I didn’t go shopping this week. Instead, we took a family road trip to Oklahoma City and Tulsa. We had a specific budget we’d set ahead of time for our trip and we had fun creatively sticking with it — while enjoying some fun and memorable experiences, too.
(I think my driving “skills” freaked the guy out who was manning the segway booth. He would not let go of it for the life of him!)
We had some fun firsts on the trip. We rode segways, fed turtles and touched a shrimp, sea cucumber, shark, starfish and sting ray.
Feeding turtles
And there were some not so fun firsts. Like our first time of being straight in the path of a tornado and thinking we were going to experience a direct hit.
We hid out in the hotel’s storm shelter and guess who was there with us? The executive producer for Discovery Channel’s Storm Chasers show.
Needless to say, the fact that he and his team believed we were also going to sustain a direct hit was not too comforting! Eight minutes before the tornado reached us, it changed directions and then petered out. We all breathed a huge collective sigh of relief, but were so sad for the many others who were in the path of the storm. 🙁
Next week, I’ll be sharing posts on how to pay cash for a vacation, how to get a great deal on a hotel and how to stay organized and save when traveling with young children — along with more pictures from our trip. Stay tuned!
Did you snag any great deals or bargains this week or save money in other ways? If so, be sure to post about them on your blog and leave your link below. Please remember that this weekly round-up is to share deals you personally got and/or money you were able to save this week. In order to keep this weekly round-up focused on helping and inspiring others in their efforts to save money, links which have little-to-no content other than promoting affiliate links, etc. will be deleted. Also, to make it easy for everyone to navigate quickly through the links, your link must link directly to your Super Savings Saturday post.
So glad you all had fun and a bit of excitement even if it was a little scary at times too. It will be memorable! I look so forward to your travel on a budget tips. In three weeks we are road tripping for 5500 miles. We so need this vacation and had a nice savings for it, but something came up and we chose to borrow a chunk from this fund. So we will be a little extra thrifty now, so any advise will be wonderful.
Also, we are going to legoland california as part of the trip. My son gets the lego club magazine. This last copy had a free kids entrance to the park with an adult purchase. I would love to have one for my daughter as well. Anyone who gets the magazine and will not be using their coupon this year, if you don’t mind emailing me and sending it my way, I would greatly appreciate it. I can send you a dollar to cover the postage. My email is deesselisa@yahoo.com.
Thank you again Crystal for your blog and your online community that you have created. I have really enjoyed discovering it.
I’m so jealous but happy for you that you got to meet the Storm Chasers! Sounds like you had a great trip but I’m curious about how much you actually saved on your vacation….and can’t wait for the upcoming posts on vacation planning!
Your kids are beautiful and growing up so fast! Glad you were not in the path of the tornado!
We had a garage sale this weekend and that is helping to pay for our small vacay to Door County, we also have been using Dave Ramsey’s Envelope system and of course vacay is one of the slots even if its a mini trip its soo worth it to unwind. We were in our basement because of the storm also they had one spotted near our small town, very, very scary, my heart breaks for those hit by them!
It looks like you had a great time!
Thank you for taking time out for your family and then for sharing it with us! So glad you had a great time and you were safe.
Looks like a fun trip! After living in Tulsa for 10 years and then moving away, we often come to visit friends and family (like this weekend). I forget about all the fun things there are to do and explore.
Hope you made it to the Jenks Riverwalk and Aquarium. I know it’s too late now, but did anyone tell you about “the center of the universe” in downtown Tulsa? I remember going there a few times in college, I am sure it is not really the center of the universe but it was fun trying to find the location with friends. 🙂
Crystal, so glad that you and your family are safe and enjoying your road trip! Stay safe and have fun as you finish up your vaca!
And as always thanks so much for being a budget inspiration, really looking forward to your post on how to save on vacation, we are doing a road trip to Colorado in August and I really want to do it with cash!
Thanks again 🙂
What a beautiful family you have!! Looks like a lot of fun!
I just feel sorry for Silas stuck in the back of the van all by himself! Poor kid…does he have to fend for himself if he loses something? My kids are the exact opposite, with the 2-year-old where I can reach him and the 4 & 5- year-old in the back row.
We’ve tried different arrangements and this one seems to work best for right now. We tried to travel mostly when it was Silas’ naptime and I rode back in the back with him for the trip home so I could dole out snacks and books and toys and keep everyone happy!
Oh, well good! I’m the only adult in my vehicle so if I can’t toss it to the kids then they’re out of luck. It looks like you had a fun vacation! I’m enjoying my own little “staycation” with my kids this weekend!
My daughter has the same rainbow shirt. Gotta love Target sales!!
Your children always look so happy and full of life! They are so adorable! Silas has a little mischevious smile though, which is beyond precious!!
Looks like a fun trip! We’re hoping to pay cash for a moderate (domestic) family vacation this summer as well!
What great pictures! You have such a beautiful family : )
Oh my goodness, you are so slim and gorgeous! 🙂 And your children are soo adorable.
Thanks for sharing, you are so inspiring to me!
loved your picks. Your family is beautiful. My guys are 19 and 23 and not that into family road trips, but they were great fun when we did them. Glad you were not in the eye of the storm!
What a beautiful family!
looking for a blog that has deals in detroit area. thank you
http://www.bargainstobounty.com is a wonderful site. She posts a lot of grocery store deals and local stuff too. I am in Northern MI but use her Meijer matchup. It’s the best!!
looks like a fun trip! we had a crazy night of tornados in indiana too… no fun at all. at my university, over 300 trees fell as a result of the storm- the worst damage in 30+ years. it was crazy but thankfully injuries to people of the area were minimal.
I’m so thankful you and everyone in your town is safe. It was a scary storm week!
Lovely pictures!! Looking forward to your tips on family trip, since we’ll be on the road in 3weeks!
Have a wonderful and safe family trip!
I got some great deals on Mexican foods this week at Meijer, and then Kohl’s emailed me a $5 off your purchase and 15% off your purchase coupon which could be used together so I got my 4yo two pairs of flip flops for $.91.
I also got two packs of Breyers ice cream for $1.49 each and taught my 4yo a lesson about why mommy shops sales and coupons to spend $1.49 on ice cream that will be enough for 8 ice cream cones, instead of spending $2 on just one treat from the ice cream truck!
I’m glad you all are having a wonderful vacation. What precious memories!
Glad you had a great time, my kids love the aquarium too! Can’t wait to catch up!! 🙂
So glad you and your family were safe. Your little ones are adorable!
Thanks for all you do.
Glad you are all safe. What an adorable family! I am looking forward to your next post since we will be traveling with our 3 kids (ages 8, 4 and 1) to Kansas City, KS at the end of June. Taking them to the KC/Cubs game but also trying to find some low cost entertainment and dining options. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
One of our favorite free things to do in KC is the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead: http://www.opkansas.org/Things-to-See-And-Do/Deanna-Rose-Childrens-Farmstead
We will have to check it out. I meant to say KS, MO but I know they are so close.
I doubt if YOU scared him too much. It’s probably because even the inventer died when riding one that they want to take extra precautions.
Love all the pictures! You have a precious family 🙂
Looks like you had a lot of FUN!!! 🙂 Thanks for the link up!
Such a beautiful family!! Looks like it was a good time! I hope they are back to feeling 100%
They look so cute 🙂 Looks like you guys had a lot of fun.
So glad you had a great time in our wonderful state! Even a bonus tornado thrown in. Glad you all were safe. There is much more to see and do here if you ever want to treck back. 🙂
So happy that God kept you and your family safe! I would have been freaked out too. Glad you had a good time. Great pix. Thanks for sharing. Your family is beautiful.
Looking forward to vacation tips with children. We’re leaving in a week and a half for my sister-in-laws wedding. We opted to fly since it would have been a 24 hour drive (over 3 days). We’ve saved up the money, have a budget, and are paying cash. 🙂
I saw your kid’s clothes in bags for each day in a post earlier in the week. I love that idea and I’m planning on doing that with my kids’ clothes (4 and 2).
We did the clothes in a bag when we went to Disney World a few years ago. I put coordinating hair accessories in as well and it made getting ready so much easier.
So glad it’s been a good and safe trip for you all! Hubby and I are going on a several-day camping trip without the little guy later this summer, and I’ve enjoyed looking for deals on food for the trip the past few months. I have a list of food we want to take with us as road food and as camping food, and I’ve been stocking up on those items when I can. When Chex Mix was free at Rite Aid a few months ago, for example, I “bought” a few bags (and then stashed them away so we wouldn’t be tempted to eat them before the trip!). Thank you SO MUCH for teaching me about couponing, finding deals, etc. It’s helped in many ways, and this trip is just one example — we’ve been on this same trip several times, but it definitely will cost less this year, and that’s largely thanks to YOU! 🙂
Beautiful family, love the photos. One of our families favorite things to do is road trips. Loved your write up on your trip, we also find that with a little planning, there are really affordable and wonderful weekend trips we can make with the family (gas is the biggest cost these days :-).
I love family roadtrips! You’re going to have some great memories.
Perfect timing!! We’re going on a small vacation (4 days at the beach) in almost 2 weeks. And although I’m really excited to get away and be with just my husband and the kids – I’m not looking forward to spending money!! I’m excited to learn some more tips and tricks. Thanks!!
Super excited for you tips on traveling with young ones! We are driving from Kansas to Florida in July (yep- 22 hrs). I am most interested food you packed for lunch and how you did drinks. Thanks for all your hard work and I am happy to know you are all safe and enjoyed you vacation!
It was an exciting week for weather here in Oklahoma. It think many of use spent time in storm shelters and closets hiding out. I am glad that you were able to avoid the worst of it. It looks like you went to the aquarium in Tulsa. I hope you had a great time. My kids love going there.
Looks like a lot of fun!!
Thanks Crystal. So glad you had fun on vacation…and that you stayed safe with all the storms! Can’t wait to hear more about your trip!
You went to Jinx Aquarium and the Science Museum?? Awesome!