I am not going to lie... if you can smuggle in some champagne and OJ, props to you! Swim meets are NOT fun... especially if you live where we do- in 100+ degree weather.
Your packing list:
1) a Pop up Canopy (EZ UP)
2) chairs
3) 5+ towels
4) blankets that go on the ground (will get dirty)
5) Wagon
6) Igloo (square) that fits in the wagon. You will use the wagon as an end table with the igloo as a table and drink holder
7) spray bottle with fans or the ARTIC COVE Misting Bucket system
8) Food
9) WATER!
10) those cooling towels (Walmart).
11) YOUR swimsuit- so you can "accidentally" fall in the pool.
12) toys for smaller children to play with (or pay the babysitter to keep them home).
We also brought 2 smaller shade tent things (costco) for the kids- half dome thing $40. We put the kid chairs inside that for the children's area. See below for the photo!
IDEA: combine with parents to build a small city. We have 3 Pop ups PLUS 2 kid ones... for a 20+foot set up. 4 families sharing. Then each family brings something to contribute to the group- food, snacks, juice, etc.
Hacks:
Team up with other Ninja Swim moms to make this whole thing bearable! And yes Champagne and OJ can be put into an IGLOO mixed and served in red solo cups - cheers
-Auggie
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!
Your packing list:
1) a Pop up Canopy (EZ UP)
2) chairs
3) 5+ towels
4) blankets that go on the ground (will get dirty)
5) Wagon
6) Igloo (square) that fits in the wagon. You will use the wagon as an end table with the igloo as a table and drink holder
7) spray bottle with fans or the ARTIC COVE Misting Bucket system
8) Food
9) WATER!
10) those cooling towels (Walmart).
11) YOUR swimsuit- so you can "accidentally" fall in the pool.
12) toys for smaller children to play with (or pay the babysitter to keep them home).
We also brought 2 smaller shade tent things (costco) for the kids- half dome thing $40. We put the kid chairs inside that for the children's area. See below for the photo!
IDEA: combine with parents to build a small city. We have 3 Pop ups PLUS 2 kid ones... for a 20+foot set up. 4 families sharing. Then each family brings something to contribute to the group- food, snacks, juice, etc.
Hacks:
- Get there super early to get the BEST Spot. Consider sending one family/mom early and you take her kids later. This way she sets up and has no children. We did this today, then my friend left early with my children and I stayed to work my shift and take down.
- Pay the FEE to NOT volunteer the hours (every family needs to volunteer 5 meets as a mandatory service to be a part of the swim team). Seriously- do you need Time or Money in your life? I need time, so the $250 fee to pay (tax deductible) to NOT spend HOURS in the heat/sun doing a job is worth every damn penny! This year I volunteered, next year I am paying the damn fee! I need those hours OUT of the sun! Since you know I am a budget queen, I will simply save the $20 a month in a slush fund and happily pay my $250 next June (this way the $250 isn't a huge hit, $20 per month is WAY easier to manage).
- You WANT the Arctic Cove Misting Bucket System! $80 to blow cool air in your EZ Up... worth it
- Pizza is a GREAT left over to take to a swim meet-- cold pizza- yum.
Team up with other Ninja Swim moms to make this whole thing bearable! And yes Champagne and OJ can be put into an IGLOO mixed and served in red solo cups - cheers
-Auggie
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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