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Pura Vida! Pure Life!

October 25, 2023 Costa Rica was amazing! It 100% lives up to its slogan, Pura Vida, which means “pure life.” Everyone we met, from our airport shuttle driver, Christian, to our tour guides on our excursions, was wonderful. I highly recommend going if you have the opportunity. The language barrier was only a minor inconvenience, as most people who live there speak English, at least enough to communicate your needs. I know, I am here writing about a trip that costs money at the same time I am trying to save money, but this trip was planned before I started the program. My extended family told us last year they were looking to purchase a property, which gave me enough time to plan appropriately. I was able to save a significant amount of money in my travel account for this trip. I discovered if you want travel to be part of your life, I highly recommend getting a credit card specifically used for traveling, so you can accumulate points every time you use it. I also recommend that you start a travel account, so that you can pay off your card after. Summit has a great credit card specifically for travel that accumulates points!  All in all, I spent close to $600, minus airfare, for everything. We did find it much cheaper to stay in Costa Rica during green season (rainy season) as many businesses give steep discounts for staying there during this time. The only downfall is that it truly does rain a lot in October. Every evening of our stay, it rained a significant amount, but thankfully, the hotel manager encouraged us to do all our excursions earlier in the day. Our excursions included:
  • Snorkeling
  • Whale watching on a catamaran, which included lunch and drinks
  • A guided tour of a national park
  • Hiking the jungle and touring a waterfall at Camping Mono Titi Park, which also included an authentic Costa Rican meal
The jungle and waterfall tour were my favorite parts of the trip! These excursions would normally be almost double during their high season, but because it was green season, each activity was under $60 per person.  Each villa in Jungle Creek had a kitchen, so we were able to save money by making our own breakfast or lunch every day. My stay was free because we got the steep family discount, but even without the discount, you would find the rental fees to be very reasonable. The cheapest villa is a studio villa, and to stay there during green season is only $85 per night. Costa Rica was a trip of a lifetime. I kept Project Money in mind my entire trip, and the cool thing is, I didn’t feel deprived at all. I thoroughly enjoyed my time, and taking a trip like this made me realize the importance of family. You make time for the people and things that matter most in life. Pura Vida! You might also be interested in Costa Rica was amazing! It 100% lives up to its slogan, Pura Vida, which means “pure life.” Everyone we met, from our airport shuttle driver, Christian, to our tour guides on our excursions, was wonderful. I highly recommend going if you have the opportunity. The language barrier was only a minor inconvenience, as most people who live there speak English, at least enough to communicate your needs. I still can’t believe that I will be turning 40 in November. Forty years around the sun, as they say. I don’t feel like I look 40, and I don’t feel 40. Even though this is a milestone party for me, I am keeping Project Money in mind while I am making plans for my party. That being said, I am trying to make this party memorable but on a budget! I have been very fortunate to be invited to my sister and her boyfriend’s property in Costa Rica. It’s a family trip, as my two sisters Katie and Jayme are going, as well as their boyfriends Karl and Ben, my niece Hayden, and Ben’s extended family. Despite doing Project Money, I felt like this was a once-in-a-lifetime trip that all of us would be off together to go. So, I’ve been saving extra money in a separate travel account to pay for this trip. This month is pretty tight financially. Both my car insurance and camper insurance are due within the same month, so with every purchase I make, I really need to keep that in mind. My computer also needed to be replaced. It gave me 14 solid years, so I’d say it did its job, but it sucks that it isn’t working great anymore. That being said, it’s extra important for me to truly stick to my budget with zero wiggle room. The area I spend most my money on monthly, besides Willow, is groceries. Let’s talk saving money. I don’t mean saving money at the grocery store through couponing or using a calculator while shopping. Those are both great ways to help you save money, but what I’m talking about is putting money into a savings account. Saving money has been a challenge for me over the past year or so. I used to be a good saver but somehow, it became more difficult to save as my debt increased. I really struggled to save money, but Project Money has really made me think about how I can do better. Several months ago, I made the decision to invest in buying some items to make a garden at my home. I haven’t had an actual garden since I had my house in Muskego several years ago, so I was starting over again. I ended up buying a raised garden bed from Amazon and purchasing several plants from a local gardener for $1 each and two plants from Menards. All in all, the initial investment in my garden was roughly around $90. As the fall-like temps make their reappearance, I can’t help to think back about summer and how much time and effort I made into making my new seasonal spot feel like home. It was fun doing cost-effective projects from putting in my firepit, making the platform for my little gazebo and shed, and rebuilding my deck. All in all, I am very pleased with the way my campsite turned out, and I am even more excited that I kept Project Money in mind as I went along the way. I spent around $700 total on all the projects at the campground! The one I think I am most proud of is my flower bed. I got Willow this year in the middle of January. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for a pup, as it was only seven months after I had to put my Gunner down. She was posted on a Vizsla rescue site stating she needed to be rehomed due to a family needing to relocate. Whether that is true or not, I found out that I am now Willow’s fourth home. After having her for a month, it was clear that she has some significant anxiety issues. Several months ago, I made the decision to invest in buying some items to make a garden at my home. I haven’t had an actual garden since I had my house in Muskego several years ago, so I was starting over again. I ended up buying a raised garden bed from Amazon and purchasing several plants from a local gardener for $1 each and two plants from Menards. All in all, the initial investment in my garden was roughly around $90. 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