Tag Archives: Holidays

Relaxation and Good Times out on the Colorado River

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Relaxation and Good Times out on the Colorado River

By Erin

Things are starting to heat up around here and the summer will soon be here! One place that I love to spend my summer days is out at the river. Just about a 4-4/1/2 hour drive depending on traffic and if you stop to grab a bite to eat and take a bathroom break or not. Whether you stay in Parker, Havasu, or just somewhere along the river, it’s always a good time. I have been spending my days at this wonderful place for as long as I can remember.

River Life

A beautiful view awaits right outside the front door. Ready to go out for a float?

River Girls

During the warm summer months, the river is a great place to cool off at with friends and family! It can get pretty busy though, look at all the boats!

River Food

If you’re hungry, one of my favorite places to dine at while at the river is at El Sarape in Parker, AZ. Here is the carne asada plate! It’s so good!

River Fun

A river trip isn’t complete without some cool drinks! Cheers! A boat ride is also customary, there are some fun floating bars and restaurants you can drive right up to and dock your boat at! Shown here on the right is the Roadrunner! It’s fun to go there at night for some drinks, dancing and just hanging out. It’s also a good place to grab some breakfast at!

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Holiday Shopping on a Budget with Sprint and Boost Mobile

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Holiday Shopping on a Budget

By Erin

*This is a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions remain my own*

Holiday Shopping on a Budget with Sprint and Boost Mobile

It’s getting down to the wire, have you finished (or even started) your holiday shopping yet? I still have a few more gifts to get, but I have started! Do you give yourself a budget and stick with it or do you just spend now and worry about it later? I am pretty good at sticking to a budget, but I always love to learn new things on how to do it better.

Last month I attended an event hosted by Sprint and Boost Mobile where we all learned a couple of new tips and tricks on how to stay on budget while finishing the holiday shopping from Aileen Luib at Baller On A Budget.  I also learned about finding a phone and a plan that does not break the bank, so I think I finally know where to shop for our next phones and plan.

Here are some of the tips we learned to spend smart!

  • ​Make a “To-Gift” list: Think of who you’ll actually be seeing during the holidays and add them to your gift list. That way you know how much money you realistically are going to need.
  • Make a master budget: Give yourself a rough number that won’t prevent you from paying your bills or tempt you to use your credit cards. Can you take out $300 per paycheck over the next few weeks to cover the holiday shopping? Or will your holiday bonuses allow you to spend $1,000 on gifts? Know what you have so you don’t overspend and then stick with it.
  • Set a budget for each person: Make a budget for every person on your list and look for alternatives for those with expensive taste. If Mom likes Chanel, get her a lipstick instead of that expensive perfume. Don’t forget! The key to a good gift is being THOUGHTFUL, NOT expensive! 🙂
  • Avoid giving gift cards or cash: (I personally like getting gift cards and cash, but this is something to think about for sure if it works for your situation!) It’s easier to buy a $50 item on sale for $30, but if you guy a $50 gift card, your recipient will still have to pay for the remaining sales tax for the same item. You can always find discounts on items, but gift cards and cash don’t provide the same flexibility.
  • Are you shopping online or in-store? Online shopping allows you to compare prices between stores quickly and easily without wasting your time and gas! If you shop in-store, consider your local outlet malls as they have daily specials that are comparable to Black Friday sales.
  • Plan the right time to buy: If at all possible, wait to buy regular-priced items if you think they will go on sale. Here are some things to remember:  Black Friday– Great for electronics and appliances, Black Friday Preview Sales, Cyber Monday (Online-only sales, great for flights and hotels), Small Business Saturday (Good for speciality items carried by local businesses), Boxing Day (For international online retailers).
  • Shop through online deal clubs: Online deal clubs partner with small businesses to promote their items at a discounted price so that customers can try them out. Items are between $1-$10 in most deal clubs. Here are a few that are free to join: Vipon, Snagshout, Elite Deal Club, Uber Zon Club.
  • Reduce unnecessary Spending: Bring your lunch to work instead of going out everyday. Sacrifice Spotify or Apple Music for 2 months. Satisfy any shopping impulses by purchasing gifts on your list instead of something for yourself. This is the season of giving to others after all! 😉
  • Cut your expenses: Do you really need cable TV if you only use Netflix? Have you tried negotiating any of your bills? Have you thought about switching to a more affordable cell phone service provider? With Sprint you can lease a new iPhone XR for Mom with $0 today on an 18-month lease. Unlimited plans start at $60 a month. The Unlimited Plus Plan also includes features like TIDAL music streaming and Hulu! Regardless of what plan you choose, you will have access to Sprint’s nationwide network, high-speed data and unlimited international text.

  • If you don’t want to jump into a contract then Boost Mobile is for you! Offering pre-paid plans starting as low as $30 a month. That way you can just pay as you go. All plans provide you with unlimited data, talk and text and 99 percent nationwide coverage. For a limited time, new customers can get four lines of unlimited data, talk and text for only $25 per line per month.
  • Make More Money: Get creative! Here are some ways to scrape up some extra cash! Sell handmade goods on Etsy, offer yard services around your neighborhood, Babysit for friends and family, walk dogs on Rover or Wag, Take surveys on Quick Thoughts, Have a garage sale, or sell unwanted items on eBay.

Do you have any special tips or tricks to stay on budget during the holidays? I’d love to hear them if you do! Happy Holidays!

Thoughtful Gifting for the Holidays with Thoughtfully!

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Thoughtful Gifting with Thoughtfully!

By Erin

There’s a new gifting experience much more exciting than traditional gift baskets. Thoughtfully believes that a gift should last long after the beautiful wrappings that just get torn away. A truly thoughtful gift is a story – a curated adventure that is perfect for each special individual in your life. Gift Thoughtfully to your friends and family and let them taste, see, smell, and experience the stories of Thoughtfully.

For birthdays and Christmas, I put a lot of time and thought into each gift I lovingly give. For Christmas I make a list of everyone I need to buy gifts for and what I’d like to get them. Making people smile is one of the best parts of the holiday season and when giving someone a special gift on their special day. Finding that perfect gift to give someone though is not always easy. Some people are just harder to shop for you know?  So how can you gift thoughtfully, stay within your budget, and get it all done on time, and better yet, do this all in the comfort of your own home? Shopping at home in your pajamas while enjoying a cup of coffee or wine is the best. Well at least I think so!

This is where Thoughtfully.com comes into play. Thoughtfully is a company whose passion is to create a new gifting experience that’s much more exciting than traditional gift baskets. Thoughtfully gifted me with my own Birthday Cup Cake gift box, beautifully wrapped and presented. The colors of this drew me in at once, and I just loved the mug! But first…. take a look at the thoughtful packaging it comes in.

gift-thoughtfully-birthday-cup-cake

You can tell that Thoughtfully put a lot of thought into all of the littlest of details with each and every box. Every tiny detail has been thought of when packing and shipping these beautiful gift boxes. Each one comes with a little pull card at the top of the box that tells you about the theme and has a story, the Pay It Forward card, and a cute flier that creatively lets you know about all of the contents inside of your box.

What’s inside the ‘Birthday Cup Cake’ box? Take a look! Isn’t is pretty?

thoughtfully-birthday-cup-cake-box

Such beautiful, shiny, colorful packaging and boxes! Each item was wrapped individually so nothing could break in shipment and packed in a sturdy box that lets you know it is from Thoughtfully but does not giveaway what’s inside. Everything was so bright and colorful too!

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