Saving for Disney Gift Cards

Every once in a while two of my obsessions combine -- Perdido Key Wine & Arts Festival, Green Depression glass on 50% off sale, Boston Rob on The Amazing Race.  Now, I'm planning my family's Disney vacation with the help of Pinterest. Is it just me or do you hear the angels singing, too?

My girls are getting the Dave Ramsey style education on work, money, giving, saving and spending.  They are extremely excited about the trip.  So, we are trying to focus that energy into doing extra chores and putting that extra money into savings banks.  I saw some beautiful ones pinned that inspired this project.

Junkin Junky via Pinterest

I did find an excellent deal on shadow boxes at Tuesday Morning.  Unfortunately, I have already used them to make a Christmas project.  Now, when I need some, I cannot find any in my normal thrifty sources.  I dragged the girls to two different Goodwill stores, HomeGoods, Tuesday Morning and an indoor flea market -- no shadow boxes.

Thank goodness for Hobby Lobby (the second happiest place on Earth).  They had the perfect acrylic box frames at a great price, made even better with their 40% off coupon.  Do not laugh at me for couponing $2.99 -- the money we saved on each one went into the savings banks.  "Train up a child in the way she should go; even when she is old she will not depart from it."  Proverbs 22:6. I guess mine will be crafty, couponing and a little crazy.

don't know how my finger
got broken there.

We pulled out the bulky card board insert thingy that was inside the frame. It makes a great template for the thin foam core that we would use as backing instead.  I just had to remember to cut it a little larger because we wanted a tight fit. 

Next we cut slits in the foam core. 

The Girlies all picked out the gift card they wanted the most. We printed out pictures of them on photo paper.   

Middle Girlie is the best cutter. Baby Girlie loves the glue sticks because they are purple, her favorite color.

Next, I added a bead of hot glue around the back to seal the foam core. First of all, that holds in the heavy change. Secondly, it makes sure that the money stays in until our trip, even if the ice cream man comes by on Saturday afternoon.  

We decided to add a tally sheet on the back to keep up with the totals. Big Girlies are both math monkeys who love to add up their "deposits."  Baby gets to use the calculator, which helps with her eye/hand coordination and number recognition.  OK, so she really likes pushing the buttons, but that counts.  

Already, they are all asking for extra "jobs" they can do around the house. There may be a lemonade stand in our future.  The baby clothes that we just tilled out are going to the consignment store instead of Goodwill. Bonnie asked if she could have the cash value instead of picking out candy like her sisters did at Walmart today.  If Hunky Husband stands still too long, they may figure out a way to hire him out to the neighbors.  

Apparently, these simple little boxes inspire hard work, creativity, entrepreneurship and sacrifice. Well, they look cute on my mantle. We'll see how long all this free enterprise lasts.

I have a series on staging that will help you get more Visit Ready while I'm getting vacation ready.  Check back this week.

just bec

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