Vacations are a wonderful opportunity to reconnect as a family, relax, and reenergize. And if you can do it on a budget? So much the better!

Vacation season is upon us! I know this because we went to Disneyland this week, thinking we would beat the summer rush. No can do. The park was teaming with people by 10 am, a sign that vacations have already begun.

We don’t have too many true vacations under our belt. In past years we were too broke to make them a reality. Now that we are debt free, we have a little more wiggle room to allow for real live vacations (read: those you take just for fun, not to visit family or for work purposes).

Currently, we’ve got one staycation planned as well as scoping out the right time to head back to Mammoth Lakes, a locale that we are slowly getting to know and claim as our own.

While we can finally take vacations, we still like to do it on a budget. Else, we won’t be going on very many. Travel for a family of eight is more expensive than it used to be.

Here are 12 ways to save on vacation:

1. Plan a staycation.

Who says you have to go anywhere? Depending on where you live, planning vacation days at home can be just as fun and a little less expensive than getting out of Dodge.

Check out Amy’s tips for planning a great staycation, including planning for meals out and unplugging. If you live in San Diego (or plan to visit), you’ll definitely want to review all the San Diego fun available. Want to enjoy another city, check out this list of nationwide staycation locations.

2. Buy, rent, or borrow a GPS or download an app.

On our last trip to Mammoth, we missed our turn which took us a couple hours and a million miles out of our way. It cost us both time and money in gas. So, be sure you know where you’re going and have a great map, or better, a great GPS to guide you on your way.

Our GPS was recently stolen, so we’re in the market for something new. Leave your suggestions in the comments, please!

3. Consider the cheapest mode of transportation.

For our family, road trips give us the biggest bang for our buck. Our SUV holds 8 people plus all our stuff. Taking the train or flying would be less convenient and a lot more money.

But, your situation may be different. Maybe you live right by the train station or airport. Maybe you’re a party of two or three. Airfare might just be cheaper than gas, so count the cost before you hit the road.

4. Pack your own food and drinks.

Whether we’re taking a trip to Disneyland or heading for a week at the lake, bringing our own food allows us a number of perks: money savings, healthier eating, and convenience.

At Disneyland this week, we packed plenty of snacks as well as a full lunch for the crowd and bottled water, juices, and chocolate milk. (The security guards saw it all at the checkpoint, so I assume it was cool to bring it in.)

We bought a few treats throughout the park, including a pretzel, onion rings, cotton candy, and a pop. We kinda shared, but those items totaled about $20 and I waited in a horrendously long line for food. Packing our own easily saved us $100 in food as well as allowed us to eat when we wanted.

The same goes for longer trips. I usually pack a number of freezer meals to take on vacation as well as some pantry stable items that come together for quick meals. Not only does this save me time on meal prep, but it saves us a ton of money. This savings allows us to enjoy a meal or two out or to upgrade our accommodations.

5. Take an emergency bag of OTC meds and be sure to pack toiletries.

It wouldn’t be a vacation without someone getting sick or forgetting their toothbrush. A few too many times we’ve paid through the nose for OTC meds or replacement toiletries. Now, I pack extras as well as an emergency kit so that we are prepared for the unexpected.

6. Check for online deals.

If you plan to do site seeing on your trip or visiting a local attraction, be sure to check their website before you go. Often you can find good deals directly through the attraction’s website. For instance, Colonial Williamsburg gives a discount on their 3-day pass if you buy it online. Legoland California offers you 5 days for the price of one!

7. Buy group coupon deals.

If you’re heading out of town or just staying home, consider buying group coupon deals that reflect your family’s interests and tastes in food. I’ve since lost track of how many of these sites are out there. I’ve purchased some Groupons (head’s up! referral link there) with mixed experiences as well as one from Google Offers. There are even more that I’m not even tracking with, like AmazonLocal and Living Social.

Keep your eyes open for something that you were already planning on doing or buying. Do not buy it unless you’re sure you will use it. If it’s not your town, you may be stuck with something you can’t use once you go home.

8. Book your hotel online.

We’ve always made online reservations for hotels and been quite pleased. Many times we’ve found out about deals. While we still need to call the hotel about the fine details (connecting rooms, no feathers, etc), we’ve had great success.

Life as MOM contributor, Amy recently shared some great tips for saving money by booking your hotel online. Be sure to read through those. She is an expert globe trotter.

9. Go in the off season.

Even though summer just beckons you to go someplace else, often the off-season is a better time to go to get the best deals. Hotels will dramatically reduce their rates if the alternative is to have a host of empty rooms.

Think outside the box. Visit a ski area or the desert in the summer time; head to the beach in winter. If you’re flexible about your travel times, you can save a boatload of money.

10. Rent a condo instead of a hotel room.

Since we are such a large party, we have a choice between renting two rooms or finding a condo. We’ve found the condo to be more beneficial in many ways. We save money – a condo is typically less money per night than two rooms. We have more space – condos include living space and kitchen areas. We eat better – we can more easily cook our own meals in a condo.

Many time share resorts will rent empty units to regular folk. You can get great deals this way with all the amenities.

11. Rethink your souvenir purchases.

On a recent trip to an historical site, I came across all kinds of cool things that perfectly suited the time period. They were also cool things that I could buy online for less.

You know you can buy that Disneyland sweatshirt for much cheaper online; why buy it at the park? Princess tshirts (above) on clearance at Walmart for three bucks, bought the day before we went to the Happiest Place on Earth. My girls are happy to have Princess shirts, they don’t care where they were purchased.

We tend to confuse souvenirs with experiences. You don’t have to buy the thing while you’re having the experience. Buy it before or after and pocket the change!

If your kids really want something from the trip, consider those flattened pennies. For $0.51 that’s the cheapest souvenir money can buy.

12. Pay cash.

I know, you don’t like to hear that. But paying cash is a better way. We feel so good on our vacations knowing that we really are enjoying the fruit of our labor — and not money we don’t have.

Research shows that you spend less if you hand over real money as opposed to swiping a card. You’re also more careful to track your purchases if you will eventually run out.

Granted, this does mean you need to be more careful about loss or theft. Using a travel money pouch can help you store your cash, cards, or traveler’s checks more securely.

Vacationing can be a wonderful family adventure. And if you don’t bite off more than you can chew — or pay for, you will all have a wonderful time!

Other related vacation ideas:

• Preparing the House Before Vacation
• Using the Internet to Book a Hotel and Save Money
• Take Food with You
• Vacation: A Favorite Fall Tradition
• Don’t Be Afraid to Travel with Children
• Making Road Trips More Enjoyable
• Be Ready for that Next Road Trip
• An Amusement Park Survival Guide
• Taking Freezer Meals on the Road
• How to Vacation with Children without Losing Your Mind
• Tips for Traveling with Kids
• Traveling with a Baby
• Keeping the Joy in Family Travel

Today’s Frugal Friday!

Time to swap ideas and inspiration for saving money.

How do YOU save money?

Please remember to follow the Frugal Friday Guidelines or be deleted.

1. Post a money saving idea and explain how it is helpful in your post.
2. No giveaways or deals posts.
3. Recipes are allowed, but you must explain how it saves people money.
4. Please include a link back to Life as MOM.

12 Ways to Save on Vacation (Frugal Friday) is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

It is better to give than receive — unless it puts you in hock! Avoid debt and overspending by giving gifts wisely and economically.

1. Bake something.

Bake someone happy with homemade breads, cookies, cakes, and pies. Homemade is always better than storebought. And the ingredients can often be less expensive that a fancy bakery. Package them nicely in a cloth lined basket or paper box. Deliver with a smile.

2. Give a gift card.

It is the thought that counts! A lower value gift card to a fun splurge like Starbucks or iTunes is often more welcome than an expensive doodah that will eventually end up in the donations pile. It doesn’t need to be high priced to be fun.

3. Package some cash.

Likewise, a creative cash present will bring a huge smile to the honored friend. When Aunt Cass sent us our “box of chocolates”, I was bowled over by her creativity. I haven’t even spent any of it ($43.15 to be exact) since it’s just too cute for words. It’s a little emergency fund, perfect for teens, college students, and, ahem, grown-ups.

4. Shop the clearance.

You will be amazed what great things you can find on clearance, especially if you start looking early. I have found great culinary gifts on clearance including a French press for $5! Keep an eye on the clearance section in your favorite stores for great deals.

5. Give an experience.

Sometimes time doing an activity together is worth more than any gift. Think picnic, a day at the beach, a trip to an amusement park, a movie night with popcorn and large boxes of candy. Consider your birthday person, graduate or other honoree to be the guest of honor and treat him or her like royalty.

6. Stock up on seasonal sales.

If you’re looking for token or hostess gifts, then keep your eyes open at back to school time, the holidays, Valentine’s Day and Easter. Candy, chocolates, candles, dishes, other small gift items, and school supplies often go on great sales at these times. Stock up on these items and save them to repackage as gifts.

Yes, you can even transform humble school supplies into gifts.

7. Use Swagbucks.

Swagbucks is a search engine that rewards you with “Swagbucks” for searching online, participating in surveys or in other actions. You can redeem your Swagbucks for a number of prizes including Amazon and Starbucks gift cards. We have used the Amazon cards to offset gift giving costs at Christmas and birthdays.

Plus, Swagbucks will also award you points when you refer friends. For instance, if you signed up with this link, I would get some Swagbucks for sharing the love with you.

8. Pre-order new releases on Amazon.

Amazon offers a number of great services including Prime free shipping, a lending library, and free streaming movies. But, many folks don’t understand their pre-order policy. If you pre-order a new release (ie. before it hits the stores), you will be guaranteed the lowest price on that item between the time you pre-order and the release date.

Since Amazon prices fluctuate so frequently, this can save you a lot of money — as well as time spent checking the price.

9. Make a meal to deliver.

Who doesn’t like a home cooked meal? Everyone from busy moms to starving students to hungry bachelors will appreciate a home cooked meal. Take a few extra minutes to package it in a fancy manner and deliver with a smile.

For new parents or other busy folk, consider stashing several meals in their freezer so that they can enjoy your gift for several days into the future.

10. Order online to save money on gas and to use cash-back programs.

Shopping online has been a real blessing to me, especially in the days when all the kids had to be latched into carseats. Not only did it save me money to shop from home, but it also saved me from endless errands and dragging more poor kids into a myriad of stores when we couldn’t find what we were looking for.

I can also use cash-back services like Ebates to get cash back on my purchases when I initiate my shopping session through their portal. I can maximize my rewards by using Ebates’ tell-a-friend referral program. Whenever a friend signs up with my link, we both win.

Plus, it’s nice to shop in my pajamas.

11. Request free samples.

There are so many wonderful free samples available out there. One year, I planned ahead and saved up enough free granola bars to stuff the kids’ stockings at Christmas! And now that I think about it, some samples are very generous, making it easy for you to put together a fun gift basket — for FREE!

12. Give a memory.

A picture really is worth a thousand words. Some of the most meaningful gifts I’ve ever given have been of the photographic variety. Whether it takes the shape of a video slideshow, a photo album, or even just a framed picture, photo gifts are fun, meaningful, and typically quite frugal.

Today’s Frugal Friday!

Time to swap ideas and inspiration for saving money.

How do YOU save money?

Please remember to follow the Frugal Friday Guidelines or be deleted.

1. Post a money saving idea and explain how it is helpful in your post.
2. No giveaways or deals posts.
3. Recipes are allowed, but you must explain how it saves people money.
4. Please include a link back to Life as MOM.

12 Ways to Save on Gifts (Frugal Friday) is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

It is possible to host a beautiful wedding without spending a million dollars. Here’s how we did it on a “smaller” budget.

Eighteen years ago this weekend we got hitched after only four months’ engagement. Yes, it was short. We had dated for two years, though, and once you find the person that you want to spend the rest of your life with, well, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible. (Name that movie.)

In that 3.5 months’, pre-internet, pre-pinterest time period, we planned a beautiful wedding. It was by far, the best day of my life, featuring the best wedding food I think I’ve ever eaten, and definitely the best cake.

And we did it on a budget.

Weddings are expensive.

My dad was willing to pay for a wedding for his eldest of three daughters, but he wasn’t going to be extravagant. I groaned with dismay when he set the limit at $5000.

To give you perspective on that number, the average wedding expenditure today is $27,000. The average wedding cost in 1990 was $15,000. So, even though plenty of people have tied the knot for less than $5K, Dad’s number was still pretty low for the time, 1994.

Quite honestly, I was fit to be tied, but there was little I could do about it — unless I wanted to wait and save up more cash. Which I didn’t. Hehe.

Instead, a few years later I lobbied for my youngest sister to get a COLA on her wedding budget. Her budget was $8000 in 2001. And my sister Jamie spent only $3000 on her recent wedding reception. Dad got like three weddings for the price of one!

That said…. today I’m thankful that I wasn’t allowed free reign to spend more than we needed to on a beautiful wedding day. Here are some of my thoughts on the subject, almost twenty years later.

You might already be married, but chances are you have siblings, children, or nieces and nephews that aren’t.

How to plan a budget wedding:

1. Keep perspective.

One thing that I wish I had remembered and am now passing on to others is that this shindig is not all about you. This is a hard thing for brides to come to terms with. We imagine the day all our lives as the day we get to shine like a princess. And while I’ve been there, I also think it’s important to keep things in perspective.

A wedding is a celebration of a new life, a blending of two families, and a transition of roles. While the bride is a princess, she is also not the only who cares about this special day.

So, brides, don’t be a spoiled brat. Be prepared to compromise and consider the needs, wants, and personalities of both families. Keep in mind the sheer amount of money that’s at stake, also. My sister Janel now says she’d rather have that cash to spend on a really nice vacation!

Enough is as good as a feast.

2. Enlist friends to help.

Canvas your friends to find out who is willing and able to help with your wedding event. Guess what? You don’t need a wedding planner. Really. Instead draw from the wealth of skills and talents among those close to you. An older, married friend served as my coordinator. Since I lived with her and her family, she was right there to make me get things done, too.

We were blessed by friends who baked and decorated the cake, arranged the flowers, acted as DJ, served as shuttle drivers, as well as those who set tables and cleaned house in preparation of the Big Day. Andy’s parents even provided their home and garden as the reception location.

3. Do it yourself.

There are an amazing number of things that you can do and make yourself, even moreso now than there were 18 years ago. The trick is not to overdo. (See tips 1 & 2.)

From invitations to party favors to place settings, you can pull together pretty things simply and affordably. Don’t go overboard, but consider what special touches are just fine homemade. Instead of a bar, bartender, etc, we went to Costco and bought cases of bottled water, pop, beer, and champagne and made our own serve-yourself bar.

4. Splurge on the things that matter.

I really wanted good food, nice invitations and quality photographs so we splurged on those items. Today I have friends who would have done those things for me. But, I was content to fill the gap, knowing I was getting my druthers in a few key areas.

As it was, we priced things out and still bargain shopped. We chose the same caterers I had worked for in college and since they knew me, they gave us a great deal and superb service. (It pays to know people, sometimes!) The food was absolutely fantastic!

5. Let go of the things you don’t care about.

We didn’t have a wedding planner, a videographer, or professional hair and make-up people. It didn’t bother me in the slightest that a driveway was our dance floor. I only just now noticed the basketball hoop in the photographs!

Our “live music” was a wanna-be jazz singer who literally crashed the party! He wasn’t even invited to the wedding, but wrote a song for us spontaneously at the reception.

None of this bothered me. They just didn’t matter that much in light of the big picture and small budget.

6. Just smile.

What makes a wedding a beautiful one is the happy couple. Keep smiling — even if things don’t go the way you expect them to. In fact, be ready to laugh — at losing the rings right before the ceremony, at the party-crashing jazz singer, at the dead altar flowers from a previous event catching fire during your vows. (True stories.)

There will be plenty of things to go “wrong”.

A wedding doesn’t make a marriage. A good attitude and a lot of love and grace do. 

You can have a beautiful wedding on a budget — just remember what’s important.

Today’s Frugal Friday!

Time to swap ideas and inspiration for saving money.

How do YOU save money?

Please remember to follow the Frugal Friday Guidelines or be deleted.

1. Post a money saving idea and explain how it is helpful in your post.
2. No giveaways or deals posts.
3. Recipes are allowed, but you must explain how it saves people money.
4. Please include a link back to Life as MOM.

How to Plan a Budget Wedding (Frugal Friday) is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Setting goals and dreaming big dreams can be just the right motivation to help you save money and accomplish great things.

This is my bedside table. Most are books that I’ve read before. A few I’m still finishing off for the first time. Most of them are books that I’m revisiting.

See a theme?

In 1994 we spent our honeymoon (and my 22nd birthday) in France, less than a year after I came home from living a year in Bordeaux. Having spent two consecutive birthdays in France, I was hopeful — and naive — that it would become a yearly tradition.

We haven’t been back in eighteen years!

Life happened. Babies, and houses, and debts. Life.

Dreaming a Big Dream

Over the last month or two, however, hubs and I have decided to dream a big dream: to take our family of eight to France for our 20th wedding anniversary. Our hope is to spend a minimum of four weeks in France in 2014.

• Ambitious? Yes. It will cost a very pretty penny.
• A little bit crazy? Yes. Six children on a European vacation is like the Griswolds on steroids.
• Impossible? Never say die.

We realized that while it will take some time to save up the cash (yes, we’re going to pay cash) and brush up on my language skills, research and plan, it will be a wonderful experience for our kids who will be 16, 13, 11, 9, 7, and 5. The kids will all be young enough to still be at home, old enough to not need a potty every hour.

Plus, we’re just itching to go back.

We also know that saving and economizing is easier — and more fulfilling — if you have a goal in mind. 

To save just for the sake of saving ends up feeling rather empty and boring after a time. It’s harder to keep at it if it’s just a few more dollars in the bank. But, if you have something to work for, you have motivation.

So, we’re adding a little fun to our future, we’re planning a HUGE family memory, and we’re adding fuel to the fire of our frugality.

Certainly, it’s a plan to spend money, but it’s also an impetus to save, which is always a good thing.

Today’s Frugal Friday!

Time to swap ideas and inspiration for saving money.

How do YOU save money?

Please remember to follow the Frugal Friday Guidelines or be deleted.

1. Post a money saving idea and explain how it is helpful in your post.
2. No giveaways or deals posts.
3. Recipes are allowed, but you must explain how it saves people money.
4. Please include a link back to Life as MOM.

PS. I apologize in advance for any excessive postings about France.

Dream a Big Dream (Frugal Friday) is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Save money with Amazon‘s Pre-order Policy and get the guaranteed lowest price on the product between now and when it releases.

As an Amazon affiliate, I am paid a small advertising fee when folks buy something that I link to. However, I would sing Amazon’s praises and those of those products even if that were not the case.

Amazon is a fabulous money-saving resource.

First there were low prices and free shipping. Then there was Amazon Prime with free 2-day shipping. Then there was Amazon Prime with free shipping, free streaming videos, and a free lending library. There’s Amazon Mom and Amazon Student that offer similar benefits.

These are awesome ways to save money on things you would buy anyway — all from the comfort of your home.

(Plus if you use Swagbucks, you can redeem them for Amazon giftcards, saving even more money.)

Save Money with Amazon Pre-Order

Another way to save with Amazon is their preorder policy. I didn’t really explore this until last Christmas season when I had my eye on a DVD to buy for the family. Previously, I would put an item in my cart and check periodically to see how the price fluctuated.

Frequent Amazon shoppers know that prices can change in the blink of an eye, often bobbing up and down for weeks. The same is true for new releases.

Well, I sweated up a storm last summer waiting for the release of The Lord of the Rings extended edition to come out on Blu-Ray. I gave it to FishPapa for Father’s Day and got a great deal. But, I had to check often and take my chances when it hit a low point.

Silly me. If only I had preordered it….

You see if you preorder something on Amazon (like this cookbook, for example, ahem) then Amazon guarantees you the lowest price between now and when the item is released. This means that you don’t have to watch and wait and take your chances. You’re guaranteed the best deal possible.

(Some restrictions do apply to Amazon Preorder and obviously, it doesn’t work on items that have already been released.)

I tested this out when ordering Kung Fu Panda 2 last winter. Instead of sweating it, I preordered. I wasn’t charged until it shipped. And I was even refunded some money after it shipped because they shipped it prior to the release date and the price went down after the movie was loaded on the truck. Cool!

Is it saving you money?

One caveat: It’s not “saving money” if you don’t have it to spend in the first place. And if you weren’t going to buy the thing until you heard there was a “deal,” that’s probably not saving money, either.

But, if it’s something you were planning to purchase, Amazon pre-order is a great way to save money.

Today’s Frugal Friday!

Time to swap ideas and inspiration for saving money.

How do YOU save money?

Please remember to follow the Frugal Friday Guidelines or be deleted.

1. Post a money saving idea and explain how it is helpful in your post.
2. No giveaways or deals posts.
3. Recipes are allowed, but you must explain how it saves people money.
4. Please include a link back to Life as MOM.

Disclosure: If you make a purchase through any Amazon links up there, I do receive a small percentage of the sale. And yes, yes, I did write that cookbook.

Save Money with Amazon Pre-Order (Frugal Friday) is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Over the last years our eating — and shopping — habits have evolved. Despite an economic downturn and a desire to source better foods, we’re still eating well and spending less.

As you may know, I am a total grocery geek. I love to shop for food — and cook and eat. And I love to do it all the while staying in the black.

Many years ago, when our budget really couldn’t stomach it, I tried to “go all healthy,” purchasing only organic products without any real knowledge — or financial backing — to guide my purchases. Not only did that end in miserable failure, but I also added to our family’s debt by spending money we didn’t have.

That was 2007. Later that same year, we realized just how much debt we were in (16K, to be exact) and made some drastic shifts in our spending. Yeah, eating organic foods was the least of my worries. Having food was priority #1.

In that journey toward paying down our debt, establishing an emergency fund, and learning to live without credit cards and consumer debt, I also trimmed our grocery budget to an all-time low: $400/month to feed 7 of us. Couponing and learning to build a stockpile played a huge part in that. We ate well; the bills got paid; and we even saved some money.

It’s hard to prepare for tough economic times, but so worth it.

My children ate more boxed cereal in that 18 months than they ever did in their lives. This was in the “couponing heyday” of 2008 and 2009 when I could pick up 30 boxes a week for less than fifty cents each!

While we ate more processed foods than I ever dreamed possible, I was hoping that it would be a means to an end. Perhaps someday, Lord willing, we’d be able to afford more of those healthier foods that I wanted to serve my kids.

Today our debts our gone, our emergency fund is fully funded, and we no longer spend money we don’t have. Praise God! Our family has grown in number and in size. We have since moved back to our home state of California.

While my grocery budget is higher than $400/month and couponing has taken a back seat in how I shop, we’re dedicated more than ever to eating well and spending less.

Earlier this week, I shared my journey over the last year and how the Eat Well Spend Less series got its beginning. Here’s a round-up of how other families’ shopping and eating habits have changed over the last 12 months:

• The Life Cycle of a Couponer :: Denver Bargains

• 12 Months of Eat Well, Spend Less :: Good Life Eats

• You Can Afford a Natural Life: How to Prioritize :: Kitchen Stewardship

Today’s Frugal Friday! Time to swap ideas and inspiration for saving money.

How do YOU save money?

Please remember to follow the Frugal Friday Guidelines or be deleted.

1. Post a money saving idea and explain how it is helpful in your post.
2. No giveaways or deals posts.
3. Recipes are allowed, but you must explain how it saves people money.
4. Please include a link back to Life as MOM.

How Others are Eating Well and Spending Less (Frugal Friday) is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Ask for a discount and you might be surprised at a lower price.

Despite my inner desires to be a globe-trotter, we don’t really travel that much. We take a few big road trips each year, but flying isn’t something we do very often. In fact, I’ve been on six plane trips in the fifteen years I’ve been a mom.

However, I have two fun getaways planned for May. (More on that later!) And to celebrate, I decided that my 20-year old luggage set was a little too old school. Big, honking garment bag and ginormous suitcase were a little too large for the way I live, travel, and think about extra baggage fees. And the itty bitty Jeep duffel bag that hubs and I share is a little too small.

So, I’ve been shopping.

I looked at luggage at Kohls and almost choked on the prices. Luggage has gotten smaller in 20 years, but it certainly hasn’t gotten any cheaper! I knew that I wanted something small. I don’t like checking baggage — or waiting at the baggage claim. So, I wanted something that met air travel specifications.

NOT that I travel much. But, still….

I looked at luggage on Amazon and was thinking about this. I could choke down that price.

Earlier this week, however, I was at Target, picking up a couple things, and I decided to cruise their luggage aisle. I was NOT optimistic. The price tags I saw ranged from $49 to $109. Ick. The girls and I went up and down and around that aisle a few times until we saw this:

It’s a 4-piece set. But, wait! It’s missing the 4th piece, a package of travel bottles. I looked at the tag. The set was normally priced $65, and had been clearanced to $45. $45 didn’t sound horrible for three pieces. But, then I got a brain storm.

I would ask for a bigger markdown! I went to the fitting counter where they make price adjustments. The woman at the counter got out her fancy Target gun and guess what?!

It was already marked lower than $45. They just hadn’t gotten around to retagging it…. AND she marked it lower still! See?

I paid $13.61 plus tax for three pieces of luggage! Oh happy day!

So, next time you see something that isn’t in pristine condition or is missing a piece, go ask for the discount. You might be pleasantly surprised!

How do YOU save money?

Please remember to follow the Frugal Friday Guidelines or be deleted.

1. Post a money saving idea and explain how it is helpful in your post.
2. No giveaways or deals posts.
3. Recipes are allowed, but you must explain how it saves people money.
4. Please include a link back to Life as MOM.

Ask for that Discount (Frugal Friday) is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Spring Break dining doesn’t need to be expensive. There are plenty of ways to eat well without breaking the bank.

I didn’t really plan a Spring break. I was going to skip it actually. I know that random stuff can happen at any moment that could throw our schedule off, so I didn’t have a plan.

As it turns out hubby is taking an extra long weekend with some vacation days and a state holiday. We also have a field trip on Monday, so voila! Instant Spring Break!

Obviously, ours is of the staycation variety, but nonetheless, we’re taking a break. And it’s needed.

On the eve of Papa’s first day home, our seven-year old said, “If Papa’s not going back to work until next week, we should be eating at restaurants!”

Ha! The kid knows how we operate, doesn’t he? I must confess, I just haven’t been able to keep up with the cooking load lately. I was wondering if it was legal to sneak in a freezer cooking session during vacation. Whaddya think?

Regardless, we’re taking a few days off the norm, hoping to go kite flying and ice skating. My parents are also coming down for a few days, so there’s plenty of fun to be had.

Here are some of the ways that I’m hoping we can save some money and still enjoy this break from the norm.

Mud and Worm Cupcakes

1. Eat FUN food at home.

The restaurant idea is quite tempting, and I’m sure we’ll be doing that throughout the weekend. But, it’s more fun to eat at home if there’s some fun food. I’m looking at cheeses and breads, yummy salads, homebaked cookies, and maybe some steaks on sale.

Even if I spend a little extra on groceries, that is still a savings compared to dining out and makes a staycation more fun. Even if your spring break takes you elsewhere, buying or packing portable “fun food” is a great way to save money on good eating.

2. Use coupons or other restaurant deals.

We have some BOGO coupons for kids meals at a local Chinese restaurant that expire this weekend. Now is a great time to use them! Also, another local restaurant is offering free breakfast sandwiches on Friday morning. Fun food without paying full pop – Yeah!

I don’t have the best luck with Groupon. Although we have discovered two local joints that we really like thanks to Groupon purchases, many of the other purchases have expired before we were able to use them. But, I like checking the “NOW Deals” especially when I know we’re going to be out and about. If you know you’re going to use them “now,” it’s a pretty safe bet.

3. Raid the pantry.

Our cupboard is looking pretty bare these days — I just can’t keep up with the consumption around here. They must all be having a growing spurt. But, even with a shortage of convenience items, I have a lot of baking ingredients on hand. So, we’ll be baking cookies, cakes, and cheesecake this weekend as well as popping lots of corn.

4. Pack food for amusements.

We’re heading out on a field trip on Monday. I know from experience at this zoo that food is pricey. So, I’ll be packing plenty of snacks as well as a lunch to avoid the high price of eating on site. We make a regular habit of this as well as packing snacks in the kids’ waist packs. It’s such a wonderful way to avoid, “Can we buy” syndrome.

For us, good eats on vacation are part of the experience. So, I’m looking forward to a great weekend. And hopefully, it won’t be too pricey, either.

How do YOU save money?

Please remember to follow the Frugal Friday Guidelines or be deleted.

1. Post a money saving idea and explain how it is helpful in your post.
2. No giveaways or deals posts.
3. Recipes are allowed, but you must explain how it saves people money.
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Saving Money on Spring Break Eating (Frugal Friday) is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

New babies are cause for celebration! But, the prerequisite good food doesn’t need to be expensive. Today I’m sharing some ideas on how to eat well and spend less at baby time.

It’s amazing to me to think how quickly the time has passed since I gave birth to our first child. He’s approaching fifteen! Likewise, the Baby of the family is going to be four this year.

We’ve been blessed to welcome six babies to our fold over the years. Each time was cause for great celebration! And in our family, that means good eats! From the moment that kid popped out, usually in the 9-pound range, I was ravenous. And while I was still eating for two, my family wanted to eat, too. Thankfully, we came up with some family food traditions at baby time that made my postpartum days easy and delicious.

I shared some of those earlier this week, so if you missed it, head here to read about our good eating.

This month the Eat Well, Spend Less bloggers are at it again, sharing great ways to eat well and spend less. Since our group has recently welcomed three new babies to our families, it seemed only appropriate to share some of the ways that we welcome babies — and eat well and spend less.

And since we collectively have 35 children, I think we might know what we’re talking about!

Kitchen Planning When You’re Pregnant – Amy is a mom of three. Her diet has changed a lot since that first babe arrived and she’s gained some great experience in how to plan for each trimester and its unique characteristics. Wondering how to deal with nausea or make the most of your mid-pregnancy energy? Amy’s got great suggestions for doing so on a budget.

Taking Meals to a New Mom – Carrie just gave birth to Baby Bargains and has been the happy recipient of meals gifted from friends. She offers great tips for doing the same for your friends.

Good Eating and Welcoming a New Baby – As you know, we are big eaters around here. And we’ve got special traditions when it comes to welcoming a new baby. I share those traditions and other ideas for making sure the new mama (and her peeps) are well fed in the first hours or weeks home.

The Postpartum Diet - Aimee recently welcomed Baby Clara to her family. And while I offered to send her a pie to celebrate, she turned me down, saying that she’s sticking to her healthy eating resolutions. In her post, she shares her goals for the postpartum diet (energy & healing, milk production & quality, and bowel regularity) as well as some food ideas and recipes.

A No-Work Kitchen After Baby Arrives – Tammy’s baby, Channah, arrived a month early! Needless to say, the household wasn’t quite ready to welcome a new little one. Tammy offers some great suggestions for how to reduce your work load and enjoy a no-work kitchen in the newborn daze.

Food for New Parents to Eat Well and Spend Less – Shaina, mom of four, is no stranger to the baby daze. Her post is full of sumptuous photographs as well as great tips for eating well and abundantly in those first few weeks after you bring a little one home.

A Homemade Baby Food Primer - While your newborn certainly isn’t going to start gnawing away on a biscuit anytime soon, those first six months fly by in a flash. This week Mandi offers a tutorial on homemade baby food. So easy, nutritious, and economical!

Feeding a Baby Real Food - Katie welcomed a new little one last year. So, her babe in arms is ready to eating real food. And in Katie’s kitchen, I do mean “real food.” Check out her tips for feeding your baby a non-processed diet.

How do YOU save money?

Remember to follow the Frugal Friday guidelines or risk being deleted.

Eat Well and Spend Less with a New Baby (Frugal Friday) is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

Amazon Prime is a great way to enjoy quick shipping, instant streaming, and Kindle reading for less than $7/month.

I’ve been an Amazon affiliate for a few years off and on, which means if you make a purchase through the Amazon links here on Life as MOM, Amazon pays me a small portion in advertising fees.

However, I’ve been a loyal Amazon shopper for 14 years, back when my internet connection was run by a small squirrel running in a cage dial-up. It took us what seemed like hours to place an order, but we knew we were saving money by ordering through Amazon.

A few years later, free Super-Saver shipping came on the scene as well as high speed dial-up. Wow! With a few clicks of a mouse, I could order any book or kitchen gadget for a great price AND get it within about a week or two.

Next came Amazon Prime, a service that included 2-day shipping at no extra charge. We’d had a trial subscription once upon a time and really liked it. But, we’d never been willing to fork over the cash. $79? Hmmm…. I’m forever forgetting to order school supplies in time to really use them when I want to. So, the idea was tempting….

Free 2-Day Shipping

Recently, however, Amazon has expanded the benefits of Amazon Prime. Not only do you get the 2-day shipping (which sometimes feels like two hours it arrives soooooooo quickly!) but an Amazon Prime membership also provides instant streaming of movies and TV and access to a Kindle lending library.

Now $79? Really? Is it worth it?

Free Movies

At first that seemed like a lot of money. However, I browsed the selection of movies available and found it very comparable to our now-canceled Netflix. Last year we spent well over $100 on Netflix. We recently downsized our cable. And as much as I love RedBox, I’m not wanting to get in the car to get a Dora video. No, no, no.

And there’s an amazing selection of preschool shows available for FREE via Amazon Prime. Already it’s a stellar replacement for Netflix, which I found didn’t have a great selection for streaming anyway.

Free Kindle Books to Borrow

I haven’t explored the Kindle portion of the program. I’ve been so happy with what we have so far! But, you’re allowed to borrow one book a month with no due date. So, if you take two months to read a book, that’s fine. Unfortunately, you do have to own a Kindle to use the Prime service lending library.

Budget-Friendly Entertainment

If you have the budget for entertainment, I think that Amazon Prime is a great way to go. It turns out to be $6.58/month for free movies, free books, and 2-day shipping.

For me, that totally works. So much cheaper than Netflix! And in the long-haul, it’s saving me money by not paying for extra shipping, not buying books I might not want, and getting free Kipper and Caillou whenever I need a break!

How do YOU save money?

Remember to follow the Frugal Friday guidelines or risk being deleted.

The Benefits of Amazon Prime (Frugal Friday) is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.