3 Kids and Us

3 Surprising Ways to Save on Your Next Trip to Disney

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Taking a trip to Disney world is one of the most fun and memorable family vacations you can take! With endless activities for your entire family to enjoy, there is no shortage of activities to keep you entertained. While traveling to Disney World can be fun, there is no denying that it can also be one of the most expensive trips to plan and embark on. Whether you are a stay-at-home parent or work for The Institute of Natural Health, taking a trip to Disney without breaking the bank can be tough, but it is not impossible! 

Keep reading to learn a few helpful, expert-approved tips for saving money on your next Disney World vacation. 

Bring Your Own Food 

One of the biggest expenses during any trip to Disney is the cost of food. From onsite meals to little snacks, food at the popular theme park is often overpriced. Reduce the number of meals you need to purchase at the park by keeping your hotel stocked with groceries, and bring park-friendly snacks that you can pack throughout the day. Many park-goers don’t realize this, but Disney allows guests to bring their own food into the park. This may seem small, but it is a great way to save hundreds of dollars on a trip to Disney!

Set Souvenir Limits 

Some Disney experts recommend avoiding souvenirs at the park altogether in order to save as much money as possible. While there is no denying that merchandise and souvenirs are more expensive at the park than they would be if purchased from other retailers after your trip, this is not a realistic goal for many families to set. Instead of restricting your children from purchasing souvenirs completely, try to set a firm limit by giving each child a prepaid gift card ahead of your trip, and only allowing them to use this money for souvenirs and merchandise purchases during your trip. 

Use Disney Gift Cards

Speaking of gift cards, a lesser known way to save money on a trip to Disney World is by purchasing discounted gift cards at big box stores like Costco or Sam’s Club, and using these gift cards to pay for your entire trip. While it might seem like no big deal, doing this can save you an average of $400-600 on a trip to Disney without even trying!

3 Simple Ideas For Your Child’s Playroom

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Giving your child a designated space to play in your home is crucial for supporting their creativity and development, can help keep the rest of your home tidy as it will reduce toys and other clutter from piling up in other rooms, and will help keep energetic children who want to play out of your hair while you are working from home or performing important tasks around the house. If you don’t currently have a Hiner Outdoor Living backyard space in which your children can play, turning a bonus room in your home into a designated playroom can be a great option. 

Designing your child’s playroom and filling it with all of the toys, equipment, and miscellaneous items they need to have a good time does not need to be a difficult or expensive task! Keep reading to learn a few simple, cheap, creative options for your child’s playroom that they are sure to love. 

Chalk Wall 

If your child is passionate about art and loves to draw or paint, give them plenty of space to do so by installing a chalk wall in their playroom! Chalk walls are relatively inexpensive and easy to install, and are the perfect way to keep your child entertained for hours on end; plus, allowing them to use a chalk wall for their art will reduce the chances of them drawing, painting, or coloring on your actual walls. Many chalk walls have the potential to be magnetic, as well, allowing your child an additional opportunity to play and learn by incorporating decorative or educational magnetics into their drawings. 

TV 

If you don’t care about limiting your child’s screen time, giving them their very own TV in their playroom is the perfect way to keep them entertained during a long day of play; plus, giving them their own separate space to watch their favorite shows or movies will help to keep them occupied and out of your hair should you need to get work done at home or just want to enjoy some peace and quiet, and will reduce the chances of you and your child fighting for the remote when watching TV at the same time. 

Active Space 

Encouraging your child to be active can be done by incorporating a special space into their playroom that allows them to do so. From a mini trampoline to an indoor basketball hoop and all the possible toys and games in between, giving your child the space to move and play is crucial for their development and will allow them to release excess energy.

3 Side Hustles for Busy Moms

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Whether you’re a full-time employee for fencing contractors in your area or work from home while taking care of your children, you might be looking for a few ways to earn some extra income in the New Year. Finding a side gig to help you earn some extra cash can be difficult when you are a busy mom with an already hectic schedule and limited free time, but it is not impossible! No matter what your schedule is like or how much extra money you are looking to earn, keep reading to learn about a few side hustles you can pick up in 2023.

Monetize Online Content

In the last few years, numerous social media influencers across various platforms have showcased how simple it can be to earn money on social media with the help of monetized content, ads, and brand deals or company sponsorships. Today, one of the most popular social media sites for monetization is TikTok, which makes it easy for creators like you to earn money based on views per video. In 2023, try to step up your social media game and monetize your content, and you might be surprised by how much money you can make. 

Freelance Writing 

If you excel in the field of English or have a natural passion for writing, finding freelance writing jobs for individuals and corporations should be relatively simple. Sites like Upwork can easily match you with writing jobs and can pay between $15 and $50 per hour, depending on the job. This is an easy job to take on in your free time as you can create your own schedule and write as you please.

Dog Walking

Looking to earn some extra cash and squeeze a workout into your schedule? Dog walking might be a great option for you. Sites like Rover and Wag can match you with dog owners in your area who are seeking someone to walk or provide additional care for their pets and can pay you a flexible rate that starts at around $15/hr. You can pick up walks on your own terms, meaning that you can work this job around your schedule; plus, dog walking is not too time-consuming, and is fun for animal lovers! Having the opportunity to get your daily steps in while spending time with a cute animal and earning some extra cash is the perfect side hustle for any busy mom. 

How to Make Moving Less of a Pain

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If you’ve never moved before, count yourself lucky. In survey after survey, moving consistently ranks among the most stressful life events, right alongside divorce and the death of a loved one. Naturally, if you have an upcoming move, you’ll want to do everything in your power to make it less stressful and easier on your entire family. So, in today’s guide, we’re going to take a closer look at how to make moving less of a pain!

Make a Moving Day Checklist In Advance

Nothing throws a wrench in your moving day plans like a lack of organization. If you don’t make a checklist well before moving day arrives, you will likely feel agitated and overwhelmed. Fortunately, you can largely bypass these feelings by preparing for what’s to come. Make sure your checklist accounts for the people and vehicles you will need, as well as all of the larger items that must be moved. Don’t forget little things like having a phone charger on hand, as it could end up being a real life-saver!

Give Away Things You Don’t Want

One of the biggest issues associated with moving is taking inventory of all the stuff you own. Many families are shocked at the sheer number of things in their homes. However, if you’re like most people, you still hold on to plenty of things that you don’t actually want or need. Consider donating unwanted clothing, furniture, and other household items to charity or even giving them away to friends and family. Getting rid of these items ahead of moving day will greatly reduce the number of boxes and vehicles you’ll need to get everything moved to your new home.

Hire Professional Movers

It can be tempting to save a few bucks and try to do everything on your own. Unfortunately, you’ll quickly find that trying to manage a big move without some hired muscle is an enormous undertaking. Not only can it be stressful, but you may find that you don’t have the right equipment to move bigger items in your home. So, don’t be afraid to invest in a reliable moving company like Black Tie Moving. Not only will you have people to do most of the heavy lifting for you, but you’ll also eliminate a lot of the stress associated with changing homes.

Make Fun Arrangements For Your Kids

If you have young kids, you know that it can be difficult to get things done unless they are entertained. While older children and teenagers can be a huge help when moving, younger kids may not be able to help as much. Not only could they get hurt, but they could also get quickly bored with the activity. So, if possible, try to arrange to have young children entertained while you handle the move. For example, you might ask your parents or friends to watch your kids for the day. Alternatively, you could have one of your older children take the kids to the movies or to the park for a few hours. This will help keep your kids happy and make moving go by much faster!

Looking for more great advice on ways to make your busy life easier? Be sure to check out some of our other posts on 3 Kids and Us today!

Filed Under: DIY

3 Unique, Last Minute Christmas Gifts for Kids

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Buying Christmas gifts for children can be a challenge. While it might seem easy to purchase toys, games, or craft supplies for kids during the holiday season, it can be fairly overwhelming to find age appropriate gifts that most children don’t already have and will actually enjoy. Whether you work for hsi.com and have no time to do major holiday shopping or are just struggling to think of any ideas for gifts for the children in your life this season, here are some unique Christmas gifts that kids of all ages are sure to enjoy. 

Magic Mixies Magical Misting Crystal Ball with Interactive Plush Toy

This viral toy made waves on TikTok among children and adults alike. The interactive crystal ball requires users to fill a pot with “ingredients” before revealing an adorable – and magical – stuffed animal. Although the crystal ball can only “create” one stuffed animal, the toy can be used again and again and serves as an awesome night light for any child’s room. This gift will be at the top of many kids’ Christmas lists this season!

Little Tikes Toby 2 Director’s Camera

These days, many children dream of becoming a digital content creator on sites like YouTube and TikTok. Help them achieve this dream by gifting them an age appropriate camera like the Little Tikes Toby 2 Director’s Camera. Equipped with its own professional tripod, this camera can take photos and videos that are available for instant playback, so children can create their own content just like their favorite creators. Plus, these videos cannot be transferred to a computer or other device without the use of a USB chord, so you can trust that your children’s photos and videos will be kept safe. This is a great gift for young children!

Nintendo Switch 

If you’re looking to splurge on a gift for a loved one, a foolproof gift for recipients of all ages is a Nintendo Switch. The Switch is one of the most popular gaming consoles in the world, and is sure to be enjoyed by gamers of all ages – from young children all the way to their parents. With countless games available for physical purchase and instant download, the Switch is a gift that keeps giving, and is sure to be a hit this Christmas season.

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We left our home in Sydney, Australia many moons ago in May 2012 and, other than a brief stint back in Perth for Christmas and a wedding in early 2014, we have been travelling the world nomadically ever since, running a business from our laptops and we’re here to show you how to do it!