Living well while spending less in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area
The Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore’s BIGGEST sale of the year is Saturday, January 25th from 9:00am – 4:00pm! It’s the seventh annual one-day sale where you can get 50% off everything in-store! All proceeds from the sale support Habitat’s mission and help build homes for deserving families.
The 50 percent off sale is their way of showing their appreciation for the continued support they receive each and every week from the surrounding community. [Read more…]
Monday, January 20th is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, where we honor and remember the influential civil rights leader:
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
–Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–68)
The Pioneer Press has a great list of local events here.
And of course, many kids are off from school, many offices are closed, and many businesses offer sales – here are freebies and sales I’ve found! [Read more…]
It’s back! FREE TICKET ALERT! At the Crayola Experience Mall of America, all kids 4 and under receive free admission Mondays to Fridays from January 13th through February 28th!
Note that kids 2 and under can always get in free, but now for a limited time, 3- and 4-year-olds can get in FREE too!
*Excludes holidays and weekends. Must present proof of child’s age with a birth certificate or other valid documentation. Admission ticket must be used on date of pick-up.
These is so much for preschoolers to do here!
Purchasing a home is no small matter; in fact, it’s likely going to be one of the largest financial decisions a person makes during their lifetime. With buying a home already being so expensive, many people forget to account for the ongoing costs after buying a home. If you’re purchasing your own home, here are a few costs you’ll want to account for in your new budgeting.
While many renters have insurance policies for their belongings, homeowners’ insurance will likely be a new experience. Home insurance will likely demand more of your budget but is a necessary cost to factor into a monthly budget when buying a home. The cost of your insurance will vary by the property and the level of protection you wish to purchase, but it typically costs around 0.5% of the home’s purchase price. If home insurance would make owning a home too expensive, you may want to rethink buying your home until you can afford it.
Similar to home insurance, you’ll want to make sure you can afford the property taxes and community fees before you commit to an offer. Property taxes are usually fairly easy to budget and plan for, as most property tax information is now available online. Community fees can also add to monthly budget requirements. While not every home is located in a neighborhood with a community association, it’s worth looking into in advance. U.S. homeowners paid approximately $88 billion in assessments toward community associations in 2016. Do your research before committing to a neighborhood for a home purchase, as these fees and costs can vary greatly even from block to block.
While many homes on the market right now are move-in-ready, not every purchase is going to involve a move-in-ready home. Odds are, if you’re moving into an older home, you’ll need to at least make a few repairs before you can move in. Sometimes, the seller will help cover the costs of repairs, but there’s no guarantee your seller will be willing to help. If possible, try to account for some of the necessary renovation costs in your initial purchase price considerations. Every bit of maintenance should count when you’re working out an ongoing project or renovation budget. For example, if you want to update the landscaping around your home, consider how much it will cost to maintain. A healthy grass lawn requires 55 gallons of water per square foot every year.
Finally, when budgeting for your home purchase, remember that emergencies can and unfortunately do happen. It’s difficult to budget for the unknown, especially when also making a large purchase like a home. However, having funds set aside for emergencies or unexpected situations is essential. Major life changes, like a move, could become even more challenging if an emergency occurs at the same time. Before committing to a home purchase and move, make sure you’ve got enough money set aside to cover emergency situations that could happen around the move. More than one million Americans injure themselves on stairs each year; if you fall during the move-in you want to know that the accident won’t bankrupt you in combination with your home purchase.
Purchasing a home is incredibly stressful, especially when you’re coordinating your home buying finances. Being aware of some of the hidden costs of homeownership can help you prepare and protect your financial wellbeing. What costs of buying a home surprised you?
Minefaire, an Official Minecraft Community Event is coming to the RiverCentre in St. Paul in March, and you can save up to 40% off tickets right now on Goldstar.com!
What to expect at Minefaire?
•Participate in the famed costume contest
•Witness live stage shows
•Learn from Official MINECRAFT Developers & MINECRAFT Education Global Mentors
•Shop at the World’s Largest Official MINECRAFT Merch Store
•Score Minefaire event exclusives
•Solve your way out of the MINECRAFT Escape Room
•Experience MINECRAFT with Acer VR Mixed Reality Headsets
•Show off your creativity in the LEGO building zones
•and more!
The discount tickets are available only for a limited time. CHECK AVAILABILITY!
(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no cost to you. All opinions are 100% mine.)
Monster Jam is returning to U.S. Bank Stadium on Saturday, February 15th at 7:00pm and you can save 29% right now from Groupon!
From Monster Jam: Monster Jam® is the big leagues of motorsports competition, where 12,000-pound trucks and the world-class athletes who drive them tear up the dirt with gravity-defying feats. Engineered to perfection, the legendary Grave Digger®, Max-D™, El Toro Loco® and many more push all limits in Freestyle, the Skills Challenge and Racing competitions. The Series Champion receives an automatic bid to the prestigious Monster Jam World Finals® to compete for the title of World Champion. This is full throttle family fun. This. Is. Monster Jam™.
DISCOUNTED TICKETS
Tickets are regularly $31.10 and up but you can get tickets from $22 and up! That’s 29% off!
Nick Jr. Live! is coming to the State Theatre in Minneapolis January 24th – 26th, 2020, and I have a discount to share!
You’re invited to sing, dance, clap, cheer and move to the music with your friends from Bubble Guppies, PAW Patrol, Dora The Explorer, Shimmer and Shine, Blue’s Clues and You, Blaze and the Monster Machines and Top Wing in an unforgettable musical spectacular! Nick Jr. Live! “Move to the Music” follows Dora and her PAW co-hosts, Marshall and Rubble, as they team up with their Nick Jr. friends, live on stage together for the first time ever, in a one-of-a-kind adventure sure to excite the whole family!
| Friday, January 24 | 6:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, January 25 | 10:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, January 26 | 10:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. |
Tickets start at $19 and you can save one of two ways right now!
(Additional fees may apply.)
Join the Nick Jr. Live! VIP Experience!
Nick Jr. Live! VIPs are treated to premium seating and access to an after-show Meet & Greet with Dora the Explorer and Rubble from PAW Patrol. Plus, get an exclusive photo opportunity with Blaze from Blaze and the Monster Machines! VIPs also receive a VIP merchandise item and souvenir lanyard.
Each adult & child (aged 1 & up) must have a VIP ticket.
Tickets are on sale at the State Theatre Box Office and through Ticketmaster.
Visit NickJrLive.com for more information!
(Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary tickets in exchange for sharing this information. All opinions are 100% mine.)
So evidently it’s pretty cool being in 4th grade in Minnesota, because you can get a skiing deal just for being a 4th grader!
The Minnesota Ski Areas Association offers a 4th Grade Passport Program so kids and their families have a chance to play on MN Slopes this winter for FREE. The goal is for families to enjoy winter, have fun and stay healthy together.
Every 4th grader has the opportunity to ski for free. All Minnesota Ski Areas are participating.
There is a cost of $34.95 to cover processing, printing and shipping, and then your 4th grader receives a special e-pass which includes a minimum of two free lift tickets at every Minnesota member area. (This cost went up from $24.95 last year.)
Some of the ski areas participating include Wild Mountain, Giants Ridge, Elm Creek, Spirit Mountain, Afton Alps and many more.
More info: https://www.skiandboardmn.com/the-4th-grade-passport-program-is-back-for-the-20192020-season
Note that there will be no limit to the to the number of 4th grade passports available. Passports will be available to obtain through February so get yours now!
Free Valleyfair Pre-K Pass for Kids Ages 3-5
Free Minnesota History Pass for 6th Graders
Free or Discounted Admission Programs for Limited Income Families in Minnesota
Twin Cities Discount Guide for Families
Free dental care services will be provided for children in need across Minnesota on Friday, February 7 and Saturday, February 8, 2020.
The Minnesota Dental Association’s annual Give Kids a Smile event is providing free dental care to children in need at nearly 100 dental clinics throughout the state.
To find a clinic with open appointments, just call United Way 211 (just dial 2-1-1) or visit mndental.org. Appointments can then be scheduled directly with the dental office.
Patients must be 18 years or younger and accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Dentists will be providing free exams, fillings and sealants. Specific services provided at each location will be outlined when an appointment is scheduled.
Volunteers speaking multiple languages are also available at many locations to help with language barriers.
Minnesota dentists have provided free care to more than 78,000 children and donated services valued at more than $23 million over the past 17 years to Give Kids a Smile.
To find participating clinics go to www.mndental.org.
For other low-cost options for dental care, visit the MN Dental website’s list of resources.
Check out the Facebook page for Give Kids a Smile!
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is FREE to visit this month, from January 6 – 31, 2020!
Admission is regularly $15 for ages 16 and up – free for ages 15 and under.
On their blog they list 20 things you can do for FREE at the Arboretum during the month of January! Some things include bringing the family to the PlantMaker Studio, children’s story time, and their winter market!
The rest of the year, admission is free the third Monday of the month.
