Save Money on a Road Trip

Road trips are so much fun! Especially when they’re with the right people - or person! I cannot tell you how many miles of highway we’ve covered over the last ten years, but it is a very high number. We’ve become pretty good at road tripping, and even better at saving money while doing it. It took a little trial and error, but here are our tips so that you don’t have to go through that part. Let us know at the end what your best road trip money saving tips you have!

Set a budget

The first step in saving money for anything is setting a budget - an exact amount that you can spend, or should not spend over. When we budget for road trips, we consider how many miles we will be traveling to decide on how much to allot for gas, and how many days we will be taking. Another thing to consider is whether you will be driving your own car, or renting a car, and what the possible charges for that will be (don’t forget to look if the company limits your miles!).

Prep your own snacks for along the way 

Not only will prepping your own snacks save you money, they will save you time as well! If you’re anything like me, you’d probably like to save the money you allotted for eating to eat out once getting to your destination rather than doing it along the way. Prepping easy, and healthy snacks will keep your prices down and save you time along the way that you would have used for stopping and ordering and the like. Another plus? You can use this opportunity to pack healthy snacks that will keep your energy up!

Use gas buddy to find the best gas prices on the road

Since you have to buy gas anyway, why not do a quick 10-second check to see where you can get the best deal along your route? It’s sometimes worth it to check prices along the way! I use an app called Gas Buddy to find the best deals around me frequently, and it has definitely paid off at times.

Consider alternate lodging along the way

Rather than staying in a nice hotel along the way, consider alternate lodging. Do you know a hospitable friend in the area you could stay with? Are you a camper? Oftentimes setting up a tent along the way is inexpensive. What about AirBNB? The possibilities are pretty much endless.

Get the most out of your gas 

Before you leave, make sure your tire pressure is where it should be to get the most out of your mileage. Using cruise control also helps!

Consider Parking

Scout out the parking where you are going. I can’t tell you how many times I hadn’t even thought of that and found out parking was a crazy amount of money when I got there. Look ahead of time and see if you can find cheaper or even free parking nearby. Once, we got to our destination and the parking was OUTRAGEOUS. Some planning ahead would have saved us a headache.

Avoid getting a ticket

Avoiding traffic tickets will save you big bucks. Make sure to follow all road signs, including speed signs and traffic lights on your road trip. Be familiar with the rules of the road where you are going, as they do sometimes vary!

Calculate Tolls

Don’t forget about tolls! You may want to consider using a toll calculator to estimate how much you will be spending on tolls. Be aware that some tolls are now cashless and require some kind of tag transponder to avoid a surcharge. It might be worth it to get the system required where you will be traveling. Another option is to avoid tolls all together. You can make sure your settings in Google Maps avoid tolls to do this.

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What are some ways you save money on road trips?

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Ways to Magically Find More Time In Your Day (Ask Amanda)

In this previous Ask Amanda, I talked about finding balance to do the things I do, but since I’ve been asked more follow up questions, I thought I’d write some more practical tips on the topic. 

People are constantly asking me, it seems, how I find the time to do the things I do. I don’t even claim to do that much. Yes, I teach full time, run Maple Alps as well as Maple and Math, and I make time to do things for myself like be involved in church, small group, and even reading and crocheting, but is that really that much? Maybe. 

Fun side story: when I was in college I had to make a presentation about how to do something. I did my presentation on this exact topic - how to find more time in your day. I’ve been totally into this for years!

Here are a few of the practical steps I use to find the time in my day to do the things I do.

Make a chart

Physically make a chart coloring in how many hours a day that you spend on various activities. My biggest blocks are sleeping and work, of course. You may be surprised to see how much time you have left in your day!

Prioritize your tasks

Once you know how much time you have, prioritize your tasks! Prioritizing tasks is as simple as deciding what three things will move your day the most every day. Long to-do lists tend to overwhelm, and do not tend to get finished. Instead, choose three things to accomplish every day.

Block your days

If you have a more flexible schedule, try blocking your days! I watched this great video on it on Youtube (watch it here), so I won’t say much about it here. Just know it’s fascinating and makes sense! I don’t currently do this, because my job keeps me on a pretty tight schedule most days.

Quit Entertainment

If you watch television or are constantly signed into Netflix or Hulu, you might find that entertainment is taking a large chunk out of your day. Shows can be anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes long, and that can really start eating away at your time! Consider quitting for a week and seeing how productive you can be! Same goes for scrolling social media.

Another helpful thing I’ve found: Bullet Journal-or making a schedule in general

Keeping a schedule of some sort has always been extremely helpful to me. I am one of those persons who thrive with lists and calendars. I like structure. I have always had a planner of some sort, whether it be a dated one, or a bullet journal, and it has helped me stay on task and organize my days well.

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How do you find more time in your day?

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Love in the Time of Corona: What Our Marriage Looks Like This Season

Okay, y’all. It’s about to get real on the blog this week.

March 13, 2020 was the official start of self-isolation for us. Days turned into weeks which turned into months of living pretty much 24/7 within earshot of each other. Days/Weeks/Months of eating lunch with the same person every day. Days/Weeks/Months of not having very little outside interaction.

So how are we holding up? Has our marriage survived coronavirus?

That’s what you’re going to be finding out today. Below you’ll find a few questions posed to each of us (Amanda and Jonathan) during the time of self-isolation. Enjoy getting the inside scoop of how we’re staying a couple in love during the COVID crisis. Nothing too deep. Something fun and light is what we all need sometimes.

What is the hardest part about being home with your spouse all day?

A: It’s not that hard, honestly, and I’ve gotten used to it. We have our own space, thankfully. Maybe something difficult is when one of us is recording something like a video for work and the other unintentionally makes noise.

J: It’s easy to think it’s the weekend when both are home all day, which can give you the feeling that you can slack with work. Also being able to eat together and talk can make lunch break a little longer than usual. But that’s not necessarily bad. If you are both in the same room working, it’s easy to get distracted cause my wife is the most attractive woman in the world. (A: awwe, thanks!)

What do you enjoy most about being home with your spouse all day?

A: It’s nice to be able to eat meals together or run something by him real quick. I also love that we can exercise and go outside together! Also fun? Blanket forts and hanging out on the deck with our work.

J: Living on the same schedule. Getting up and going to bed at the same time, and eating together! Also having a fresh, home cooked meal is pretty amazing! I am a lucky guy!

You know the game about being stranded on an isolated island, but this time you’re stranded in your house. Is there anything or anyone else you’d like to be stranded with currently?

A: If we had a piano, that would be great.

J: I’d like to be stranded somewhere else! If I can work from anymore, which it shows that I pretty much can, then why not have my ‘home office’ in Hawaii, Bali, or New Zealand?

In your view, how has your marriage changed (if at all) as a result of self-isolation?

A: I don’t think it has really changed. Maybe it’s gotten better because we have more time together to talk things out and get things done together. Now is the perfect time to get house projects completed, and we’ve managed to do several with minimal difference of personality issues that we’re famous for, haha!

J: Every day impacts your marriage. So, yes, COVID-19 has definitely affected our marriage. I feel it has become stronger. We are fighting together against this crazy virus: Exercising, eating more healthy, wiping things down with Clorox etc. A common enemy unites lol. Also being able to spend 24/7 with each other is a privilege in a way! I would be struggling if I was alone to be honest.

Have you learned anything new about your spouse lately?

A: Hmm. That’s tough. I recently found out that his nostalgia (and boy is he nostalgic!) goes as far as downloading an app on his iPhone that acts like playing snake on a Nokia. Thought that was cute. He’s also...really…loud and doesn’t realize he’s quite loud. Or maybe I’m just extra sensitive? Who knows.

J: That introverts are dealing much better with lock downs than extroverts!

What is a piece of advice you have for a couple during corona time?

A: Even though you spend the whole day together, it’s still important to set time aside to be a couple. Having a weekly date night where you don’t discuss work or the to-do list but focus instead on growing as a couple is really important to keep your relationship strong. It’s easy to fall into the trap of “oh, well we see each other all day, so we don’t need to do anything fun together.” It’s also okay and very healthy to take breaks from each other!

J: Stay healthy and encourage each other, don’t waste this special time you have been given, but do uplifting activities together. Go hike, sync your routines and enjoy yourself (while following the guidelines of the state and health authorities)! “Normality” will eventually come back and you will want some great memories from when you lived through the wild year of 2020!

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Are you at home with family? How has this season affected your relationships?

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Creating a Comfortable Desk Space

Now that a lot of us are stuck working from home (and some without home offices!), I thought it would be fun to do a post on creating a workable desk area. 

When we first moved, the hubs and I decided to merge our home office spaces into one room. Unfortunately, with me teaching classes and conferencing with kids most of my day, it doesn’t work for me to be in the office with him all day long, so I’ve had to resort to the dining room table for most of my sessions. Which is fine, but we’ll get to that.

Here are some tips (and some of my favorite products) to make sure your work-from-home office space is comfortable, workable, and enjoyable!

Make Your View a Pleasant One

Whether it’s staring out of a window or looking at some pretty art (there are some super cute prints online!) and houseplants. You know what makes you happy, so add it into your space!

Light, Light, Light

Make sure your space is well-lit. Nothing like dim lights to make you go crazy! I even like to add a candle or even a diffuser - less for light, and more for a relaxed atmosphere. 

Blue Light Glasses

Speaking of light, since you’re likely spending a lot more time on your computer now, it is totally worth it to get blue light glasses! I noticed a great difference and have experienced less headaches since using them! (They are super affordable on Amazon too!)

Leave Space for a Hot Beverage

I don’t know about you, but I need my tea lattes to keep me company pretty much all day long. They are a hug in a mug, truly. I was keeping them in a travel cup to stay warm, but my husband was generous enough to get me the amazing ember mug for my birthday that keeps my drink hot all day long! (Get yours on Amazon here)

Mind Your Temperature

I’m usually chilly, so on top of having a warm drink next to me, I keep a sweater and a small throw by my desk area. Let me rephrase: my favorite sweater and my favorite small throw - it’s the little things that keep me happy. :) 

It’s Okay to Relocate

Even with a fun desk space, I do like heading to a Starbucks every once in a while for a change in scenery. Since that isn’t really an option right now, I’ll settle for my deck, my cozy yellow chair in the living room, or even the kitchen or dining room table instead. I’ve been making pretty mean lattes lately that cost less anyway. Feel free to relocate to wherever you wish to be productive for the day. 

Add Some Personal Touches

Add some personal touches to your work space. Maybe it’s a picture of your family, a painting you’re particularly proud of, or even a card from a friend. I keep a tiny (I really do mean tiny!) little hippo figurine that my mom gave me years ago. It’s always on my desk and makes me smile.

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How do you make your desk space comfortable?

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Running Essentials

I started endurance running when I was in high school. My family was extremely confused when I started getting up before the sun was out and pushing myself up hills and around the neighbourhood. My dad even made me carry a whistle and keep my keys in my hand just in case - but I only ever saw one other person on my morning runs. It was an old man who walked forward and then backward. We had an understanding.

This post contains affiliate links

I think besides the high of feeling accomplished after a long run, or pushing myself to my limits, my next favorite thing about running are all of the faces that begin to look familiar that eventually become knowing nods and friendly waves.

Now that self-isolation has me upping my running goals, maybe you want to try the same! Today I’m sharing some of my favorite running essentials for taking on the trails with me. Enjoy!

Related: Six Free Apps I Use to Track my Health

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Do you run? What are some of your must-haves?

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