Need ideas to cut costs!

**mommy4ever** · 01-13-2009, 11:08 AM

This weekend is going to be a pricey one.

We have 2 tournaments in 2 different cities, neither being where we live, meaning 2 nights in a hotel for me, dd9 and dd5, and 2 to 3 nights in a hotel for dh and dd11, depending on if they make finals or not. Both hotels provide a continental breakfast, we will take advantage. I won't shorten our stay to one night as we'll be in the mountains in the winter with lots of wild life, and I don't like night driving as it is.

I am debating on staying a night with my aunt and uncle that live there. My mom has put their kids up many times, but I haven't talked to them in years, I do want to visit with them though. So we'll see. If I can stay a night with them, that'll save me $125.

As to savings, what can I pack with us to save money? I know snacks for the drive obviously. We have a team supper the Friday night. I am thinking making a lunch on the Saturday will help. Of course snacks for the whole weekend will be needed.

I don't know what else to consider. If my dd wouldn't be disappointed I'd see if we could spend the weekend with my aunt and uncle, but part of the fun of an out of town tournament is a hotel stay unfortunately. I know, I could change this, but I chose to keep the one night at least.

**homesteadmamma** · 01-13-2009, 11:22 AM

You're right, sometimes we have to do things that aren't frugal and I think that staying in the hotel for the one night at least is that something. That's the fun of these trips.

-see if you can stay at your aunts for one night
-take bottled water (better if you have your own bottles and fill them at home). We use to travel lots and I always filled a thermos with water and another one with milk.
-make your own meals whenever you can. The continental breakfast - fill those kids up on it.
-take lots of snacks so that you don't run out. Kids love to eat when they are on the road.

**mommy4ever** · 01-13-2009, 11:39 AM

I just spoke to my aunt. I felt guilty calling her after not seeing or talking to her in forever, but she is SO excited, she's planning on coming to the games! She's meeting us there on Friday. I asked if we could get together on Saturday, as Friday is a team supper, and she is very excited. She's never met my youngest, and only seen the older one a couple times, so I made her day. I don't know what will come of it all, but it'll be great to see her and uncle. Maybe even one of my cousins, but I'm not sure if she still lives there anymore. Who knows, maybe it'll be a micro-family reunion. I have another uncle there too, but we don't get along. (I have 17 total on my moms side plus spouses). So we'll see. That should cut down on one meal anyway..lol.

Drinks! Right. I'll get the cooler ready on Thursday and pack it up water bottles, milk, muffins, and other things.

**peanut** · 01-13-2009, 12:43 PM

Maybe pack some homemade granola bars, fruit, veggie sticks, homemade hummus and, possibly crackers. Or some whole grain bagels from the grocery store. We used to use them for lunches on the road...and for snacks whenever supper was late/delayed. Sometimes we'd stop at grocery stores and pick up salads from the delis too.

Jean

**MyMelody** · 01-13-2009, 02:17 PM

Whenever we went on vacation, my dad always brought a smallish cooler. While we kids stayed with my mom at the hotel, he'd drive to a grocery store and get sandwich fixings, chips and chocolate milk. When he returned, we had a "picnic" in our room -- we loved it!

My frugal tip for the continental breakfast is to grab fruit or a few of whatever's prewrapped and to stash it in your tote for snacks later on.

**rowdy35** · 01-13-2009, 02:19 PM

i would make up a cooler full of pop and gatorade for the kids to drink

pack boxes of granola bars, fresh fruit, crackers & cheese, chips, etc. & lots of fun snacks for athletes to much on.

You can bring food to cook at your aunts house too or just go to the local grocery store if you need to

& bring a case of bottled water for the trip

have fun

**brennasmom** · 01-13-2009, 02:22 PM

Could you take a crockpot and make meals? Something easy like nachos and bring a bag of tortilla chips.

**forHISglory** · 01-13-2009, 02:35 PM

Cheese sticks are convenient and give a good protein-full feeling. Sandwiches and fruit are good for the hotel room "picnic". Enjoy yourselves!

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 01-13-2009, 03:25 PM

Typically with hotel stays you have to cancel before a certain point to not be charged, so you couldn't decide on Saturday that you didn't want to stay at the hotel or you would still be charged. At least that is how it works in the US. have fun.

**shoiji** · 01-13-2009, 06:19 PM

Peanut butter and jelly is also an idea for sandwiches. Apples, oranges, bananas also travel pretty well.

That is great about visiting with you relatives. Hope all goes well.

**Minner77** · 01-13-2009, 10:48 PM

So glad you contacted your aunt, but I guess you're still not staying with her?

Just wanted to say, as the mom of a club (read: frequently traveling, playing year-round) soccer player and thus the veteran of dozens of hotel rooms, the novelty *will* wear off!

Wish I had lots of frugal tips for you, but DH is more inclined to just (a) scour the internet for the best deals, even if it means not staying with the team [since we find, strangely, you rarely see them at the hotel anyway]; (b) always choose one with an included breakfast if at all possible [saves precious time and money -- up to $20+ a meal]; take a cooler and bring along our own water, Gatorade, and granola bars, then hit up a grocery for other between-game snacks, using a refrigerator if the room has one and the hotel's ice machine, too. We drive our smaller car instead of our bigger, more comfortable one. Other than that, we eat meals out, except for the sandwiches and coffee we start the journey off with -- expensive, ouch!

Oh yeah, if you have a laptop, bring it to watch movies on in your room and to check tournament postings. DH and DS14 are fanatical about this!

**pbobber** · 01-14-2009, 01:40 AM

When we travel, we always stock the cooler with drinks, sandwich fixings from the deli and I make a pasta salad to take with us (put in a large ziplock). Add some vegie sticks and fruit. Pack a bag with bread, chips, snacks, paper plates, napkins, and plastic utensils. For bread we use hoagie rolls; regular bread always gets smooshed for us

We purchase ice for the initial fill and then replenish at the hotels. If possible make the sandwich meal the evening meal. Eating lunch in a restaurant is more economical than dinner. Plus after spending the day on the go, a quick and easy dinner a nice end to the day.

**mommy4ever** · 01-14-2009, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by Minner77

So glad you contacted your aunt, but I guess you're still not staying with her?

Just wanted to say, as the mom of a club (read: frequently traveling, playing year-round) soccer player and thus the veteran of dozens of hotel rooms, the novelty *will* wear off!

I am a veteran club mom. This is the 3rd of 4th in sports, and the kids always enjoy the hotel. And they spend nearly every waking moment with their team mates. This might be the exception to the rule, but our sport the girls form great bonds.

I don't know if I'll be staying with my aunt or not, I'll know more Friday when I see her. I have the option of checking out early, as per the hotel. THey do exceptions for tournaments. I really would rather not spend the night in a hotel, I never sleep well there. In fact it is rare that even go to the out of town tournaments at all, but since dh and dd11 are in another city, I've not much choice. We typically have 1 per kid per year, however, this year, dd11 has 3 out of town, and dd9 1, ds none. WOOHOO on the none. It is my preference to not travel, but I'm only one parent on the team.

**lanford66** · 01-14-2009, 10:13 AM

We're just getting starting w/the traveling team, but ours is volleyball. As a whole our team is trying to stay within 2-3 hour drive-time that way we won't have the overnight stays. I do agree w/you and the hotels because that way the team can bond together. What great advice everyone has had on how to save w/eating. I'll definately be doing some of their tips!

**Minner77** · 01-14-2009, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by mommy4ever

I am a veteran club mom. This is the 3rd of 4th in sports, and the kids always enjoy the hotel. And they spend nearly every waking moment with their team mates. This might be the exception to the rule, but our sport the girls form great bonds.

I don't know if I'll be staying with my aunt or not, I'll know more Friday when I see her. I have the option of checking out early, as per the hotel. THey do exceptions for tournaments. I really would rather not spend the night in a hotel, I never sleep well there. In fact it is rare that even go to the out of town tournaments at all, but since dh and dd11 are in another city, I've not much choice. We typically have 1 per kid per year, however, this year, dd11 has 3 out of town, and dd9 1, ds none. WOOHOO on the none. It is my preference to not travel, but I'm only one parent on the team.

We don't know if our team is more of an anomaly, but it is what it is -- this not really hanging together. Maybe because they're 14-yr-old boys? (I have three sons, no daughters, so I can't directly relate to girls and their team bonding!

) Some of them get together, some don't, but it's also true that financial situations vary dramatically among the team members, so there's a quiet agreement that people will seek what's best for themselves. What we generally do is agree to meet for lunch or dinner. That seems to satisfy the social need. (If we're really lucky, we're too busy playing additional games, and the boys hang out together as a team watching different teams play in-between their own games. They're old enough that we don't have to supervise.)

I am NOT a fan of tournaments, and hate the traveling (and the hanging around). We live, however, in western SD, and must frequently travel an average of five-six hours to eastern SD to meet our competition. Yes, I whine about it -- but my husband is a much better sport, thank goodness! Fortunately, the next tourney is our own local one.

~Mary