Dripping with Kids

Tag: Frugal Living

Which Family Pass Should You Buy?

Zoo or Garden Membership? Pogo or City Pass? Theme Park Season Pass? We help you decide.

Several years ago, I was invited to write an article for the Houston Zoo website and newsletter as the Member of the Month. I’ve never been more excited to work for free! When we lived in Houston, we visited the zoo very often, even just for a quick pizza dinner next to the giraffes. Here is an excerpt from my article:

My family has had a membership at the zoo for about 7 years. In the first couple years, I pushed a single stroller with my eager and curious daughter, planning each visit around her favorite animals: the elephants, sea lions, and big cats. Soon enough, I was cruising around the zoo with a double jogger, making sure that each visit included a carousel ride, a trip to the playground, many animal sightings, a crawl (or two or three or thirty) through the tunnel in the Natural Encounters house, and a stroll past the monkeeeeeys for my son.

Now, we go as a family of five with two big kids leading the way and another eager and curious daughter in the single stroller. We never miss the African Forest, which houses my favorite animals, the majestic giraffes. Plus, my husband insists on going through the bug house, despite the terrifying cockroaches, because he was one of the engineers for that exhibit. We all challenge ourselves to see if we can make it to every corner of the zoo. We don’t want to miss anything!

After submitting that article, not only did we add an additional zoo-lover to our family, but it hit me that the zoo truly was one of our family’s happy places, and we vowed to visit zoos all over the country whenever we travel together.

However, zoo admissions continue to increase in cost, and many of them have added extra experiences at prices that will take a big bite into the budget.

There’s good news, though — a zoo membership can make a huge difference! Once we discovered the added benefits of a zoo membership, we took advantage of it as we traveled and as we planned get-togethers with family and friends. It really saved us a lot!

So, we decided to do a cost-benefit analysis of membership and family pass offerings to help decide which one(s) give a family the most bang for its buck. Is the zoo membership the only one that’s worth its weight in gold for a young family? We had to find out.

The four options listed below seem to be the most common, at least in our area, and we’ve tried all of them. Continue reading until the end, though, for our reviews on other memberships and passes.

Membership Options

What is Reciprocal Membership?

Paying for one zoo membership not only gets you in for free at that specific zoo for an entire year, but it also gets you in free or 50% off admission to dozens of other zoos and aquariums across the country. Check out this site to see which zoos and aquariums are included. Make sure your home zoo (or the one at which you buy a membership) participates.

In a two-year span, my family visited the Cameron Park Zoo three times, Houston Zoo at least three times, Fort Worth Zoo, Oakland Zoo, Dallas Zoo, and San Antonio Zoo. Because of our membership benefits, we saved over $400 on zoo visits while traveling, in addition to the savings we were able to pass along to friends through free day passes and inviting them as our guests.

With most botanical garden memberships, you get free access to other gardens in the American Horticultural Society network. You just show your membership pass at the admission gate of the participating garden. However, if you’re planning to bring the whole family, and you have more than 2 children, reach out to the botanical garden you intend to visit in advance. They may have restrictions on how many children are included with your reciprocal admission.

We recently purchased a family membership for the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and since our purchase a few months ago, we’ve visited the Dallas Arboretum and Zilker Botanical Garden for free, saving us over $50, not to mention the $100 we saved from visiting the wildflower center with friends where we hold the membership.

The City Pass and Pogo Pass do not offer reciprocal privileges. You must use your pass for specific locations listed.

What about special events or exhibits?

Most zoos and gardens have special events for Halloween (Zoo Boo), the holidays (Zoo Lights), and in the spring or summer (Zoobilee), to which members get free or reduced admission. Many also have free yoga classes, education events for children, opportunities for overnight campouts, and toddler/infant socialization times. Additionally, members often get early access once per month that allows entrance prior to the general public and features specific animal talks or classes. Members also get discounts on carousel or train rides and gift shop purchases.

The City and Pogo Pass usually exclude special events or special exhibits.

Any other benefits?

Your zoo or garden membership can be considered a tax-deductible charitable donation going toward animal and habitat conservation. Saving money on family experiences and taxes too… win-win!

The City Pass and Pogo Pass are not considered charitable donations.

So, Which One is My Best Option?

Well, that depends.

Which attractions are you most likely to visit and how often?

If you think you’ll visit the zoo at least twice and may visit another one while traveling elsewhere, definitely get a zoo membership to the location you’ll go most often. Be sure that it’s a part of the reciprocal membership program. Same for the garden membership.

If you’re not into zoos or gardens but prefer indoor activities and sports games, pick the Pogo Pass and be sure to use a discount code before you purchase the passes. You can usually find them on Groupon, by asking friends, or by searching Google. The discount is often 50%.

Will you be traveling soon and plan to do touristy things?

If you plan to stay in a big city and hit the most popular tourist attractions, the City Pass or Go City Pass is likely your best bet, UNLESS you’re willing to brave the crowds and schedule your visits around the free or discounted days. Many attractions, especially if they receive tax dollars or donations as part of their operating income, offer a free day each week or month with limited hours. Many theme parks and water parks offer discounts for specific days or hours as well. For example, several water parks reduce their price if you go after 5 pm. These free or discount day options will require advanced research and planning for specific attractions.

If you visit a location often and/or like to experience the less crowded play places with your family, look for a Pogo Pass for that city. Some include multiple cities on the pass and can be used for an entire year. Therefore, you can travel to multiple destinations at different times and get free admission to fun activities. For example, there is a Pogo Pass that combines Waco, San Antonio, and Austin locations. That could be three different vacations with multiple options for each trip and only spending $50 per person (cost of the pass on a discount) for entertainment at all three locations.

Other Passes and Memberships

There are so many additional options for memberships and discounts at attractions and venues, several of which we’ve tried but haven’t consistently used for several reasons. Your family may benefit greatly from them, though.

Gym or YMCA

A YMCA membership can be great to have year-round if you plan to enroll your children in the youth programs, camps, or sports and if you enjoy working out at their gyms. The membership can be especially beneficial in the summer because you can take your kids to several different pools throughout the city and even squeeze in a workout while they’re in child watch. We have definitely gotten great value out of a YMCA membership during the summer months.

Occasionally, gyms will run a special promotion that waives the enrollment fee, which really makes the monthly cost worth it. Currently, YMCA of Austin is offering a 7-day trial membership, and Crunch Gym is South Austin is offering an entire month free, plus no enrollment fee. Crunch has babysitting available but no children’s camps/sports or a pool to offer.

DWK Recommendation: Sign up for emails from whichever gym or YMCA you’re most interested in so you can be in the know on specials they run on memberships and when they offer free community days or classes. Often, the YMCA will host community swim days or festivals (membership not required). Just ask to be added to the email list or sign up for a trial membership to get your name in the system.

Museums

We did not include memberships to museums in the list above because we have not found them to be economical choices for our family. However, if you have a museum that your children love to frequent, it may be worth it for your own family.

The memberships usually only include the permanent exhibits, which do not change, and can be a bit tedious for my kids to visit often. Also, while the reciprocal membership option (NARM) offers discounts or free admission to other museums when you travel, there is often a restriction that prevents you from using your reciprocal membership at other participating museums within a 15-mile radius of the institution where you hold your membership. That means that we’d have to pay for admission to the other local museums since most museums are close to each other within a “museum district”.

DWK Recommendation: Just about every museum offers free days weekly or monthly. Otherwise, you can sometimes find discounts available on Groupon or through City Passes. So if there’s a museum we really want to visit, we check out their website to find out which days they offer free admission or search for other discounts online.

Theme Parks and Water Parks

Any theme park or water park offers a season pass, and usually there are multiple levels to choose from. We’ve held Six Flags season passes in the past, and while we saved quite a bit from using it that year, it’s not a place we go to often enough to make it worth it every year. So, again, this is dependent on each family’s interest and ages of their children. We’ve made exceptions and found the season pass to be worthwhile, though, when we planned a birthday party at Six Flags. We brought three extra girls to the theme park, and with the benefits that were offered at the time (significant discounts for season pass holder’s guests) and the free parking, we saved more than we spent on the pass for my daughter. It seems the best time to buy a season pass for most of these attractions is during April or May, prior to the busy summer season, or during holiday promotions that will give you admission for the rest of that year and the year that follows.

DWK Recommendation: If you know your family will visit the theme park multiple times, it’s definitely worth buying the season pass. Otherwise, if we want to go to a theme park, we just look for discounted days or promotions to take advantage of.

Local Pool Pass

Most public pools offer a summer season pass with unlimited admission. They can cost anywhere from $125 – $300 for a family. We bought one when we lived in Houston for a neighborhood pool that we knew several friends would visit often. It was an easy and fun way to spend several summer afternoons, especially since we knew we’d see friends at the pool no matter what day we went.

In Dripping Springs, we found the Springs Family YMCA pool to be the spot where we’d often bump into friends. However, the local city pool was hit or miss, so we have to plan in advance to meet up with friends there. It hasn’t been often enough for us to splurge on a season pass, though, and the city pool doesn’t offer additional benefits such as classes, childcare, the gym, and camp options.

Also, there are so many wonderful, free or affordable pools and splash pads, river access spots, lakes, neighborhood pools where friends live, and friends’ backyard pools that I don’t think we could even get to every single one of them in a summer. Likely, you won’t be able to either.

DWK Recommendation: If your family will be home for several days in the summer and will want to swim in a familiar place with lifeguards, a YMCA membership is a good option. If you happen to prefer the neighborhood or city pool, I would just do a cost analysis and determine how many visits it would require before reaching the total cost of the summer pass. Otherwise, just bounce around and enjoy the variety of swimming options in your area.

With a plethora of passes to choose from, you could potentially end up with too many memberships to take advantage of in a year. We hope this analysis helps you decide where to spend your money in the hopes of saving more in the long run. As always, please feel free to comment and share what works best for your family.

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May 31, 2024
Best Frugal Alternatives to Austin Attractions

Save Money with These Alternatives to Austin and Hill Country Hot Spots

There seem to be limitless attractions in Austin and within the surrounding Texas Hill Country. These include trails, swimming holes, museums, playgrounds, classes, farms, festivals, and historical sites. My kids and I enjoy almost everything in this area! However, too many choices can paralyze the planner; they can also blow the budget.

Two of my kids are homeschooled. We have a lot of time each day, which we try to fill with unique learning experiences. Most of my weekly plans involve getting my kids out of the house.

Unfortunately, many attractions, even those in natural landscapes, can be upwards of $20 per person. That adds up too quickly, especially with a large family. We’re often searching for options that are free or at least cost half as much as the typical attraction price.

To assist both with my planning and yours, I’ve compiled a list of frugal alternatives to the top attractions in the Austin area and the Texas Hill Country. These alternatives are not only cheaper, but they’re likely to be less crowded, especially on weekdays.

~~Hot Spot: Hamilton Pool ($12/car + $8/adult)~~

Frugal Alternative: FREE Hamilton Greenbelt

While Hamilton Greenbelt is more of a trail than a tourist attraction, it offers a view of waterfalls, shaded walking trails, creeks to splash in (if it’s been raining), a bird blind, picnic tables and grassy area for sunning, a few animal sculptures to search for, and no fee, plus free parking.

~~Hot Spot: Umlauf Sculpture Garden ($7/adult)~~

Frugal Alternative: FREE Day at Contemporary Art Museum and Laguna Gloria (all day Thursdays)

See beautiful sculptures as you stroll along the calm waters of the Colorado River. Add on a visit to Mayfield Park to make your day truly unique and tranquil.

Frugal Alternative: FREE Bee Cave Sculpture Park

This short trail is a fun stop to add on to a day at the Hill Country Galleria, where you can visit the cute library, do a little shopping, and see additional art exhibits along the store fronts and at Bee Cave Art Foundation.

~~Hot Spot: The Thinkery Children’s Museum ($18/person)~~

Frugal Alternative: FREE pass from Dripping Springs Library

You can still visit the popular children’s museum yet avoid the crowds on free museum days. Just check out a weekly admission pass from the library. Dripping Springs Library definitely has them, and chances are, other local Austin libraries do too. You can go for FREE during the less busy hours.

Frugal Alternative: McKenna Children’s Museum in New Braunfels ($8/person)

This museum is my younger kids’ absolute favorite! Their imaginations come alive in the many role play areas. These include the hospital room, the grocery store, the space station, the bank, the art studio, and the outdoor water play area. We spend the whole day there for just $8 per person. Plus, there are several cute restaurants nearby to grab lunch. (Admission fee grants you in/out access all day.)

Frugal Alternative: Johnson City Science Mill ($11/adult, $9.50/child)

The Science Mill is a frugal alternative if you’re up for more science-focused exhibits. It offers both indoor and outdoor hands-on experiences. They have many special events throughout the year as well.

~~Hot Spot: The Austin Zoo ($19/adult, $16/child)~~

Frugal Alternative: FREE Austin Nature and Science Center

Explore animal exhibits, both indoor and outdoor. Visit a frog pond and streams where you can catch tadpoles with your own net. Discover rooms with insect and animal specimens. Enjoy a sandy dino dig area…. all for free.

~~Hot Spot: San Antonio Zoo ($32/adult, $28/child)~~

Frugal alternative: Cameron Park Zoo in Waco ($14/adult, $10/child)

If you’re willing to travel out of town for a bigger, better zoo experience, head north instead of south. You’ll find several of the same animals and a more chill and close-up experience at the Cameron Park Zoo. If you love zoos as much as we do, you might want to consider getting a zoo membership. It offers reciprocal discounts at other zoos.

~~Hot Spot: Kayak Tour of Austin ($45)~~

Frugal alternative: Zilker Boats BOGO Deal ($21/2 hours)

Explore Lady Bird Lake on a kayak or paddleboard. Take in the downtown skyline and the beauty of Zilker Park for half the price (on weekdays). Coupon is on the site linked above.

~~Hot Spot: Bob Bolluck State History Museum ($13/adult, $9/child)~~

Frugal alternative: FREE day at Bob Bullock State History Museum

HEB sponsors a FREE museum day on the first Sunday of each month at the Bob Bullock Museum from 10 am – 5 pm.

~~Hot Spot: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center ($15/adult, $8/child over 4)~~

Frugal alternative: FREE Wildseed Far ms in Fredericksburg

If your goal is to stroll among beautiful wildflowers, marvel at creative art pieces, and find cute photo ops, this free alternative is the way to go. You can enjoy a picnic or cafe-style lunch. Roam freely in the great outdoors. You can even do a little wine tasting or shopping. There aren’t as many play areas specific to children. However, this unique spot hosts many fun events with kid-friendly activities. These include a Fall Festival, live music options, and a butterfly release day.

~~Hot Spot: Guadalupe or Comal River Tubing Float ($20-$25/person)~~

Frugal alternative: FREE Rio Vista Park at San Marcos River

Hit the rapids, jump off the bridge, linger in the shade, or float the slow current of the San Marcos River. Bring your own tube to drop in at Rio Vista Park. Head downstream a bit to find one of the best tube chutes around.

~~Hot Spot: ZACH Theater Performance ($15-$40)~~

FREE musicals at Hill Country Galleria or Zilker Hillside (summer only)

Keep these options in mind for next summer. There are shows almost every night of the week with kid-friendly themes and excellent actors, all for free.

Affordable high school musicals ($10-$15/person)

Check the high school websites in your area for musicals in the Fall and in the Spring. Most are produced at a very high quality, and there’s a lot of young talent on those stages!

~~Hot Spot: Barton Springs Pool ($5-$9/adult, $3-$5/child)~~

Frugal alternative: FREE Barking Springs

This open access swimming area is just downstream from the popular swimming hole. It’s open year-round and has no restrictions on food and drink. It can attract a crowd, as well as lots of dogs, during popular times and really hot days. Swim at your own risk and go early to claim a spot on the bank. The easiest way to access Barking Springs is to go down the staircase just east of the Zilker Park Playground. You can park in the first parking lot near the playground.

~~Hot Spot: Austin Aquarium ($25/adult, $20/child)~~

Frugal alternative: The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment ($12/adult, $8/child)

Head down to San Marcos for a glass bottom boat tour, aquarium, discovery center, and trails. The cost is significantly less, and the experience is focused on conservation and education. If you want a truly frugal experience, go on a Family Fun Day for FREE admission and activities for children. There are also homeschool days that mimic a field trip for only $10/person (pre-registration required).

~~Hot Spot: Austin Bouldering Project ($20/person)~~

Frugal alternative: Hill Country Indoor Climbing Area ($5/person)

For only $5/hour, you can try out a variety of challenging climbing walls at Hill Country Indoor. These walls are unique. You can climb even if you’re not a member of the gym. Call ahead to make sure the climbing area isn’t reserved for a party.

~~Hot Spot: Painting with a Twist ($40-$50/event)~~

Frugal alternative: FREE Art Classes at Buda City Library

This library has several options for all ages. It includes teen art projects and adult art with Inspired Minds. However, they offer more than just art classes. There are also STEM classes for homeschoolers, come and go crafting, cooking classes, and more.

~~Hot Spot: Pioneer Farms ($8/adult, $6/child)~~

Frugal alternative: FREE LBJ State Park and Sauer-Beckmann Farm

Pioneer Farms is a cool place and not that expensive. However, Sauer-Beckmann Farm and LBJ State Park are completely free. It’s one of our favorite attractions in the area. There are period actors every day working the farm and demonstrating how people homesteaded more than 100 years ago. There are also hiking trails, a museum, and animals to visit.

We hope this list encourages you to check out some of the lesser-known attractions in the area! Some require more of a drive. You might also need a bit more packing or planning. However, my family thinks they’re all worth it. Plus, the savings make a huge difference, allowing us to get out and explore even more.

If you’d like to experience some of the bigger attractions, as well as semi-professional games, in San Antonio, Waco, and Austin at a huge discount, check out the POGO Pass. It charges one annual fee per person for free admission into multiple family-friendly places.

September 14, 2023
11 Easy, Free, and Meaningful Activities to Do with Kids of Most Ages

As of this school year, I’ve ventured into homeschooling my two younger children. People ask me daily how it’s going, and depending on the day (or even the time of day), they’ll likely get a different answer than I previously gave.

The highs are very high, and the lows can be quite low. I can go from feeling pure joy and bliss to doubting every parenting decision I’ve ever made. However, I’ve come to realize that these feelings occur no matter what schooling decision parents make for their children. We’re so hard on ourselves and tend to let the emotion du jour lead the way.

To counter this whiplash of emotions, I try to engage in meaningful activities with my kids that will fill their cups but also fill mine. I usually find a bit of free time for myself after fully participating in one of the options below because everybody walks away fulfilled.

Most of these incorporate time in nature and/or sensory experiences, which tend to be antidotes to boredom, crankiness, frustration, sibling rivalry, and screen daze for all of us.

I hope that these ideas might allow other parents to break away from the norm and reset those flip-flopping emotions. These 11 easy, free, and meaningful activities have worked well for us. Let me know if any stand out to you!

1. Nature Hike and Journaling

We kept our nature journals really simple and just made them out of cardstock and twine. Anytime we go on an adventure, I carry crayons and pencils. The kids either draw something they see and find interesting, then we research it on my phone to add notes … OR they’ve already drawn and researched something that we then go and try to find, such as certain types of trees.

2. Act Out a Favorite Storybook

Max and Ruby’s Christmas Tree

We choose a favorite or recently-read story book and act it out in real life. We create costumes, find props, and make up character voices. The kids love this activity and often want to act out the same book more than once. We’re hoping to go all out after finishing the Little House on the Prairie series and throw a themed party.

Corduroy Goes to School

3. Lego Challenge

There are a million and one ways to create Lego challenges for kids. You can just type the words and google for a plethora of ideas. I even found some printables for head-to-head Lego challenges. What I love the most about starting one of these challenges is the fact that the kids usually want to continue playing with legos independently for hours or days on end!

4. Create a Wall of Weird

Kids love to find the weirdest things! Whether out on a hike or rummaging through a thrift store, they find something so unique, but often too odd, to want to include it with the rest of the home decor. As a compromise, my kids and I agreed upon a Wall of Weird, which was an idea borrowed from someone much more clever than myself. So, when a little one wants to collect a fallen bird’s nest, an odd-shaped stick, or a dead bug, there has to be room on the Wall of Weird for it to come home with us. (Sometimes, interesting crafts make it on to the wall as well.)

5. Guided Drawing

If you haven’t tried the Art for Kids Hub videos on You Tube yet, you’re in for a fun afternoon! These easy-to-follow guided draw videos are our favorite way to spend a rainy day… and sometimes a sunny one. Some videos are easy enough for a pre-schooler, but many are challenging even for me. This activity may not fit the bill for reducing screen time, but it’s definitely worth the extra minutes (or hours) in our house.

6. Make Shaped Crayons

Any chance you have a few broken crayons in your home? Maybe a few hundred? If so, this activity can keep your kids busy for an entire day. Not kidding. All you needs are lots of crayons and a silicon candy mold. First, have the kids find all the crayons that are too broken to use or are nubby duplicates of newer ones. Have them sort by color. Then they peel off the paper of each one. After that, place the crayon bits into the candy mold shapes. Mix colors if desired. Bake in the oven at 300 degrees until they start to harden. Voila – “new” shaped crayons for the kids to use during guided drawing! They also make great gifts. We’ve printed coloring pages and attached several fun-shaped crayons to create gifts for friends.

7. Fort-building

With older kids or young kids, indoor or outdoor, soft and cozy or challenging and maze-like, forts are always a family favorite! To change things up a bit, we sometimes set up a huge tent in the house (along with other accessories) for indoor camping.

8. Sensory Obstacle Course

When I hear “obstacle course”, my brain tends to immediately picture a ninja gym or gymnastics floor. However, an obstacle course can be set up anywhere! Sometimes, it might look like my kids shooting water guns at a target (or each other), stepping into buckets full of goo, crawling from one end of the yard to another, and ending with a little shaving cream play. Sometimes, the kids just leap over toys, roll under a table, and hop around on different surfaces. Sometimes, they do somersaults, a certain number of jumps on the trampoline, and then dig in the sand to find toys. No matter the location or the props used, obstacle courses always seem to satisfy my kids‘ sensory cravings! They also tend to be prompts for initiating independent play, which allows me a chance to sit down and catch up on a book.

9. Simple Science Experiments

Make It Rain Experiment

What kid doesn’t love science experiments?! Thankfully, there are hundreds options to copy from Pinterest or Google. The library is also a great resource to check out a book with dozens of ideas. I always look for experiments using ingredients we already have on hand and that can be done in under 15 minutes. What I‘be found is that my kids continue doing the experiment or a similar activity afterward. More independent play time for the win (and usually a bit of a mess to clean up afterward).

“Churning” Butter 🧈

11. Surprise a Neighbor

It can be any type of gift, any time year, and for any reason whatsoever… my kids love to be secret elves. We just come up with something simple, like a baked good or a funny theme or sometimes an envelope of cash for a friend in need. The kids then work hard on the gift and get to be super sneaky when they deliver it. This usually leads to an over-exaggeration of spy or ninja behavior, but they love leaving a gift somewhere on the porch or in an interesting spot in the yard without that friend seeing them. Occasionally, I will have to send a text to let our friends know to look out for something because it was hidden so well.

Thank you for reading! I would love to hear which activities work best in your home to reset your kids’ emotions. Please share in the comments! Also, if you try any of the 11 listed above, please post on Instagram and tag @DrippingWithKids.

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January 17, 2023
Impulse Control (Save Money by Taking Inventory)

Have you ever gone into your drawer and had to search through multiple pairs of black yoga pants to find that ONE pair you really love? I counted recently, and I have 11 pairs of them. ELEVEN! Despite having so many of one type of clothing in my wardrobe, I used to search for deals on black yoga pants every time I went shopping. Until I took a true inventory of what I owned, I just fell back into my regular shopping habits and searched for a deal on what was familiar. I have a feeling you do this too. What items in your closet do you have multiples of? Do you have a dozen pairs of jeans? Several pairs of the same type of running shorts? Twenty t-shirts of the same style?

How about in your pantry or refrigerator? How many bottles of ranch or Italian dressing do you have? How many jars of peanut butter or bags of flour or types of half-eaten cereal? These are items found in most households, and because they’re the “common” items, we often buy more and more of them when we mindlessly shop and fall into routine habits.

Taking inventory is your first line of defense against unintentional spending. Awareness helps you spend less and therefore, save more. After all, even if you find black yoga pants for 50% off or buy another bottle of ranch because there was a $1 off coupon, you’re still spending money on something you don’t currently need.

So, the next time you’re making your grocery list, peek into your pantry and your fridge and take count or better yet, take a picture. Not only will this keep you from adding something to the list that you don’t need, it will prevent you from mindlessly or impulsively buying yet another bottle of ketchup or frozen bag of peas.

Before your best friend and you embark on your next shopping day together, take a count, make a mental note, or snap a picture of your drawer full of jeans, your shelves full of shoes, your rack of dresses and skirts, and your pile of soft graphic tees. Being aware of what you already have will give you that resolve to say “no” when your friend is telling you how stinking cute you look in that #MomLife t-shirt.

A few other categories to take inventory of prior to launching into your weekly errands include:

– Beauty items, such as makeup or hair accessories and products

– Personal care items, including soap, body wash, razors, lotions, and toothpaste

– Towels … oh my gosh, the towels! I cannot even tell you how many times I’ve found amazing deals on soft, luscious, colorful towels at Target and convinced myself that we just did not have enough nice towels in our house. Now that I’m taking inventory, I’m blown away by how many drawers, cabinets, and closets in my house are packed full of every type of towel imaginable.

– Laundry and dishwasher detergents … there are almost always coupons available at the grocery store for these items, convincing you that you should buy more, but remember what I just said. There are ALMOST ALWAYS coupons available when you do actually need to replenish those products.

– Toys! Take a picture of your playroom or your child’s bedroom at its worst and have it handy for when you’re tempted to buy that “must-have” toy that was just marked down.

With all of this being said, I don’t want to discourage you from taking advantage of a great sale or huge discount. As a self-proclaimed frugal shopper, I understand that there are some deals that just cannot be passed up. I completely agree that occasionally, it makes perfect sense to stock up on something if you find an incredible deal and know you’ll be using that item often or that it will get eaten within the next month or two. For example, recently my grocery store was running a 20% discount on organic food items. This included the 24 pack of organic applesauce that my kids love. I already had a stash in my pantry, but because my younger kids each go through 2-3 applesauce pouches per day, I bought all the boxes left on the grocery store shelf. Those boxes full of addictive pouches of puréed fruit are taking up a lot of space on my pantry floor, but when I’m ready to go to the grocery store again, I’ll have a mental image of them being in stock at my house, saving me $12 of mindless grab-and-go shopping next time around.

I hope taking inventory of what’s on your shelves keeps you on the right path of your savings journey. You will likely recognize that you have far more than you truly need, and this awareness will prevent you not only from throwing away extra cash but also save you from being nominated for the next episode of “Hoarders”. Happy Saving!

January 17, 2020
Sunday Surprise (Making the Most of What You Have)

My kids are picky. Even my typically non- picky eaters are picky in their own right. I’ve been dodging complaints all week about certain snacks not being in the pantry or about what I chose to make for dinner, even though, in my opinion, we’ve been pretty well-stocked. I don’t think it matters how much we actually have… my children still think, “there’s nothing here to eat!” (Enter eye roll.)

With that in mind, I decided to start a new tradition at our house, called “Sunday Surprise”. We’ll make a meal out of whatever randomness we’ve got in our pantry or fridge for our Sunday dinner. No special trips to the grocery store to fulfill a recipe, no Chinese food runs, and no resorting to frozen pizza. It’s our new family challenge, similar to the ones I mentioned in step 3 of New Year, New FRUGAL You(9 Easy Ways to Save Money in 2020).

One of my favorite aspects of frugal living is making the most of what we already have and really using up what’s in our house, especially the food. As I mentioned before, we’re relatively well-stocked this week, especially with vegetables, after hosting friends last weekend for gumbo night and a family slumber party. But the items I used tonight are likely in your fridge and pantry too.

With canned corn, potatoes, carrots, celery, a simple meat, milk, and a few common pantry items, you can totally pull off this potato and corn chowder! I had several gold potatoes that were about to go bad and some celery stalks that were on the verge of bending like rubber. I also had some leftover ham slices, which by the way, I recommend adding to your regular grocery list if they’re not a part of the rotation already. (Ham slices are a quick plan B option when dinner plans don’t work out.)

I love to make soups in the winter, and I found a yummy recipe on Pinterest. I just tweaked it a bit by adding about 1/2 cup of water and additional milk to get the texture I wanted. Plus, I also added some of my favorite seasonings and about 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese because, well, cheese makes everything better. https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/leftover-ham-recipes/

The chowder turned out to be delicious, and I had enough to bring to a friend for her family’s dinner tonight as well. The first Sunday Surprise actually worked out, aside from the fact that my picky kids still turned their noses up at it. Ah well, such is parenting. Luckily, I keep plenty of marginally unhealthy kid faves in the house as well.

Unrelated to the soup, I also realized today that we were out of coffee creamer, and I definitely did not want to go to the store just to replace that, knowing that I’d end up buying several other items once I stepped inside. So, I used an empty jar we had previously saved and mixed up half and half, a tablespoon (or maybe a tad bit more) of sugar, and a teaspoon of vanilla. I gave it a good shake and ended up with creamy perfection without having to run to the store.

Homemade vanilla coffee creamer

I would absolutely love to hear how you make the most of what you’ve got in your fridge or pantry, especially if it’s become a great way for you to save money. I am by no means a chef, so there’s no reinventing the wheel in this house. Please share away!

January 13, 2020
9 Easy Ways to Save Money in 2020

Happy New Year! Have you already made your resolutions? Planning to get skinny (errr… I mean “healthy”)? Hoping to read more? Watch less TV? Exercise daily? Go to church more often? Swear in front of the kids fewer times per day??

Those are all good ones, but so far, the single resolution I’ve been hearing the most is “to save money!” Consumerism has taken over and rendered many of us hopeless and hungover in its wake. The year 2020 is the time for change, right?!

What I’ve also been hearing is that most people aren’t sure how to save money. Where could they possibly cut back? Especially when kids are in the picture. That’s exactly where I stood several months ago when I started a deep-dive into the messes of our finances and our spending. I had previously considered myself pretty darn frugal. I only bought clothes and decor on sale. I made my kids share meals when we went out to eat. I had one fewer drink than I wanted to when out with the girls. And my husband and I took joy in repurposing or building furniture rather than buying new. So, where could I possibly cut back without leading a life of “deprivation”? I was already careful with money… so I thought.

Regardless of the doubts I had on whether it would make a difference at all, I decided to set out on a journey of budgeting and tracking our spending. It was difficult at first, and I did not take it seriously, but after listening to a few personal finance podcasts and talking to several friends, I really started to treat it like a true mission. That’s when everything changed! Just in the process of tracking what we were spending, we started saving. A lot. We started saving so much money that I looked back and didn’t understand where it had all gone before. Our lives didn’t even look different. This propelled me and motivated me in such a way that I now want to help others on the same path to changing their lives without changing their lifestyle, to start saving more money for their families and their future, and to see the benefits of frugality.

This list of 9 easy ways to save money in 2020 are just the first 9 things that came to mind when I thought about little changes that a family can make to achieve big wins. Please let me know if they’re helpful at all, and I’d also LOVE to hear your tips on frugal living and financial gains.

1. Track your spending! Pay attention to where every dollar goes. Write it down, dictate it into your phone, use an app, whatever works for you. Then, ask yourself whether that money is going toward what you consider to be most valuable in your life. (This is the hardest but the most helpful step, by the way. Skip it and come back to it if it seems too daunting.)

2. Unsubscribe to retailer emails! All those emails about upcoming sales, can’t-miss offers, and travel discounts seep into your subconscious and encourage you to spend, spend, spend because ya know, it’s a DEAL! Go a month without seeing them and determine whether you are really missing anything in your life that you HAD TO HAVE. If you are, I’m pretty sure you know how to find that retailer’s website or store location again.

3. Take on a challenge! Engage your family (or friends) in a fun money-saving challenge, such as a “spend-nothing week” or “eat everything in the pantry week” or “free-activities month” where you only partake in family fun that’s totally free. (Check out my post on the best parks in the Dripping Springs area to get started on this one.) You could also try “no eating-out month” or “book a family vacation for less than $1000”. Make saving fun, and you might see even bigger results than you expected.

Enjoying the great outdoors!

4. Ask a friend! When you’re in need of something, ask a friend or offer a swap before reaching for your wallet. You can swap clothing, jewelry, kids’ puzzles/toys, books, and so on. You can swap time also: babysitting hours, carpooling/rides, and home organization hours. Doing home projects with a friend is more fun anyway. Maybe you can help clean out your friend’s fridge this week, and the two of you can tackle your shoe collection next week.

5. Call your credit card! Find out what they’re willing to offer you as a loyal customer. Ask and you will likely receive. Do you need a lower interest rate? Do you want your annual fee waived? Are you looking for opportunities to earn more travel rewards?

I no longer wanted to pay the annual fee on the credit card that we’ve had for 10 years and had been paying off every single month, so I called Chase, and after a 6 minute call, my annual fee was credited back to me.

If your ccard company doesn’t have anything to offer you, there are MANY more out there who are happy to give you bonuses and lower rates.

6. Pay attention to your TV habits! Are you watching ALL the channels? Are you regularly taking advantage of ALL the subscriptions? If not, what can you cut? Choose one and cut the cord or call the cable company and ask for a better plan.

Kids today hardly even watch traditional TV… so what are we paying for?

7. Take inventory! Before you shop, be sure to know what you already have. Really take note of what you have in your pantry or in the back of your fridge. Go to your closet and count how many pairs of black yoga pants you have and the # of gray t-shirts and the collection of sneakers, etc. Intentionally taking stock of what you own might keep you from buying yet another.

After No-spend Week: a half-empty pantry!

8. Get the app! Do you always shop at the same grocery store? Download the app, check out the coupons, and take advantage of the featured offers. Do you often stop at your kids’ fave fast food joint? Try out the app, collect the points, and snag some freebies. Do you like getting cash back for what you already buy? Check out the Ibotta app or Rakuten.

9. Watch YouTube! I know, I know… “YouTube” is equivalent to a 4-letter word in my house due to my kids’ obsession with it, but it can truly be a useful tool when something in the house breaks and you want to save money on handyman fees. Or when you want to teach your child something new, like beginning guitar lessons. You can find a DIY video on just about anything on YouTube, so save money while simultaneously winning cool points with your kids.

Thank you for reading about the 9 easy ways to save money in 2020! I plan to blog about this journey often, and I really hope you’ll join me in the challenge to become a new FRUGAL you. I really hope we can all achieve small, and eventually big, wins together. I’m looking for a tribe who can help keep me motivated (and vice versa), who can share these wins, and who will join me for carefree vacations in my future home in the Rockies! 😉

Free family fun in the mountains: sledding!

January 5, 2020
Top 10 Playgrounds In and Around Dripping Springs, TX
Children today may be obsessed with screens and have incredibly busy extracurricular schedules, but unstructured play time at a park really can’t be beat. Sometimes, we’ll spend summer days just hopping from one playground to the next. Often, my kids don’t even need a playground, just an open field to let their imaginations and their bodies soar. While we’re outside, worries and responsibilities drift away, which is why on the playground is where I’d like to spend most of my days. My kids often feel this way too.

If you’re looking for a great playground where your kids (and you) can safely climb, wander, jump, slide, and swing, the list below is for you. If you’re looking for tips on how to convince your child to leave these playgrounds when it’s time to go without resorting to bribery, I got nothing for ya.

Top 10 Playgrounds in and around Dripping Springs, TX

1. Founders Memorial Park: This large park is nestled between our town’s historic pioneer farmstead and the local pool. It includes the coolest swings, three playscapes, a covered pavilion with picnic tables, bathrooms, plenty of parking, a walking trail, and a football/soccer field. (480 Founders Park Road, Dripping Springs, TX 78620)

2. Dripping Springs Sports and Rec Park: Our local 40 acre sports park has a large play structure, shaded picnic areas, indoor restrooms, basketball courts, sand volleyball, walking trails, and soccer and baseball fields. (27148 Ranch Road 12, Dripping Springs, TX 78620)
3. 12 Fox Brewery: With a castle theme, including a long drawbridge and wooden ladder, this playground is very popular with my kids and their friends. There’s also a separate play area with outdoor equipment meant for younger children. Bonus: enjoy a beer, live music, and a taco or pizza while they play.

4. Saddle Tree Ranch Neighborhood Park: An old-school swingset, unique metal climbing structure, modern playscape with multiple slides, tennis courts, and a large field to run wild makes this park the perfect spot to burn off some kid energy. (401 Lariat Cir, Dripping Springs, TX 78620)

5. Caliterra Community Playscape: This fun neighborhood amenity includes a large play structure, trails along a beautiful creek, and an adorable coffee shop open to the public. (Hwy 12 @ Caliterra Parkway)
6. City of Bee Cave Central Park: While not in the city of Dripping Springs, this huge city park is worth the short drive! It sprawls 50 acres and includes two separate playgrounds with different experiences and equipment, covered pavilions with picnic tables, large hills for your inner child and your actual child to roll down until you’re too dizzy to stand up, concrete walking trails, restrooms, a dog park, multiple basketball courts, and open field space for ball play. (13676 Bee Cave Parkway, Bee Cave, TX 78738)

7. Windmill Run Park: This hidden park is tucked back in an established neighborhood, so when you arrive, you’ll be surprised by how large it is. With two large playscapes, a climbing structure, and a swingset, your family can spend hours here. There’s also a nature trail and shaded picnic tables. There are no bathrooms on site, though, so plan ahead. (8100 Kirkham Dr, Austin, TX 78736)

8. Graceland: Technically, this is an outdoor restaurant, but it makes our list because the shaded play areas can’t be beat. So, grab a beer and watch your kids run with glee between the three large structures and playhouses. You can even use the playground when the restaurant isn’t open. (8600 290 West, Austin, TX 78736)

9. Belterra Trinity Hills Park: If you’re looking for a safe neighborhood park with room to run, a playscape to scale, and nature trails to traverse, this is a great spot to spend an hour after school or before an outdoor picnic lunch. (240 Torrington Dr, Austin, TX 78737)

10. Headwaters Play Area: Instead of the typical playscape, this play area feels a bit more natural with a sand pit, grassy hills, cargo nets, hillside slide, and large rocks for bouldering. There’s also a cafe in the amenity center that’s open to the public. (708 Headwaters Blvd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620)

Whether you’re new to the area and looking for a few spots to meet other families, visiting from out of town and exploring our beautiful hill country, or a long-time resident in need of reminders on where to let your kids wander, I hope these suggestions are helpful. Get outdoors and play on!

Find more Dripping with Kids on Instagram @dripping_with_kids or on Facebook at https://m.facebook.com/drippingwithkidsblog/. Also. Check out day trips you can take from the Austin area even more park and playground suggestions.
November 9, 2019
We Fall So Hard (2019 Fall Bucket List)

“Kids… sit still please. Look at mommy. Smile. Don’t throw that pumpkin! Do you want ice cream? Sit on that big, round white one. Say ‘Halloweeeeen’! Look at mommy. I’m right here. SIT DOWN!

Ah, forget it! I wonder if they have wine on this farm.”

If you have at least one mini-human living in your home or did at one time, you know exactly where I was in the heat of the afternoon last October. It’s a rite of passage for both parents and children: the Fall pumpkin patch photos. And as difficult as it can be to get those perfect pics of children in their orange and hunter-green frocks sitting among pumpkins and gourds of various shapes and sizes, I look forward to those pumpkin patch moments all year long. There’s no shame in my game: we visit as many of them as we can throughout the month of October and keep trying for that flawless photo. Those fall festivals and prize-worthy pumpkins are the quintessential representations of the best season of the year!

In my family, we FALL so hard. We anticipate the opening of the Spirit Halloween store as much as a skier anticipates the first snowfall. We covet the most creative dessert at a festival cake walk like a mama covets a hot cup of coffee after an all-nighter with a sick baby. We dream up Halloween costumes months in advance, start decorating with scarecrows and owls in late September, and fill our calendar with as many fall festivities as we can find. My kids come home daily to pumpkin-scented candles burning in the kitchen and mums strategically placed on the porches and tabletops. My husband gawks at our full agenda and questions how we can squeeze in all in, while this Mama is dancing around to “Thriller” and packing picnic dinners, ready to soak in everything my beloved season has to offer.

The endless options of awesome autumn activities, coupled with the natural beauty of the changing seasons, are the reasons why “fall” becomes a verb in our household and has led me to create an annual fall bucket list… I challenge you to FALL so hard with us.

HILL COUNTRY FALL BUCKET LIST –

1. Cross Plants and Produce – Kyle, TX: free pumpkin patch with unique pumpkins, several photo ops, a tree swing, local vendors, and a small store with farm-fresh goodies. Open daily (except Mondays). https://www.facebook.com/Cross-Plants-and-Produce-171346862896636/

2. Dripping Springs Elementary Octoberfest (OCT 26th, 2-5 PM): family festival with petting zoo, inflatables, cake walk, rock wall, carnival games, dunk tank, snow cones, food, and silent auction. http://dsepta.org/fall-fair?

3. Proof and Cooper Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival: carnival, sweet treats, costume contests, live music, and a full restaurant/bar. Open weekends in October. https://www.proofandcooper.com/

4. Vista Brewing – Driftwood: family-friendly brewery with unique beers, farm-to-table seasonal food options, playground, and live music. https://vistabrewingtx.com/vista-food-experience/?v=7516fd43adaa

5. Michael’s MakeBreak Classes: Halloween t-shirts, jack-o-lanterns, Christmas ornaments, holiday trees, etc… you just buy the main item, and the store will supply all the decorations as well as the instruction. https://classes.michaels.com/classes

6. Friday Night Lights: Check out our local highschool football game and possibly a homecoming parade. It’s a full night of entertainment for the whole family for less than $10/ticket.

7. Barton Hills Farm – Bastrop: corn maze, duck races, games, pumpkin patch, slides, scenic photos, farm animals, playground, live music, and more ($16/person, $12 in advance online) https://www.bartonhillfarms.com/pricing

8. Fortlandia at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Explore 10 locally-designed forts, snack at the café, stroll among the flowers in the cooler weather, and play in the sand. (exhibit opens in October) https://www.wildflower.org/event/fortlandia/2018-10-09

9. Haunted House and Festival at Pioneer Town – Wimberley: This evening outdoor haunting is featuring ghouls, ghosts, and other scary creatures not often found in your normal pioneer village and is geared toward adults and older children, but on one Saturday in October, families are welcomed to a spooky fall festival featuring haunts, a creepy petting zoo, crafts for kids, pop-up vendors, live music, food, and beverages. (Daytime cost: $5 for 6+, free for under 5; Evening pass: $10 for 13+, not recommended for young children) https://wimberley.org/event/hauntedhouse-and-fall-festival-at-pioneer-town/

10. Fall Colors , Market Days, and Holidays in Gruene: “Watch as Cowboy Kringle rides into town on horseback and lights Gruene for the Holidays. We’ll be celebrating with live musical performances with festival food and wine available for purchase. Afterwards, get some holiday shopping done and cozy up to a fireplace for dinner at the Gristmill.” Go a little early for photos with Cowboy Kringle, a free show at Gruene Hall, and a stroll through town or along the river. http://gruenetexas.com/holidays.php

11. LBJ State Park and Historical Sites: FREE entry to a living history farm, nature trails, museum, animal exhibits, driving tour through LBJ’s ranch, historical sites/tours, junior ranger program (kids can do workbook activities and earn a badge), and special events. https://tpwd.texas.gov/calendar/lyndon-b-johnson/holiday-cookie-decorating-german-traditions-1

12. Haunted Train Rides & Zoo Boo – Austin Zoo: “Boo at the Zoo is a fun-filled evening for ghosts and goblins of any age. Come dressed in your Halloween finest (no adult masks, please) and enjoy our Zoo-wide event including the Zoo bedecked in Halloween spookiness, our nocturnal animals, an eerie train ride and unlimited passes through our mansion.” Check out the website for pricing and train ride times: https://austinzoo.org/boo-at-the-zoo/

13. Pumpkin Patch at DSYSA Sports Park (Oct 19, 9 am – 12 pm): This FREE event will entertain your kids with fall-themed and soccer-themed games, trick-or-treating, photo opps, and game-watching. Leave a donation for a pumpkin, lemonade, and/or baked goods to support the local soccer program and the youth that love to play.

14. Sweet Berry Farm – Marble Falls: This farm/pumpkin patch is FREE to enter, but you buy tickets for activities, such as flower picking, face painting, scarecrow-building, horseback-riding, and hay rides. Save a bit of money by bringing in your own picnic. https://www.sweetberryfarm.com/index.html

For more ideas and follow along as we visit and review these places, please follow me at http://www.instagram.com/dripping_with_kids and on my Facebook page Dripping with Kids. Thank you for reading!

September 25, 2019