Hello from Ft Meade where my husband is in week 4 of DINFOS. I was able to join him here in MD for 5 weeks- I brought my 5 year old and 11 month old along for the "vacation".
The date is June 23, 2015 and the OLD hotel is still here. I am staying in a very old room, while the new hotel is being built... so--- if you are reading this in 2016+--- disregard the hotel info.
Hotel info: we are a Air Force family- and the Army peeps say this is a very standard Army Post! Older hotel, smelly hallway. But hey- I have a kitchen, comfty bed, nice sheets :)
There are 3 floors and NO elevators! So I just carry baby up the stairs. Stroller has to stay in the car.
I have yet to discover the zoo, other museums, and other groups.
-Get on the MWR website to find mommy groups- there are many! I found a workout group that meets 3x a week with kids.
If you are able to relocate with your DINFOS student, I am not sure I would say "do it". They will be super busy and you will be alone most of the week. LOL. If I had to do this again, I would have only came for 3 weeks (not 5).
As always I explain our my family spends 25K a year on vacations while still have a $630 a month daycare bill.
1) Working REWARDS!
a) Disney Chase Credit card. 2% back. Use if for EVERYTHING except 3 things. We have one of us cruise for free on Disney every other year. AND Disney Vacations are 6 months 0 % interest.
b) Costco Citi card! We make over $1500 a year back from 2 cards and the Executive Membership. That cash (sent as checks you cash at Costco registers) is used to pay for our entire Carnival Cruise this spring break!
c) Alaskan Airlines Credit Card- companion fares, free baggage, miles.
d) EBATES! In 8 days I have made $63 in cash and $30 is pending travel. You start at the EBATES website and simply shop like normal online. The referral link within Ebates makes you money.
ex: Amazon says "hey EBATES send me people to shop" Ebates loads up the % back and posts it. You start on Ebates and click the Amazon link, it sends you to Amazon KNOWING you will earn cash back. You shop on Amazon like normal (be sure to stay in that referral link) and BAM % back in your EBATE account the next day. It is THAT easy!
Cash is sent to your Paypal account (or paper check) every quarter. This alone pays for our spending money for our Thanksgiving Cancun Trip. Here is my snip-it proving what I have earned and (promise, legit)! And the link to sign up.
Below in the photo #1) All money made on Ebates to date (8 days people)! #2) My last PayPal deposit. #3) how I earned cash back on shopping.
LINK to sign up: https://www.ebates.com/r/OOGIEN3?eeid=28187
2) We do not have car payments. Hubby drives a 2003 Accord, me a 2010 Swag Van we paid off in 2 years (hence, didn't travel much those years).
3) Our mortgage is lower. We are both full time educators and could have afforded over 2K a month on a mortgage, instead we opted for a cheaper home for a cheaper mortgage.
4) Shop travel deals online during good sales. Our entire April spring break Carnival cruise is $1400 for all of us. Our Alaskan Cruise we got the alcohol package for FREE when we upgraded to a Balcony (which I had always wanted). In Mexico always Kids Stay FREE deals.
5) YNAB! You Need a Budget is an online cloud budget tool. It is budgeting on steroids! You have to account for EVERY penny! I have been using YNAB for 5 years and I am able to FULLY fund my vacations thru budgeting each month. I set aside 2k a month for travel, this tool allows me to budget monthly and set goals. It tells me what we spend the most money on (ahem, food and shopping) and allows us to have discussions about habits we NEED to change to reach our goals. They have amazing training videos, and a FREE 30 day trial. Try it, no obligation (it is better than MINT which I used for 2 years and EveryDollar). Try it here: https://ynab.com/referral/?ref=G6Kp8nTV4XKAQNSX&utm_source=customer_referral
Travel on Everyone!
The date is June 23, 2015 and the OLD hotel is still here. I am staying in a very old room, while the new hotel is being built... so--- if you are reading this in 2016+--- disregard the hotel info.
Hotel info: we are a Air Force family- and the Army peeps say this is a very standard Army Post! Older hotel, smelly hallway. But hey- I have a kitchen, comfty bed, nice sheets :)
There are 3 floors and NO elevators! So I just carry baby up the stairs. Stroller has to stay in the car.
Free Washer/dryer on each level. no need to pack lots of clothing. I just do a load a day.
What you need to know as a spouse-
-DINFOS is just like Grad school. 8am-4pm. Busy work! Jason is busy all day and has lots of work at night. Sure he has nights "off"- but he has major amounts of homework.
-You cannot eat at the DEFAC- Jason just gets meals for us. You cannot beat the price and the food isn't that bad. Super healthy! Bland, but hey- $4 to feed all of us-- can't beat that!
-You need a Car! Jason gets a ride from classmates, I then pick him up at 6pm from the gym
-gym is amazing. yes, you can use it. I go at 5am :)
-They have a week off in the middle- called Exodus but check with your branch on LEAVE information. Don't plan on this- they may just shorten the course in the future.
Things I do to keep the kids busy:
-Pump it Up in Elkridge- $38 for a all access all jump pass- so worth it
-Port Discovery Museum- amazing, but pricey! $14 per person. Amazing play rooms. Amazing play structure in the middle. Find my review on TripAdvisor Sancia689 is my username.
-Sky Zone- pricey trampoline place. Has Toddler time ($5) three times a week. Only littles and parents go. No crazy acrobats and isn't that busy.
What you need to know as a spouse-
-DINFOS is just like Grad school. 8am-4pm. Busy work! Jason is busy all day and has lots of work at night. Sure he has nights "off"- but he has major amounts of homework.
-You cannot eat at the DEFAC- Jason just gets meals for us. You cannot beat the price and the food isn't that bad. Super healthy! Bland, but hey- $4 to feed all of us-- can't beat that!
-You need a Car! Jason gets a ride from classmates, I then pick him up at 6pm from the gym
-gym is amazing. yes, you can use it. I go at 5am :)
-They have a week off in the middle- called Exodus but check with your branch on LEAVE information. Don't plan on this- they may just shorten the course in the future.
Things I do to keep the kids busy:
-Pump it Up in Elkridge- $38 for a all access all jump pass- so worth it
-Port Discovery Museum- amazing, but pricey! $14 per person. Amazing play rooms. Amazing play structure in the middle. Find my review on TripAdvisor Sancia689 is my username.
-Sky Zone- pricey trampoline place. Has Toddler time ($5) three times a week. Only littles and parents go. No crazy acrobats and isn't that busy.
-Maryland Science Center is amazing too. $20 per person- but really cool hands on exhibits.
I have yet to discover the zoo, other museums, and other groups.
-Get on the MWR website to find mommy groups- there are many! I found a workout group that meets 3x a week with kids.
If you are able to relocate with your DINFOS student, I am not sure I would say "do it". They will be super busy and you will be alone most of the week. LOL. If I had to do this again, I would have only came for 3 weeks (not 5).
As always I explain our my family spends 25K a year on vacations while still have a $630 a month daycare bill.
1) Working REWARDS!
a) Disney Chase Credit card. 2% back. Use if for EVERYTHING except 3 things. We have one of us cruise for free on Disney every other year. AND Disney Vacations are 6 months 0 % interest.
b) Costco Citi card! We make over $1500 a year back from 2 cards and the Executive Membership. That cash (sent as checks you cash at Costco registers) is used to pay for our entire Carnival Cruise this spring break!
c) Alaskan Airlines Credit Card- companion fares, free baggage, miles.
d) EBATES! In 8 days I have made $63 in cash and $30 is pending travel. You start at the EBATES website and simply shop like normal online. The referral link within Ebates makes you money.
ex: Amazon says "hey EBATES send me people to shop" Ebates loads up the % back and posts it. You start on Ebates and click the Amazon link, it sends you to Amazon KNOWING you will earn cash back. You shop on Amazon like normal (be sure to stay in that referral link) and BAM % back in your EBATE account the next day. It is THAT easy!
Cash is sent to your Paypal account (or paper check) every quarter. This alone pays for our spending money for our Thanksgiving Cancun Trip. Here is my snip-it proving what I have earned and (promise, legit)! And the link to sign up.
Below in the photo #1) All money made on Ebates to date (8 days people)! #2) My last PayPal deposit. #3) how I earned cash back on shopping.
LINK to sign up: https://www.ebates.com/r/OOGIEN3?eeid=28187
2) We do not have car payments. Hubby drives a 2003 Accord, me a 2010 Swag Van we paid off in 2 years (hence, didn't travel much those years).
3) Our mortgage is lower. We are both full time educators and could have afforded over 2K a month on a mortgage, instead we opted for a cheaper home for a cheaper mortgage.
4) Shop travel deals online during good sales. Our entire April spring break Carnival cruise is $1400 for all of us. Our Alaskan Cruise we got the alcohol package for FREE when we upgraded to a Balcony (which I had always wanted). In Mexico always Kids Stay FREE deals.
5) YNAB! You Need a Budget is an online cloud budget tool. It is budgeting on steroids! You have to account for EVERY penny! I have been using YNAB for 5 years and I am able to FULLY fund my vacations thru budgeting each month. I set aside 2k a month for travel, this tool allows me to budget monthly and set goals. It tells me what we spend the most money on (ahem, food and shopping) and allows us to have discussions about habits we NEED to change to reach our goals. They have amazing training videos, and a FREE 30 day trial. Try it, no obligation (it is better than MINT which I used for 2 years and EveryDollar). Try it here: https://ynab.com/referral/?ref=G6Kp8nTV4XKAQNSX&utm_source=customer_referral
Travel on Everyone!
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