Greg and Jody's Vacation Tip 2 - Mommy, Daddy, I have to go to the bathroom

You're on vacation and you've just stopped and filled up with gasoline, maybe got a few snacks, "got the wiggles out" and you're back on the road getting closer to your destination with every turn of the tires.  You've been traveling a while and you're in a hurry to see your family and relax for a while.  Then from the back of the car you hear, "Mommy, Daddy, I have to go to the bathroom."  In your mind you're thinking and might even blurt it out, "Why didn't you go when we were at the gas station?"  "I didn't have to go then." comes the hesitant answer.  What should you do now?

In a time like this and other times, instead of having to stop at a gas station or mini-mart and buying snacks you can stop at a rest area for a break.  This will take away the temptation of having to spend a fair amount on snacks.  In a mini-mart, especially one right off the freeway some products will cost you double what they do in a grocery store.  I've attached a link to a study and money traps that compares the difference between  shopping at mini-marts and grocery stores.

This thought came to mind after we had just spent $10-15 at a mini-mart.  We drove by a rest area and I realized that the rest area is not just a place to take a break but it's a place to save you money on vacation.  If you have more vacation tips please send us a comment to our blog.

Thank you,

Greg and Jody Roche

Be Frugal live wealthy

Greg and Jody's Vacation tip 1

Here's our first Vacation Tip
Before we left Jody had a great idea.  She gave the girls some money so they'd have some money to spend however they chose.  This was so we didn't have to continue entertain their questions like, "Mom and dad, can you buy me this?" or "Can I get that?"  This gave us the option to answer, "Sure, you have money, you can buy it." One of the requirements to have this money was to track it in their check register which Jody had given them.  This encouraged them to write in their register and track their expenses.

Another twist to encourage them to keep track of their expenses, I gave them a couple of reminders and then if they had purchases that weren't entered in their register I started to take some money back from them.  This lead to them not just letting money go through their hand but actually managing their money.

This worked great because it helped them to see a big picture of their expenses and helped them to manage their money more effectively.  Stay tuned for vacation tips coming in the next couple of days.  Have a great day and enjoy planning for your summer vacation.

Greg and Jody
Be Frugal Live Wealthy

Cheap things to do for Spring Break

I spent 2 years serving a church mission in Japan.  One of the things I can remember is how beautiful the cherry blossoms were in springtime.  The colors were so full and rich and real pleasing to the eyes.  I notice we're seeing those beautiful cherry blossoms which is a sign that spring is around the corner.  And with spring around the corner that means Spring Break for the kids and college students.  What are you and your children going to do for Spring Break?  What is the financial situation like?  Have you spent all of your tax refund?  Some of you may be looking for some fun things to do for Spring break.

It seems like we've always had to find things to do on a smaller budget and here are some of the things we've done with the kids:

•  Go on a hike - Going on a hike is a great way to be in the out of doors, get exercise, and enjoy spending time together.  Leave the electronic devices at home and I think you'll find this a great way to reconnect.

• Contact your local library - Your local library is a great resource and they may have added extra activities in their schedule that kids will enjoy.
• Eating out - When you're out the family will get hungry and you'll need to have lunch.  A couple of ways to negotiate this is to put a spending limit on the meals according to your budget.  If you're able to go on a hike you can bring a picnic lunch
  
  I did some research and I found some more websites giving you ideas for all members of the family to do to keep them engaged on a smaller budget.
• Here is a site mainly for college students or young adults
• This is for staying in town: 
• This is great for families:

We hope you have a great and fulfilling Spring break and you can get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and reconnect with your families.

We are in the middle of a vacation, we took our kids on a road trip to Idaho and Utah this Spring break. Stay tuned for my daily entry on how to save money while on a road trip.

Greg and Jody
Be Frugal Live Wealthy