You’ve already paid for your vacation rental, you’ve calculated your gas costs, and you’ve checked the packing list twice to make sure you don’t have to buy toothbrushes at the beachfront grocery store. But the one thing you can’t completely plan for is the food—not only do food prices vary greatly between tourist locations and your local grocery store, but something about being at the beach seems to make everybody extra hungry. Is it possible to eat inexpensively at the beach without only eating junk food?
The answer is YES! It just requires some planning, and I’ve done all that for you. Today I’m sharing a simple, inexpensive meal plan for your week at the beach (or wherever else you’re going). Print it out, add any other items that are “musts” for your family, then check your pantry FIRST for items you already have. Highlight those so you know what to take with you. Then, whatever is left is what you’ll need to buy when you get to your destination. If you’re feeling extremely frugal and want to make the most of this plan, take as much as you can with you, even if it means bringing a cooler.
Beach Week Meal Plan
As a mom of young kids, going on vacation is never going to mean a complete reprieve from my normal food-related tasks at home. Everybody still needs to eat! So my goal in planning meals for the week is to sacrifice some nutrition for convenience and allowing a few “treat” meals that we almost never have at home. I want to limit meal prep time, keep clean-up easy, and end the week with minimal food waste. I do recommend bringing at least a small cooler so that you can take home any perishable items that you don’t finish.
Download the Beach Week Meal Plan!
Download the Beach Week Shopping List!
Hopefully this plan saves you some time when planning for the beach and takes some of the mental load off of you while you’re there!
Thru 7/24, head to Woot! to get fabulous deals on Sketchers, Vans and more! This is a really great chance to buy sneakers for school!
You can get a kids’ pair for as low as $19.99, plus tons of styles to choose from for the whole family.
Deal Ideas:
Shipping is free for Prime members – just log in to Woot! with your Prime credentials.
See more online shopping deals!
Totally beat the heat and still have fun in the water!
Right now, head to Groupon where they are offering a huge discount to Great Wolf Lodge when you stay 2 nights or more! Save up to 60% on nightly rates.
The best part, your room cost includes wrist bands for entry to the water park for six people! Entry is free for kids 2 and under. Rooms include two queen beds and a full sofa bed or one queen bed, one set of bunk beds, and a full sofa bed.
Your room also includes free entertainment like crafts, story time and a pajama dance party. My kids were the most excited about the free ears they give you!
You can cancel for free up to 9 days before check-in.
This offer is good for a limited time.
See all of our tips for how to save at Great Wolf Lodge.
Today is National Ice Cream Day!! This is one of our FAVORITES! For National Ice Cream Day you’ll find FREE ice cream and other great deals all over the place.
Savings Tip: Even if you don’t have any of these stores in your area, you’ll find lots of great deals on ice cream in your local grocery store or drug store.
National Ice Cream Day Deals
Baskin-Robbins: starting Sunday, July 19th through July 25th, Baskin-Robbins Rewards members will get $5 off any $20 purchase when ordered at the shop, through the app or online.
Bruester’s: Bruester’s Sweet Rewards members can earn double reward points on all purchases July 17th through July 19th.
Burger King: Royal Perks members get a FREE soft serve ice cream with the purchase of $1 or more on July 19th. Get the deal through the app.
Dairy Queen: DQ stores nationwide are offering a FREE Dilly Bar with the DQ mobile app when you spend $1 or more, July 13th through 19th.
Dippin’ Dots: select Dippin’ Dots locations are offering a FREE mini cup of Dippin’ Dots of Sunday July 19th. Each location is only offering the freebie during a 2 hour window, so check if your store is participating and find out when the free cup is being offered.
Friendly’s: On Sunday, July 19th, Friendly’s is offering FREE cone or dish for Fan Club members and 90-cent ice cream cones for everyone else.
Marble Slab Creamery: On Sunday only, get a free small ice cream for rewards members – no purchase required!
See more freebies
Walmart has a nice deal on this Lofka 3-Piece Patio Rocking Chair Set. Grab it in gray for just $86.97 shipped (reg. $115.99)!
This set is currently on sale for $66.98, but shipping adds $19.99, bringing your total to $86.97, which is still a great price!
Get the deal:
Lofka 3-Piece Patio Rocking Chair Set, gray – $66.98 (reg. $115.99)
+$15 shippping
Makes it $86.97
See more deals at Walmart.
Hurry into Publix this week for an easy savings on butter! President Butter is B1G1, and we have an Ibotta rebate (limit of five) to stack that will make butter just $1.24.
Publix President Butter Deal (ends 7/21 or 7/22):
- President Imported Butter, 7 oz, B1G1 at $4.99 ($2.49)
-$1.25 off President Butter, limit 5, Ibotta mobile app
(makes it $1.24)
Check out the full Publix ad for more great deal ideas.
Get a deal on laundry detergent at Amazon! Get All Free & Clear Laundry Pacs 66-count for just $7.58 each when you buy four!
These sell as a 2-pack, so you just need to add (2) to your cart. Then clip the coupon and subscribe & save plus get an extra $15 off for spending $50 (automatically applied at checkout).
Here’s the Deal
Buy:
(2) All Free & Clear Laundry Pacs 66-ct 2-Pack (4 total) – $27.48 each
Total Due: $54.96
-$15 when you spend $50 (auto applied at checkout)
-clip the 25% off coupon + subscribe & save
Makes it $30.34 total or $7.58 each!
This offer is good for a limited time only. Shipping is free with Prime or Subscribe & Save, or with orders of $35+.
See more of my favorite Amazon deals.
Today only, speed over to Bath & Body Works where you can score select Body Care for just $5.95! These normally run $15.95 to $18.95!!
To get the deal, use code HURRY at checkout. Note there is a limit of 24 items at this price.
Deal Ideas:
Sweet Pea Fine Fragrance Mist $5.95 (reg. $17.95)
Football Season 3-in-1 Hair, Face & Body Wash $5.95 (reg. $15.95)
Champagne Toast Ultimate Hydration Body Cream $5.95 (reg. $18.95)
Eucalyptus Spearmint Ultimate Hydration Body Cream $5.95 (reg. $17.95)
This deal is good through tonight only, 7/18. Shipping is free on orders $50 and up, or you can choose free store pickup. Read More→
Try something new with this Korean cucumber salad recipe! It’s a bit spicy, a bit sweet, and a bit tangy. The cucumbers are great on their own or alongside a stir fry!
After tossing the cucumbers together with the dressing, you can eat them right away or store them in the refrigerator (just keep in mind that as the salad sits, the cucumbers will release moisture). Everyone has different tastes, so feel free to add more spice, more sweetness, etc.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp gochujang sauce
- 2-3 tbsp chopped green onion
- 2 tsp sesame seeds
- 1 English cucumber (thinly sliced)
Directions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, gochujang sauce, green onion, and sesame seeds until the sugar has dissolved.
- Toss the cucumbers in the dressing. You can eat immediately or store in the fridge in an airtight container (note: the cucumbers will release moisture the longer they sit).
See more recipe ideas!
