My trip back from a couple of conferences and family visits took some 17 hours from door to door, thanks to the first plane leaving almost two hours late. Boy, was I ready to be home.
And boy, was I glad that we live only about six minutes from the airport. A guy with whom I chatted during the delay told me he still had to drive to Ninilchik, Alaska, after we landed. That’s more than 180 miles south of Anchorage. All I had to do was look for DF’s car outside the baggage claim area.
Thursday found me somewhat punchy, since long trip + fewer than five hours of sleep = dormant brain cells. But I made it a point to get back on track, money-wise.
Two weeks of swiping a card for hotel rooms, meals out and other fun stuff can really round off one’s frugal edge. How easy it would have been to think, “so tired no sleep going out for lunch.” Instead, I made a pitcher of iced tea, boiled some eggs, cooked a pot of lentils, paid my bills, unpacked my suitcase, and threw in a load of laundry and hung it outdoors.
These homey chores grounded me. Put away all the stuff you brought home from the conference so the clutter doesn’t mess with your head. Do your wash so you have enough underwear. Pay your bills, so you know how much you have to work with until your next quarterly paycheck.
Bills, bills, bills
To be clear, this was not self-punishment but rather a return to reality. Most of the year I use all sorts of frugal hacks to keep expenses low. Saving where I can lets me spend where I want.
In this case, it meant traveling to speak at two conferences and then tacking on visits to family members. But it was time to get smart about money once more.
Fortunately I had a $2,047 financial cushion: The Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend was direct-deposited on Oct. 1, the day I returned. It would have been $2,072 but I had arranged to donate $25 to the Alaska Food Bank.
Just as well it arrived, though, because a couple of credit-card bills had also arrived — and they were a lot higher than usual because of my trip. On the bright side, they’re both rewards credit cards so I will get some more points toward my holiday shopping. (Think “gift cards.”)
Two other bills, one dental and one medical, had also arrived. Taking care of the medical one Thursday landed me an unexpected discount: In honor of its being PFD day, the practice offered 20 percent off to those who paid their bills in full.
Having them chop off a little over $40 was very gratifying indeed. Now I just have to make sure to finish up those lentils.
Related reading:
- The frugal sybarite
- Things I no longer buy
- Some things are worth the cost
- Scenes from a frugal weekend
OK; you have motivated me. I’ll get up from this computer and do some work.
Happy to help!
Welcome home!
And thank you for the play-by-play on Frugal Re-Entry. It’s timely for us, as we’re taking a trip in a couple of weeks. We have set aside enough money to splurge a little, and I appreciate the tips on how to return to a frugal routine after a disruption!
Number one on my hit parade: Have something in the cupboards/freezer that you can throw together easily, e.g., a container of homemade soup, some canned (or cooked-and-frozen) beans plus tortillas, or whatever your favorite easy (but still delicious meal) happens to be. When I get home it’s so tempting to keep eating out, but even for just one person that could mean another $10 ding to the budget. Being able to get back into regular eating habits is a big help, too.
Hope you enjoy the trip.
I am going on vacation for the first time in years!
I know the feeling about money. I am getting my room free, but there’s food and gas and entertainment to think of. My friend and I eat out only once a day; we cook in the time share’s kitchen for the other two.
But I figure that once every five years I need the splurge.
Exactly my point: Budget for your trip and don’t feel guilty. You worked for this.
If you belong to any rewards programs (Swagbucks, My Points, et al.) or have a rewards credit card, consider cashing in for some restaurant scrip. I ordered a Panera card for the Charlotte trip and brought bagels back to the room each morning so my daughter and I could eat. When I visit my daughter in her neck of the woods, I cash in for a couple of restaurant cards so I can take them out to eat.
Food gift cards are so helpful when traveling. My favorite ways to save on eating out include making a nut bread (like banana/nut) and having it in the room with the provided coffee. I always ask for more coffee, too. If there is an “executive floor”, I show my business card (I have my own small, small business) and ask very nicely if I can have a pass to that executive floor. That is the key for entry into the hot breakfast and evening hot food and drinks (including bottles of water). These things have really saved me money no matter how many days I’m away.
You are amazing to get right back on the home-front frugal saddle once you returned home. Very inspirational!!
Your reentry meal is so inspiring! Am eating up stuff from the ‘fridge tonight, including frozen cioppino from TJ and the last of lettuce before it composts itself. Also last of a loaf of Dave’s organic bread (sale) that dates from, ahem, before Labor Day. It toasted up nicely!
I am going to see my mom and brother on the east coast in a couple weeks and will be thinking of all your hacks. I did get the flight free with thank you rewards from credit card (okay, saved up for 1 – 2 years) and the car rental. Now i just have to wait another 2 years for free fare. It does mean I can prevail on my mom to LET ME TREAT HER to dinners since it is a free trip. We always end up tussling over this but it is MY TURN. She is 89! She deserves everything as does my brother who lives nearby and makes sure all is well.
Wow, I didn’t know about the APFD — how cool! and well timed 😉 It must be cold and beautiful up there – pristine! — we are heading back up to 99 stinkin’ degrees by the end of the week in SoCal, so enjoy!
My father and grandfather always fought over who got to pay for lunch when we met in Delaware (halfway between New Jersey and Maryland). Grandad won most of the time once he got a senior discount. Thanks for the memory.
Aww, i love those memories! And yes, senior discount rules! It’s a “happy” fight, right — one we can feel lucky to be able to have.
Oops, yammered on so much I forgot my main point: how great you could talk yourself into the smart decision and not listen to the eating out demon ! My biggest income suck is eating out, for which I can find many excuses(it’s Monday, I am tired, It’s Tuesday, phew, work sucked, It’s Wednesday and hump day broke my hump, etc, etc.). And after a 17 hour trip — wow, that is really great! That is what inspired me so much. I am going to try and remember this upon my reentry. Thank you!
After a lifetime of frugal living, husband and I are doing very well in retirement and we travel like crazy. One wants a certain amount of indulgence on vacations, that’s part of the fun. But it feels great to get back to prudent living when you recross the home threshold. It’s putting on your home “skin” again. 😀
My “home skin” — yep, that.
MAN 17 hours…..I would have been a wreck…I flew back from DD2’s place out West and it took 13 hours and I felt like I “walked home”…I was beat and was kind of “sluggish” for a couple of days. AND I share your pain with the CC bills when you get home….they can be quite “sobering”….
You are the energizer bunny:) Re-entry dinner is either out to the local grill which is about $10 a person or cereal and almond milk. Regular milk would be stinky cheese after a week.
It sounds to me like you were glad to be home and doing what you love to do …. live frugal! It is always nice to get away but it sure is nice to come home to your own comforts. I am sure that it was great seeing all the family and friends before your long winter sets in.
Yes. While it’s fun to see everyone, the need to keep looking for food becomes tiresome. When you’re in a hotel you have to go out and get it or have it sent in, and when you’re in someone else’s home you feel odd about rummaging around in a strange kitchen.
And of course I missed DF fiercely. Missed my niece and her boys, missed my friend Linda B., missed looking outside and seeing mountains. It was a bit odd to get off the plane and see snow, but I found I’d missed that, too. (It’s all since melted down here on the flats, but not for long.)
Travel is such a balancing act for me: I like seeing family and friends but being away from DF for too long hurts. I’ll be home for a good long while now.
oh I like the food gift cards tips! why didn’t I think of that?? im saving up my miles (debit card not credit card so no debt) for a trip I might take next year. Been looking at ways to save to be able to travel and stretch the dollars. Prolly going to plan my trip for summer