My husband and I just got back from attending my maternal uncle’s memorial service in Lincoln, Nebraska, which is why this blog post is a few days late. The above photo is from my last visit to Nebraska in 2019. (Luckily I got to see “Uncle Jimbo” almost every year over the past five years.) He and my mother grew up thick as thieves, as they were only a year and half apart in age. He’s already deeply missed by his many loved ones and I’m so very happy that we were able to attend his service.
Very little about last minute travel falls under the umbrella of “frugal living,” but these were dollars spent wisely due to years of having scrimped in areas that didn’t matter.
First off I wrote out a comprehensive travel plan with an idea to create a master packing list to avoid reinventing the wheel whenever I travel. My plan is to type it up, slip it into a plastic sleeve and then keep it stored inside my suitcase. We had a few days advanced warning before flying to Nebraska, so I kept an open spiral notebook on the coffee table and then jotted notes as I thought of what to bring. This ended up working perfectly as there wasn’t a single needed (or wanted) item left at home, despite differing events and activities. There’s nothing frugal about buying stuff you left at home.
Things I was happy to have brought:
• Slippers, as the thought of going barefoot in a hotel gives me the “ick.”
• A personalized first-aid kit, which included standard over the counter medication, (Tylenol, antiseptic ointment, bandaids.) We are clumsy and this came in handy.
• Blouses that pair well with both formal skirts and casual shorts. Double duty clothing was key!
• Cute thrifted sandals that took up almost zero space in my suitcase.
• A lightweight extra layer in case of over air conditioned areas.
• A drawstring fabric bag for dirty laundry.
• Cash, broken down into smaller denominations for tips, specifically for the hotel buffet staff and the housekeeper.
• A binder clip to keep curtains tightly closed. <– Put one in your toiletry bag, you’ll thank me later!
• Airplane supplies such as healthy snacks, an empty reusable water bottle, a fresh library book and a neck pillow.
• Of course I also brought the standard items, (toiletries, clothing, chargers, decent looking sneakers) and with the exception of two pairs of socks, everything saw use.
The airfare was covered by my mother, which is hardly a “frugal hack,” but we were still grateful to accept. She wanted to pay for us to support her brother’s family, plus I was able to help her navigate the inevitable travel challenges. We would have gone either way, as Uncle Jimbo was an important figure throughout my life.
My suitcase was one I pulled from a Larchmont, New York Goodwill dumpster, (and then scrubbed within an inch of its life!) and my husband’s was thrifted here in Portland maybe ten years ago. I broke the handle a couple years ago, but he repaired it using surgical tools and a couple zip-ties.
I researched the best budget hotel and came up with the Best Western Plus, which gave us an AARP discount and was rated second highest among all Lincoln, Nebraska hotels on Trip Advisor. It came with an acceptable breakfast buffet and free parking. $628.42, including various taxes for a five night stay.
My husband gets a rental car discount through his employer, which meant that we paid just $200 for six days. We chose a compact car for better gas mileage and made sure to fill the tank before returning it to the airport.
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May his memory be a blessing.
Thank you.
So sorry for your loss but glad your trip was a good gathering for reconnecting w family. Just a quick tip when you mentioned bringing a binder clip to keep hotel curtains closed- I use a pants hanger from the hotel closet (turned sideways) to clip together. If your additional you can usually ask Housekeeping.
Take care and grieve as you need!
It was such an amazing trip, to be able to spend extended amount of time with people I rarely get to see.
My condolences. I am so glad you got to spend time with your extended family and that you were there to help your mom navigate the airport. I loathe flying these days and find airports torturous, it is no longer fun, so I bet your mom really appreciated having you there for both travel support and emotional support. Virtual hugs for all. On a side note: that is a fantastic price for five days in a hotel! I am one of those strange people who really really likes the heartland, considers it a prefect chill place to vacation, and thinks Nebraska is awesome, as well as other states in the Midwest!
I realize this was not a vacation though for you, and wish you peace. I accidentally hit a pop up ad that was on your site and it told me I was not smart enough and called me a dummy as ai was trying ti delete it. This was set to music. I am pretty tech challenged ….
Sorry about that ad. You are no dummy, as dummies can’t pass the bar exam.
I have a great love for Nebraska and visited countless times throughout my childhood. I even spent a summer there in 1980, which was sweltering, but also a special memory.
I’m so sorry about the loss of your uncle, but so glad you got to spend meaningful time with your family. That’s what it’s all about.
It really is.
Sending hugs to you and your family.
We’ve made our fair share of those trips. Some great travel
tips. I work the front desk at a large hotel. Often the AARP or AAA isn’t the best deal. Always ask
What is the best deal at your hotel?
Condolences to your entire family. My husband also grew up in Nebraska and we enjoyed our visit to Lincoln. You got a great deal on your hotel stay.
I told other incoming family members about this hotel, (especially since it was so highly rated) but no one else booked it. My cousin’s hotel charged $20 per night just for parking.
My deepest condolences on the loss of your Uncle Jimbo. It’s good you were able to attend his service and be there for your Mom and his family.
It was a great service, with lots of music.
So sorry for your loss. Sending you and your family thoughts of love and peace.
Katy, I love that line “we may be cheap, but we’re not cheap”. Perfect!!
Thanks, I wasn’t sure if it would come across properly.
When your usual “ Five” post didn’t appear I posted that I was guessing life was doing its thing to you, but I was hoping for a happier reason! As a child in Ireland zi often heard “ I’m sorry for your troubles”, and, yes, I am. I love that we share the same definition of frugal, getting the maximum value for every dollar spent, and, like me , your definition values family. I hope a lovely surprise comes your way soon!
Thank you.
I am so sorry for the loss of your uncle. It was wonderful that you could help your mom navigate the travel, which is awful in the best of times.
Excellent ideas about packing well. The binder clip is brilliant!
Binder clip is the bomb! And it’s not a terrible thing if you forget to bring it back home.
My condolences to you and yours. Love the beautiful photo of you and your uncle and am happy you had the opportunity to spend time with your extended family to connect and mourn.
Thank you, it really was amazing to connect and reconnect with family.
That’s a terrific picture of you and your uncle. I’m so sorry he’s gone. I have a master packing list, too, in an Excel spreadsheet (with an extra tab for tasks to do before we leave like hold mail, turn off water, adjust thermostat, etc.) and it’s so handy and makes travel less stressful. I just added the binder clip to my list – thanks for that great tip! A clothespin would probably work in a pinch, too (inadvertent pun).
I need to add all that in as well!
Everything sounds like such a cliche’ when you are trying to make a condolence statement but I am sorry for your loss. Good relatives are such a treasure.
And thanks for the binder clip tip. I am making a list for our Last Hurrah trip starting in August and I have added a clip to it. I can remember many times of cursing not being able to keep curtains tightly closed.
I can’t take credit for this tip as I read it somewhere, but it really helps to keep the room nice and dark.
I am sorry for your loss, Katy. It is so nice that you were able to attend the memorial service and reconnect with cousins and other family members. Your master packing list is such a good idea. In the past, I had a job which involved a good deal of travel. After a couple trips when I forgot things like toothbrush and comb, I made a master list. Not only was it frugal, but it also saved me time to be able to just take out the list, check off each item and go.
I have amazing cousins, which I’ve only realized over the past five-ten years. We bond over our awful grandmother.
Now, I’m really intrigued by your awful grandma.
Toxic or just awful – big difference as I am the grandchild of toxic.
I’ll keep it private, sorry.
Plus it diminishes the pre-trip anxiety.
So sorry for your loss! Glad you were able to see family that you normally do not get to see. Seems that is when we get to see family, weddings and memorial services.
I have been to nebraska, my uncle and aunts wedding, she is from Nebraska,
I think we were in Grand island.
Alwasy make a list when i travel, in the hopes i do not forget anything!
I’d love to go back and explore the state some more.
Katy,
I am sorry about the death of your uncle. It sounds like you are blessed with an amazing extended family. I’m glad you were able to spend so much time with them on this trip.
Your hotel and rental car prices were amazing, they seem like prices from an earlier day and age.
I make packing lists with Word then pull up an old one as the basis for a new one. I find they vary depending on whether we’re flying to the Midwest, driving to New England, going to the beach, or somewhere else. If I’m smart I also note trip prep steps, like Hold mail, ask, neighbors to keep an eye on the house, set HVAC for being away.
That’s smart to add in pre-trip steps. I also included what to do the morning of, as some items were in daily sue and couldn’t be added to the suitcase until the last minute.
So sorry for your loss. We’re having a non-funeral cousins’ reunion this summer in Minnesota. Love the binder clip. I have trouble sleeping with any light in the room and often have trouble with all those little lights for electronics and power bars. With a couple more binder clips I could secure a towel in front of those lights.
I love the idea of a cousin reunion.
Sorry to hear about the loss of your uncle. May you find comfort, Katy, in the memories and laughter you have with him. The time spent with family is priceless. So glad that you were able to be with them during this time.
Thank you, he really did laugh all the time.
My sincere condolences on the loss of your uncle.
Fun fact, however – my brother Jimmy’s nickname is “Jimbo”.
I chuckled at your binder clip suggestion. On the other end of the spectrum, we watched “The Night Agent” on Netflix, (really enjoyed for a good spy-intrigue story), and, more than once, when the characters were hiding out in cheap motels, not only did they not clip the drapes shut, they didn’t even close them! The light was streaming in through the sheers, and one would think the opposition could have seen through them.
That aside, how wonderful to have an uncle who laughed often! Probably characteristic of other relatives as well. May his memory be a blessing.
My sincerest condolences to you and your family. Not easy to say goodbye to a beloved. I hope the joy and love that your Uncle brought to you eases your sadness.
Thank you, he was a lovely person start to finish.
I’m so sorry for your loss but glad you were able to attend your uncle’s service and see family members.
1. My husband traveled for the last 16 years of his career (before retirement) and he would say his number one tip to fellow travelers would be the binder clip trick. And always having ear plugs in his travel bag, too.
2. I seem to forget the AARP discount when booking travel or eating at restaurants where the discount is valid. Need to set some kind of reminder (?) for myself.
3. We are traveling in November to visit our daughter in Australia. My husband and I are each able to bring 2 suitcases as part of our fare – and we will each fill one with clothes and the other with items for our daughter. Going to start hitting up Goodwill to buy two suitcases that we can leave with her.
4. And I’m going to use your tip of the packing list to keep in my suitcase. I love this! Because I love to travel but I really hate to pack and I think part of that is feeling unorganized or that I’m forgetting something. Thanks!
Smart to use a thrifted suitcase that can be left behind for your daughter to either use or pass along.
Sincerest condolences on the loss of your much-loved uncle. As others have said, may his memory be a blessing.
And thank you for the tip on the packing list. I think of taking many of your suggested items, but always seem to forget something critical. A standardized list will be most helpful.
I’m learning to be more up-front in asking for discounts for which we’re qualified (senior, veteran, etc.). “Do you have a ____ discount?” sometimes gets a “no” answer, which is fine, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised a fair amount of the time.
It can be embarrassing in the moment, but worth it in the long run.
I’m sorry for your loss. But glad for you to be able to spend time with your extended family. Thank you for the idea of the master packing list. I sort of have one in my head, but actually writing it down would help for the few times I travel.
I put out for ideas on The Non-Consumer Advocate facebook group and am compiling a list that I’ll share here on the blog.
I started a “Grocery Steals and Deals” group on Nextdoor 2 years ago. There’s a lot of lookie-loos but no one participates except me. Finally I put a plea out for cheap strawberries so I could can some jam. Boy did they come through. There’s a roadside stand selling FLATS of strawberries for $2!!! I canned 10 pints of jam, froze a gallon for smoothies, and the whole family indulged without abandon all Saturday.
Babying my garden. I can’t wait for it’s gifts!!! Utilizing my banana peels and coffee grounds.
Got Costco pizza on vacation. $10 to feed family if 5 is amazing! My pro-tip when you have to leave EARLY for vacation is to have breakfast for dinner the night before, make extra scramble, and wrap it in tortillas for mess-free, grab-and-go breakfast to get you out the door faster.
It’s time and also necessary to start leaving the kids at home. Told my husband to call our internet company about adding a landline to see if it would be cheaper than adding another cell to our plan. It actually brings our monthly internet bill down $6 instead of increasing the bill.
Eggs came down in price, hallelujah! I made homemade Mayo, egg salad, and egg rolls for lunch tomorrow. I dried out my shells and crunched them up and sprinkled them on my garden.
That is a screaming deal on strawberries!!!!!
I’m sorry for your loss.
1. I made $3.49 in profit by buying 8 bottles of rice vinegar & mirin (worth $26+) on sales, credit card cash back on groceries & Swagbucks.
2. I made a quiche to use up some heavy cream that I wanted for a soup (see below) and used leftover cheese from a dinner party, and free milk & eggs from a mystery shop.
3. I made radish leaf soup (or radish greens soup) with radish greens from the garden. It was delicious – I used David Lebovitz’s recipe from his blog.
4. Had leftover orange slices from Aperol Spritz (dinner party) and pureed them/froze them for the next party when I’ll make a whole orange cake
5. My cat really likes to drink water from the faucet. I put a big pot underneath and am using it to water the potted plants.
Mmm . . . orange cake sounds delightful!
As a fellow cat lady with four pawed children who like to drink from the ‘water fountain’, lol, your #5 is a brilliant idea!!
I’m sorry for the loss of your uncle. However, I am so happy that you were able to travel and see family and go to the funeral. Traveling is expensive and out of the norm for most people. Thankful you got to spend time with family. Time is so precious.