Back from Boise!

It has been awhile since I've posted here on this blog. You are probably wondering where I've been the past three years. Well, I have been in Boise Idaho on a mission for my church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Let me tell you the whole story. It's kind of a long one, but here it goes.....

Back in May of 2013, I got a letter in the mail that forever changed my life. It was a letter telling me that I would be serving a mission in Boise Idaho. My whole life I have wanted to serve a mission and the time was finally here!

 So I packed my bags, and was ready to go! I would spend 2 weeks in Provo at the Missionary Training Center, then 18 months in Boise!

Three days before I was supposed to leave for Provo, July 2013, I blew out my knee and had to have major reconstructive knee surgery. Back in high school, I had already had both my knees redone. So tearing apart what has already been fixed in surgery was kind of a big deal. I blame the very intense game of Wii Boxing we were playing when the blowout happened. I stayed optimistic through it all! My mission was delayed for about 6 months, but I was still going.

After the surgery and some intense physical therapy the Doctor gave me the OK to head to Provo. In February 2014, I entered the Provo Missionary Training Center (MTC). I loved my time in the MTC! My district was amazing. We went through a lot together in the MTC which brought us really close in just two weeks. Not to mention the endless BYU chocolate milk you find only in the MTC.

While I was in the MTC I had a gallbladder attack. I spent most of my time at the MTC in the hospital and on a lot of pain medicine. I am going to say that one more time for emphasis. I was on A LOT of pain medicine! My companions still tell the story of me slaying a basilisk in the bathroom late one night. I don't remember slaying a basilisk, but it does sound like something I would do!

 

At this point in or story, it shouldn't come as a surprise when I tell you that instead of going to Boise I had to go back home to Kentucky to have my gallbladder removed. Back onto the surgery table I go! I went home for 6 weeks to have the surgery and to recover.

Third time's the charm! Once I got the OK from the Doctor (again) I was finally on my way to Boise!!!!!!! It was April 2014 when I made it to Boise Idaho. It took almost a year for me to even start my 18-month mission. But I was finally there. 

I got home in October of 2015. I fell in love with the people there in Boise. Leaving was a million times harder than getting there. I will forever be grateful for the chance I had to go serve the Lord for 18 months. The Idaho Boise mission is somewhat of the joke mission in the LDS world. I was made fun of a lot when I got called there. But now that I'm back I wouldn't change a single thing. The long journey to Boise made me appreciate my mission call. There is just something about being told you can't do something that makes you work that much harder to prove everyone wrong. Working hard to get to Boise made me work hard while I was in Boise. Going on a mission was the hardest thing I've done in my life. It is also the greatest thing I have done with my life. I think about my mission every day and how blessed I am to be here on the earth. Thank you to everyone who supported me on this crazy journey. I am forever changed.

-The Broke College Kid-

Quick Little Intro

If you haven't already guessed by the title, I am a broke college student with a blog. As soon as I get my degree I will change the title to "A Bit Of Everything From A Broke TEACHER". Because, lets face it, a teacher's salary isn't much better than a college student's.

Why make a blog?
Two reasons, you tell me which you like better. One, I'm looking to make a bit of extra money. Two, I have a lot of crazy ideas that I think everyone needs to hear. Hence, the blog.

The theme of this blog?
In simple terms, there is none. There were so many things I could write about. Baseball cards, coupons, fun make at home kids toys, The Dollar Tree and all its $1 glory, the list goes on and on. So I decided to blog about a little bit of everything. I may eventually decide on a theme, but for now the field is wide open! And I can't wait to see where it takes us!

-The Broke College Kid-

Grocery Saving Basics

If you haven't already guessed by the title, I am a broke college student with a blog. As soon as I get my degree I will change the title to "A Bit Of Everything From A Broke TEACHER". Because, lets face it, a teacher's salary isn't much better than a college student's.

I am a frugal, penny pinching, grungy, broke, and any other terms you can think of college student. My goal in life is to stretch my dollar so far that it begs for mercy. So this post is dedicated to the basics of saving money on your groceries. You don't have to be a coupon obsessed expert to save money. It is actually quite simple. There are 4 easy steps that, when followed, will save you enough money to finally go to that place you have always dreamed of or get that new toy you've had your eye on for ages.

Step 1:
Starting now, do not buy anything unless it is on sale! NEVER EVER buy something at full price again! Wait until something is on sale to buy it. And BAM!, you are saving money.

Step 2:
It is all about the stockpile. Lets try a real life situation to help you understand. Every month I go through $5 of toilet paper. Once a month I go to the store and pick up the $5 pack of my favorite tp. Every year I spend $60 on toilet paper. One day I notice that my toilet paper is on sale for $3. Instead of buying one pack, a months worth, I buy a whole year's worth. Now a year's worth of  toilet paper will cost me $36. That is a savings of $24, or 40%. But wait! I have a coupon for $2 off my toilet paper. Combining the store sale and coupon gives the most savings. Now a year's supply of toilet paper will cost me only $12. When I buy a year's supply of toilet paper with the store sale and coupon I will save $48, or 80%. Now imagine doing that with everything you use every day.

Step 3:
Shop your stockpile. When 6:00 p.m. rolls around and you are wondering "What is for dinner" it is easy for your mind to jump to McDonald's, (or my favorite, Wendy's!) but that is NOT the way to save money. Instead of going out and spending $10 on a Big Mac, fries, and a Coke, go to your stockpile and find something for dinner. Or when you need something to take to a party go to your stockpile and grab a soda and some hot dogs or make some cookies to bring. Do not run to the store and impulse buy a box of cookies from the bakery when you can make them at home from a mix that you got for pennies on the dollar because you shop smart. This is where you can see the advantages of having a stockpile in your home.

This is the shampoo and body wash section of my stockpile. Now anytime I need shampoo, conditioner, or body wash I go here to get it. Instead of going to the store and paying full price for it.

Step 4:
Don't give up. It may take a few weeks to get your stockpile going. For me it meant spending all my food money on that great deal on toilet paper instead of actual food. At the start you may find yourself eating beans and rice so you can spend your money elsewhere. Or, not going to the movies for your Friday date but the park instead so you can have $20 to put towards the sale on pudding cups. But that will not last. You will quickly find yourself with your own personal grocery store that you payed little to nothing for. Then you can afford to go on your Friday night date to the movies and you can get the popcorn. Just kidding, movie theater popcorn is one of the biggest rip offs that you will ever come across. But still, you get the point.

Let me know what you think! I want to hear your strategies, successes, and failures. 
-The Broke College Kid-

70 Date Ideas

If you haven't already guessed by the title, I am a broke college student with a blog. As soon as I get my degree I will change the title to "A Bit Of Everything From A Broke TEACHER". Because, lets face it, a teacher's salary isn't much better than a college student's.

Here we go! 70 date ideas! There are 70 because that is as many as I could think of at the time. These ideas are from personal experience, but a few are dates I want my mystery man to take me on because they sound fun! I hope you enjoy!

1. Picnic in the park
2. Play on a playground
3. Mini golf
4. Laser tag
5. Roller blade
6. Ice skate
7. Go to the hobby store, pick out a craft to work on for the day
8. Go to the library and read your favorite kids books
9. Play the bigger and better game. You each start with something small and go around the neighborhood trading up. Who ever has the biggest and best thing by the end wins!
10. Movie night. Just stay in and cuddle up under a blanket with some popcorn.
11. Back yard movie theater. Put up a white sheet and project a movie onto it. Instant back yard drive in!
12. Trick or treat. No I do not mean on Halloween. Dress up (any time of year) and go house to house. Instead of asking for treats give treats.
13. Progressive dinner. For each course go somewhere new. Salad at one restaurant, main course at another, dessert at another. You get the point!
14. Stick with the classics, dinner then a movie
15. Be a tourist in your own city for a day
16. Go to a local national park
17. Go to a museum
18. Picnic in the living room. This one is good for a rainy day!
19. Scavenger hunt
20. Treasure hunt
21. Make your own planking album
22. Read a book together
23. Make a movie together (No, I do not mean anything dirty when I say that.)
24. Cook breakfast and watch cartoons
25. Make cookies, or another treat, and take them to someone special
26. Pool party!
27. Home made pizzas and a fort in the living room!!! This one is a personal favorite of mine.
28. Paint something
29. Take a dance class together
30. Bowling
31. Go to Goodwill and pick out outfits for each other. Wear them on your next date.
32. Go to a sports game
33. Make a bucket list together
34. Cook a meal together
35. Make the blueprints for your dream house together
36. Christmas carol. (Doesn't have to be Christmas time)
37. Watch your favorite YouTube videos together. You learn a lot about a person by the YouTube videos they watch.
38. Volunteer together
39. Dress up and go to Comic Con
40. Rainforest Cafe! If you live near one I'm extremely jealous!!!!!
41. Go camping with a group of friends
42. Fishing, for your country boy or gal
43. Hunting, for your country boy or gal
44. Check out your local hiking trails
45. Rafting
46. Paddle boat
47. River boat
48.  Zipline! Soooooooo much fun!!!!!!
49. Build a sand castle. 
50. If you don't live near a beach then go to Walmart, buy a tarp and some sand, and make your own backyard beach!
51. Watch your favorite TV show starting with season one episode one. Thank you Netflix.
52. Watch the sun rise
53. Watch the sun set. For the not so early birds. Bonus points if you watch both in the same day!
54. Go hit balls at the driving range
55. Red box a movie
56. Zoo! Enough said.
57. Go-kart
58. Indoor rock climbing. Or if you have a place outdoor rock climbing.
59. Comedy club
60. Game night. Play board games, card games, video games, you get the idea.
61. Skateboard
62. Side walk chalk. I could play all day with side walk chalk.
63. Eat dinner with out any utensils
64. Badminton
65. Go geocashing
66. Make your own geocash
67. ABC date. Go around taking pictures with things from A to Z. Put them in a photo album.
68. If my girls are reading this, this one is for you! Go to a midnight cult movie like The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Bonus points for dressing up!!!
69. Watch A Very Potter Musical
70. Watch A Very Potter Sequel

And there you go! 70 Date ideas. If you can think of any more then let me know! I'll also add to this list when I think of them. So go have fun dating!

-The Broke College Kid-

10 Things To Buy From the Dollar Tree- For the Kids

If you haven't already guessed by the title, I am a broke college student with a blog. As soon as I get my degree I will change the title to "A Bit Of Everything From A Broke TEACHER". Because, lets face it, a teacher's salary isn't much better than a college student's.

Today lets talk about one of my all time favorite stores.... The Dollar Tree! Everything is a dollar! How great is that?! When I was little my mom would take me and my siblings to the Dollar Tree and say "Everyone gets 3 things". We (the kids) felt like it was an early Christmas, I mean come on 3 new toys that we got to choose, and my mom only spent $3 on each of us.

When it comes to the Dollar Tree there are things to stock up on, and things to stay away from. It all depends on what you are using it for. When it comes to the kids just about anything can be turned into a fun playtime activity.

     For example, q-tips. If you want them to clean your ears, do not I repeat DO NOT get them from the dollar tree. But if you want to make a maze, learn shapes, or create snowflakes get your q tips at the dollar tree. Some Dollar Tree buys for the kids may require more imagination than others, but I believe in you!

Beauty Supplies- Grab!
         Little girls love playing dress up or beauty parlor, so why spend big bucks when you can get a variety of things for just a few dollars?!

 Clothes- Pass.
         $1 tank tops will break before you get out of the store, and the cheap fabric makes them a pass.

Coloring Books - Grab!
     Kids can get bored of the same coloring books quick. At the Dollar Tree you can grab Sesame Street, Disney Princess, Spider Man, and Mickey Mouse for $1 pr. book!  Don't pass this one up!

Craft Supplies- Grab!
     Stickers, pipe cleaners, beads, all of them lead to hours of craft fun. Snatch it up and make a craft bag for the kids to pull out on a rainy day.

Flash Cards- Grab!
     Educational, and fun. Enough said.

Glow Sticks- Grab!
     Look at the variety. Lots of colors, shapes, sizes, bracelets, necklaces, the list goes on and on! You can even let the kids chose their favorite and have a glow in the dark dance party when you get home!

Poster Board- Grab!
     Cheaper than Walmart. Need I say more?

Shampoo- GRAB!!!!!
     Was I the only one that dumped half the container of shampoo into my bubble bath when mom and dad weren't looking? Stock up on a variety of smelly bubbly shampoo and you won't have to worry about running out. For $1 you can afford for the kids to put a bit of extra bubbles in their bath.

Shaving Cream- Grab!
     With a Dollar Tree plastic table cloth kids can have hours of sensory fun playing with shaving cream! They will even smell good after.

Crayons- Pass.
     Coloring with these crayons are like coloring with a candle. No color, all wax, and easily broken. Pass.

Silly String- Grab!

     In my house we did a Dollar Tree silly string vs Walmart silly string challenge. The Dollar Tree silly string won. Not only does it last longer, sprays farther, but Walmart's silly string can cost upwards of $3-$4. For your silly string needs, head to the Dollar Tree.

Wipes- Grab!

     How many times have you found a bag of wipes that got left open and dried out? Well with the dollar tree wipes, it doesn't really matter because the wipes were only $1

This has been 10 things to buy from the Dollar Tree (Kids version). Comment and let me know if I left anything good out! Or let me know what you like to buy at the Dollar Tree when you go! Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more posts.

-The Broke College Kid-