My husband and I are saving up for a trip we want to take this summer, and realized that we really need to sock it away between now and then.  We’re pretty frugal, but we combed through our budget to try and find areas where we could save.

Immediately, our ‘Eating Out” budget raised it’s hand.  We looked at each other, laughed, and kept going down the line items.

Why? Because we are experience people.  Not things people.  We value doing things far above owning things and we really, really enjoy eating out. It’s a planned event, not an “Uh-oh.  No one remembered to make dinner” event. Resolving to stop eating out would just not work for long.

But I guess we can cut back on what we spend while we’re out.

As you very well know already; one of the things we like to experience are Griffins games.

Did you know that you can actually save money eating out from the Griffins? It’s true!

• If you flip over your ticket, there are different restaurant coupons on the back.  We have a nice little stash of $5 off of $25 at Peppinos (any location), but there are also coupons for Gardellas, and Uccellos sometimes too.

• If you are going to eat before a game, you can head over to McFaddens, you’ll get 25% off lunch and dinner when you show them your tickets.

• In the current program (Issue #2) page 45 has an ad for G.P. Sports, which is where A.P. likes to go for Mother/Son date night.  Bring the ad in and you’ll get 20% off all food and drinks. Nice!

• Page 50 has a coupon for a Buy One Get One Free Sandwich at The Vault, which is inside the Van Andel Arena.

• During the game, if you catch a puck – well, if you catch a puck you’ll probably need stitches.  If a puck lands near you and you’re the first one that snatches it up, show Guest Services and you get a $10 certificate to 25 Kitchen and Bar (they let you keep the puck).

• There is also something about getting a free bagel if Joey MacDonald or Thomas McCollum shut out the opposing team but I haven’t quite caught the details of that one.

Combine that with the Dollar Dogs on Friday nights and I don’t think I’ll have to cook again until hockey season is over.

Aaahhhhh….. Christmas is over and we are relaxing in our stuffed-to-the-gills house.  It’s little, and with a huge toy influx like we just experienced it takes a while to find a place for everything.  Oh, and did I mention that we have insulation contractors running around with caulk guns and talking some gobbledygook about “R values” too?

Yeah, so there’s that.

It’s important that we get our rest.  We have big plans for celebration New Year’s Eve BigBinder style.  That is; frugally, in Grand Rapids, and with kids.

From 4:00 to 5:00 we’re going to head over to the Main Library for stories, face painting and other crafts as part of their “Celebrate First Night” event.  Parking is free in the Library lot for the first 60 minutes.

From there we’ll go out to eat.  This isn’t usually a frugal adventure but since we’re going to be downtown nice and early we’re going to try and land a parking spot we don’t have to pay for.  My husband seems to think this is possible.  I seem to think he is crazy.

My friend Jolon at Savvy Chic Savings sent me a gift certificate to Restaurant.com through their “Feed It Forward” program, so I looked and there are a few restaurants right down town where we can use it!

Have you heard about this?  You can send anyone a free $10 Restaurant.com gift certificate – up to 40 a day! If you need one leave a comment and I’ll send it to you!

We have tickets to the Grand Rapids Griffins Game because it’s going to be AWESOME.  Doors open at 5:00 and they are giving away a 2011 Griffins Team Calendar to the first 2000 people.  If the Restaurant.com thing doesn’t work out for you – it’s a Friday so there will be Dollar Dogs (and Dollar Beers) from 5:00 to 7:00 too.  The game starts at 6:00 and afterward we’ll get to watch an indoor fireworks display!

Still need tickets? Click on the Griffins link and enter the promo code “BIGBINDER” for discounted tickets and added bonus:  a portion of each ticket is donation to ACCESS Food Pantry!

We’re in for a whole evening of downtown fun; because after the game we’re going over to the steps of the Grand Rapids Art Museum.

Hopefully someone will be selling hot chocolate, because we’re going to hang out in the Amway Family area; a free, family friendly area and bags with Amway products to the first 300 families!  We’ll stay as long as we can until either the ball or my kids drop onto Rosa Parks Circle

What are you doing for New Year’s Eve? Will we see you downtown?

My husband and I have started an annual “Christmas Shopping” tradition.  It’s really just an excuse for a date night, as we kick it off with dinner.  And drinks. And maybe a  movie. 

It’s really a wonder that anyone receives presents from either of us.

So there we were, talking about what else to get our kids who of course, don’t need anything.   And really, they don’t want anything too badly.  While that might seem like a good thing, it makes the “what to buy” decision difficult.  Our house is tiny.  Bringing more stuff into it it is not a good idea. 

Right there at Texas Roadhouse over a bucket of peanuts we came up with a frugal, clutter-free, manageable gift idea that had us writing our acceptance speeches for “Parents of the Year”. 

Coupon books; full of things the kids want to do that we procrastinate, or just don’t feel like doing.  I am hoping we are not alone in parental laziness. 

Please tell me we are not alone in our parental laziness.

We’re still working out the details, but what’s on the table is “making a snowman”, “walking to the park”, “playing Mario Brothers on the Wii” and a few others.  We do these things, yes, but leaving it to the times where free time and a kid-friendly energy level intersect is not enough. 

The way it will work is this:  the kids get a coupon book and can choose a certain number of activities a week.  They will be added to the weekly calendar I do better when things are planned, which is why I attend so many events.  They’re on the calendar.  But the spontaneous stuff? I kinda stink at. 

My husband, likewise, does better when things are planned, but for different reasons.  When he’s not working he has homework and also requires (in my opinion) a ridiculous amount of “down time”. 

If there is anything that can get his butt moving it’s parental guilt. 

Has anyone tried this with their kids? Don’t worry; our kids are getting presents too.  Just not an overwhelming amount. We’re not that lame. 

What do you say ‘no’ to just because you don’t feel like doing it; not because you actually can’t do it?

This has been one of the hardest years financially that many people have ever had.  Regular people – people like you. And me. And your neighbor, who has been laid off for six months.

And they feel ashamed, and sad, and angry they have to use food pantries to bridge the gaps between last week’s shopping trip and the one they’ll do next week when hopefully, there is a little money to shop with.

This is our community.  Would you like to join me in helping a family?

It’s time for a reverse budget boosters.  This week, let’s give someone else a boost!

I signed up to donate a Holiday Basket to a family through ACCESS for Christmas.  It’s hands-on; I actually get to deliver the food to them.  I think showing a family that not just an agency, not just some lady, but an entire group of people cares about them is powerful.

And we are a thrifty and resourceful group, aren’t we?

Here are the items we need to put in the basket.

Meat – turkey, ham, or chicken
potatoes, (fresh, boxed, or canned,) rice or pasta Thanks Dianne!
Vegetables – canned, fresh, or frozen
Fruit – canned or fresh
Bread/Rolls
Butter/Margarine
Dessert – frozen, cake mix, pie mix and filling, or whipped topping
Gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, pickles or olives Thanks Julie!
Beverages – juice, coffee, tea, or milk
Salad fixings and dressing
Soup, Jello, or Pudding Thanks Jill!
Dry Milk
Eggs
Cereal
Peanut Butter  Thanks Stephanie!
Personal Care Items – soap, shampoo, toilet paper, toothpaste, laundry detergent, dish soap, 9V batteries (to be used in smoke detectors) Thanks Cindy! And Jolon! And Sarah!

Here are some ways you can help:

• If you see a good deal on the ‘basket items’ over the next couple of weeks, let me know! Leave a comment telling me what the deal is, where it is, and how much it costs.
• If you’d like to support this basket-filling project financially, donate that amount.  For example – if you see cranberries on sale for $0.75, donate $0.75.  Not a ‘deal shopper’? Of course you are welcome to donate any amount you’d like
  

I’ll be keeping track of the BigBinder’s BigBasket items, so click on the Basket Button for updates.  I’ll put a line through the items once I have purchased them, and I’ll hold off on any ‘fresh’ items (fruit, veggies, etc.) until very close to the delivery date. Thank you so very much!

When I renewed my license plates, I added $10 to my already ridiculous fees.  Why is our old beater car more expensive to renew than our new one? Hey Ruth Johnson - put that on your list of things to fix when you take over as Secretary of State, wouldya?

I added the extra ten spot for a Recreation Passport.  Rather than paying $24 for the windshield sticker (what kind of adhesive do they use on those things, anyway? That stuff can only be removed using something along the lines of jet fuel), I now have some kind of secret marking on my license plate sticker that gives me admission to State Parks.  Our economy in Michigan may or may not be getting better – but our natural resources are not getting any less beautiful so if I can have access for them to less I think that’s a screamin’ good deal.

Closer to home, the Calvin College Ecosystem Preserveis an amazing resource.  The interpretive center is beautiful and interesting and welcoming. Swing by and pick up a trail map, check out the cool stuff, and head out.  The preserve is 40 acres of beauty with great trails that take you through the forest, meadows, and wetlands.  It’s entirely impossible to forget that you are right next to the East Beltline.

I love Blandford Nature Center.  Blandford has changed hands and leadership many times in the past few years, but I think they are on a good path now.  My favorite programs are Sugarbush, the Harvest Festival, and the Homeschooling Programs for days I am pretending I’m a homeschooler.  They’re excellent, inexpensive, small group programs you can read more about here.

You still have plenty of time before it’s too cold to get outside.  One of the best sounds ever is crunching leaves under your feet.  I love being on a trail with no mosquitoes or gnats – they can’t handle the cool weather.  When the leaves have fallen from the trees, you can see so much.  I have mixed feelings about geocaching.  I’m interested in it, but I want one place in the world to be unplugged.  I don’t want my kids to get the  message that nature is boring without digital enhancements.  On the other hand, if it gets kids outside more that is a good thing.  For now we’ll just go crunching leaves and finding our own fun in the woods.  I hope you do too!

I am turning 40 in a week. 

So what’s it like to turn 40? It seems old, but I don’t feel any different than I did at, say, 36.  Or even 32.  I just feel married, with kids. And a worse metabolism I ever imagined possible.  I had a harder time with 30 than I am having with 40, although I would like to trade my 40 year old butt in for my 30 year old one.

I can count on the world bringing me a few things for my birthday.  First, a constant serenade by Gordon Lightfoot about the Big Lake They Call Gitcheegumee.  The Edmund Fitzgerald sank on my fifth birthday, and I have been hearing about it ever since.

Second, the first snow.  Almost every year we get a ‘light dusting’ on Veterans Day, which is a day after my birthday.

And third? Free food.  Which does not bode well for my aforementioned metabolism, but I’d hate to be rude.

I’m keeping a list for you guys of all the emails I get so you can sign up too.  I’m leaving out anything that is not:

1. food
2. free

We’re not messing around with “free appetizer with purchase of entree” stuff.  That’s a coupon, not a birthday present.  I did a post earlier this year about birthday freebies, but that was kid stuff.  This is what the grown ups get for their birthday.

So I’ll start with the coffee.  If you have  Startucks Rewards Card, you will get a free coffee on your birthday.  A Starbucks Rewards Card is just a gift card you register.  So do it!

Biggby just mailed me a card for a free grande beveragetoday, which I will be cashing in and drinking tomorrow.  I am signed up for the eRewards program, but this was a coupon that came in the regular mail.

Of course I have to grab my free burger from Red Robin for being in their eClub.  This is my family’s favorite birthday freebie!

Also in the entree category, BD’s Mongolian Grille emailed me a coupon for a free one.  Sweet!

And Noodles and Company sent me an email with a coupon for a free bowl of noodles.

This one is awesome.  Florentine Pizza (the one on Plainfield) sent me a coupon for a free large pizza up to 6 items, breadsticks, and two liter!! I signed up for their email list through Grand Rapids Sudden Values.

And now for the desserts – definitely the most well-represented category of all the birthday freebies.

I have an email waiting to be printed from Macaroni Grill for a free piece of chocolate cake.  I like that they specified the flavor   I’m a member of the eClub.

Buffalo Wild Wings also emailed me a coupon for a free piece of cake, but I get to choose the flavor. 

Boston’s lets me go hog wild and choose any free dessert for my birthday with the email they sent me.

TCBY is giving me a small cup of froyo for my birthday.  I heard frozen yogurt was making a comeback. Or maybe it never left. Or maybe it just doesn’t like being called ‘froyo’.

Chilis is springing for a free brownie sundae.  These are awesome… I am totally printing that, taking it to Chilis, and eating it while my kids are in school so I don’t have to share.  Just kidding! No, I’m not.

As a Fazoli’s eclub member, I got a coupon by email for a free Italian Ice.

I’m also a member of the Culvers eClub, for which I will receive a free one scoop Sundae with the coupon they emailed me.

MaggieMoo sent me an email for a free kid size cone.  I don’t really remember how I signed up, but  poke around their website.  I think it’s for the MaggiEmail.

More ice cream! Coldstone Creamery sent me a coupon for a free single creation.

There you go.  Happy Birthday to me! I hope someone gets me a pair of fat pants (or some new running shoes!).

Some families do picnics.  Some families ski together.  My family? We go to hockey games and yell. Loud.

It’s what we do.

When the kids were little, we rarely made it through a whole game before they got too tired so we didn’t buy them separate tickets.  They were lap dogs.  Now, not only do they need their own seats, they need hot dogs and bubuzelas.

In the past couple of years, we’ve developed a few strategies for saving on Griffins Tickets that I’d love to share with you because not only am I helping you see the Griffins for less, I also get to talk about bike helmets and the library which are two of my other faves.

• First, have your kids sign up for Put A Lid On It.  They commit to wearing helmets every time they ride their bikes.  The Griffins send them free tickets.  Awesome, yes?
• Next, did you know you can ‘check out’ Griffins Tickets? It’s true! But you don’t have to bring them back.  Call your local Grand Rapids Public Library branch and see how many tickets they have.  There is a limited number of tickets for each game and you may have to drive to another branch to pick them up.
• The Entertainment Book has coupons for buy one, get one free tickets.  I don’t own the Entertainment Book, but I have a two part strategy.  First, I am going to mooch other people’s coupons from them that they aren’t going to use.  When that gravy train is over, I’m going to buy an Entertainment Book when the price drops near the end of hockey season.  I’ll recoup the cost the first time I cash one of those babies in at the ticket office.
• Again with the library – membership has its privileges. Every Sunday and Wednesday nights you can get lower bowl tickets for $10 when you show your library card from either KDL or GRPL.  Plus, Sunday is breadstick day.  They’re $1.00, and pretty addictive.  The nice thing about Sunday games with kids is that they start at 4:00 so you aren’t out late. 
• This post updated to include: Check the Griffins Twitter and Facebook pages for current discount codes.  Depending on the price of the ticket you are buying, you will save up to $5.50 per ticket.

Living frugally doesn’t mean not having any fun – it means being resourceful and doing what you want.  I want you to go to Griffins games AND eat delicious breadsticks.  Have fun!