The Get Away Jar

Last year before while I was struggling to stay in my house and put food on the table I really wanted to do something nice for me and my wife. Something we had never done before. Something other people would be jealous of. I started saving everything I could in a jar. Although I did want to take her to Hawaii or Jamaica (like my cousin did. JERK!)it was way out of my budget. I was able to turn a small 125 dollars into 500 dollars and was able to provide a pretty nice trip at least for our taste. Here is how you do it.
Now remember when I did this I was practically spending every penny just to get through the rest of 2013 but was able to save without hurting my budget. This can also work to save for an emergency fund.
First start with anything. Pocket change, a penny, even 5 buck from your
Bank account. Something you can say for sure unless your life depended on it is going to your vacation. Your mini getaway. Sacrifice as much as you can. Pack your lunch. Don't go out to eat until you get your vacation. Be mad about it. Next invest. Yeah your not going to have enough to put into the stock market nor would you want to. Look at the classifieds or the thrift stores for ideas. I was able to pick up a pair of snowboarding boots for 5 bucks a brand new air compressor for 15 and 10 car phone chargers for about 11 bucks. I sold the car phone chargers for 20 the air compressor for 35 and will sell the boots this year. My 30 dollars turned into 54 and I will hopefully get an extra 20 for the boots. Next put a little bit from your pay check. Anything. I started with 25 but ended with 5 a month but I put something.
When you hit your goal amount then comes the fun part. Try to save on your trip. Try turning your 500 dollar trip into a 400 dollar trip or make your 500 dollar trip more glamorous by buying packages or deals off of groupon or other deal sites. We have a local deal site I used. I was able to get a condo for 2 nights for 50 dollars a night. Try winning your trip through a radio station. Very unlikely but it could happen. Look at renting a condo vs a hotel. You might have to clean but it's well worth the savings plus you can cook in a condo and have a romantic candlelite dinner.Yeah it's not "normal" but some significant others are not looking for normal. Stay at a cozy cabin. Look for used or new gift cards people are selling. I found a gas card with 100 dollars on it for 70 bucks. 30 dollars saved. Use coupons. Pack a cooler. One of my most memorable short trip was to Pinetop Arizona. I stopped by the dollar store grabbed shasta and some snacks for my cooler and had an awesome weekend.( I still wonder what my wife wrote in that bible we found when we dropped it off at a church). Freeze your own ice or oarange juice to keep your food cold eat at a Costco or Sam's club for a meal. The point is get out away from your kids and go on an overnighter. When your done start over!