One Trick That Can Save You Hundreds On A Hotel Room

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Later this month, my wife and I have tickets to see Metallica at the brand new, 1.1 Billion dollar U.S. Bank Stadium. The stadium is the new home of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, and the concert will be one of the very first events there. We’re excited for the concert, as well as to get a look at the new stadium. We didn’t want to have to deal with traffic and parking downtown, especially given the event taking place. The concert would also run late enough into the evening that we didn’t want to drive home afterwards. So, we were […] Read more »

3 Rules You MUST Follow When Shopping

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I love lists. I mean, I really really love lists. Especially when shopping. To me, going shopping is like a military mission. I have my orders…I mean my list, I get in, fulfill my orders, and get out as quickly as possible. Having a list has several advantages: It keeps me on track. I know what I’m supposed to buy and give me a clear path to success. A list is representative that there has been a discussion regarding what we can afford and that we have properly weighed value against cost. A list, and a plan, is sometimes not […] Read more »

Is Professional Carpet Cleaning Worth the Cost?

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As we reach the 12 year mark since we built our home, we find things are starting to show signs of wear, and a possible need for replacement. On the top of that list is the carpeting. With two cats and two children that have grown up within the walls of the house, there are spots in every room and the stairs were a disaster. We clean the main rooms of our home once a year on average using a carpet cleaner we purchased at Walmart. It does a decent job, but it won’t get out really tough stains, and […] Read more »

4 Steps To Have Your Luggage Checked For Free

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I’m a big fan of convenience while traveling by air. My preference would be to check my luggage, and walk onto the airplane with nothing but my laptop bag. I wouldn’t have to try to find a place for a carry on, nor would I have to retrieve it through a sea of people trying to do the exact same thing in a very cramped space. That being said, it’s ridiculous to have to pay to check a bag. Almost every major airline does it. Obviously they’re doing it to raise revenue, but it’s like saying, “Thanks for using our […] Read more »

Vacation Meal Planning Adventures

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My family and I are currently on vacation with some friends and family. We packed up our vans and started our adventure last Thursday, taking a couple of days to drive from Minnesota to Florida. During our 3 day trip across the country we had no choice but to eat out. Eating at restaurants is not my idea of a great use of my funds, but in this case there wasn’t any way of avoiding it. However, once we got to Florida, we’re staying in a large rental house with a full kitchen. On the night of our arrival, we […] Read more »

Are Airline Ticket Change Fees Negotiable?

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I recently bought plane tickets for my son and I to go to Austin, Texas for a video game tournament. After some discussion the next day, we purchased two more tickets for my wife and daughter to make it a short get away for the entire family. We were scheduled to fly out Friday morning, and get home late Sunday night. As my wife and I discussed the logistics of the trip, she realized that with all the tournament activities, we wouldn’t have much time to do things with our son. She regretted not booking the trip to start a […] Read more »

Quality, Inexpensive Clothes CAN Be Found At Club Stores

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I’m not into brand names. I’m definitely not into brand name clothes; example: paying hundreds of dollars for a pair of jeans. My butt looks just fine without bling across the back pockets. I’m more than content cruising the aisles of Walmart, Target, Old Navy and the occasional trip to Kohl’s when I can combine a 30% off coupon with sale prices. I do recognize that occasionally I do sacrifice some amount of quality in favor of paying less. For the most part, I come out ahead for my money. Sometimes I get a cheap pair of shorts that rip […] Read more »

Make Your Valentine’s Day Gift Be About Value

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Unless you haven’t looked at a calendar lately, you’re aware that Valentine’s Day is less than a week away. If you have a significant other you may already have a gift purchased or plans made to give a little extra attention to that special someone in your life. Some people choose to not celebrate Valentine’s Day, seeing it as just another commercial holiday pressuring people to buy stuff. That’s actually a fairly accurate description in my opinion, and that’s great if you and your loved one share that perspective. Others are looking for inexpensive ways to celebrate the day and […] Read more »

The Unbelievable Thing My Wife Said, and How It’s Going To Save Us Hundreds Of Dollars

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My wife said something to me this weekend that blew me away. I could barely believe my ears. It got me excited….really, really excited. I’m telling you, what she said was HOT. Now, you might be reading this, and on the verge of throwing this post into the category of “Too Much Information.” But stay with me, I know that you’ll appreciate it. Vonnie and I decided to go out to eat on Thursday night, heading to our favorite steakhouse. She ordered her usual steak, the filet. When it arrived, she cut it open to ensure it was cooked as […] Read more »

How I Saved 45% and Got Free Yoga Pants At Lane Bryant

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I had been shopping with my wife for nearly four hours when we walked through the doors of Lane Bryant. She was looking for some new clothes, but was encountering some trouble finding what she was looking for. Within a few minutes of walking in the door, she found several things she wanted to try on. When she looked at the prices, however, she thought they were a little more than she was willing to spend. I pointed at a sign advertising a “Buy One, Get One 50% Off” sale. The smile returned to her face and she excitedly headed […] Read more »

Can You Use Expired Kohls Cash?

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My wife and I drove to Kohls on Black Friday to look for some long sleeved shirts for our son. He needed a winter wardrobe refresh (darn teenagers grow like weeds) and the shirts were advertised at 75% off. We made sure we had the coupon we got in the mail for an additional 15% off, as well as a $20 Kohls Cash coupon we had received a few weeks ago from buying a new Keurig coffee maker. On our drive to Kohls, my wife noticed that the Kohls Cash had expired. My wife shook her head in disbelief. This […] Read more »

The Inner Workings of Married People Dates: Coupons, Frugality, and Stealing My Wife’s Roast Beef

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It’s been a busy couple of weeks, and my wife and I haven’t had a lot of time to spend with just each other. We were able to have our first Friday lunch date of the school year last week, but we decided to take advantage of the fact that we had nothing going on this past weekend and have a date night on Friday as well. Our destination was a recently remodeled bowling alley nearby that advertised having bowling lanes, a game room, and laser tag. As I slid into my mini-van seat, I realized I had forgotten something. […] Read more »

We’re NOT Going Out For Breakfast……Because I Can Cook!

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“What would you like for breakfast?” I asked my wife. Weekdays are full of the hustle and bustle of getting ready for work and/or getting kids off to school, so on weekends I like to put my cooking skills to use and make my family a big breakfast. “Can we go out for breakfast?” was her reply. We were out of hash browns, plus she couldn’t decide exactly what she was in the mood for. She was thinking that if we went somewhere with a breakfast buffet she could have a little of everything. Eating out is something I would […] Read more »

Grillin’ And Chillin’ Summer Series: Bratwurst Hot Tub

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It’s officially summer, EOD Nation, and that means it’s time for BBQ.  Over the next couple of months I’ll be periodically be sharing some of my favorite summer recipes to help you be the king of the backyard BBQ in your neighborhood! It’s no secret I’m a huge fan of lighting up the grill or smoker and cooking up some delicious food using a live fire. BBQ, like many hobbies, is something a person can always learn new things. There is always a new recipe to try, or a new technique to learn. While I have no problem lighting a […] Read more »