So this summer we decided that we are going to spend a lot of time at the beach. (or as close to a beach as you can be in MN!) It's so relaxing, and can be really cheap! We found the perfect spot in Maple Grove at the Elm Creek Park Reserve's Swimming pond. It is a clorinated man-made pond with sand all around. It is smaller, but it is nice, and I like the lake effect with the treated water! They have changing rooms, a rinse station, and a snack booth. There are lifeguards on duty every day from noon to 8pm. There are huge umbrella shelters there to lay out under so you don't have to bring your own.
Cost: $3 per person, per day OR you can get a season pass for a family of 4 for $20! Just going two times more than pays for the season pass, so that is what we did. We have been there 5 times already, so it was so worth it! Parking is ample, and free.
This particular beach has water bottles that you can buy for $1 as well, and if you bring them back, they will refill with water for free, anytime. So, that was a good buy as well.
We may not be by the ocean or a huge lake, but the kids still have fun in the sand and water, and we still can relax on the sand under the shade. Bring a picnic, and you couldn't ask for a more perfect day!
Season pass for beach....$20. Making for PB&J's....$5. A whole day in the sand and sun with family....priceless!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
The Drive in is open again!
YAY, YAY, YAY! The drive in is open again for the season every night!
Lake Elmo, right off 94 and Manning Dr.
www.valihi.com
Admission: $8 for adults and $1 for kids 5-12. Under 5 is still free!
Admission good for three movies!!
Food is cheap or you can bring your own, and movies start at dusk. Get there early though as there is always a line!
Lake Elmo, right off 94 and Manning Dr.
www.valihi.com
Admission: $8 for adults and $1 for kids 5-12. Under 5 is still free!
Admission good for three movies!!
Food is cheap or you can bring your own, and movies start at dusk. Get there early though as there is always a line!
Still try....
So I called our cell phone company last week and threatened to leave them. I had absolutely no desire to leave them, but just wanted to toss that out there and see what they would say. They immediatly transferred me to their customer loyalty department who started going through our plan and additional services with a fine tooth comb. It became tricky because I have the bill so skimmed already that there really was no where else to cut corners, but lo and behold they found a way! We each have $30.00 data plans on our phones and I was able to get those whiddled down to $20 for life. Pretty awesome, considering everything else they have have already cut for me!
So okay, I know it's only a $20 savings per month, but it's enough to pay the life insurance preiums for the kids every month AND have enough left over for a cup of coffee!
Lesson to be learned: Even if you think there is nothing that can be done, still try. You just never know!
Our cell phone bill is still crazy if you ask me, but considering that we have 5 lines, an unpublished 1800 minute plan at a great rate, unlimited texting on all lines and 2 unlimited internet plans all for $160 a month when all of that SHOULD be $210, then I guess I feel pretty good!
So okay, I know it's only a $20 savings per month, but it's enough to pay the life insurance preiums for the kids every month AND have enough left over for a cup of coffee!
Lesson to be learned: Even if you think there is nothing that can be done, still try. You just never know!
Our cell phone bill is still crazy if you ask me, but considering that we have 5 lines, an unpublished 1800 minute plan at a great rate, unlimited texting on all lines and 2 unlimited internet plans all for $160 a month when all of that SHOULD be $210, then I guess I feel pretty good!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Make your own Laundry Soap!
Another great way to save a lot of pennies is to make your own laundry soap! I have been doing this for 3 years now and have not spent more than $40 on supplies in that whole time. I actually started making it because my daughter was breaking out from any commercial soap that we used. It is easy to do, too! This is a great one for large families and also if you have anyone in your family with sensitive skin.
What you need
A 5 gallon bucket (I got at Home depot for $3.99)
Borax household cleaner ($2.99 at local grocer/store- with the cleaning supplies)
Arm and Hammer WASHING soda ($2.49 at local grocer/store - with cleaning supplies)
This one is a little harder to find. The only place in the cities that carries it is Rainbow Foods. Call around before you go out looking for this. Your local store can order it as well if they don't carry it.
Ivory Bar soap ($1.19 for a 3 pack at any store) Comes in unscented, lavender or aloe.
Water
optional: 1 oz essential oil in scent of your choice (I get it at the craft store or the dollar store for $1.00 a bottle)
What you need per batch of laundry soap
1 bar of shredded Ivory soap - the finer the better
1/2 cup Borax
1/2 cup Washing Soda
1 oz. essential oil (optional)
Water
In large pot, add 12 cups of water and the shredded bar soap. Boil until soap is dissolved.
Add in optional essential oil at this point if you are going to add it
Add 1/2 cup borax - stir until dissolved
Add 1/2 cup washing soda - stir until dissolved
Pour solution into 5 gallon bucket and add 1 and 1/2 gallons of water.
Stir well
Allow to set for 24 hours. Soap will be a jelly type solution. I always find it is gelled half way through and then liquid on the bottom. STIR WELL to make all of it the same consistency, and pour into old laundry soap containers.
One batch makes about 4 bottles of laundry soap.
Use 1/2 to 3/4 cup of soap per load of laundry.
1 batch lasts my family of 4 about a month. I do about 2-3 loads of laundry per day.
Things to keep in mind
The soap will be bumpy and lumpy. This is normal and how it should look
The soap will NOT suds up in the washer. This is also normal, and did you know that suds wear out your clothes and discolor them faster?
Without using the essential oils, a load of laundry with this soap costs about 1.5 cents.
Can't get better than that! It is actually pretty fun to make, too!
What you need
A 5 gallon bucket (I got at Home depot for $3.99)
Borax household cleaner ($2.99 at local grocer/store- with the cleaning supplies)
Arm and Hammer WASHING soda ($2.49 at local grocer/store - with cleaning supplies)
This one is a little harder to find. The only place in the cities that carries it is Rainbow Foods. Call around before you go out looking for this. Your local store can order it as well if they don't carry it.
Ivory Bar soap ($1.19 for a 3 pack at any store) Comes in unscented, lavender or aloe.
Water
optional: 1 oz essential oil in scent of your choice (I get it at the craft store or the dollar store for $1.00 a bottle)
What you need per batch of laundry soap
1 bar of shredded Ivory soap - the finer the better
1/2 cup Borax
1/2 cup Washing Soda
1 oz. essential oil (optional)
Water
In large pot, add 12 cups of water and the shredded bar soap. Boil until soap is dissolved.
Add in optional essential oil at this point if you are going to add it
Add 1/2 cup borax - stir until dissolved
Add 1/2 cup washing soda - stir until dissolved
Pour solution into 5 gallon bucket and add 1 and 1/2 gallons of water.
Stir well
Allow to set for 24 hours. Soap will be a jelly type solution. I always find it is gelled half way through and then liquid on the bottom. STIR WELL to make all of it the same consistency, and pour into old laundry soap containers.
One batch makes about 4 bottles of laundry soap.
Use 1/2 to 3/4 cup of soap per load of laundry.
1 batch lasts my family of 4 about a month. I do about 2-3 loads of laundry per day.
Things to keep in mind
The soap will be bumpy and lumpy. This is normal and how it should look
The soap will NOT suds up in the washer. This is also normal, and did you know that suds wear out your clothes and discolor them faster?
Without using the essential oils, a load of laundry with this soap costs about 1.5 cents.
Can't get better than that! It is actually pretty fun to make, too!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Don't be afraid to say "Goodbye"
So I called to take a car off of our insurance and replace it with another, again! Lol... I asked as usual if the rates would stay the same only to find out the American Family had taken ANOTHER rate increase and our monthly payments were going to go up significantly. This is the third time in a year this has happened, and it was the last straw! That night, my husband searched around to get different quotes online and by the end of the night, we were switched over to Geico for the same exact coverage at a $95.00 a month SAVINGS!!
We had been with American Family for 5 years and our agent was the nicest person ever. It was hard to make that call to tell him we were leaving, and he did seem genuinely upset, but money is money, and that was a huge savings!! That $95.00 extra a month pays for 3 other utilities!
Don't be afraid to say Goodbye. You may be comfortable with a business, but shop around every now and again. Being comfortable in person may not be what is most comfortable for your wallet. It may be hard to leave, but people are understanding...you have to be in today's time.
We had been with American Family for 5 years and our agent was the nicest person ever. It was hard to make that call to tell him we were leaving, and he did seem genuinely upset, but money is money, and that was a huge savings!! That $95.00 extra a month pays for 3 other utilities!
Don't be afraid to say Goodbye. You may be comfortable with a business, but shop around every now and again. Being comfortable in person may not be what is most comfortable for your wallet. It may be hard to leave, but people are understanding...you have to be in today's time.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
So sad our cheap fun is closed for the winter!
We live about 45 minutes away from this really cool drive-in movie place - it was so fun this summer to bring the kids there! We went about 4 times, and it was great fun each and every time! They play 3 movies per night, and it is $7.50 per adult to get in - and the kids are FREE! (under 12) Where else can a family of 4 go to watch 3 movies for $15.00??? Plus, you can bring your own food and drinks in, so you don't have to spend a dime on snacks if you don't want to! You can even grill if you wanted to! The last two times we went we picked up Little Caesars pizza for $5 and had that along with whatever snacks we had at the house. It really was great to go there this Summer and we all loved it. We were going to go one last time before the weather got too cold, but when I just looked to see what was playing, I found out they have closed for the season. BUMMER!!!!
Make your own cleaners and save $$$
Why pay outlandish prices for cleaners at the store when you can make cleaners at home for about 1/4 the cost that work just as well?
Here are 3 very simple recipes that will clean anything you can put in front of them!
What you will need:
3 plastic spray bottles (from your local dollar store) ($3.00)
1 gallon bleach ($1.50)
1 quart white or yellow vinegar (1.00)
GREEN Suave shampoo ($1.00)
1 bottle rubbing alcohol ($.59)
Table Salt ($.35)
*each of these supplies will turn out several batches of the cleaners
Glass Cleaner
2 qt. water
1 cup rubbing alcohol
2 tbls. GREEN Suave (has to be the green)
Mix ingredients together and put in a spray bottle. Shake a little before using. Can be used anywhere you would use regular glass cleaner. It also is great for eyeglasses!
Any Surface Cleaner/Disinfectant
In plastic spray bottle, mix equal parts bleach and water
Can be used on counters, floors, table tops, cupboards, stoves, bathrooms...anything that is not fabric! Makes a great disinfectant and also makes the whole house smell clean and fresh!
Any Surface Cleaner/Scrubber
In plastic spray bottle -
1/3 bottle water
2/3 bottle vinegar
1 tbls table salt
Mix ingredients together until salt dissolves. Shake before every use. Can be used on counters and sinks...is especially good at taking rust rings off drains and scrubbing porcelain.
The combination of these three things will clean anything in your house, saving you tons of money on costly household cleaners!
Here are 3 very simple recipes that will clean anything you can put in front of them!
What you will need:
3 plastic spray bottles (from your local dollar store) ($3.00)
1 gallon bleach ($1.50)
1 quart white or yellow vinegar (1.00)
GREEN Suave shampoo ($1.00)
1 bottle rubbing alcohol ($.59)
Table Salt ($.35)
*each of these supplies will turn out several batches of the cleaners
Glass Cleaner
2 qt. water
1 cup rubbing alcohol
2 tbls. GREEN Suave (has to be the green)
Mix ingredients together and put in a spray bottle. Shake a little before using. Can be used anywhere you would use regular glass cleaner. It also is great for eyeglasses!
Any Surface Cleaner/Disinfectant
In plastic spray bottle, mix equal parts bleach and water
Can be used on counters, floors, table tops, cupboards, stoves, bathrooms...anything that is not fabric! Makes a great disinfectant and also makes the whole house smell clean and fresh!
Any Surface Cleaner/Scrubber
In plastic spray bottle -
1/3 bottle water
2/3 bottle vinegar
1 tbls table salt
Mix ingredients together until salt dissolves. Shake before every use. Can be used on counters and sinks...is especially good at taking rust rings off drains and scrubbing porcelain.
The combination of these three things will clean anything in your house, saving you tons of money on costly household cleaners!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)