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2012: Happy Columbus Day, Discoverers’ Day, and Thanksgiving!

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Happy Columbus Day!

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Wow! The second Monday in October is a busy one. For those of us in the United States, we celebrate Columbus Day or Discoverers’ Day (in Hawaii).

Though today is a national holiday, most Americans will notice no change in their work week. But all Americans can celebrate this anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas.

For some fun Columbus Day activities, check out Kaboose.com. I love the idea of serving Italian food, creating telescopes from toilet paper or paper towel rolls, making a map, coloring the free printable, reading the story of Christopher Columbus, and making a ship craft.

To my friends across the border in Canada, I wish you both a Happy Columbus Day and Happy Thanksgiving! Our Thanksgiving in the United States is still over a month away, but I’m dreaming of a moist turkey with all the trimmings. Yum!

In remembering the discovery of our land, I wish you all a great celebration making memories with those you love.

Happy Columbus Day, Discoverers’ Day, and Thanksgiving! 

Question: In using time wisely, how are you celebrating today?

Social Security: Correspondence

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Social Security correspondence

In organizing our important documents, this Social Security correspondence post concludes the first category of File Box 3. 🙂

Along with our annual statement(s), identification card(s), photocopy of identification card(s), and photocopies of all checks paying self-insurance tax, the last set of documents is all Social Security correspondence.

Social Security Correspondence

When you enroll for benefits (disability, retirement, etc.), file a claim, make changes to your record, or contact the Administration, keep a record of your correspondence.

Though I have not needed these benefits for my family, I know more than a few families who receive Social Security checks.

Keeping pay stubs and correspondence noting benefit amounts will save you time and energy at tax time.

Weekly Project: File all Social Security correspondence.

If you have not contacted the Administration, then your file is complete. In filing all our Social Security documents, we need to celebrate. Enjoy the accomplishment of using time wisely.

If you are still working on organizing these documents, then don’t give up. Your efforts are not in vain. Go at your own pace, but keep moving forward. Happy organizing!

Question: What additional Social Security documents would you add to this category?

Vacation Savings: Cost Breakdown – Part 1 of 5

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Vacation Savings: cost breakdown

Photograph Credit: Fotolia

Realizing that many of you may not have taken a vacation this year, I write this series to encourage you while your savings increase. Our family saved for two years for our extended vacation this year, so I understand your situation.

In 2011, our family forewent a family vacation because we did not have the cash on hand. Without making it a big deal, Paul and I planned fun family outings locally, and our children knew no different. I’m not even sure they asked when we were going on vacation – one of the many benefits to having younger children. 😉

In this 5-part series, I will share my tips and tricks to stretching our dollars to keep our 2+ week vacation under $1,000. Today in Part 1, I share our vacation savings in the cost breakdown. In the next 4 weeks, I’ll explain the different entertainment options we used to maximize our vacation.

Part 1: Cost Breakdown

Transportation

Gas

With our extended stay, we needed a vehicle for our family. Without finding a great deal on a vehicle rental and airfare, we chose to drive from South Carolina to Florida. The cost of gas fared less expensive than the vehicle rental and airfare for our entire family. The amount spent in gas from the day we left to the day we returned totaled $313.86.

Flight

With Paul needing to return sooner than the rest of the family, we searched and watched for sales. When Allegiant Air offered a week-long sale of select flights for $39, I selected an available flight.

By reading through the fine print, I discovered that Allegiant Air added a convenience fee and a booking fee if scheduling a flight online, but these fees get waived if purchased at the airport. With a limited flight schedule, I checked Allegiant’s departing flights and arrived at the airport 2 hours prior to departure.

When the attendant came to check-in passengers, I made my request to book a future flight. He booked the flight for Paul, and my cost came to $40.80 including tax. By purchasing at the airport, I saved $25 by not incurring the $15 convenience fee or the $10 carrier usage fee. I paid with our Visa credit card which carries flight insurance and refused all additional charges for baggage, seat assignment, and insurance.

The total cost of transportation came to $354.66.

Lodging

Mom’s House

Knowing how blessed I am to have family and lodging during our stay, we invaded my parents’ home with their consent. Though my kids pushed every limit, we appreciated the free lodging during our stay.

Hotel

On our trip down, we left in the middle of the afternoon and traveled to a hotel. We found through Priceline.com a one-night stay in a hotel with an indoor pool and spa. Though there were other less expensive deals, we made our choice and paid $54.63. The pool and spa offered a great activity after being cooped up in the car.

The total cost of lodging came to $54.63.

Food

My Mom had stocked her kitchen in preparation for our visit, so we saved a bundle on our grocery bill. With two family dinners and supplementing the existing supplies, we spent $196.96 on food throughout our vacation. This cost included our meals while traveling. The main reason for this low cost was the food already at my Mom’s house.

The total cost of food came to $196.96.

Entertainment

Our entertainment costs became the second most expensive category of our vacation. Choosing to invest in 3 annual memberships, we paid a total of $283.00.

Our thought process is that we can return early next summer before these memberships expire. By using these annual memberships for free admission, we can eliminate almost $300 from our budget, but still enjoy the same fun throughout a second vacation.

The total cost of entertainment came to $283.00.

In adding our cost for transportation, lodging, food, and entertainment, our total cost for our 2012 family vacation came to $889.25. Keeping our vacation expenses below our budgeted amount, we returned with $110 to start our 2013 family vacation fund. 🙂

The total cost of our 2012 family vacation came to $889.25.

In using time wisely to research and plan, we enjoyed our family vacation while stretching our dollars. In the coming weeks, I will share the details of stretching your dollars in the entertainment category.

Though I have posted lots of ideas, I will bring the savings strategies together while focusing on vacation planning. If you are traveling at Christmas, then this series should give you more tips and tricks to save you money, energy, and time. Happy savings!

Questions: How much do you plan to spend on your family vacation?

Fall Activity: Visiting the Apple Farm

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Family at the apple farmThis past week, my son’s class took a trip to the apple farm. With a little extra planning, our entire family made it out to the farm by the afternoon.

Besides the yearly family pictures, our entire family enjoyed the visit. The apple farm outing has become a family favorite since my son was barely walking.

Though each farm has its unique qualities, these fun activities comprised our day:

Farm Animals

Though not a petting zoo, our apple farm keeps goats, chickens, a pig, llamas, and a donkey.

Farm animals

When the pig curled up behind the hay bale, my toddler could not see him. As she searched for him in the stall, she broke down in tears thinking he left. Upon pointing him out to her, she immediately calmed down and continued her happy chatting about “her pig.”  🙂

Hay Ride

Packed into the trailer pulled by the tractor, we took a ride around the farm singing, laughing, and talking about all the sights including the decorated nursery rhyme path. My toddler enjoyed the 5 monkeys jumping on the bed decorations as this song is one of her favorites.

Hayride

Gem Mining

With a bag of dirt, a sieve, and a gem identification card, each student found a spot at the water to mine their dirt. My son loved this section of the day as he found lots of gems. When we got home, he washed his gems more thoroughly and sorted them by color.

Apple Farm - gem mining

Pumpkin Patch

With the early season of apples this year, most of the apples had been picked from the trees. We bypassed the apple picking and headed for the pumpkin patch which just opened this past weekend.

Apple Farm - pumpkin patch

Playground

Our apple farm owners created a fun space for the students to run and romp around. The tire jumps are a highlight each year.

Playground

Scavenger Hunt

Though not a part of the apple farm, I created this Apple Farm Scavenger Hunt for my children. I have tweaked the items from year to year, but my children look forward to finding the same items year after year. You are welcome to adjust this scavenger hunt to meet your needs.

Apple Farm - scavenger hunt

Corn Maze

Having expanded this year, our apple farm had two corn mazes with games hidden within both. My children enjoyed running through finding the items and getting lost together.

With the arrival of cooler temperatures, our family enjoyed our visit to the apple farm.

Apple Farm visit - animal family photo

In using time wisely this fall, take a trip to a farm. To find your local apple farm, visit PickYourOwn.org, and click on your state. Plan a visit and enjoy your family time together. Happy visiting!

Question: What is a favorite family activity you enjoy in the fall?

Recipe: Warm Mexican Dip

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Warm Mexican Dip - ResultAs I write this post, I smell the sweet fragrance of pumpkin spice wafting from my lit candle. Though not a fan of the pumpkin taste, I love the smell of pumpkin and other fall scents.

If you dropped in for a visit at my house, you would smell my pumpkin candle unless I am cooking or baking in the kitchen. 🙂

Moving my summer recipes to the side, I welcome the comfort foods of fall. One of our family’s favorite fall recipes is a simple Warm Mexican Dip. The below recipe is not my own. One of our neighbors blended the ingredients, and I enjoy the non-spicy version of his concoction.

With only 5 ingredients, this Warm Mexican Dip is great for parties, heavy snacks, or a meal. Yum!

Warm Mexican Dip

Ingredients: 

  • 1 lb. mild rolled sausage
  • 1 lb. hamburger
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup
  • 2 lb. Velveeta cheese
  • 1 jar mild salsa

Instructions:

1. Brown the sausage and hamburger in a skillet.

Warm Mexican Dip - brown meat

2. Add cream of mushroom soup and salsa.

Warm Mexican Dip - soup and salsa

3. Slice Velveeta and add to warm mixture.

Warm Mexican Dip - slice cheese

4. Stir over medium heat until cheese is melted and heated through.

Warm Mexican Dip - Result

5. Serve with tortilla chips.

If you enjoy a bit more spice to your Mexican dishes, then choose a spicy sausage and hot salsa to add more kick. When serving this hearty Warm Mexican Dip, I include corn bread and fresh vegetables.

This recipe fills my Dutch oven which our family does not eat in one meal. Therefore, I freeze the leftovers saving me money, energy, and time on a future busy day.

As you prepare your family’s favorite recipes, consider making extra to freeze. Then on busy nights, you only need to add a few extras to feed your family while using time wisely. Happy planning!

Question: What is one of your family’s favorite fall recipes?