few hours at a park, when a snack could have kept you going until closing!
If you head to Universal Studios, I'd take advantage of the free refills cup. It costs $6.00 (at least the one Tim bought as part of the meal plan package did) and you got FREE soda refills all day. We shared the drink and definitely got our money's worth. You also get free locker rentals for each ride, so you don't have to deal with trying to carry a full drink on a roller coaster, or leaving it sitting unattended while you ride.
Speaking of meal plans- you're not supposed to share the one at Universal Studios. IF you are willing to break that rule and IF you are willing to get caught and have to pay for the additional meal... you can share them and make a $20.00 meal plan much more affordable. Just sayin'- that's completely up to you and what you think is right.
-Kristen
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Discount Tickets
We're going to Disney World on vacation this year for our 5th anniversary. Disney is WILDLY expensive- a pair of tickets (6 day) for me and Tim, with park hopper, was going to be over $630. YEOUCH.
Instead, I got on the internet and begin to research discount tickets. First off- BEWARE. NEVER buy partially used tickets. These can be fraudulent and you'll be out the money before you ever discover they won't work. Ebay or craigslist is not an acceptable place to get discount tickets, ever. Even if they aren't fakes, if they are keyed to someone else's finger print (which Disney likes to do when you go through those turnstiles), then what? You're still out of luck!
Also beware the "too good to be true" deals. A week "all access" pass to Disney for $100? If your Bull-crap meter isn't going off, it should be. We already saw that a base ticket with park hopper was going to be over $300. No one can give you a 2/3 discount AND all the frills and make money. More than likely you're going to be out a $100.
Once you find a place that looks likely (like undercovertourist.com), start researching that specific company. A great place to do this is to check several established disney websites (like mousesavers.com) and the Disney Boards (just google that, they'll come up). See what people say about the website you are considering. Check and see if the website you're considering has a return policy and read that in great detail.
Then you have to decide- is it worth it to take the plunge? I did. I signed up with mousesavers.com and got a discount code sent to my email to use when I purchased tickets through a designated link that led me to undercovertourist.com. Once it was all said and done, I saved over $60 on the tickets for myself and Tim.
Then came the "oh geez...will it work? I did all my research, I think it's legit... will it work?" period of time.
Imagine my relief when the tickets arrived! Perfection. I saved over $60 by doing 30 minutes worth of research. Now you know- Undercovertourist.com is a great website to use to get discount tickets for attractions in Orlando. I know I'll keep them in mind in the future. Meanwhile, we've got $60 extra in our pockets!
-Kristen
Instead, I got on the internet and begin to research discount tickets. First off- BEWARE. NEVER buy partially used tickets. These can be fraudulent and you'll be out the money before you ever discover they won't work. Ebay or craigslist is not an acceptable place to get discount tickets, ever. Even if they aren't fakes, if they are keyed to someone else's finger print (which Disney likes to do when you go through those turnstiles), then what? You're still out of luck!
Also beware the "too good to be true" deals. A week "all access" pass to Disney for $100? If your Bull-crap meter isn't going off, it should be. We already saw that a base ticket with park hopper was going to be over $300. No one can give you a 2/3 discount AND all the frills and make money. More than likely you're going to be out a $100.
Once you find a place that looks likely (like undercovertourist.com), start researching that specific company. A great place to do this is to check several established disney websites (like mousesavers.com) and the Disney Boards (just google that, they'll come up). See what people say about the website you are considering. Check and see if the website you're considering has a return policy and read that in great detail.
Then you have to decide- is it worth it to take the plunge? I did. I signed up with mousesavers.com and got a discount code sent to my email to use when I purchased tickets through a designated link that led me to undercovertourist.com. Once it was all said and done, I saved over $60 on the tickets for myself and Tim.
Then came the "oh geez...will it work? I did all my research, I think it's legit... will it work?" period of time.
Imagine my relief when the tickets arrived! Perfection. I saved over $60 by doing 30 minutes worth of research. Now you know- Undercovertourist.com is a great website to use to get discount tickets for attractions in Orlando. I know I'll keep them in mind in the future. Meanwhile, we've got $60 extra in our pockets!
-Kristen
Thursday, May 20, 2010
How to Save Money on your Vacation
Vacation Season is just around the corner- and for some of us, it's already arrived!
There are several things to consider when planning your vacation.
How much is it going to cost? We'd love to go out to Las Vegas or California- or Scotland! However, a plane ticket per person is going to be at LEAST $300. $600 starting off the bat is not something we can afford every single year. Or every other year. Or every other other year.
You get the point. Make sure you know your budget before you ever book the first step.
What kind of things are there to do/ how much do they cost? Obviously, the more "resorty" the town is, the more expensive things will be. We went to Avon Colorado and the McDonald's didn't even have a dollar menu. O.O Talk about expensive. Be sure to scout out things to do that are interesting and reasonably priced BEFORE you decide on where to go. Free museums are always interesting- in fact, in Colorado we had the best time at the Mining Museum ($2 entry per person) even though neither of us had much interest in mining. It was just a fun, out of the way little thing to kill an hour that led to the best priced gift shop I've ever seen and some of the best photo opps EVER!
Stop by the State Welcome Centers! Even when we vacation in North Carolina, I go to our State Welcome Centers. You can get all kinds of coupon books and fliers for things to do. It even helps plan vacations for years to come.
Join Email Lists. If you know you are planning on going to a theme park area, join the lists of those theme parks to get information on ticket deals. I've seen some excellent "entire vacation" deals come through my email.
Go Off Season. You don't have to hit the beach in January, but by avoiding booking around July 4th or Memorial Day, you can often take advantage of betters deals and LESS PEOPLE!
Buy Less Stuff. Tim wants a souvenir when we go somewhere, which is fine. It's not a bad thing to buy yourself a little something. However, (and we talked about this last year too), you don't need to buy everything you see. Are you *really* going to use that Virginia Beach Sun Visor more than never? Do you HAVE to have a teddy bear wearing a t-shirt with the name of the place you're visiting on it? If you have to have something, buy one item and then stop. It will save you headaches years from now when you're yard saleing that visor with it's $20 price tag still on.
-Kristen
There are several things to consider when planning your vacation.
How much is it going to cost? We'd love to go out to Las Vegas or California- or Scotland! However, a plane ticket per person is going to be at LEAST $300. $600 starting off the bat is not something we can afford every single year. Or every other year. Or every other other year.
You get the point. Make sure you know your budget before you ever book the first step.
What kind of things are there to do/ how much do they cost? Obviously, the more "resorty" the town is, the more expensive things will be. We went to Avon Colorado and the McDonald's didn't even have a dollar menu. O.O Talk about expensive. Be sure to scout out things to do that are interesting and reasonably priced BEFORE you decide on where to go. Free museums are always interesting- in fact, in Colorado we had the best time at the Mining Museum ($2 entry per person) even though neither of us had much interest in mining. It was just a fun, out of the way little thing to kill an hour that led to the best priced gift shop I've ever seen and some of the best photo opps EVER!
Stop by the State Welcome Centers! Even when we vacation in North Carolina, I go to our State Welcome Centers. You can get all kinds of coupon books and fliers for things to do. It even helps plan vacations for years to come.
Join Email Lists. If you know you are planning on going to a theme park area, join the lists of those theme parks to get information on ticket deals. I've seen some excellent "entire vacation" deals come through my email.
Go Off Season. You don't have to hit the beach in January, but by avoiding booking around July 4th or Memorial Day, you can often take advantage of betters deals and LESS PEOPLE!
Buy Less Stuff. Tim wants a souvenir when we go somewhere, which is fine. It's not a bad thing to buy yourself a little something. However, (and we talked about this last year too), you don't need to buy everything you see. Are you *really* going to use that Virginia Beach Sun Visor more than never? Do you HAVE to have a teddy bear wearing a t-shirt with the name of the place you're visiting on it? If you have to have something, buy one item and then stop. It will save you headaches years from now when you're yard saleing that visor with it's $20 price tag still on.
-Kristen
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