About a month ago we happened upon a sale of sample clothing - great pieces at even greater prices. Most of the clothing had labels removed and some pieces were slightly damaged (mostly broken zippers which could be repaired at a small cost). At this particular sale EN picked up some fantastic dresses for a laughable amount. These included a black Grecian style Calvin Klein dress for 20$ (that's right!), a blue sequined cocktail dress so beautifully outrageous that the 15$ (I know!) it cost really was a steal, and a hot pink halter style dress with a broken zipper for 10$ (cost to repair zipper - between 20$ - 30$...still a bargain).
When gleefully sharing this shopping coup with a friend, her initial and immediate response was "Ewww...but were these dresses used??". What a strange question, we thought. In fact, these items were not "used" (they were samples)...but at 20$ for a designer dress...who the hell cares? It seems that she did. So, a subsequent survey of friends, family and virtual strangers revealed that she was not alone. There seems to be a subset of the population that thinks that used or second-hand clothing is just plain yucky.
Now, having grown up with an older sister, receiving hand-me-downs is nothing new to EN. And, when this lovely older sister had children, she saved much of their goodies and then handed those down to our daughters. Fantastic! To this day, between hand-me-downs and what they receive as gifts (and the added bonus of school uniforms), we have really not had to buy our girls much in the way of clothes and even shoes.
Our informal survey (have you mailed yours back yet? :) ) revealed however that most people do not object to hand-me-downs from people that they know - but used clothing from strangers is another story. Some of the reasons people cite for never accepting or shopping for used clothing are the following:
1. Gross! How could you possibly want to wear stuff that someone else has worn?
To this we simply ask: Have you ever eaten in a restaurant? Stayed in a hotel? The idea that wearing clothes that someone else has worn is gross stems from the fact that one believes that these articles of clothing are dirty, germy, contaminated (we guess). But think about it. If you bring home something from a second-hand shop...you wash it. So really, what's the problem? Do you think that when you check into a hotel, whether it's a 2 star or a 5 star, that you're getting brand spanking new sheets and towels each time? Sorry to burst your hygiene bubble, but that towel you're using to dry your hair...well...it's been used before. And what about when you go to a restaurant? Do you think that you're eating off of never-been-used-before dishes and that the cutlery you're using is right out of the box? Nope...used before. Now sure, the laundry machines in hotels and the dish-washing machines in restaurants are probably much more powerful than those that you have at home. Well, we hope so because in those establishments they have to wash away the yuckiness of lots and lots of folks. If you still feel that your own laundering will not get rid of the coodies, take your purchase to the dry cleaners. Germ problem solved!
2. Buying or accepting second-hand stuff means you can't afford better stuff.
Well, maybe that's actually true, but it may not be, and anyhow, that's not the point. The assumption that you're making is that hand-me-downs are, by definition, of poor quality. That is most definitely not true. Anyone who has ever shopped in a good vintage shop, gone to a fantastic estate sale or befriended a really rich somebody who only buys high end stuff and has a high turnover rate (we all need friends like this) knows that you can find some phenomenal pieces this way. And, you also know that you can wear what you've bought without worrying that your co-workers will walk into work wearing the same thing, and horrors, looking better in it than you do!
As for not being able to afford "better" aka "new" stuff, the sad fact is that some vintage items are actually a small fortune, and you can get new clothes (of pretty poor quality) for next to nothing. It's all about how you choose to use the few pennies you allow yourself to spend. Besides, if you're shopping for clothes that are beautiful and are also saving some money...all the better!
3. Used clothing is old and therefore not fashionable.
Well, we guess that this depends on what you consider fashionable. If your definition of fashion is what everyone is wearing because that is what is in all the magazines (oh, by the way...shoulder pads are back!), then you're right....shopping for second had stuff may not meet this cookie-cutter definition. But there is nothing to say that you cannot pair some current must-haves with some older finds. That way, you create a look that is uniquely your own. So long as you are wearing something you love and that you are comfortable and confident in (and that fits you properly) - you'll look fabulous. (oh...by the way...at this point Frugal Freddie would just like to say that he really has no idea or interest in fashion and has completely zoned out of this entry. Good thing he just lets EN pick out his clothes)
4. If you can afford to buy new stuff, then you should leave the used clothing for people who really can't afford anything else.
An interesting argument for sure. But, consider this, if you're going to shop from a second hand store that caters to lower income people, even if you yourself are not one, you are contributing to this organization in another way. The Salvation Army for instance uses the money that it makes on sales to put back into the community and to be able to run their stores.
If you still feel like you are shopping immorally, why not donate some of the things that you no longer wear for them to sell?
5. But it's used....
I love language and am a firm believer that semantics is everything! No wonder people only want to buy and wear new stuff when the alternative is called "used". "Used" gives the impression that something is past it's usefulness. We think of "used and abused"...well, I wouldn't want a dress that fit that description either. So, instead of "used" how about referring to these items as "vintage" (how chic) or "pre-loved" (how heart-felt) or "recycled" (how green). I for one don't have anything used in my closet, but I've got plenty of incredible, vintage fashion pieces that I saved from the garbage dump, and that I am absolutely loving.
xoxo
The Tightwads (well... mostly, until FF decided to cut the grass after point 3)
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
The "new" window shopping
Ladies, this one's for you (and for any metrosexual, in-touch-with-my-female-side guy who loves to shop). Take a moment and think about what shopping means to you. And I (that would be EN) don't mean shopping for dental floss or apples...but real shopping. You know, the kind of shopping that you do ... just because. I get tingly just thinking about it.
But, given that our family has embraced a life of frugality, shopping "just because" is not something that can be done too often. (note that I did not say "never"). So, given that this new way of life has put a damper on my shopping sprees, I thought that it would be wise to consider exactly why shopping gives me such a thrill - in order to see if I could get this thrill some other way (get your minds out the gutter people...this is about shopping).
So, I sat in a meditative pose (thank you yoga), closed my eyes, and imagined myself in my favorite shop. I saw myself sweeping through the aisles, running my hands across racks and racks of garments, feeling the silks, wools and cottons ... and occasional polyester blends. My eyes took in the almost incomprehensible array of colours and my nose inhaled the smell of newness which surrounded me (and the garlic breath of the person next to me). I saw myself lifting the perfect black dress off the rack and holding it up against my body - perfect. I found a white button-down blouse that was calling my name...even though I hate to wear blouses. Skinny jeans which were the perfect shade of jean and a scarf that matched absolutely nothing in my wardrobe, also found their way into my capable arms. And then, I saw myself gliding to the shoe section. I caught my breath as I took in the rows and rows of pedal works of art. High heels, wedges and sandals - oh my! One pair more glorious than the next, and as I tried each one on I felt as though I had been tranformed into post-glass slipper Cinderella. I allowed myself to take in this scene for a little while longer and then roused myself from this shopping trance. Opening my eyes, stretching my legs and looking around I felt exhilirated ! Fulfilled, refreshed, happy. But why? you may ask. How could simply imagining yourself shopping be that positive an experience?
I was brought back to memories of a time when I was a poor full-time student (as opposed to now, when I am a somewhat better off full-time student). Back then, shopping "just because" was simply not an option. Not one to ever want to rack up credit card debts, I rarely shopped for pleasure. What I did do though was spend hours and hours (hey, it was better than studying) going through catalogues that would come in the mail (Victoria's Secret, J. Crew, Eaton's (sigh...remember Eaton's?) and pretend shop. Come on....I can't be the onlyloser young penniless lady to have done this. I would carefully give the catalogue a first pass, then go through it a second time and circle all the items I would order if money was not an option. Then, I would quickly calculate what the total would be (honing up my math skills), experience a few heart palpitations, and proceed to eliminate items from my "cart". Then, with only a few choice items left, I would convince myself that a) the item would never look as good on me as it did on the model (did you know that Victoria's Secret models are visitors from another planet!), b) that it would stretch or c) that it would require.... horrors...IRONING! I got pretty creative coming up with reasons why I didn't want said item, and before I knew it, my pretend cart was empty and my pretend shopping excursion actually left me feeling pretty satisfied.
This really isn't that strange, is it? I mean, we've all gone window shopping. The malls are full of people trolling the stores, looking around, maybe trying things on, but not actually buying anything. There is obviously some appeal and psychological benefit to doing this or it wouldn't be so common. Maybe it's the joy of seeing pretty things, being presented with endless possibilities, being witness to the creative talents of designers and shoe makers. My pretend catalogue shopping achieved pretty much the same thing - except better, because I didn't even have to get dressed to reap the benefits.
These days of greener living, I no longer get catalogues in the mail. No worries though. Now I conduct my pretend shopping online. I have recently discovered a number of "exclusive" discount shopping sites. (The fact that they're exclusive gives them an added appeal, but in reality the only thing you have to do to be included is sign up with your email address.) Now, I can browse the sites, add things to my virtual shopping cart and then empty it before checking out. The nice thing is that in most of these sites...if you don't purchase your item within 15 minutes of adding it to your cart, it gets removed for you! And, added bonus, new arrivals are entered into the virtual store every day. What fun!
In case you want to engage in some pretend shopping of your own, or if you're tired of dealing with crowds during your traditional window shopping trips...here are a few of my favorite sites.
http://www.ivorytrunk.com/
http://www.ruelala.com/
https://www.hautelook.com/login
http://www.beyondtherack.com/auth/register
Happy pretend shopping :)
Economia Nia
But, given that our family has embraced a life of frugality, shopping "just because" is not something that can be done too often. (note that I did not say "never"). So, given that this new way of life has put a damper on my shopping sprees, I thought that it would be wise to consider exactly why shopping gives me such a thrill - in order to see if I could get this thrill some other way (get your minds out the gutter people...this is about shopping).
So, I sat in a meditative pose (thank you yoga), closed my eyes, and imagined myself in my favorite shop. I saw myself sweeping through the aisles, running my hands across racks and racks of garments, feeling the silks, wools and cottons ... and occasional polyester blends. My eyes took in the almost incomprehensible array of colours and my nose inhaled the smell of newness which surrounded me (and the garlic breath of the person next to me). I saw myself lifting the perfect black dress off the rack and holding it up against my body - perfect. I found a white button-down blouse that was calling my name...even though I hate to wear blouses. Skinny jeans which were the perfect shade of jean and a scarf that matched absolutely nothing in my wardrobe, also found their way into my capable arms. And then, I saw myself gliding to the shoe section. I caught my breath as I took in the rows and rows of pedal works of art. High heels, wedges and sandals - oh my! One pair more glorious than the next, and as I tried each one on I felt as though I had been tranformed into post-glass slipper Cinderella. I allowed myself to take in this scene for a little while longer and then roused myself from this shopping trance. Opening my eyes, stretching my legs and looking around I felt exhilirated ! Fulfilled, refreshed, happy. But why? you may ask. How could simply imagining yourself shopping be that positive an experience?
I was brought back to memories of a time when I was a poor full-time student (as opposed to now, when I am a somewhat better off full-time student). Back then, shopping "just because" was simply not an option. Not one to ever want to rack up credit card debts, I rarely shopped for pleasure. What I did do though was spend hours and hours (hey, it was better than studying) going through catalogues that would come in the mail (Victoria's Secret, J. Crew, Eaton's (sigh...remember Eaton's?) and pretend shop. Come on....I can't be the only
This really isn't that strange, is it? I mean, we've all gone window shopping. The malls are full of people trolling the stores, looking around, maybe trying things on, but not actually buying anything. There is obviously some appeal and psychological benefit to doing this or it wouldn't be so common. Maybe it's the joy of seeing pretty things, being presented with endless possibilities, being witness to the creative talents of designers and shoe makers. My pretend catalogue shopping achieved pretty much the same thing - except better, because I didn't even have to get dressed to reap the benefits.
These days of greener living, I no longer get catalogues in the mail. No worries though. Now I conduct my pretend shopping online. I have recently discovered a number of "exclusive" discount shopping sites. (The fact that they're exclusive gives them an added appeal, but in reality the only thing you have to do to be included is sign up with your email address.) Now, I can browse the sites, add things to my virtual shopping cart and then empty it before checking out. The nice thing is that in most of these sites...if you don't purchase your item within 15 minutes of adding it to your cart, it gets removed for you! And, added bonus, new arrivals are entered into the virtual store every day. What fun!
In case you want to engage in some pretend shopping of your own, or if you're tired of dealing with crowds during your traditional window shopping trips...here are a few of my favorite sites.
http://www.ivorytrunk.com/
http://www.ruelala.com/
https://www.hautelook.com/login
http://www.beyondtherack.com/auth/register
Happy pretend shopping :)
Economia Nia
Monday, April 25, 2011
Come brunch with us
We love this time of year. Spring is here and we just spent the past few days celebrating Easter with our friends and family. Is there anything better than spending a long weekend eating, drinking and being merry? Regardless of whether you just celebrated Passover, Easter, your favorite hockey team's win during the playoffs or a sunny afternoon, there is just something about this time of year that is happy.
So, with all of this happy visiting and being visited, we started to think about entertaining, and how much we love it. For us, preparing a meal for people we care about is a real pleasure. It also tends to come with a pretty hefty price tag. A dinner party for 8 - 10 adults (typical for these Tightwads) has been known to cost...well...a lot. Now, although we certainly don't have large parties every week, it is not uncommon for us to entertain a large crown every couple of months. So, how can a couple of social butterflies (note: Frugal Freddie objects to being referred to as a butterfly of any sort) continue to do what they love without spending so much money. Well, here are a few things we've thought about:
1. Potluck. We know that many people love potlucks, and we do too....in other people's homes. But part of the reason we love having people over is that we like to plan everything out...from the china and napkins, to the seating, to the menu. Potlucks just relinquish too much control.
2. Entertain less often. Well, yes...that could work...but the whole point of this experiment of frugal living is to continue to live well....and for us, living well includes entertaining our family and friends. So, this is really not an option.
3. Entertain smaller. Certainly, feeding 2 extra mouths is cheaper than feeding 8 extra mouths and we often have smaller company over. This is great fun, but entertaining a large crowd is a different experience - and one we enjoy too much to give up.
4. Entertain cheaply. This is definitely do-able. Economia Nia is convinced (pretty convinced, at least) that we could serve a group of 10 adults a three course dinner, including hors d'oeuvres and a glass of wine each, for less than 75$ (eeeekk). It's going to require some careful planning and imagination... but definitely do-able. Hmmm....come to think of it...this just might become a Tightwad experiment.
5. Set the alarm and wake up early. Last summer Economia Nia picked up a beautiful, antique, hand-painted breakfast set (at a great price!). Of course, the next logical thing to do was to have a brunch party to use the newly acquired china. So we invited five early risers one Sunday morning and served breakfast. Baked french toast, a crust-less quiche, hash browns, breakfast potatoes, bacon, sausage, a couple of fruit platters, a selection of cheeses, freshly baked muffins, toast, homemade jam, juice and of course, lots and lots of coffee.
The weather was particularly beautiful that day so we sat on the patio and lounged over breakfast for hours. It was such a lovely, relaxed morning that at some point during the meal we each proclaimed that "we should do this every weekend!". Well, of course, we have not done this every weekend, but we have hosted several breakfast / brunch parties since (we have the dishes after all). It is great to be able to prepare a delicious, wholesome breakfast for people who would, like us, normally only have a bowl of cereal in the morning.
There are so many reasons why you too should consider entertaining in the am: Oh look, we've listed them for you :)
a) Breakfast food is incredibly inexpensive. No other meal will give you as much bang for your buck. You could easily provide a feast for ten people for about 20$ (even with organic eggs and fancy coffee). That's 2$ a person !
b) Breakfast food can be incredibly easy. Depending on what you choose to make, you could prepare most items the day before. Baked french toast for example is assembled the night before, kept in the refrigerator over night and simply popped into the oven the next morning.
c) Breakfast allows you to spend time with busy family and friends. Between children's activities, work, studying, and other people's dinner parties, it can sometimes be hard to find the time to see the people you want to see...but our experience is that most people start to get busy in the afternoon.
d) Breakfast is a great meal for kids. If you are entertaining families with children (or if you have kids of your own), breakfast can be your best friend. Most kids like breakfast fare and breakfast is early enough to ensure that there is enough time between the meal and their first meltdown of the day.
In case we've convinced you to give a breakfast party a try, here's a super easy recipe to get you started.
Spinach and cheese crust-less quiche (serves 8)
8 large organic eggs
1 cup grated cheese (any kind - maybe something on sale?)
1 1/2 cups chopped spinach
3/4 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 350 degrees C
Beat eggs with a fork in a large bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients to the eggs and when well mixed pour into an 8 inch pie plate.
Bake for about 30 - 40 minutes. The quiche will be set in the center and will have puffed up.
Let cool, cut into wedges and serve.
Enjoy!
xoxo
The Tightwads
So, with all of this happy visiting and being visited, we started to think about entertaining, and how much we love it. For us, preparing a meal for people we care about is a real pleasure. It also tends to come with a pretty hefty price tag. A dinner party for 8 - 10 adults (typical for these Tightwads) has been known to cost...well...a lot. Now, although we certainly don't have large parties every week, it is not uncommon for us to entertain a large crown every couple of months. So, how can a couple of social butterflies (note: Frugal Freddie objects to being referred to as a butterfly of any sort) continue to do what they love without spending so much money. Well, here are a few things we've thought about:
1. Potluck. We know that many people love potlucks, and we do too....in other people's homes. But part of the reason we love having people over is that we like to plan everything out...from the china and napkins, to the seating, to the menu. Potlucks just relinquish too much control.
2. Entertain less often. Well, yes...that could work...but the whole point of this experiment of frugal living is to continue to live well....and for us, living well includes entertaining our family and friends. So, this is really not an option.
3. Entertain smaller. Certainly, feeding 2 extra mouths is cheaper than feeding 8 extra mouths and we often have smaller company over. This is great fun, but entertaining a large crowd is a different experience - and one we enjoy too much to give up.
4. Entertain cheaply. This is definitely do-able. Economia Nia is convinced (pretty convinced, at least) that we could serve a group of 10 adults a three course dinner, including hors d'oeuvres and a glass of wine each, for less than 75$ (eeeekk). It's going to require some careful planning and imagination... but definitely do-able. Hmmm....come to think of it...this just might become a Tightwad experiment.
5. Set the alarm and wake up early. Last summer Economia Nia picked up a beautiful, antique, hand-painted breakfast set (at a great price!). Of course, the next logical thing to do was to have a brunch party to use the newly acquired china. So we invited five early risers one Sunday morning and served breakfast. Baked french toast, a crust-less quiche, hash browns, breakfast potatoes, bacon, sausage, a couple of fruit platters, a selection of cheeses, freshly baked muffins, toast, homemade jam, juice and of course, lots and lots of coffee.
The weather was particularly beautiful that day so we sat on the patio and lounged over breakfast for hours. It was such a lovely, relaxed morning that at some point during the meal we each proclaimed that "we should do this every weekend!". Well, of course, we have not done this every weekend, but we have hosted several breakfast / brunch parties since (we have the dishes after all). It is great to be able to prepare a delicious, wholesome breakfast for people who would, like us, normally only have a bowl of cereal in the morning.
There are so many reasons why you too should consider entertaining in the am: Oh look, we've listed them for you :)
a) Breakfast food is incredibly inexpensive. No other meal will give you as much bang for your buck. You could easily provide a feast for ten people for about 20$ (even with organic eggs and fancy coffee). That's 2$ a person !
b) Breakfast food can be incredibly easy. Depending on what you choose to make, you could prepare most items the day before. Baked french toast for example is assembled the night before, kept in the refrigerator over night and simply popped into the oven the next morning.
c) Breakfast allows you to spend time with busy family and friends. Between children's activities, work, studying, and other people's dinner parties, it can sometimes be hard to find the time to see the people you want to see...but our experience is that most people start to get busy in the afternoon.
d) Breakfast is a great meal for kids. If you are entertaining families with children (or if you have kids of your own), breakfast can be your best friend. Most kids like breakfast fare and breakfast is early enough to ensure that there is enough time between the meal and their first meltdown of the day.
In case we've convinced you to give a breakfast party a try, here's a super easy recipe to get you started.
Spinach and cheese crust-less quiche (serves 8)
8 large organic eggs
1 cup grated cheese (any kind - maybe something on sale?)
1 1/2 cups chopped spinach
3/4 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 350 degrees C
Beat eggs with a fork in a large bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients to the eggs and when well mixed pour into an 8 inch pie plate.
Bake for about 30 - 40 minutes. The quiche will be set in the center and will have puffed up.
Let cool, cut into wedges and serve.
Enjoy!
xoxo
The Tightwads
Monday, April 11, 2011
What Not To Buy
Have you ever watched the show called What Not To Wear? It's all about kind, sweet people without a fashion clue. Their well-meaning friends decide that it would be a good idea to secretly nominate them for a makeover. Hidden cameras follow them around for a while, capturing unflattering footage of these poor souls going about their daily business. Then, in front of family and friends (and millions of viewers) they meet the hosts, view the film, get really embarassed, cry and agree to get rid of all of their clothes in order to be given a 5,000$ shopping spree and find the happiness they hadn't realized they were lacking. At the end of the show they usually cry some more, tend to look a lot better and make comments like "I can't believe I used to wear that flourescent yellow jumper" or "I'm so happy that I now know that high ponytails with ribbons are not really appropriate for a 45 year old lawyer". How could you not love this stuff?
So, we've decided to pay hommage to this show by playing a little What Not To Buy ! No, we will not be secretly filming anyone and we most certainly will not be handing out 5,000$ prizes. This is just a simple straightforward post about saving money by not buying flourescent yellow jumpers (and other random and silly things).
1. Do Not Buy Bottled Water. (see our previous post on bottled water titled "The best things in life are (relatively) free". ) We know that this is a LONG post. We got really carried away on that one, so if you don't want to read the whole thing...just skip to the part where we say "don't buy bottled water"
2. Do Not Buy Baby Food. Now of course we are not implying that baby should not be fed, just that you should really consider making your own baby food. Some of our most precious memories are of cooking, mashing and freezing our babies' meals. Knowing exactly what you're putting into your baby's mouth is priceless, and frankly, a lot cheaper than buying jars of baby food. You can find dozens of recipe ideas in cookbooks or on the internet, but really, once you know what is age appropriate food for your munchkin, it's pretty simple. Boil, mash or blend, serve and freeze the excess in ice cube trays for another day. Of course, you may have to buy baby cereal - we never figured out how to make that.
3. Do Not Buy Lazy Vegetables. It's actually not the veggies that are lazy, but the person buying them. A few months ago, at a very dear friend's house, EN noticed a little container of celery in the friend's fridge. Of course, the next thing EN noticed was the price tag - $3.50.....WHAT !!?? $3.50 for a few measly sticks of celery??? Yes, they were rinsed and cut up and possibly had the stringy stuff removed (or not), but you can usually get a whole stalk of celery for less than $1.50. Now, to her defense, this friend realized she had made a spending faux-pas, but as she was going out of town a few days later she figured that she wouldn't be able to get through a whole stalk of celery and it would end up rotting. Hmmmm....okay - but personally, we just wouldn't have bought celery.
4. Do Not Buy Baby Carrots. We know, we know, many of you have forgotten that carrots actually come in sizes other than "baby". And guess what, sometimes they even come with the green frilly stuff still attached to the tops. We don't understand the fascination with baby carrots. They cost a lot (compared to regular carrots), they don't usually taste as good, and they're often wet and, if they stay in the bag too long, can get slimy...gross. Good news : it actually takes less than 1 minute (trust us - we timed it) to peel and chop up a real life carrot.
5. Do Not Buy Clothes That Don't Fit Because They Will When You Lose "X" (enter appropriate number) Pounds. If you feel that you need to lose some weight, then by all means, go ahead. But believe me (that would be EN), if you think that having a skirt a few sizes too small in your closet is going to help motivate you....you're wrong ! It will only depress you. Focus on losing whatever weight you feel you need to lose, and when you achieve your goal, celebrate by buying some new (smaller) clothes.
6. Do Not Buy Junk Food. This includes soda, potato chips (sigh), chocolate, cookies, cake...you get the picture. None of these things are good for you and although it is perfectly fine to splurge once in a while, these items should certainly not make it onto your weekly grocery list. If you do find them there, cross them off and replace them with some grown-up carrots.
7. Do Not Buy Food In Boxes. Most frozen convenience foods can be made fresh at home with a little effort, time, and willingness. They will definately taste better and will be healthier. We know, we know, you all don't have time to cook, or you don't know how to cook, or you just don't like cooking. Sorry, but none of those excuses fly. You may think that you don't have the time, but many meals can be made in less than 30 minutes. Don't like to cook...probably because you don't know how. So, if you don't know how, learn. There are some fantastic websites with recipes for free (so you don't actually have to buy cookbooks and cooking magazines). Some of our favorites are:
http://smittenkitchen.com/
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/
http://www.epicurious.com/
http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipes/index.html
Well, we could likely go on and on...but that's probably enough nagging for one post. We're going to find our kids and nag them now :)
Have a great day
xoxo
The Tightwads
So, we've decided to pay hommage to this show by playing a little What Not To Buy ! No, we will not be secretly filming anyone and we most certainly will not be handing out 5,000$ prizes. This is just a simple straightforward post about saving money by not buying flourescent yellow jumpers (and other random and silly things).
1. Do Not Buy Bottled Water. (see our previous post on bottled water titled "The best things in life are (relatively) free". ) We know that this is a LONG post. We got really carried away on that one, so if you don't want to read the whole thing...just skip to the part where we say "don't buy bottled water"
2. Do Not Buy Baby Food. Now of course we are not implying that baby should not be fed, just that you should really consider making your own baby food. Some of our most precious memories are of cooking, mashing and freezing our babies' meals. Knowing exactly what you're putting into your baby's mouth is priceless, and frankly, a lot cheaper than buying jars of baby food. You can find dozens of recipe ideas in cookbooks or on the internet, but really, once you know what is age appropriate food for your munchkin, it's pretty simple. Boil, mash or blend, serve and freeze the excess in ice cube trays for another day. Of course, you may have to buy baby cereal - we never figured out how to make that.
3. Do Not Buy Lazy Vegetables. It's actually not the veggies that are lazy, but the person buying them. A few months ago, at a very dear friend's house, EN noticed a little container of celery in the friend's fridge. Of course, the next thing EN noticed was the price tag - $3.50.....WHAT !!?? $3.50 for a few measly sticks of celery??? Yes, they were rinsed and cut up and possibly had the stringy stuff removed (or not), but you can usually get a whole stalk of celery for less than $1.50. Now, to her defense, this friend realized she had made a spending faux-pas, but as she was going out of town a few days later she figured that she wouldn't be able to get through a whole stalk of celery and it would end up rotting. Hmmmm....okay - but personally, we just wouldn't have bought celery.
4. Do Not Buy Baby Carrots. We know, we know, many of you have forgotten that carrots actually come in sizes other than "baby". And guess what, sometimes they even come with the green frilly stuff still attached to the tops. We don't understand the fascination with baby carrots. They cost a lot (compared to regular carrots), they don't usually taste as good, and they're often wet and, if they stay in the bag too long, can get slimy...gross. Good news : it actually takes less than 1 minute (trust us - we timed it) to peel and chop up a real life carrot.
5. Do Not Buy Clothes That Don't Fit Because They Will When You Lose "X" (enter appropriate number) Pounds. If you feel that you need to lose some weight, then by all means, go ahead. But believe me (that would be EN), if you think that having a skirt a few sizes too small in your closet is going to help motivate you....you're wrong ! It will only depress you. Focus on losing whatever weight you feel you need to lose, and when you achieve your goal, celebrate by buying some new (smaller) clothes.
6. Do Not Buy Junk Food. This includes soda, potato chips (sigh), chocolate, cookies, cake...you get the picture. None of these things are good for you and although it is perfectly fine to splurge once in a while, these items should certainly not make it onto your weekly grocery list. If you do find them there, cross them off and replace them with some grown-up carrots.
7. Do Not Buy Food In Boxes. Most frozen convenience foods can be made fresh at home with a little effort, time, and willingness. They will definately taste better and will be healthier. We know, we know, you all don't have time to cook, or you don't know how to cook, or you just don't like cooking. Sorry, but none of those excuses fly. You may think that you don't have the time, but many meals can be made in less than 30 minutes. Don't like to cook...probably because you don't know how. So, if you don't know how, learn. There are some fantastic websites with recipes for free (so you don't actually have to buy cookbooks and cooking magazines). Some of our favorites are:
http://smittenkitchen.com/
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/
http://www.epicurious.com/
http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipes/index.html
Well, we could likely go on and on...but that's probably enough nagging for one post. We're going to find our kids and nag them now :)
Have a great day
xoxo
The Tightwads
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
What's purple and firm and shiny all over ?
Remember our New Year's Resolution? You know, the one where we said we wouldn't buy something simply because it was on sale. Well, that particular resolution was made in an attempt to curb our (okay...EN's) impulsive spending, since it is so easy to justify a third pair of red patent heels with "but they were half off!" What we're learning however is that sometimes it is just the thrill of the sale that is tempting, and not necessarily the item on sale.
Case in point. This week at the grocery store EN was shopping. Keeping away from the center aisles, which is where all the costly pre-packed and processed food is found, she scoured the perimeter of the store in search of the fruits, veggies, dairy products and meats on her list. (Hmmm....all this talking in the 3rd person is weird...I think I'll just take over this entry - EN :) ).
So, there I was, doing a mighty good job of shopping for the items we had identified for the meals we had planned out for the week. And then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a shelf full of pre-packaged eggplants...on sale. Eggplants were not on our list. They weren't on our list because, except for me, no one in our house likes eggplant, and even I'm not crazy about them. But, the eggplant was ON SALE. I walked over for a closer inspection and found that the packages included about 5 eggplants each (big eggplants!) and the whole lot of them were $1.39. Seriously !!! Who could pass that up (well, maybe lots of people...but not me).
So, into the cart the eggplants went and I actually started to feel quite excited about the possibilities. My mind raced as I imagined all of the delicious and delectable treats I could whip up which would make eggplant fans of my whole family. Fried eggplant slices, eggplant parmesan, stuffed eggplant, eggplant dip...the options were endless. And with so many eggplants, I could try them all !!!! I may have actually been humming in the check-out line.
Excited, I got home and immediately announced that the eggplant was on sale! My proclamation was met with a 9 years old's "Gross", a 7 year old's "What's eggplant?" and a 40 year old's "Why did you buy eggplant?" Only the dog was excited (but then again, she's always excited). Undettered, I was intent upon using up every last bit of ... the many eggplants I had purchased...ON SALE !
Well, good intentions do not a meal make. It has been 4 days since the great eggplant purchase. Despite the fact that there have been 4 suppers made during that time (not to mention lunches), the eggplants remain un-used in the refrigerator. Not being a regular eggplant purchaser, I don't even know how long these poor vegetables can keep before they are no longer edible. But they are on my mind (obviously). Tomorrow is a day at home with the girls - I foresee some creative culinary adventures starring the aubergine in our very near future. Anyone wanna come over for supper?
xoxo The Tightwads (well, Economia Nia actually ;) )
Case in point. This week at the grocery store EN was shopping. Keeping away from the center aisles, which is where all the costly pre-packed and processed food is found, she scoured the perimeter of the store in search of the fruits, veggies, dairy products and meats on her list. (Hmmm....all this talking in the 3rd person is weird...I think I'll just take over this entry - EN :) ).
So, there I was, doing a mighty good job of shopping for the items we had identified for the meals we had planned out for the week. And then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a shelf full of pre-packaged eggplants...on sale. Eggplants were not on our list. They weren't on our list because, except for me, no one in our house likes eggplant, and even I'm not crazy about them. But, the eggplant was ON SALE. I walked over for a closer inspection and found that the packages included about 5 eggplants each (big eggplants!) and the whole lot of them were $1.39. Seriously !!! Who could pass that up (well, maybe lots of people...but not me).
So, into the cart the eggplants went and I actually started to feel quite excited about the possibilities. My mind raced as I imagined all of the delicious and delectable treats I could whip up which would make eggplant fans of my whole family. Fried eggplant slices, eggplant parmesan, stuffed eggplant, eggplant dip...the options were endless. And with so many eggplants, I could try them all !!!! I may have actually been humming in the check-out line.
Excited, I got home and immediately announced that the eggplant was on sale! My proclamation was met with a 9 years old's "Gross", a 7 year old's "What's eggplant?" and a 40 year old's "Why did you buy eggplant?" Only the dog was excited (but then again, she's always excited). Undettered, I was intent upon using up every last bit of ... the many eggplants I had purchased...ON SALE !
Well, good intentions do not a meal make. It has been 4 days since the great eggplant purchase. Despite the fact that there have been 4 suppers made during that time (not to mention lunches), the eggplants remain un-used in the refrigerator. Not being a regular eggplant purchaser, I don't even know how long these poor vegetables can keep before they are no longer edible. But they are on my mind (obviously). Tomorrow is a day at home with the girls - I foresee some creative culinary adventures starring the aubergine in our very near future. Anyone wanna come over for supper?
xoxo The Tightwads (well, Economia Nia actually ;) )
Sunday, March 20, 2011
When life gives you rotting bananas....
There are few things we hate more than waste. Waste results in unnecessary garbage, pollutes our environment and tends to cost money. In our home, we have learned to deal with waste in one of the following ways: we recycle, we re-use, we re-invent, we compost and we discard. By paying close attention to how we manage our waste, and by carefully making purchases which will ultimately produce the least amount of waste, we have reduced the amount of stuff that we simply throw out by a whole lot.
One of the things that we hate to simply get rid of is food. Whereas many people hate leftovers...we LOVE them...in fact, we thrive on them. It is rare that you will find us composting or throwing away food - because unless it is spoiled (and it should not get to the point where it is spoiled) there is always something to do with it. So, cheese rinds are kept in the refrigerator or freezer until they can be used to flavor soup, leftover spaghetti sauce goes through a metamorphosis, becoming a delish chili and seen-better-days-veggies are tossed together into stir-frys.
And bananas....well, bananas present their own unique challenges. Have you ever noticed that bananas can go from "just perfectly ripe" to "yikes...what the heck am I going to do with all these rotting bananas" in about 4 hours ??!! What a crazy fruit ! So, in an attempt to keep you all from tossing these nutrient rich treats into the compost heap or (yikes) the garbage bin...here are a few suggestions for your rotting bananas.
1. An over-ripe banana may be yucky to eat, but works really well in a smoothie. Try mixing a banana with some milk or soy milk, frozen yogurt and some frozen berries. Or, try making our 7 year old's favorite drink: banana milk. Put some milk in a glass, blend in a banana...ta dah...banana milk !
2. Over-ripe bananas make delicious dessert. How about some Banana's Flambé (also called Bananas Foster (we think))? Melt lots of butter and combine it with brown sugar in a sauce pan. When hot and bubbly, add some sliced up bananas and heat them through. Add a splash of cognac and, if you are feeling particularly ambitious, set a match to it....flambé ! (no worries if you are too afraid of singeing your eyebrows..the flame adds only dramatic effect and no flavor). Pour over ice-cream or pound cake or both. YUM !
3. Bake a banana bread. Here is the most fantastic banana bread recipe ever, adapted from the Jewish General Hospital's cookbook called Panache. Not only is it delicious, it makes plenty. There is enough batter to fill a loaf pan and a bundt pan (or three loaf pans). Freeze what you won't consume immediately or share with your friends. And, speaking of freezing...if you find yourself with lots of very ripe bananas but no time to use them before they are no longer usable...pop them into the freezer. Just thaw them on the counter when you are ready to bake with them...we are convinced this makes them even sweeter. Keep in mind that freezing them may make the skin and flesh turn a bizarre dark brown / black color...this is normal :)
BEST BANANA BREAD EVER RECIPE (our version)
It takes about 20 minutes to whip this together, and another hour to bake.
Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat or whole grain flour
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
4 large eggs
2 1/3 cups sugar (we use a mix of brown and white sugar)
1 cup vegetable oil
8 very ripe bananas (we know, we know...that's a lot of bananas !)
1/4 cup sour cream or applesauce or plain yogourt
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 cups walnuts or chocolate chips (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Whisk together to blend well the flours, cinnamon, and salt.
In another bowl beat the eggs, sugar, and oil.
To the egg mixture, slowly mix in the flour mixture. Once combined, mix in the bananas. Then, add and mix in the remaining ingredients.
Pour into 3 loaf pans or 1 loaf pan and a bundt pan (greased and lined with parchment pan). Bake in the middle of oven for about an hour (or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean).
Could this be any easier ???!!!!
xoxo
The Tightwads
One of the things that we hate to simply get rid of is food. Whereas many people hate leftovers...we LOVE them...in fact, we thrive on them. It is rare that you will find us composting or throwing away food - because unless it is spoiled (and it should not get to the point where it is spoiled) there is always something to do with it. So, cheese rinds are kept in the refrigerator or freezer until they can be used to flavor soup, leftover spaghetti sauce goes through a metamorphosis, becoming a delish chili and seen-better-days-veggies are tossed together into stir-frys.
And bananas....well, bananas present their own unique challenges. Have you ever noticed that bananas can go from "just perfectly ripe" to "yikes...what the heck am I going to do with all these rotting bananas" in about 4 hours ??!! What a crazy fruit ! So, in an attempt to keep you all from tossing these nutrient rich treats into the compost heap or (yikes) the garbage bin...here are a few suggestions for your rotting bananas.
1. An over-ripe banana may be yucky to eat, but works really well in a smoothie. Try mixing a banana with some milk or soy milk, frozen yogurt and some frozen berries. Or, try making our 7 year old's favorite drink: banana milk. Put some milk in a glass, blend in a banana...ta dah...banana milk !
2. Over-ripe bananas make delicious dessert. How about some Banana's Flambé (also called Bananas Foster (we think))? Melt lots of butter and combine it with brown sugar in a sauce pan. When hot and bubbly, add some sliced up bananas and heat them through. Add a splash of cognac and, if you are feeling particularly ambitious, set a match to it....flambé ! (no worries if you are too afraid of singeing your eyebrows..the flame adds only dramatic effect and no flavor). Pour over ice-cream or pound cake or both. YUM !
3. Bake a banana bread. Here is the most fantastic banana bread recipe ever, adapted from the Jewish General Hospital's cookbook called Panache. Not only is it delicious, it makes plenty. There is enough batter to fill a loaf pan and a bundt pan (or three loaf pans). Freeze what you won't consume immediately or share with your friends. And, speaking of freezing...if you find yourself with lots of very ripe bananas but no time to use them before they are no longer usable...pop them into the freezer. Just thaw them on the counter when you are ready to bake with them...we are convinced this makes them even sweeter. Keep in mind that freezing them may make the skin and flesh turn a bizarre dark brown / black color...this is normal :)
BEST BANANA BREAD EVER RECIPE (our version)
It takes about 20 minutes to whip this together, and another hour to bake.
Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat or whole grain flour
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
4 large eggs
2 1/3 cups sugar (we use a mix of brown and white sugar)
1 cup vegetable oil
8 very ripe bananas (we know, we know...that's a lot of bananas !)
1/4 cup sour cream or applesauce or plain yogourt
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 cups walnuts or chocolate chips (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Whisk together to blend well the flours, cinnamon, and salt.
In another bowl beat the eggs, sugar, and oil.
To the egg mixture, slowly mix in the flour mixture. Once combined, mix in the bananas. Then, add and mix in the remaining ingredients.
Pour into 3 loaf pans or 1 loaf pan and a bundt pan (greased and lined with parchment pan). Bake in the middle of oven for about an hour (or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean).
Could this be any easier ???!!!!
xoxo
The Tightwads
Monday, March 14, 2011
Disney on a dime
We Tightwads feel really lucky to have just spent a week during March break in Orlando visiting Universal Studios and the Disney World Theme Parks with our girls. Actually, truth is, this was our third visit in about 2 and 1/2 years. Very "un-Tightwad like" you may be thinking, but the there is a way to make a Disney vacation affordable. Each time we have gone, we have done things a little differently. So, here are our simple tips on how to save some bucks while not missing out on the fun.
Tip 1: If you are going to stay at a Disney resort, think about one of their budget hotels. Disney classifies their resorts as either Budget, Moderate, or Luxury. The difference is the quality of the rooms, the hotel amenities and the proximity to the parks. Truth be told, we have only ever stayed at the Budget hotels, (we are Tightwads after all :) )for a few reasons. One reason is obviously the price, and the fact that we don't really care too much about the hotel, as our main reason for going to Disney World is to ride the roller coasters and to see the Princesses. Spending time at the hotel is not high on our list of priorities, especially since you are free to dine at and visit the Luxury hotels if you wish too.
We have stayed at both All Star Movies and All Star Sports Resorts. The latter, which was where we stayed this last trip, was by far a better experience. Our room was newly renovated, the pool was fantastic, and transportation to the parks was super easy using the shuttle buses, which run regularly and are free for resort guests. In some cases, the shuttle buses travel to all 3 All Star Resorts (Movies, Sports and Music) before heading to the parks, and then on the return as well. Due to it's location, All Star Sports is the first pick up spot of the 3 and the first drop off spot. Incredibly important since first on pretty much guarantees you a seat on the bus (much appreciated by tired little legs), and first off means you are back in your room sooner rather than later (again, much appreciated by tired little and not so little legs).
Although when we stayed at All Star Movies our room had not been updated in a long while (think aqua laminate furniture - yikes!), in both of our stays in Budget Resorts the staff was Disney friendly, and the rooms were spotless.
Tip 2: If you are staying on site, choose a meal plan. The first time we went to Disney, we actually drove (how can two girls travel 24 hours to and fro without arguing for a moment, when they can't even make it home from school without wanting to pull each others hair out is a mystery to us...but we digress). That time, we rented a condo/hotel with a full kitchen. We had breakfast in our hotel, packed a lunch and had dinner back at the condo. Definitely a money saver - but having to cook during a vacation sometimes sucks. Our second trip, we just paid as we went....and did we ever pay! Eating at the theme parks is costly! So, this time we got a meal plan, made our reservations before we traveled, and enjoyed being able to eat our meals, and snacks, without having to pay for anything but tips. Nice.
Tip 3: Don't get suckered into buying stupid souvenirs. Yeah...that Goofy hat with the floppy ears is really cute when you're riding Splash Mountain...but what are you going to do with that thing when you get home??? Same goes for Mickey ears, Fantasia hats and Fairy wings. Unless you are convinced that you will cry with regret for years because you passed on this purchase ...pass.
Tip 4: Take pictures of your pictures. We think that some of the funniest pictures ever are the ones that are taken of you when you're on these crazy rides. Your mouth is wide open because you're screaming with fear or excitement (or both), you have this psychotic look in your eyes, and the Goofy ears on the stupid hat you're wearing are flopping in the wind. Hilarious ! and if you want to take the memory home, it will cost you about 20$. Now, although we didn't do this ourselves, we did see other riders taking out their cameras and snapping photos of their photos as they were being displayed on screens in an attempt to lure you into purchasing them. When EN commented to another lady that this was a smart idea, she said that the pictures come out a bit blurry....but we bet they're still funny.
Tip 5: Speaking of pictures...Disney has a great service called PhotoPass. There are photographers scattered all over the parks, ready to snap your picture, which is then loaded onto a PhotoPass card. When you get home (or even in certain locations in the parks), you can view your photos, email them to friends for a limited time, and purchase them. They are really nice, but again, pretty expensive. We learned that if you give your own camera to the photographer, he or she will take the same shot with it..and then you have essentially the same pose...for nothing. Pretty smart huh?
Tip 6: We're actually not sure how we feel about this...but it IS a money saver...and we did see lots of people doing it. Picture the scene. You are having a buffet breakfast. The food is aplenty, and, generally quite yummy. You load your plate with things that are fried, sauced and generally unhealthy. To compensate, you grab a few apples or bananas. Lo and behold, after scarfing down your meal, you find that you have no more room for the fruit you lovingly chose. What to do???? Putting it back would be unhygienic, throwing it away is wasteful. Oh, how about just tucking that banana into your backpack, for a snack when you feel peckish...you know, instead of buying a banana later on. We did this once with a couple of apples. EN felt guilty, FF didn't think about it too much (he wasn't carrying the backpack!), but when the girls were hungry a few hours later..tah dah...Disney magic...the apples made an appearance.
Tip 7: If you decide to go to Universal Studios (do go ! the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is phenomenal), stay at a Universal "affiliated" hotel. These are MUCH cheaper than the 3 Universal hotels and most offer transportation to the Universal Parks, and extra hours, so that you can enter the park an hour early - a must, especially if you go in a busy season. We stayed at the Fairmount Inn...it was great. The price was reasonable, the staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, the room was basic but spotless, the pool was great, and a yummy continental breakfast was included.
Tip 8: If you book your Disney vacation on-line through the Disney website, check it periodically, up until your departure date. If there is a sale that comes out after you have booked, Disney will honor it. Thanks to this good advice, we saved 350$ this year. With the money we saved we could have bought about 15 sets of Mickey ears !!! (but we didn't).
Tip 9: Set a spending budget and stick to it. This is really easy if you have a meal plan, because your food costs are already accounted for. There are so many nice things to buy both at Universal Studios and the Disney Theme parks. Decide how much you want to spend on souvenirs and gifts, and stick to it. If you're traveling with children, it's doesn't hurt to remind them that they can't have EVERYTHING they see.
So, although a Disney vacation can be costly, it doesn't have to break the bank. Shop around, cut corners that don't really matter to you, and enjoy a beautiful and magical vacation...it really is one of the happiest places on earth.
Happy travels
xoxo
The Tightwads
Tip 1: If you are going to stay at a Disney resort, think about one of their budget hotels. Disney classifies their resorts as either Budget, Moderate, or Luxury. The difference is the quality of the rooms, the hotel amenities and the proximity to the parks. Truth be told, we have only ever stayed at the Budget hotels, (we are Tightwads after all :) )for a few reasons. One reason is obviously the price, and the fact that we don't really care too much about the hotel, as our main reason for going to Disney World is to ride the roller coasters and to see the Princesses. Spending time at the hotel is not high on our list of priorities, especially since you are free to dine at and visit the Luxury hotels if you wish too.
We have stayed at both All Star Movies and All Star Sports Resorts. The latter, which was where we stayed this last trip, was by far a better experience. Our room was newly renovated, the pool was fantastic, and transportation to the parks was super easy using the shuttle buses, which run regularly and are free for resort guests. In some cases, the shuttle buses travel to all 3 All Star Resorts (Movies, Sports and Music) before heading to the parks, and then on the return as well. Due to it's location, All Star Sports is the first pick up spot of the 3 and the first drop off spot. Incredibly important since first on pretty much guarantees you a seat on the bus (much appreciated by tired little legs), and first off means you are back in your room sooner rather than later (again, much appreciated by tired little and not so little legs).
Although when we stayed at All Star Movies our room had not been updated in a long while (think aqua laminate furniture - yikes!), in both of our stays in Budget Resorts the staff was Disney friendly, and the rooms were spotless.
Tip 2: If you are staying on site, choose a meal plan. The first time we went to Disney, we actually drove (how can two girls travel 24 hours to and fro without arguing for a moment, when they can't even make it home from school without wanting to pull each others hair out is a mystery to us...but we digress). That time, we rented a condo/hotel with a full kitchen. We had breakfast in our hotel, packed a lunch and had dinner back at the condo. Definitely a money saver - but having to cook during a vacation sometimes sucks. Our second trip, we just paid as we went....and did we ever pay! Eating at the theme parks is costly! So, this time we got a meal plan, made our reservations before we traveled, and enjoyed being able to eat our meals, and snacks, without having to pay for anything but tips. Nice.
Tip 3: Don't get suckered into buying stupid souvenirs. Yeah...that Goofy hat with the floppy ears is really cute when you're riding Splash Mountain...but what are you going to do with that thing when you get home??? Same goes for Mickey ears, Fantasia hats and Fairy wings. Unless you are convinced that you will cry with regret for years because you passed on this purchase ...pass.
Tip 4: Take pictures of your pictures. We think that some of the funniest pictures ever are the ones that are taken of you when you're on these crazy rides. Your mouth is wide open because you're screaming with fear or excitement (or both), you have this psychotic look in your eyes, and the Goofy ears on the stupid hat you're wearing are flopping in the wind. Hilarious ! and if you want to take the memory home, it will cost you about 20$. Now, although we didn't do this ourselves, we did see other riders taking out their cameras and snapping photos of their photos as they were being displayed on screens in an attempt to lure you into purchasing them. When EN commented to another lady that this was a smart idea, she said that the pictures come out a bit blurry....but we bet they're still funny.
Tip 5: Speaking of pictures...Disney has a great service called PhotoPass. There are photographers scattered all over the parks, ready to snap your picture, which is then loaded onto a PhotoPass card. When you get home (or even in certain locations in the parks), you can view your photos, email them to friends for a limited time, and purchase them. They are really nice, but again, pretty expensive. We learned that if you give your own camera to the photographer, he or she will take the same shot with it..and then you have essentially the same pose...for nothing. Pretty smart huh?
Tip 6: We're actually not sure how we feel about this...but it IS a money saver...and we did see lots of people doing it. Picture the scene. You are having a buffet breakfast. The food is aplenty, and, generally quite yummy. You load your plate with things that are fried, sauced and generally unhealthy. To compensate, you grab a few apples or bananas. Lo and behold, after scarfing down your meal, you find that you have no more room for the fruit you lovingly chose. What to do???? Putting it back would be unhygienic, throwing it away is wasteful. Oh, how about just tucking that banana into your backpack, for a snack when you feel peckish...you know, instead of buying a banana later on. We did this once with a couple of apples. EN felt guilty, FF didn't think about it too much (he wasn't carrying the backpack!), but when the girls were hungry a few hours later..tah dah...Disney magic...the apples made an appearance.
Tip 7: If you decide to go to Universal Studios (do go ! the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is phenomenal), stay at a Universal "affiliated" hotel. These are MUCH cheaper than the 3 Universal hotels and most offer transportation to the Universal Parks, and extra hours, so that you can enter the park an hour early - a must, especially if you go in a busy season. We stayed at the Fairmount Inn...it was great. The price was reasonable, the staff was incredibly friendly and helpful, the room was basic but spotless, the pool was great, and a yummy continental breakfast was included.
Tip 8: If you book your Disney vacation on-line through the Disney website, check it periodically, up until your departure date. If there is a sale that comes out after you have booked, Disney will honor it. Thanks to this good advice, we saved 350$ this year. With the money we saved we could have bought about 15 sets of Mickey ears !!! (but we didn't).
Tip 9: Set a spending budget and stick to it. This is really easy if you have a meal plan, because your food costs are already accounted for. There are so many nice things to buy both at Universal Studios and the Disney Theme parks. Decide how much you want to spend on souvenirs and gifts, and stick to it. If you're traveling with children, it's doesn't hurt to remind them that they can't have EVERYTHING they see.
So, although a Disney vacation can be costly, it doesn't have to break the bank. Shop around, cut corners that don't really matter to you, and enjoy a beautiful and magical vacation...it really is one of the happiest places on earth.
Happy travels
xoxo
The Tightwads
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