BankerGirl

Posted by Heidi on April 28th, 2008 in frugal, travel

Those of you who follow my Twitter feed may know that I spent last weekend in sunny Scottsdale, Arizona.  It was a wonderful trip - I stayed in a beautiful resort complete with a golf course, water park, and a live bagpiper (no trip is complete without your very own bagpiper).  It was wonderful - and I got to take this trip for free (almost).

Here’s how I got so lucky:

My mom works for a state hospital, supervising oncology clinical trials.  The pharmaceutical company sponsoring a bone cancer study put her up in the swanky hotel, and she asked me to come along for the ride.  I didn’t even have to pay for my own airfare or meals - Mom covered that as well (Happy Birthday to me)!

I could have made it through the entire long weekend without spending a single cent, but I wasn’t in a frugal frame of mind - I was on vacation!  I paid for a couple of drinks by the pool while my mother was in meetings.  And there was a great little shopping center near the hotel, so I bought my bridesmaids gifts and got myself a necklace.  And a gift for my mom (mother’s day is next week).  And I rented a bike so I could pedal out to the “mountain” trails.

Wow.  That’s a lot of “ands.”

So I did spend some money this weekend.  I would have bought the bridesmaids’ gifts anyway - so that was a wash.  Matt and I would have gone out for dinner at least one night last weekend (if I had been home) - so the margaritas I paid for were probably a steal in comparison.  The $40 bike rental was the only money I spent in Arizona that I wouldn’t have parted with if I had stayed home - and that ride was totally worth $40.

I did, however, spend $135 on a bathing suit before leaving.   I didn’t realize how expensive good suits are these days - I haven’t bought a new swimming suit for five or six years.  At that price, I hope it will be another five years before I need to purchase one again. 

So I got a much-needed mini-vacation for the bargain basement price of $175, if you count the bathing suit.  Not too shabby. 

Thanks, Mom - for a wonderful weekend!  I had a great time and the sunshine drastically improved my mood!

Stumble it!