Frugal February 2016

[DaLittle B]

Wooohooo March 1st,and I just blew $303.20 on a new battery powered lawnmower! I'm replacing my 7+ year old cheap gas powered model...Rather than spending another $12 on a blade,$4 oil change,$4 air filter,$3 spark plug,$20 carb kit...AGAIN...

That hardest part for me was those things,I didn't need,but like to grab while they're on clearance. (The Hoodie I bought,last years model running shoe,and just all those little things that kill my budget.)

I also think If I really go over the top frugal, I could go through my food budget with a fine tooth comb,and save more.I feel like that would take more than a single month,as I'm always trying to do it.

In February,I tried out a couple different wholewheat pancake,and buckwheat pancake mixes.I craved pancakes and sausage,I went with veggie burger sausage which was awesome!

I think it made me more aware of where I'm spending.

[Dave Gray]

I took my daughter to Disney over the weekend and spent less than $20. 

After packing lunch and dinner, I bought her a $4.22 cotton candy and a $15 light-up sword/staff thing for the night-time parade.  ...because she's 4 and was good all day.

But I'm going out to lunch today.

[VidKid]

^^ Disney for only $20

I'm going to guess you have an annual pass. What about parking? where did you stay? No gas/travel expenses? 

Teach me the ways 

[Dave Gray]

I do have an annual pass.  I didn't stay anywhere - I drove up and back on the same day...gas and tolls cost, obviously.
Parking is included in the annual pass.  Disney lets you bring in food and drinks, so I packed a cooler in the car for the ride up and back and brought in sandwiches, chips, snacks and drinks in a backpack.  I even popped popcorn and put it in a Disney bucket just like they sell at the park, because I knew she'd ask for it at some point.

The $20 I spent was only because my daughter was so good and we ended up staying way longer than I initially expected that I bought her stuff, but I really didn't have to.

It was more an exercise in principle, but I'm a big fan of packing (at least some) food.  Not only does it save on cost, but waiting in lines for food and drinks sucks.  And my daughter doesn't want to waste time eating meals.  She wants a snack real quick and then to move on to the next thing.  We ended up getting so much more stuff done, because we weren't beholden to lunch time.  We just found a bench and ate a sandwich when we had a free minute.

My hotel strategy is this: checking in to a hotel is a pain in the ass.  You have to find it, find parking, manage getting in with a kid and bags, and then my daughter is wired up because it's a strange bed.  That whole process takes like an hour and a half.  If I just head home, it's not much longer until I'm in my own bed....easier and for free.  And my daughter falls asleep in the car almost instantly. 

10/10 - would go again.

[VidKid]

Even thought of the popcorn.

Well played sir.

I will take this into consideration when we start our Disney travels later this year.