Monkeying Around at the Zoo.

Our family kicked off the new year by visiting the Santa Ana Zoo, which is right off the 5 Freeway and easily accessible to most IE families. Because it was our first time, we did not know what to expect in the way of food prices so snacks were packed for our toddler and we ate lunch before going in (very Frugal-Fairy-ish, if I do say so myself).

It was a pleasant surprise to learn what a fun and affordable outing this zoo is. Admission is only $6 per adult and even less for children. The food options were impressively priced as well, with a burger, drink, and fries all for less than $5 bucks, candy, ice creams, and much more for no more than  you would pay at a snack shack. An added plus was the authentic Mexican food for cheap.

Top Ten Greatest Things:

1. Free Parking

2. Cheap Admission

3. Affordable, yummy food.

4. A large, safe playground next to the eating area with plenty of room for kids to run off energy after lunch.

5. An interactive farm-style exhibit where children can roam free while feeding and playing with safe animals (handwashing station included).

6. An electric train giving witty tours of the park for a small fee.

7. A shiny carousel full of all kinds of creatures for kids to ride – again, you must buy tickets but this keeps admission costs down.

8.  More monkeys than you could shake a stick at, and a wide variety of other animals to enjoy.

9. Lots of safe, clean, open space for families to play and rest during their visit.

10. The park is just big enough to last all day but not so overwhelming that you feel rushed from place to place.

Well, instead of zipping from place to place in search of good deals, I’ve been trying to survive Holiday travel while containing my one year old daughter – all against the backdrop of dizzying morning sickness (which  should be more aptly called “24/7 sickness”). That’s right, baby number two is on the way! While the beginning months have been somewhat debilitating, our family is both blessed and thrilled to ring in the new year with such wonderful news. All emotional mushy stuff aside, on a practical level I now have another reason to spend wisely. By this time next year we will have another tiny person in our home who requires food, shelter, supplies, health care, time and love.

In light of this new development, I find myself reflecting on my reasons for frugality. What is the purpose of being “smart” with money, anyway?

For me, it is a way to enjoy life more. When I save money on a regular basis, I decrease my family’s cost of living and increase our quality of life. Believe it or not, less time is spent crunching numbers and worrying and more time is spent enjoying loved ones and good times. More importantly however, it is a way to live our faith. As followers of Jesus Christ, my husband and I aim to display that we do not value things but instead value the love of God. By living wisely and not lavishly, we enable ourselves to help others. Whether it is a close friend in time of need or a charity that brings food and hope to people worldwide, money can bring much opportunity to show love. My family is thankful to God for all that we have been given so to squander it would be very unfortunate.

And so, Frugal Fairy followers, I ask you to also reflect: Why save?

Perhaps your religion or family motivates you, too. Or maybe your life goals. Whatever the driving factor, the bottom line is that everyone likes a little more change in their pocket. As 2009 begins, I hope you are filled with happiness and hope and savings.

P.S. My resolution is to be a more faithful fairy blogger. Stay tuned.

This week's treasures from my 99 Cents Only Store!

Frugal Fairy Tale:

I must confess that the 99 Cents Only Store is my first frugality love. We were acquaintances throughout childhood, seeing one another now and then for a bag of candy or a small toy. Officially, however, we met in college when I found myself needing to purchase odd items such as paperclips and cleaning sponges with my own hard earned money (Rude College Awakening # 1: Things like scotch tape, tooth paste, notepads and toilet paper do not simply appear in your home.) Call me crazy, but spending any substantial amount of cash on these items was not appealing, causing me to start a somewhat regular relationship with good ol’ 99 Cents Only Store. As fate would have it, our love has grown into an eternal flame of true faithfulness (perhaps an exaggeration).

SILLY MYTH – Contrary to popular belief, these stores are not full of broken or rotting merchandise. I have actually asked a 99 Cents Only Store manager about this accusation and she responded by explaining that NO store is allowed to sell out of date, decayed, or broken items to the public. This is especially true in regards to food; expired items are removed from the shelves.

HOW THE STORE WORKS – 99 Cents Only Store purchases many products in bulk and then breaks down the items into resale quantities. This mainly applies to non-perishables such as office or cleaning supplies and household materials (decor, paper goods, etc.).

Additionally, the store receives overstock from grocery stores and other retailers. This mainly applies to food items. For example, Campbell Soup company put pink packaging on many of their soups last October for a breast cancer awareness promotion. When the promotion ended, many grocers removed the decorated cans from their shelves because they were “out of date” and sent them to overstock stores such as 99 Cents Only Store. The soup has the same shelf life as any other can but is now cheaper.

HOW NOT TO GET RIPPED OFF – Many people confess that the hardest part of shopping here is the temptation to buy unnecessary items. It is very easy to stop in for tooth brushes and leave with 6 new picture frames, some scrap booking supplies, 2 candle holders, a package of cookies and some stationary (not that I’ve ever done that before, cough). Stick to your list and only “fall prey” to good deals on things that can benefit you and your family.

MY ADVICE -

• Look for brand names, there are many to be had. This is a good method of quality control with food items. Some off brands are just as good as mainstream, others should be avoided (a little trial and error is required at times).
• Ask a manager when their food shipments arrive throughout the week and shop accordingly. For me, Thursday mornings are the best time to find plenty of fresh salads and fruit.
• Pay attention to packaging and quantities to make sure you’re getting a good deal. Individual drinks like canned soda or teas are often over priced and can trick you into spending more than you would at a regular grocery store.
• If at first you don’t succeed, well, you know the rest – Don’t give up. Try browsing the store nearest you on different days. If you’re still seeing no good deals, try a new store location. When you are saving over half on many regularly needed items, you’ll be glad you stuck with it.

And now, drum roll please, a list of items I have purchased at the 99 Cents Only Store…….

Large box of Nestle After Eight Chocolate Thinmints, large container of Bryers Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Back-to-Nature Organic Mint Oreos, packs of Sharpe permanent markers, mini seedless watermelons, cantaloupe, honeydew, Reynolds foil, standard sized bags of Popeye Spinach and Dole Salad mixes, Switch Soda, Sargento Cheese, organic cherry tomatoes, Circo baby socks, hats, and tights for my daughter, wow……. good times.

Enjoy!

As a stay at home mom who is feeling the financial crunch of our economy now more than ever, I am determined to find easy ways to save money in everyday life. From groceries and gifts to diapers and dates, I am flying the land of Southern California in search of good deals that don’t sacrifice quality or sanity (No clipping coupons for discounts on used socks allowed!)- And I invite you to follow suit.

Look forward to posts full of frugality tips and discount secrets that will create some spellbinding savings!