Giveaway

Enter the Summer Lovin’ Giveaway

Summer Loving Giveaway

Summer is here and I am ready to enjoy the sun, sand and surf. For many of us, life slows down a bit and gives us a chance to spend time with families and friends. We still find plenty of things to occupy our time and generally speaking, those things cost money. I have no problem spending money on things we love, but I strive to balance our activities so we don’t break the piggy bank on every outing.

Beach Time and Picnics

We try to make it to the beach as often as possible. It’s a great way to spend the day and it is affordable fun. You can easily pack a cooler with beverages and snacks, so all you really need to buy is sunblock. I am also a huge fan of family picnics and they are generally low-cost gatherings, especially when everyone brings a dish to share.

Summer Travel

My husband and I have always enjoyed traveling and thankfully our girls share our passion as well. Every year, we plan how we’re going to use our family money and set a big goal, which is often a nice family vacation. It’s something that motivates us year-round and makes it much easier to say “no” when we find things we want, but don’t need. Even better, we don’t feel deprived because we know what we’re getting instead—a great family vacation!

I’m thrilled to be joining some of my favorite bloggers for this fantastic giveaway. Be sure to enter below and good luck! Next Monday, I will conclude my Debt Series and share conversation starters to help you talk to your kids about debt.

Enter to Win this Amazing Giveaway!

One lucky winner will win: $480 Cash via PayPal
Participant must be 18 years or older to enter
Winner will be notified by email
Open WorldWide
July 1 – 21
Please enter below, as many times as you wish.

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Shannon

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July 1, 2013  •  43 Comments  •  Giveaway

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Comments

  1. Monday, July 1st, 2013
    Love the potluck gatherings: they always have the best food. :-) We'll be doing lots of beach/camping time this year too. Fun stuff!
    • Monday, July 1st, 2013
      They do—don't they?! Camping and afternoons at the beach are definitely affordable fun!
  2. Monday, July 1st, 2013
    We have a free beach just a few minutes away from our house and definitely take advantage of it. And yesterday we took our son and niece down to the park near the Charles River (in Boston) for a picnic lunch. It was a lot of fun eating outside and then we played for a while in the park. Really a lot of fun, and no cost to us beyond the food we made!
    • Monday, July 1st, 2013
      Nice, we can walk to the beach too, which definitely makes it even easier! It's it interesting how eating sandwiches at the park is so much better than eating them at home. :)
  3. Monday, July 1st, 2013
    Spending lots of time at the beach sounds wonderful and I really envy you guys. I hope you and your family have alot of fun this summer enjoying your vacation and your time at the beach too. And thanks very much for participating in this giveaway, my friend. :-)
    • Monday, July 1st, 2013
      Thank you for inviting me to participate! :) It's going to be a busy, fun summer but I love it!
  4. Monday, July 1st, 2013
    We love to travel during the summer. The best part of that is doing it without going into debt. Makes spending the money for the trip much more enjoyable!
    • Monday, July 1st, 2013
      I agree 100%! We always save for our vacations so we can enjoy them and not regret them when the credit card bills arrive.
  5. Monday, July 1st, 2013
    Man do we miss the beach! Sadly, there is not much in the terms of beaches in Omaha. Though, we're saving up for a big trip out to San Diego next summer - likely in July so we can avoid the June Gloom. :)
    • Monday, July 1st, 2013
      San Diego in July is fabulous (granted, it's pretty fantastic year-round). I can't blame you for wanting to miss June Gloom. :)
  6. Monday, July 1st, 2013
    I love spending time at the beach. I remember when the whole family would get together and each of us would take a dish too...it was a lot of fun and not too hard on the wallet either.

    Now that the kids are older they are doing their own thing now so it's just been the hubs and me but when we do go out as a family it does get pricey so I'm always looking out for free things to do before hitting the piggy bank.

    We also have free movie night in our downtown park that makes for a great, free night out :)

    Thanks for sharing :) Have a great July my friend!
    • Monday, July 1st, 2013
      Free movie night sounds like a fun night. It definitely adds up quickly when the family goes out, so it's nice when we can find some low-cost, no-cost options to offset those outings. You have a great July too, my friend!
  7. Monday, July 1st, 2013
    Usually it's travel, but this year we're saving that money for a honeymoon. This year I guess it's gotta be pool admission! It's not THAT much, but it's probably the biggest irregular expense we incur due to the season.
    • Monday, July 1st, 2013
      Oh, saving for a nice honeymoon sounds like a worthy cause! Summer and pool go hand-in-hand and is well worth the cost for the many hours of fun.
  8. Monday, July 1st, 2013
    This year it's saving up for a wedding, but I hear you about taking advantage of the beach - it's great people watching and overall good fun! :)
    • Monday, July 1st, 2013
      You can't beat the people watching! :) I'm looking forward to hearing more wedding details this year. :)
  9. Monday, July 1st, 2013
    Sweet....I hate that I missed out on this giveaway. I was on vacation!
    • Monday, July 1st, 2013
      Oh no! But I'm sure your vacation was well worth it. :)
  10. Greg @ Thriftgenuity.com
    Monday, July 1st, 2013
    We have to remember that we live closer to the beach than we think. I am used to usually living 5 hours or more away, now we can get there in about an hour and 45 minutes, so possible for a day trip or even a cheap hotel stay.
    • Monday, July 1st, 2013
      That's easily a day trip or fun weekend if you're feeling adventurous! I love that it's laid back and fun since it seems like we're always on the go. It's a nice break for us.
  11. Monday, July 1st, 2013
    Lucky you to have the beach so close! I love my little lake but the ocean has something about it. The salty air, the waves... it is unique. Another thing I miss about summer is the long days, here, rain or shine, it is dark at 6pm. Long days are energizing. Thanks for the giveaway!
    • Monday, July 1st, 2013
      Interesting. I had no idea that it was dark so early in Guatemala. The long days are so nice and I would definitely miss them. There is something special about the ocean, although you're still lucky to have a nice lake to swim in!
  12. Monday, July 1st, 2013
    We had a conversation this weekend wondering if people who live near the beach actually go there or if it's something you always think you'll get around to. I know people who have lived in Southwest CO their whole lives and have never been to Mesa Verde or Arches National Parks. I'm glad you are taking advantage of your surroundings!
    • Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013
      There are definitely people who live by the beach who rarely go. We love it but I guess it's not everybody's cup of tea. :) Happy 4th of July, Kim!
  13. Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013
    Do you ever got to the free concerts on Sundays at Poliwog Park? That's a great frugal way to spend some fun time with friends and family. Thanks for the giveaway!
    • Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013
      You're welcome, Tonya. You're right - the free concerts are fantastic and another great option for free family fun! Happy 4th of July!
  14. Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013
    I'm not going to pretend to be jealous about the whole beach thing. Because I am lol. We're planning to do a couple of beach outings this year before the baby comes! But it's a bit of a drive and it's been a bit cooler this year. But we managed to get in some strawberry picking this weekend, which was nice cheap family fun. Though I think my 2-year old ate more than she collected. Wish I'd thought of that :)
    • Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013
      We spent many years away from the beach, so it's great to be back! Yes, you definitely need to get in those beach days before the new baby comes! Strawberry picking sounds great. I can't blame your daughter for eating more than she picked. Nothing beats fresh, juicy strawberries. :) Happy be-lated Canada Day!
  15. Katie
    Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013
    I love beach days, too, but the weather has been less than cooperative here! We end up spending some on gas, tolls, and access, but that's so we can hit up the prettiest, cleanest spots (we're in NYC and virtually surrounded by beach, but they vary widely in quality). Happy summer!
    • Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013
      Yeah, that's the one bad thing about beach - you are definitely dependent on the weather. Beach quality in Southern California varies greatly too. Fortunately the beach we're closest too is well-maintainen. Happy summer to you too, Katie. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I really appreciate it!
  16. Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013
    I used to love picnics when we lived in Michigan. In Texas it looks pretty enough...until you open the door and it's 102 degrees and 90% humidity....
    • Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013
      Oh my! Yes, I remember the Texas heat very, very well. I enjoyed my time there but I definitely do NOT miss that humidity. The only thing we have to watch is pigeons. They are brave and aggressive and have no problems stealing your food! Happy 4th of July, Joe!
  17. Tuesday, July 2nd, 2013
    Hey Shannon,

    What an amazing giveaway and it's the first time I see one of this size, just gave me a great idea on how to get a little bit extra audience on my site and brand as well.

    In Mexico we have a summer-ish weather almost the entire year but obviously the temperatures are rising a little bit more right now. I also love going to the beach (35 minutes from my place) and it's definitely something I look forward to doing all the time.

    Hope you're enjoying your beach trips with your family and all the best on the giveaway! ;-)

    Sergio
    • Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013
      Thanks Sergio! This is my first giveaway and I'm thrilled to reward my readers. You have some gorgeous beaches in Mexico and 35 minutes is not a bad drive at all. Thanks for stopping by and commenting; I really appreciate it!
  18. Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013
    So glad we could partner on this giveaway! Vacations and travel can be great motivators to save - I need to start setting aside money for our next vacation.
    • Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013
      Thank you for inviting me, DC! I really appreciate it. :) Vacations are one of our greatest motivators to save and it makes the trip even sweeter knowing that we've already paid for it. Happy 4th of July!
  19. Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013
    I've already entered this one Shannon so thanks for the heads up again. I know that spreading the message around will help others join in and hopefully win them some money. We could all use that right!

    Enjoy your day and Happy 4th of July!

    ~Adrienne
    • Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013
      I can't think of anyone who wouldn't mind a little extra cash this summer! :) You have a great 4th of July too, Adrienne.
  20. Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013
    So excited to be a part of this giveaway with you!
    • Sunday, July 7th, 2013
      Ditto! :)
  21. Ashley C
    Saturday, July 6th, 2013
    This would really help us out for our vacation!

    demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
    • Sunday, July 7th, 2013
      Wonderful! Thanks for entering!
  22. Karen M
    Friday, July 19th, 2013
    I'm another one for the beach! I love everything BEACH. Sunglasses. Banana Boat. Icey cold drinks. Trashy novels.
Shannon Ryan SHANNON RYAN, CFP®
  • Meet Shannon

    "As a Certified Financial Planner, it is my passion to help individuals and families build a healthy relationship with money. I look forward to helping you raise financially confident kids.” - Shannon Ryan