Chicago - Cutting costs

When M and I decided to take the the trip to Chicago together, we started looking for ways to save money right away. We knew that we would need to cut some corners, to make this trip wonderful yet inexpensive at the same time. Not always easy to do.

First, we both signed up for the Shed newsletter. The admission to Shed is killer, $25 for adults at times, and $17 for kids. We hadn't heard of any deals...until this past week. They sent out a buy-one-get-one free coupon that was good until next week. This cut the cost for each of us in half! That was great.

Next, parking. Parking is not cheap in Chicago. They have underground ramps, above group ramps but that is about it. It can cost up to $24 for 8+ hours of parking in downtown. We found a ramp that had 50% off if you got in before 9 am. Be sure you check to make sure that this rate applies on the weekends, ours didn't and we didn't know that. Shoot!

The hotel is here you can save the most amount of money. There are so many great sites out there that have amazing deals. M pre-booked and prepaid our hotel and saved 50% a night! We got a one bedroom double queen suite with a hide-a-way bed. We had a few amenities, and were a bit outside Chicago but it was worth it. We knew we wouldn't be at the hotel much, so location was not as important as having a pool (which many downtown hotels don't have!).

Food is another place to cut costs. We made sure we picked a hotel that had free breakfast, that saved us some, but our girls are not huge eaters in the morning. We did bring our own snacks, and packed our dinner for the drive down. We also brought all our own beverages, and have only purchased hot chocolate and a drink at Shed. This saves so much money, especially as I saw the price of things down there.

We also had a gift certificate from Table for Two that we were able to use with our dinner at Maggiano's. Maggiano's is EXPENSIVE for 5 people, and we ended up paying $16 each on a $85 tab (with tip). It was great to see that drop in price when they ran the gift certificate first!

There is one place that we were not able to save any money, and that was gas. We saved on our usage, but watching our speed and making sure that all the windows were shut tight, but the paying was still a lot. We did make sure we got gas before we crossed the border, gas was insane down there. We paid $.55 LESS in Wisconsin than we would have in Illinois.

There are tons of ways to save money on a trip. Shop the deals, look for coupons or even call the place a few weeks ahead of time and ask them if they will be having any specials, or if they will send you some coupons. Many popular places will surprise you!

Total, M and I paid about $200 each for this trip to Chicago. There are ways we could have cut costs a bit more, but we are happy with how we did right now!

My Aldi Test

A couple of weeks ago Shannon over at Rocks in my Dryer did a comparison of Aldi's and her local Wal-Mart. I read the posts with skeptical eyes. I had only been to Aldi's once, and that showed me how you can save by buying there. But I had never gone back to do any real shopping.

Well, after seeing how much Shannon had saved getting some staples at Aldi's, I thought I would do my own test today. I needed to get some staples, but also some non-staples. I took my notebook, and got to work.

First I went to Aldi's, since you can never be sure what you will find for sure. I got a lot off my list done there, and for only $19.55. This included Vanilla Wafers, Sour Cream, Hot Dogs, Tortilla shells, Yogos, Bread and Milk. All of that and more for only $19.55. That alone blew my mind. The most I paid for any item was 2.69 or the Milk.

Next stop, Cub. I made a comparative list, looking at the prices and adding them to my list. The same items would have run me $29.31 at Cub, if I hadn't gone to Aldi first. It amazed me that the same items, only a off-brand, would have such a large price difference.

The Tortillas at Aldi were .99, but at Cub the brand we normally get was $2.47. The milk was only .10 more at Cub, but the Yogos were $2.69 at Cub compared to $1.89 at Aldi. My list goes on, and the savings do too.

I came home and showed Hubby all the savings, he was even amazed. We will definitely be going to Aldi more often. With the rising cost of living, and the non-rising pay, we will make every penny count and stretch them to the max.

Only 40 days or so!!!

Tonight Hubby is taking me out for a wonderful dinner (yum...crab legs). I can't wait!!


The next couple weeks are going to be getting ready for school time. Last year it was not fun getting Boo ready for the earlier rising time (I still don't think that was my child!!). So this year we are starting out slow, and making our way to the earlier time. It isn't a ton earlier than now, only about 30 minutes, but that huge for a 6 year old!


We also have to start shopping for school supplies, and a few pieces of school clothes. Boo's supply list isn't to bad, but man does that child need jeans. She grew out of all but two pair this summer. And those two won't last much longer.


This is where thrift stores come into play. I would love it if I could buy the kids clothes from the name brand stores, because I love Old Navy and The Children's Place. But let's be realistic...it ain't going to happen!


So, I will spend the next three weekends making my rounds of the 6 or so thrift stores I go too. Unfortunately, I have to bring Boo with me, because she is at the size where some things fit, and others don't. It is a game almost. I do not like that part. I used to be able to run into a store, grab what I need and know that it would fit. No longer I am afraid.


We are on the hunt for jeans, track suits and sweaters. Hunter needs jeans too, since he skipped a size so none of the clothes he got for Christmas fit anymore.


Both kids need shoes, but thankfully last spring I found Walmart tennis shoes on clearance. I got Boo two pair, and she is now growing out of one of them. So, the other pair will come out right before school starts. Who wants shoes that are bright white when school starts. I never did as a kid.


What do you buy for your kids for school clothes? Do you spend a lot before the year starts or wait to see what they need a little later?

Savings

Again...brain is mush.

Today was spent at doctor appointments, grocery shopping, learning how to make the BEST potato salad EVER and making rhubarb crisp. Plus we have friends in town for the holidays, and we getting ready for the cabin.

MUSH!!!

But, I do want to share something. Today at the grocery store I saved a TON of money. I went to both our local grocery stores, because one store had some things on sale, and the other had the rest of it. So, I spent $95, which isn't a lot (unless you count the fact that 90% of it was for one weekend, not even a full week), and saved...

Are you ready???

$55!!! That is right...$55!!! One store had double coupon day, and while you can only use up to 6, I milked that for ALL IT WAS WORTH! I saved $20 there between the coupons and the in store sales. The other store had the higher priced items (soda and hamburger). Everything I bought was on sale, except for one thing.

I was amazed! I wasn't prepared for it to be such a savings, but I am not going to argue with it!

One more reason to love Target!

I make it no secret that I LOVE Target. Love it, as in could spend all day there, move in and make it my home. Love Target.

Most people register at Target when they get married or have baby. Well, you can now register for your wish list! I was looking around on the Target site and saw "Target Lists", and was amazed. You can add anything online or in the store. You can go around with the little radar thing and scan things into your wish list, for you or your kids. You can search by the childs name, or the parents name, and print it both in the store and at home. We just got back from Target, and it worked great. It shows everything on the list, and if you can get it online only, at the store or both.

I started Christmas lists for my kids since there are so many family memeber asking me what the kids want for Christmas, now I can send them to Target and they can get the list there. It is such a great idea, and I am so excited to test it out this holiday season!

Back to School...

8 weeks...not that we are counting. We are, but not because the kids are driving us crazy (they do that any time!) but because we are excited for Kate to start this new chapeter in her life. She is just as excited as we are, and became almost giddy when off we went to Target last night. They had backpacks on sale, and some lunch boxes too. Katie had three that she could chose from, a Pink one, Purple, and a Tinkerbell one. The Tinkerbell was actually on sale, and less than the other two. It only has the one pocket, but she is in Kindergarten, so that is fine. She picked the TInkerbell. Fabulous.

Then she saw they had a lunch box that matched, and it was also on sale...so we got that too. I had to make sure she knew that they were only for Kindergarten, NOT Project Kids, but she was fine with that. She is just excited to have them.

We got home and she had to model for Daddy and Beth. She wanted to call Tim, but it was dinner time at his house, so that will have to wait a little while. Now we wait a couple weeks for the school supplies to go one sale and get her all set!

I am the queen!

Of shoe shopping! hahaha Had you fooled for a minute there didn't I? I love this time of year! Not only is the weather perfect...so are the sales! Payless has thier BOGO sale, on everything, not just shoes. The stores are all putting their shoes and some summer clothes on clearnace, and sales are going on all over the place.
Well, on Monday I went to Wal-Mart with Kate to look for some shoes. Hers are looking pretty nasty. They had kids tennis shoes on clearance for $7-11! I got two pair! One for now, and one for later. My husband laughed at me, but it was so worth it. Now if only we knre how fast the rest of her was going to grow so I could do that with clothes! I am on the hunt for kindergarten clothes...watch out