August Challenges - Bucket lists, money, and dates!

Hello August!  We have a couple challenges this month:  1) family time; 2) save money; and 3) date night.

Summer days are starting to draw to a close and I want to be sure we take advantage of the Florida weather before colder, shorter, yuckier days arrive.  I know what you're thinking... Florida weather in August! UGH! I personally love these warm days and cannot stand being stuck inside the house, even if I have to battle the humidity.  Before the hussle and bussle of the holiday season starts, I want us to spend some much needed family time together.  I've mentioned before how we don’t have much time together - 8 hours total between two mornings.  If we don't have something on the agenda to do those mornings, before we know it we've spent our valuable 4 hours on errands and cleaning and it's time for my husband to head into the restaurant.  So I've come up with a Summer Bucket List of things we want to do together before the end of September.  With the help of inspiration from Pinterest and some LivingSocial deals we need to use, we literally have a bucket list:

·         Spend the day at the Aquarium

·         Have a picnic at the park

·         Check out a splash park in the area

·         Have a pizza lunch date

·         Take family pictures

·         Take a beach vacation

·         And more

Our next challenge is going to be to stay below budget this month.  I’ve been slacking a little in the couponing department and it just kills me to know that I paid too much for something.  With a little boy’s birthday and Christmas just around the corner, I want to start saving a little bit at a time for gifts.  Every dollar I save from the grocery budget is going away for gifts. 

Finally, and this is a big one, we have challenged ourselves to have a date night.  Like a real “get a babysitter” night out.  This might be tricky because Sam works nights and money is still tight, but I think it’s necessary.  It’s been nearly 2 years (embarrassing!) since we had a real night out - just the two of us.  We’ve been through a lot the past few years and it’s taken a toll on our relationship.  It’s time to put that first. 

So wish us luck in August!