Anniversary on a Budget

This year for our anniversary we decided not to buy gifts or spend money on a vacation. Instead we are having a stay-cation. A stay-cation is a vacation where instead of going away for a few days you stay home and vacation. Stay-cations can be fun if you do it right. Just because you’re not staying at a hotel or in another location doesn’t mean you have to stay at home. Of course we decided to do this in order to save money and stay within our budget. This year we are planning to do a couple things each day we are off work in order to celebrate 4 years of marriage.

The first celebratory event is a concert at LA Live; I'll share more about that tomorrow. We bought the tickets back in April. It’s sort of a late birthday festivity for my hubby as well as an early anniversary celebration. The tickets were a couple hundred bucks total but we bought them before this new budget went into effect so I will let it pass. In addition to this concert, we are also going to use our Disneyland passes and enjoy a day at the park since it’s free. (Employee Perks) We will also follow my tips in my post on How I spend less at the Happiest Place on Earth. I also have a couple events this week that we’ll be attending such as my company picnic and serving dinner at our local shelter. We’re simple people. Yes we do want the finer things in life from time to time but overall our needs are met. I’m excited to have some time off and to spend it with my hubby. We don’t get to do that a lot because we both work full-time but I'm looking forward to sleeping in and lots of cuddling.

These are just couple things we plan to do to celebrate our love. I will probably cook a special meal one of the nights and we may take a trip or two to the beach to enjoy the awesome California weather but all in all we’re content. Oh and there is one thing I do want to clarify, although we won’t be purchasing gifts we will be making gifts. I’m super excited to see what we come up with and I will be sure to be post. Let me know down below how you and your sweetheart celebrate your anniversary on a tight budget. I’d love to hear from you and as always thanks for reading.

How I Spend Less at the Happiest Place on Earth

I love Disneyland but it can be expensive. Especially if you plan to spend the whole day and night at the park. Food by far is the biggest expense. However I will say that in comparison to other theme parks, Disney's food is moderately priced. I usually don't feel like I'm spending an arm and a leg on food when I go. Never the less it's important when I go that I budget my funds since I am on a tight budget. Click here to find out why.  First of all depending on the trip I will limit my meals to a maximum of 1. I do this to really save money and focus my meal selection only on that which will truly provide nutrition.

Eat Before You Leave the House
First I eat a big meal before leaving the house. If I plan to spend the whole day at Disneyland then I eat a big breakfast. I usually will have a big bowl of oatmeal, fruit and a cup of hot tea. Or maybe scrambled eggs with lots of veggies. Pick your favorite meal to eat beforehand and this way when you arrive at the park you can go straight to the rides. If I'm going in the evening then I will be sure to eat breakfast and a hefty lunch. I will usually eat a hot lunch like pasta, chick'n nuggets (soy for me), tacos, etc. This way my 1 meal at the park will be on the lighter side.

Eat a Snack on the Way
For me this is key. I have a fast metabolism so I usually am hungry rather quickly after eating so on the way to the park I will nibble on a snack. This will be something light as I'm usually not starving but want to make sure I keep myself full.

Bring a Refillable Water Bottle

There are so many places to fill up your water bottle in the park that it just doesn't make sense to buy water or drinks. This by far is the easiest way to save money. And if you don't want to bring a water bottle just ask for a cup of water, those are free too.

Pack Snacks

Overall my biggest  and most helpful tip and practice is to pack snacks. It's really simple too. I am less likely to overspend on all the carts and restaurants with tasty treats that will satisfy my eyes but leave my stomach wanting more if I have something to snack on in line.

I bring the following snacks to eat while in line to cut down on costs. These are some yummy items that hold up well in your bag throughout your trip.

• Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches
• Baby Carrots
• Grapes
• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Chips
• Crackers
• Granola Bars
• Jerky
• Nuts (Your Choice)                                                                                            

And that's it. With these tips I'm able to spend less and truly enjoy the Happiest Place on Earth. I hope you are enjoying your Saturday wherever you are. Leave me a comment below letting me know how you spend less at theme parks like Disneyland. And as always thanks for reading!