Partial Family Night: Dinner and a Show

March 16, 2013 by Tracy

Looking through the telescope at the constellation Orion

Date Night in our home does not come as often as it once did. At one point, Paul and I used to have a monthly date night. I still remember one date night before we had children where we went grocery shopping.

Yes, it had been a long week, and Paul willingly joined me aisle by aisle grocery shopping. We had a great time just spending time together and getting food to restock our apartment.

Honestly, our date nights are few and far between because we forget to plan them. Finding a time that works for Grandpa and Grandma and fits within our schedule with an activity to enjoy takes time to organize. I never regret date nights when we have them, but I don’t always remember to plan. (Guess I need to add that to my calendar as well. 🙂 )

Dinner Savings

Last night, Paul and I invited our two older children to join us on our Date Night. With Grandpa and Grandma watching our preschooler, we enjoyed dinner at Olive Garden with this coupon (expiring on 3.21.13) for a free kid’s meal with the purchase of an adult entrée.

The coupon limit is two free kids’ meals with the purchase of two adult entrees per coupon. With Paul and me selecting the 2 for $25 Italian dinner promotion, we received an appetizer, salad for the children and I, soup for Paul, breadsticks, 2 kids’ meals, and 2 adult entrees for less than $40 with gratuity.

Show Savings

With full tummies, we left the restaurant and headed for our local science center. Upon creating our own parking space, we walked to the planetarium for the evening performances. Using our science membership, we gained free admission to the show which included:

Feature presentation about how near-Earth asteroids are explored
Live sky talk including how to locate the different constellations partially visible in the night sky
Digital Mars roller coaster “ride”
Visit to the observatory with very large and powerful telescopes focused on the constellation Orion, the planet Jupiter, and our moon

Our daughter’s favorite event of the night was the Mars roller coaster though she felt a bit dizzy at the conclusion. The presentation gave the illusion you were on the coaster though we were not actually moving.

Seeing the rings on Jupiter via the telescope fascinated our son which was his favorite part of the evening. For Paul and I, we enjoyed the time with each other and our children.

By using our annual membership on the show, we enjoyed a fun-filled evening spending less than $10 per person for a dinner and a show. Had we chosen to eat dinner at home, we could have enjoyed our family night for free.

In stretching our dollars and building relationships, we chose a dinner and a show allowing our children to join us on our special date night. Though both children had a great time during our 4 hours together, they prefer spending that time with Grandpa and Grandma. Yay! Paul and I still get to enjoy our date nights alone – as long as we remember to plan them. 😉

Keep stretching your dollars as you enjoy fun family activities. Though no money needs to be spent on family night, you can enjoy a nice dinner with a show without paying full price. Happy saving while using time wisely!

NOTE: This post was not written to encourage elaborate family nights, but rather to show how to use the resources you have to create a fun evening staying within your family budget. Without our science membership, we would not have visited the planetarium or observatory. 🙂

Question: What strategies do you use for saving on family night activities?

Medical Expenses: Payment Plans

March 23, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

With the rising cost of living, higher taxes, and cuts in the job market, most families are looking for ways to stretch their dollars.

With every little bit helping, spreading out payments gives you time to recover from those expenses.

Back in 2010 when Paul discovered that he had 100% blockage in his nasal cavity, we chose the immediate solution of out-patient surgery.

Having delivered our third child that year, I along with my daughter had maxed out our family deductible, so the surgery cost us 20% with our insurance paying 80%.

Payment Options

Even with the insurance paying the majority, we were still left with a $3,000 bill that was not originally in our medical budget. In working with the doctor’s office, we were not offered any additional discounts for paying in full. So, I asked if there were other options for payment.

The billing specialist immediately offered the following two solutions:

1. Full payment, or

2. Partial payment – with half due after surgery and the remainder due the next month

After she finished explaining these options, I waited. About 20 seconds later, she offered a payment plan whereby we pay $100 per month until the balance was satisfied.

When asked about any additional fees or interest cost, I was informed that as long as we made the full $100 payment within the month, then we would not incur any fees. Satisfied with this option, we agreed to $100 per month until the balance was paid in full.

Payment Plan Option

I found the payment plan best for our family for these reasons:

1. Allowed us to spread out the payment without draining our medical spending account in the middle of the year;

2. Gave us time to save for the final payments; and

3. Payment was taken over the phone with a receipt mailed for verification.

In 2011, we made our final payment which was close to a year past the original due date.

Paying the Bill

To pay this medical bill in full, we had to get creative. We did not have the money sitting around, so we used the following resources:

1. Used our medical spending account to make as many $100 payments as possible for 2010.

2. During the months we used the medical spending account, we shaved $20 to $30 dollars from our monthly food budget.

3. Kept family nights at home with fun activities and date nights with a Netflix movie and popcorn.

4. Planned errands to limit making multiple trips saving on fuel costs.

5. Deposited any extra money into our savings account for these payments.

With a little creativity and much patience, we were able to make the full payment without dipping into our emergency fund. I treasure that emergency fund in that I do not like to touch it. For me, it is a safety net. If we still have resources and options available, then we don’t touch that account.

If you are looking at a medical procedure with large dollar signs, try to relax. Contact the billing supervisor and ask for a discount. If none is available, ask for your payment options. If no payment plan is offered, request one.

If it works for you, then use your resources to make payments without incurring any additional charges. In using time wisely, making that phone call will help you access your options for stretching your dollars. Happy savings!

Question: How do you save on medical expenses?

Reminder: Tax Deadline Approaching – April 15, 2013

March 30, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

For those of us in the United States, our tax deadline is just around the corner. If you feel unqualified to prepare your own taxes, then you are not alone. I used to read the instruction booklet and fill out our taxes manually.

Around 2009, I remember getting a letter from the IRS stating that I had not taken a deduction for which we qualified. Yes, they adjusted our taxes and gave us a refund.

I went back to the instruction booklet and discovered that no information existed for that deduction. Realizing I was over my head, I have since chosen to use TaxACT.

Tax Service Benefits

Having used the TaxACT service for multiple years, I can transfer our information from year to year making the process efficient. When filing for 2012, I did get a little confused with some of the wording. Thankfully, TaxACT has a help button for almost every question.

Tax Service Options

If you are seeking options for filing your taxes, then one of the following services may help you meet that Monday, April 15, 2013 deadline:

1. TaxACT

2. H & R Block

3. TurboTax

In using time wisely last weekend, I finished organizing, filing, and updating our records before filing our 2012 taxes. Beginning the tax process with all the documentation in hand prevented wasting time searching for a document.

You still have some time, but the tax deadline is approaching quickly. Do your research and file, and enjoy marking that task off your to-do list. Happy calculating!

Question: Do you file your own taxes or hire a professional?

J. C. Penney: $1 Flip Flops – April 12, 2013

March 30, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Betsy)

Spring is definitely in the air. My allergies are flared from the layer of pollen coating our vehicles, yard, and house. Though some of you are still dealing with snow, spring is on the way. Even if you can’t see it yet, it’s coming.

To kick off the spring season, J.C. Penney is celebrating by selling $1 flip flops on Friday, April 12, 2013. At this price, you can purchase one pair per summer outfit without breaking the bank.

To sweeten this deal, you can combine this sale with this 20% off coupon making each pair $.80. This sale is only available in-store, while supplies last, and only on April 12, 2013.

Besides a new pair of shoes, these flip flops make great gifts, party favors, and house guest goodies. Keeping a stash of little gifts for unexpected needs or wants allows us to share with others without an emergency trip to the store.

Since spring is here, let’s get this celebration underway by painting our toe nails a bright color and sporting some new flip flops. With J. C. Penney’s sale paired with the 20% off coupon, you can score flip flops for $.80. Happy saving while stretching your dollars!

Question: What is your favorite flip flop color?

Stretching your Dollars: Return Unused Items

May 4, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Fotolia

I am notorious for purchasing more supplies than I need for a project leaving me to return unused items.

A project in our home gets approached differently depending on who’s doing the project.

Overestimating Items

Projects done by me are over planned. I desire to save time from running out for another piece of poster board or extra screws because I underestimated the supplies needed to finish the project.

With all the necessary or possible pieces gathered, I can finish the project and then return the unused items when it fits within my errand schedule.

Underestimating Items

Where I overestimate, my hubby underestimates. Either we are running to get more supplies or the project remains half done until we get to the store. However, we are not left with lots of extra supplies when the project is complete.

Planning to Return Unused Items

Though there are pros and cons to both approaches, I have developed a system that helps me return unused items. If I know I will not use the remaining supplies for any upcoming projects, then I choose to return them to the store. I do not need more stuff coming into our home when I can get reimbursed for those unused items.

My system may not work for you, but having this plan helps me get those items to the store before they clutter our home:

Finish the project.
Gather the remaining unused items.
Sort those items by the store where purchased.
Get the receipts.
Add those items with the receipt to a plastic bag.
Place the bags in the front seat of our van.

Then when I am running around town and have a few minutes to spare near one of those stores, I stop in and return those items for a refund. By keeping the supplies with the receipt, I have everything together when the opportunity presents itself.

Whether you overestimate or underestimate on your projects, return unused items purchased to keep clutter at bay while stretching your dollars. Without making a special trip to return the items, you can continue stretching your dollars at the gas station while using time wisely. Happy returning!

Question: What plan do you use when needing to return unused items?

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