Celebrating 6 Years of Marriage

 Each year of marriage, Todd and I try to get away to experience new places and focus on one another.  We have had some pretty awesome trips over the past 6 years of marriage (including our honeymoon to Seattle & Alaska!).  They include:

Honeymoon: Alaskan Cruise (in-credible!)

1^st Anniversary: Gatlinburg, TN
2^nd Anniversary: Lancaster, PA 
3^rd Anniversary:  Washington, DC  and Chesapeake Beach, MD
4^th Anniversary: Beverly, WV 
5th Anniversary: Las Vegas and The Grand Canyon

This year, our big trip was to Aruba with family so we didn’t want to take another week off for our anniversary (nor did we want a big price-tag for the trip).  Instead, we chose to go to Columbus, OH to visit family friends (my friend from high school and her mom: both who were integral parts of my life during my parent’s divorce) on the opening weekend of their new Bed and Breakfast.  Not only did I want to support them in their new business, but I wanted to spend some time with them before they got too busy because I am confident that the Bed and Breakfast is going to be a huge success.

As with all of our trips, we try to do things as frugal as possible but also make the most of the time we have together.  I am lucky to have a father who likes dogs and especially adores our dog. When I asked if he would want to take our precious pup for the long-weekend, he quickly accepted.  This alone saved us $99 in the cost of taking Lana to the pet resort she enjoys going to.  (We took dad and the family out to dinner as a thank you when we got back.)

On our actual anniversary (Friday, May 3^rd), we were up bright and early packing our bags and preparing the animals for their weekend without us.  We dropped off the pup to my dads and made the 2 ½ hour trek to Columbus.  Before we got to Columbus, we stopped off and got some lunch at one of Todd’s new-found favorite restaurants: Red Robin. After that, we headed to the Columbus Zoo.  Oh how I enjoy animals; however, it saddens me that they are caged up and kept captive. Side Note: If you are ever in the Columbus area and would like to find an animal reservation, please go to The Wilds.  They don’t have all of the exotic animals and monkeys, but the animals are given thousands of acres to roam and live naturally.

After walking around the zoo for nearly 5 hours, we were exhausted.  It was time to check into the Bed and Breakfast and grab something to eat.  We ended up eating at a really nice restaurant for half the price thanks to a Restaurant.com coupon that we bought for 30% off (a $50 certificate cost us $14!). The food was delicious, but we were pooped.  When we got back to the B&B, we went straight to bed with our throbbing muscles and passed out.

The next morning, we were up bright and early to have tea and sweet rolls for breakfast before we had to head out to our Segway Tour around Columbus.  Oh my goodness…this was so much fun!  Naturally, after we rode around on Segways for two hours, we both wanted one of our own!  We saw so many beautiful homes and historic places around Columbus, it was great!

After the Segway tour, we went to a topiary park which was so beautiful.  It was one of the few things to do that was free in the area.

After the park, we decided we were exhausted.  We headed back to the B&B and took a 2 ½ hour nap!  For me, this isn’t a big deal because I can do that anytime, but my husband is not a big napper nor does he require much sleep, so for him to get 2 ½ hours of sleep means he was beyond exhausted.  When we woke up, we got ready and headed out to dinner with my friend and her husband.  It was so great to just sit and talk with them for hours. 

Sunday morning, we woke up, had breakfast and went to church with my friend and her husband.  After that, she surprised us with a mini photo-shoot (she is an awesome photographer) for our 6^th anniversary. 

I say this every year and I will say it again: marriage is not easy.

My marriage with Todd is less than perfect with highs and lows.  

We have gone through a lot together, and through it all, we still choose to work on what we have.

As a marriage counselor has told us in the past, “Plan for tomorrow…you haven’t screwed that up yet.”

When those days and weeks are really bad, we plan for tomorrow.  We try to live for today but sometimes, planning for tomorrow is all that keeps us going.

I listen to the following podcasts that help me keep my marriage moving in the right direction.  I highly suggest listening to them if you ever feel like you could grow in your marriage.

• Focus on the Family
• ONE Extraordinary Marriage
• Beyond Your Wedding Day

We had an incredible weekend that was precious in so many ways.  Not only did the time with Todd strengthen our marriage, but I got to spend time with two (very) strong women who inspire me with the way they live their lives (in faith) as well as how they handle struggles in their marriages.  

Back to Reality

Last week, Todd and I went on a family vacation to Aruba with my mom, her husband (very much a father-figure in my life), my 3 brothers and their significant others.  On most vacations we go on, I see the magnitude of consumerism that many people take part of and quite frankly, it bothers me.  I won’t sugar-coat it and tell you that my family didn’t take part in the consumerism because we did.  This is what Todd and I came home with:

 

 

Of these souvenirs, we purchased the change-purse (for $1) and postcards (again, $1).  The t-shirt and reusable bag are from a donkey sanctuary we visited – my mom bought these items for me.  The purchase of the t-shirt donates a bale of hay to the donkeys, which I love.  The reusable bag is something that I have started to collect when we go on vacations because they are practical and don’t take up a lot of space.

Aruba was absolutely gorgeous.

There is no way Todd and I would have gone on our own due to the expense involved in flying there and the general cost of everything on the island; however, it was a great vacation with family.  We are fortunate to have parents that are thoughtful and considerate enough to take the entire family on a dream vacation like the one we just had.  We had a lot of fun, many laughs, and made a lot of memories (and I’ve got pictures to prove it!)  This is the first time I’ve spent any length of time with both of my stepbrothers in the past 10 years my mom and her husband have been married and it was a blast. 

Here are a few pictures from our trip:



View of Venezuela (from plane)

View of Aruba (from plane)

Blue Crabs

Sunset

Our Snorkeling Spot (we went twice - it was awesome!)

Sunken Ship From Underwater (1938)

Sunrise View from Across the Street of our house

Pool lit up at night (view from back porch)

Natural Bridge

Lighthouse

Sunset

Sunset (from sunset cruise we took the day
before we had to leave the island)

 

We are back to the reality of waking up to an alarm clock, taking care of the critters, going to work, and working on the homestead.  Even though I could have stayed in Aruba for another few months, I am happy to be back to our “regular” life in Ohio.  Bulbs are starting to emerge through the soil, there are buds forming on the fruit trees, and life is good.  I wouldn’t exchange my reality for anything.

8 Tips to Save While Traveling

(This is a guest post on Financial Excellence back in February.)

There is no better time to start planning vacation destinations than very early in the New Year when snow is still on the ground and the thought of a getaway warms the soul.

My husband and I love to travel and experience new destinations as much as possible.  We have traveled to at least three new destinations each year of our marriage creating many great memories.  Financially, we are able to do that by being smart while we travel and cutting back while on the road.  The following are a few tips that we use consistently while we travel to save money while enjoying ourselves to the fullest.

Stay close to home

It would be great to be able to go to Hawaii, Florida, California or Alaska every year; however, it is extremely costly to travel such distances, especially on a strict budget.  Instead, traveling 2-3 hours away from home in any direction can provide a complete change in scenery, fresh sights to see, new educational experiences and natural beauty to take in!

One great way to plan your next trip is at service centers along the way to your current destination.  We have found several potential long weekend getaways for the future closer to home than expected.

Bring your own food, snacks and beverages

One way to spend a lot of money while traveling is by eating out!  Many people have determined that on vacation, they shouldn’t be expected to cook or clean.  After all, they are on vacation!  Being frugal, we do not agree with this at all.

While traveling, pack a small cooler with pop, bottled water, snacks*, sandwiches and other finger-foods.  To keep it fun, don’t take items that you eat day-in and day-out.  Spice it up and make it an enjoyable experience!  With a little bit of planning and preparation, there is a substantial amount of money to be saved by avoiding convenient stores or fast food restaurants.

 *Watching your waistline?  There are always healthy snacks like carrot sticks, ants on a log, popcorn, grape tomatoes, nuts, grapes, berries, cut up apples or peppers and the like.  These are the best type of snack because they don’t require any refrigeration. 

Find an affordable hotel that provides breakfast.

I will admit, many hotels we’ve stayed have made very little money off of our stay because of the great continental breakfasts they provide. We take full advantage of continental breakfasts whenever possible.  If breakfast is not provided, bring some muffins, bagels, fruit or doughnuts to satisfy your appetite in the morning. 

Eat out only once a day

With the assortment of delicious snacks prepared for the trip, it is easy to munch on goodies throughout the day.  By doing so, you can limit the number of times you eat out in a day.

I use the word “lunner” to describe how we eat out.  We eat between lunch and dinner (between 1 and 3) while restaurants still have their lunch prices available. By doing so, we get the lunch rates, it great food, and fills us up for the majority of the evening.  This may not work for everyone, but it has worked for us.

Search for free entertainment

When deciding on the location of your next getaway, is Google “Free Things To Do (City, State.)”  On every single trip we’ve made, we have found free or inexpensive (less than $10) activities to keep us busy.  We have gone on scenic walking tours, visited President’s homes, strolled through the most amazing Farmer’s Markets, watched people make yarn out of animal fur, and many other entertaining and educational venues.

Bring a Backpack

It is extremely important to stay hydrated and nourished while traveling.  By carrying a backpack with you, you are able to keep healthy snacks and empty water bottles to fill up at area water fountains.  The flavored water drink packets are great to throw into the backpack for those who don’t like to drink water by itself.

The backpack is also great for carrying along items such as a wallet or purse, camera, GPS (if you have one, most have a pedestrian so you don’t get lost walking in an unfamiliar area,) and for storage if you pick up some pamphlets or find a great homemade gift somewhere in your travels.  We have purchased several unique gifts for people that we’ve found in our travels.  When we give the gifts, they always have a story behind them.

Public transit

If flying is required to get to your destination, we have found that public transportation is not as bad as everyone makes it out to be!  We were able to purchase a 1 week unlimited bus pass for $16/person while in Orlando enabling us to see many areas of the city that we would not have been able to travel by foot.  The same was true with Seattle, Miami, Washington D.C., and Gatlinburg!

Have fun!

No matter what may happen on a trip, most important are the lasting memories that are shared with those you love.  Missing a bus, finding out an attraction closed early, or that horrible sunburn that you got because you forgot the sunscreen at home all pales in comparison to the lifelong impressions these experiences burn on your heart.  

These simple, effective tips enable us to save enough money to go on 3 or 4 trips a year just by cutting expenses!  I would be interested in learning how you cut expenses while traveling.

We’re Leaving On A Jet Plane!

Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.  ~Seneca

Every year on our anniversary, Todd and I like to get away, and this year is no different.  Right now, as you read this, Todd and I are on our way to Las Vegas, NV and the Grand Canyon for our 5^th Wedding Anniversary! 

Over the years, we have visited:

Honeymoon: Alaskan Cruise (in-credible!)

1^st Anniversary: Gatlinburg, TN
2^nd Anniversary: Lancaster, PA
3^rd Anniversary:  Washington, DC & Chesapeake Beach, MD
4^th Anniversary: Beverly, WV

One reason we pinch pennies throughout the year is so that we are able to take vacations each and every year.  I grew up in a family that took a vacation practically every year.  If it wasn’t to a new place to learn and explore, we went camping at Cook’s Forrest in Pennsylvania.  I think I have influenced Todd over the years to take at least one vacation, whether it was 8 hours away from home or 3 hours away from home!  Thus far, he has yet to complain!

This year is a “big one” for us!  This will be the first time Todd has been to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon (I have been to both once with my family).  We will be away for 9 days total, and I am exhausted just thinking about it.  The first two days, we will be staying in Las Vegas and exploring all the fun things to do and see (for free!) in the area. We will then make the trek to the Hoover Dam, along with a few other stops on the way to the Grand Canyon. 

We are then staying at the Grand Canyon for a full week.  We are planning on many scenic views and memorable hikes through parts of the Grand Canyon.  And on the actual date of our anniversary, we will be rafting down the Colorado River.  I cannot think of anything more exciting to do with my hubby on such a momentous occasion!

Later this week, I will repost an article I wrote for Financial Excellence back in February about how we save money on travel.  Even though we are spending the money to fly on this trip, we will be implementing many of the tips listed in this article while we are half-way across the country.

Just as fair warning, you may be inundated with photos and stories when we get back.

Bon Voyage!

Do you and your other half get away every year to celebrate your marriage?

If you are interested in pictures from Vegas and the Grand Canyon, please follow us on FaceBook!

8 Tips to Save While Traveling

I have a guest post over at Financial Excellence.  If you would like to read my article about ways we save money on traveling, please head on over and read the full post!

Traveling doesn’t have to break your wallet.

There is no better time to start planning vacation destinations than very early in the New Year when snow is still on the ground and the thought of a getaway warms the soul.

My husband and I love to travel and experience new destinations as much as possible. We have traveled to at least three new destinations each year of our marriage creating many great memories. Financially, we are able to do that by being smart while we travel and cutting back while on the road. The following are a few tips that we use consistently while we travel to save money while enjoying ourselves to the fullest.

Again, head on over to Financial Excellence to read our rules for traveling on a shoestring.

Cutting Costs on Vacation

As you are reading this, I am most likely running around like a maniac trying to get the last minute details finished before we leave for our vacation to sunny Orlando, FL!  I cannot imagine how difficult it is to prepare children for vacation because it is a real feat to get everything taken care of for our feathered and furry critters when we go away!


I have written about ways we save on vacation in the past, but I am going to do it again.  I love the fact that we are able to travel and experience new places every year based on the fact that we cut corners and save money even while we are on vacation!  Many people like to sit by the pool or ocean for an entire week reading books, but we are not that type of couple.  We like to go!-go!-go! on vacation!!

These are a few tips we use while traveling:

Pack Light

My mother is probably laughing hysterically at this first tip because I was (and still am) horrible at packing.  When we went to Antigua for my mother’s wedding back in 2003, my luggage was bulging at the seams with too many shoes, clothes and accessories.  I ended up wearing only a few of the outfits that were packed.  If I remember correctly, the bag was over 40 lbs! 

Now, I like to try to get everything to fit into a carry-on bag.  What I’m taking on this trip: 1 pair of sandals (I will wear my walking shoes on the plane,) 2 capris, 5 shirts, 1 long sleeve shirt, 1 pair of jammies, toiletries, laptop, iPod, camera and all the power chords.

Backpack

Todd and I bought an inexpensive backpack a few years ago that we take on every trip.  I don’t like to carry my purse so we throw my wallet into the backpack with some snacks/drinks and go on our way.  This helps to save room, and keeps our hands free if we go out shopping or pick up brochures while traveling.  Also, this can be used to transport anything you may have purchased back home on the plane.

Food & Drink

To save money on eating out, we go to the grocery store the first night we are in a new town to pick up items for breakfast (if a continental is not provided) as well as snacks.  The snacks are for the hotel room and to take with us when out and about.  I cant tell you how many times an apple or a granola bar has curbed our appetite enough to wait another couple of hours until lunner*, which we usually eat around 2 or 3 on vacation so that we only have to purchase one meal a day. (Not to mention if you eat around 2 or 3, you still only pay lunch prices in many restaurants!)

Laundry

Generally, we like to rent cabins or small houses that have a washer/dryer when we go away.  On this trip, we will be staying at a very nice hotel.  Instead of packing 9 pairs of socks and undergarments, I will be taking 4-5 pairs of each and washing them in the room.  We are taking our own laundry detergent and will hand-wash clothes in the bathroom sink to cut down on the amount we have to pack.

We bought these for $1 at Dollar Tree to put laundry detergent in

Public Transportation

I would have never considered this as an option in the past, but last year when we went to Miami Florida for a trip in early December, we used public transportation.  Let me tell you, we met some of the nicest people on the bus!

This year, while in a different part of Florida, we will be using public transportation to get to where we need to go.  For $16/person, we will be able to travel to the grocery stores, all of the Disney parks, flea markets, restaurants or wherever else we want to go for the entire week!

I don’t understand how the whole bus system works, but luckily Todd does!  Orlando’s public transportation website has an awesome feature that you can put in your starting address and your destination, and it will tell you what bus to take, what time the bus will be at the bus stop to pick you up, the length of time in transit and all of the important information!  This takes the guess work out of public transportation (thank goodness.)  And did I mention it will only cost $16/person for the entire week in bus fares?!? Cant beat it!

Free Activities

After I found the awesome public transportation website for Orlando, I decided to see what the city had to offer.  I Googled “Free Activities Orlando, FL” and instantly, a link with 40 free things to do in Orlando popped up.  The list includes a bonsai garden, butterfly garden, art gallery, historic Kissimmee, sculptures, flea markets, farmers markets, parks and recreation and the like!   Everything we need to stay busy and make the most of our trip.

Warning:  There will most likely be a lot of pictures to be posted on FaceBook while we are on vacation.  If you don’t already “like” Sparing-Change on FB, please do so now!  I would love to hear about how you save money on vacation.

How do you save money on vacation?

Definition:

Lunner: Meal eaten between “normal” lunch and dinner time

MIA

I apologize for being MIA the past week.  It has been a crazy week and  a half here!

This is what we've been up to:

 My brother, a Marine, came home for Memorial Day weekend.  He got back earlier this year from Afghanistan and though he lives on base at Camp Lejeune, NC, it is so great to have him home throughout the year again!

 My mom came up to visit with me, my brother, and my brother's daughter, Annabelle on Friday and Saturday.  Unfortunately, this is the only picture I got of mom, but she is just as cute as always. 

 This is Annabelle, my niece.  She is a blast to be around....and so much energy! 

The minute I saw Annabelle, she asked about our chickens that she saw when they were only a few days old.  I cant believe she remembered them, but I love this picture with my brother and Annabelle feeding them cracked corn.

Monday was Memorial Day and hubby's birthday.  We went to go celebrate his 40th birthday with a BBQ at his parents house.  It was great!

Tuesday, I took off of work to give Todd his birthday surprise.  I was able to keep it a secret until we got to the airport! 

Todd got to fly a plane around Cleveland for his 40th birthday!!  I got to ride with him, and it was so fun!

Unfortunately, on Tuesday, we lost a chicken. We couldnt find her for a couple of days until I came across her feathers.  We are now down to three.

Wednesday and Thursday, hubby and I both worked.  Friday, we packed up and went to Michigan to camp with my father, step-mother and my niece, Natalie.  We had a blast.

Those are my excuses.  I'm looking to get back into a schedule within the next couple of weeks.



Saving Money on Vacation: Day 3

Yesterday, I wrote about our excursions through the Smoke Hill Caverns, Dolly Sods and Spruce Knob.  Todd and I decided to make Day 3 of our trip a more relaxing day.  Todd and I are both early birds, so we were up before 6:30!  I made up some homemade biscuits with sausage gravy for breakfast.  They were so good!

We stayed around the cabin after breakfast, watched Rocky Balboa on DVD, played with Lana and spent some time in the hot tub.  It was so nice and relaxing.  By 10:30, we were ready to roll! No more being lazy!

We drove the 10 minutes “into town” which is named Beverly.  It is an adorable little town with absolutely nothing but old historic buildings. There is also an old cemetery that we went to visit.

I love all things old, and going to the cemetery (started in 1762), I was on a mission to find the oldest person in the cemetery.  We found someone who was born in the early 1700’s! 

Todd and I both agreed that this is most likely the oldest person we’ve ever seen in a cemetery.  I realize that the tombstone had been replaced, but can you imagine what it was like in 1739 when this person was born?

After the cemetery, we went on a walking tour of Beverly.  It was absolutely free! The houses were gorgeous!  Here are pictures of just a couple of them:

That was the last full day in Beverly, WV.  We had a great time on the trip and look forward to going back.  The only money we spent was on the cavern tour ($27) and we went out to eat twice (less than $50 for both meals).

To read about our trip from the beginning, please read:

Saving Money on Vacation: Day 1

Saving Money on Vacation: Day 2

Saving Money on Vacation: Day 2 (…continued)

What do you do to save money on vacations?

Saving Money on Vacation: Day 2 (…continued)

Yesterday, I wrote about the first part of our day on our long weekend getaway.  Day 2 was a 9 hour day, which is why I felt the need to break it up into two posts. 

After our fabulous lunch in the car of homemade hoagies, we decided to do a little traveling.  While on the road, I noticed a sign for cavern tours up the road: we decided to go take a look.  20 minutes later (because “up the road” for us and “up the road” for West Virginians are two completely different things!), we finally got to the cavern!  I went inside to inquire about the next tour, and it was in 15 minutes.  So we bought two tickets.

This cavern tour was the only money we spent on Day 2.  It was a bit pricey, if you ask me, but it was a lot of fun! The price: $27 and change for the two of us.  But look at what we got to see:

Smoke Hole Caverns

Entry into Cavern

Todd

The Bat I Pet! (I did! It was so soft!)

Rock that looks like a turtle!

After the cave tour, we decided that we wanted to go see what was called “Dolly Sods.”  Our experience of Dolly Sods is that we drove up a one lane, dirt road all the way up a mountain for about an hour to be highly disappointed.  There was nothing of major significance other than the incredible views of the mountains and me worrying about losing my life off of the steep cliffs!

A bit discouraged, we decided to try one last scenic route to Spruce Knob.  Spruce Knob is the highest point in West Virginia, and though the roads were the same as Dolly Sods’, the destination was spectacular.  The views were awesome, there were people there to talk to, dogs to pet, wildlife frolicking around the rocks and even some information about the highest point in West Virginia.  This is what we saw:

Oh, and did I mention how cold it is at the highest point of West Virginia?  Brrrr.  We rushed back to the car and started on our way back to the cabin.  Within minutes, it started to rain, but we were so thankful that it waited until we were finished doing our sight-seeing for the day!

Tomorrow, I will be writing about our relaxing day at the cabin with a little sight-seeing of the small town, Beverly, WV.