ROAD TRIP!!!!!

People think because we are on a budget and cheap we don't do anything fun.  NOT TRUE! We just find creative ways to make it work.
3.5 hours from our house is a water park.  Gasp, it is even in another province.  We knew that it would be a fun activity for the kids, and being how we aren't doing a traditional summer vacation thought it would be fun.
The night before I packed up snacks and a lunch. I actually packed way too much food to eat during the day.  We had pineapple, pears, peaches, carrots, celery, crackers, 6 water bottles, bananas, turkey sandwiches, granola bars, applesauce to eat inside the park. I was either planning on making lots of friends or spending the day stuffing my face.  We did a bit of both:)
The night before we went to Shell and filled up the car with gas, paying with our Sobeys gift card (this deal better come back this week I am on my last gc) got airmiles, and a free large cappuccino with fill up.
Yesterday was road trip day. We woke up early, put portable dvd player screens in the car for the girls to watch a movie (yard sale find $20 2 screens!) brewed coffee to go for us, and drove away. We spent the drive up counting trailers, listening to Dave Ramsey, the girls watched a movie near the end, and we listened to the best of Hip Hop on free Google Play.  We stopped along the way and got a Mc Cafe for free with our filled coffee stamp card. It was a great drive. 
As soon as we entered New Brunswick we went to the Tourist Bureau and asked if any coupons to Magic Mountain. There was a $10 off a family of 4!  This took less then 3 minutes from off the highway to back on the highway, well worth it.
We spent 4 hours at the water park. When we were done we went to Costco and ordered a large pizza, pop (free refills) and a water for $13.49 great supper price. 
I made a side trip to Value Village and bought New Balance sneakers for the girls $2.49! They have been washed up and look new, SCORE.
On the way home we popped in Shell again to top off the tank, but we are pretty sure we would have made it home on the original tank of gas. We love our Toyota.  Got another free cappuccino and shared it on the drive home.  My hubby listened to the Jays game on the radio, I read a book, and the girls fell asleep watching a movie.  Great affordable day.  Lots of driving yes, 7 hours in a day is a lot. However, we skipped the price of a hotel room and that savings essentially paid for our whole day.

Join Guess Who's Cheap on Facebook  Comment below blog and tell me what you would like to see more of

PRODUCE

Oh my gosh, I am not sure what's going on with the price of produce!!! The past few months I am finding produce is going up in price.  I like to stock up on items when I see a sale and freeze items whenever possible.
Last week we went strawberry picking.  We picked 24 boxes as the picking was good.  The cost was $1.50 a box well worth it compared to the $2.99 if you buy them after someone else picked.  The berries were tasty and fast, easy picking. To prepare them all we had to hull them fast.  A bottle of wine helped this process go a lot smoother (Home Brew of course).
We took most of the berries and froze them into sandwich bags for future use.  Most bags have 2 cups in them.  The rest of the berries we made 25 jars of freezer jam.  We will use some of the jars of jam for gifts throughout the year, such as hostess gifts and token Christmas gifts.
Yesterday I went to the grocery store and noticed a bag of green peppers for half off.  I bought them, it was $2.31 for 4 large green peppers.  When I got home I cut out a few spots but for the most part they were fine.  I chopped the peppers into small pieces to freeze.  I had enough peppers for the kids to have some with their lunch and to freeze 7 sandwich bags with half a cup of peppers.  To many buying half price produce isn't appealing, but it is worth it for the most part.  I also bought bananas close to the end, and peeled them and froze them for smoothies.

Share and comment on the blog. Join Guess Who's Cheap on Facebook

Cheap Snack/Meal Side Dish

Tonight I made Corn Chowder for a yummy and also very cheap meal. 
When I peel potatoes I always save the peelings in a container in the fridge with water. I use them to make Potato Skins.
I microwave the skins for about 5 minutes.
While they are in the microwave, in a frying pan heat up olive oil.
After the 5 minutes, break the peels into small pieces and put in the frying pan.
While they are frying, grate cheese.
While the skins are frying, add pepper, and Italian season to flavor.
When the skins look fried (browned), add the grated cheese.
Turn off the stove top burner, and place a pizza pan on top, cheese will melt.
Serve with sour cream, ketchup. 
***At times I put bacon bits on top, yummy and cheap!

Movies

We don't do grading presents but I do like to have an experience with the girls when school is finished.  We went to Boston Pizza for lunch the day after school ended, bearing their report cards for a free kid's meal.  Then we were planning to attend a movie, Finding Dory.  Going to the theatre is expensive!
I had bought 2 passes at Costco that includes admission and a kid pack.   I bought them online where Costco allows you to register your aeroplan miles and collect miles, and then I paid with MasterCard for airmiles.   I printed it at home and used it for the kids.
While at Boston pizza I told our server we were going to e movies after. He reminded me that they sell movie passes for $8, $3 cheaper then paying at the theatre.   Score, as I had taken advantage of Sobeys offer a few weeks ago and I had $200 in Boston Pizza gift cards. At the restaurant I bought my ticket and paid with the gift card.  
For my husband's ticket I had filled out a McDonald's survey that was sent to me via email when I joined McDonald's Facebook group in January.  There was a code that made a movie $5 when a ticket was bought online. BONUS I could use the scene card for points.
At the theatre I used the 2 Costco kid passes, my pass from Boston Pizza at the conseccion stand and collected Scene points on it all!! The movie was great and felt good knowing the price was cheaper then buying at the theatre.