This is a recap of a few weeks.
Saving on things we buy
- Sam ended up having to work early on Saturday (which is good for his income), but it meant we were without a ride to the airport. Typically, parking at the airport is the cheapest option, as long as you book in advance. We were going to be gone for long enough that wasn't the case. So, I remembered I had Lyft credits from my credit card, which offset the cost by $25. I tipped on the full amount, of course.
- Our annual pass for the national parks was an even better deal than I thought. I knew I would be going at least four times in a year, so the math worked out. I didn't know I could get someone else in for free with me, so M's admission was also free. The pass has already paid for itself!
Earning money
- Received a $37 privacy settlement of some sort, when was sent to me through Venmo.
- Helped the boys sell more of their Magic cards, earning another $100.
Avoiding spending
- I apparently didn't pack enough snacks for our Bryce Canyon day, which included a lot of driving. I think both of us were particularly hungry after a few days of hard hiking. We considered stopping on the way home, but ate the last of the snacks in the bag & waited until we got back to the condo, where we reheated leftovers.
- Charged my car for free at work, although the following day I didn't pay close enough to the time I arrived & while I did get four hours of free charging, I then paid $14 for the remainder of the charge, which is not a good deal.
Eating what we have
- For the Utah portion of the trip, we packed lunches, brought snacks from home & kept the restaurant meals to a minimum. We also bought wine at Costco, which was nice to have when we returned to the condo each day after hiking.
- Using the oat milk my friend left in the fridge (they left a few things & asked us to use & then toss anything left behind, as they were here just before us), as well as a few other items on hand.
- We ate all of the pretzel bun sandwiches, the celery/grain salad, the fajita kit, and most of a rotisserie chicken + the sesame chicken. We brought the protein bars home with us, left the coffee & two bottles of wine behind for future guests, and M took the eggs (hard boiled) along for the Las Vegas portion of the trip. We did pretty well minimizing food waste, all things considered.
- I had a work dinner on Tuesday, but brought leftovers home, which was my dinner on Wednesday, and lunch for Sam.
For others
- I'm planning a big international trip with my mom, and helping to fund a trip to Japan for my dad. I enjoy treating other people to experiences!
What about you? Any wins to share?
