How we went to NYC on a budget (our first overnight in 5ish years!)

Plus, what I'm eating and reading and my travel faves! Hi, Friend! One of our big goals for 2024 was to go on an overnighter just the two of us — something we hadn’t done in 5ish years!! We weren’t sure if we were going to be able to make it work with all the moving parts it would require, but WE DID IT last weekend!! A huge thank you to Kathrynne for coming back for the weekend to babysit and to Silas and Kaitlynn for helping out, too. Jesse and I flew to NYC and had the most amazing 36 hours away. We walked over 20k steps, saw some parts of NYC we hadn’t seen before, slept for 8+ hours uninterrupted (my Oura ring was like, “What happened last night?” because I’ve never gotten such a high sleep rating!), and laughed, dreamed, and just enjoyed time together without the constant noise and needs that is the reality of life right now. We challenged ourselves to do the trip on a tight budget. Here’s how we did it: -We flew Southwest to get a good deal on flights -took a free bus from the airport to the subway instead of a taxi or Uber (this saved a LOT — an Uber from the airport to Times Square is around $100-$175!!) -we used our points from hotel stays this past year to get a free hotel room (and it was SO nice — we stayed at the Tempo Hilton in Times Square — swipe to see the view from our window) -we walked everywhere we went in NYC -we just window-shopped and went to Central Park instead of going to any attractions that cost $$ -we bought water bottles in Central Park from a guy selling them for $1 (water is $3-$5/bottle or more elsewhere — you can bring your own water bottle but there aren’t always the greatest options for refill stations) -we ate at two inexpensive restaurants (Pret A Manger and a place at the airport - both had healthy options for about $10-$15. We could have brought most of our own food, as I often do, if we wanted to save even more!), and then we took the subway and bus back to the airport. Our one splurge we had pre-decided was to eat at the Central Park Boathouse. I had gone there with my friend, Jenn, when I visited earlier this year and I *knew* I had to take Jesse! He LOVED it! (By the way, I recommend going for lunch as it’s less expensive but they still have incredible food options!) = People often ask for me for my favorite travel gear. [I LOVE this backpack, crossbody bag, and suitcase.](=)This suitcase has traveled all over the world with me for years and this crossbody bag has been my purchase for the past year. The backpack is newer and has only been on a few trips with me (so far!) but I love it! [See the links here.](=) C started school this fall, so we stopped regularly babysitting for him but his mom asked if we could help during his fall break and we were THRILLED to get to do so! He's growing so much and was really excited to see us and get to hang out with us. He cried when we had to say goodbye but we look forward to the next time we get to see him again! (If you're new here, we fostered C from the NICU in 2020. He was with us for 8 1/2 months and then reunified with his mom. We've gotten the incredible privilege of getting to continue to be involved in his life and help with childcare as his mom needs help.) I've been eating this on repeat recently for lunch: a bowl with chopped cucumbers, red peppers, fresh beets, red onions, and avocados, topped with hummus and kimchi! Yum! = Books I've Been Reading Books I finished recently: [The Unplugged Hours]( -- a fantastic book filled with encouragement to prioritize unplugging! I love how it felt inspiring and doable, not guilt-ridden! And I set the goal of unplugging 1000 hours over the next year (I'm tracking it on the Strides app). I've been staying offline/unplugged for the first hour of my day and then trying to unplug mid day for an hour and then an hour before bed. I'm not doing it perfectly, but aiming for this has made a real difference for my days already! [Momma Moments with God]() - This book didn't really hit home for me personally. I didn't relate to a lot of the examples given, but there were a few beautiful sections of the book that did encourage me. What I'm Currently Reading: [The Women]() [From Strength to Strength]( [Word Before World]() = This Week on The Crystal Paine Show: You are Not Behind with Meghan Ryan Asbury Meghan Ryan Asbury was in studio last week to record this week’s episode all about the topic of her new book: [You Are Not Behind: Building a Life You Love Without Having Everything You Want](=)! We all encounter this feeling at some point in our live: the sense of inadequacy that can stem from our lives not aligning with expectations we had for where we’d be, expectations we feel like we’re not living up to from others, or just the general sense that everyone else has it more together or their lives are moving along at a stronger/faster/better pace than ours. Meghan shares her journey of writing this book during a pivotal time when her own life felt anything but perfect and where so many dreams and hopes she’d had for the future were not coming to fruition. In this conversation, we discuss the detrimental impact of comparison and how it permeates our thoughts and influences our sense of contentment. Her insights resonate deeply, especially when she reminds us that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. We explore the importance of recognizing our unique journeys and the necessity of grieving lost hopes, which can ultimately lead us to greater healing. Whether you’re in your twenties, thirties, forties, or beyond, this episode offers wisdom for anyone feeling behind in life. Meghan encourages us to embrace our current season, invest in community, and cultivate gratitude amidst the unknowns of the future. [Listen to this episode here.](=) = 3 FREE Months of SiriusXM Car Radio — No Credit Card Required! It’s back! Get [3 FREE months of SiriusXM In-Car Satellite Radio]( — no credit card required!! Just go [HERE]( and fill out your info to check your eligibility. This is SUCH a great deal, because you don’t have to worry about being automatically charged at the end of your 3-month trial! = Earn money taking surveys with Lifepoints! If you’re looking for creative ways to stretch your budget, don’t miss this [new survey opportunity with LifePoints]( — a really reputable research panel that gets good reviews on TrustPilot! Just go [HERE]( to sign up, fill out your profile to get surveys matched with your interests, and you’ll start earning right away! The sign-up process is really simple and you’ll get 10 points just for signing up. Most survey payouts are between 50 and 150 points and don’t take longer than 20 minutes to complete. Some surveys can take longer but pay up to 500 points (equivalent of $5!). And the best part? They have a super low minimum payout threshold of $5, so it’s quick and easy to get your first payout! You won’t get rich taking surveys, but this is a really nice way to earn some extra money to stretch your budget further. You can trade in earned points for Amazon gift cards or PayPal cash! [Go here to get started with LifePoints.]( Links You Might Want to Check Out: [10 Comforting Fall Soup Recipes](=) -- Looking for Fall Soup Recipes & Ideas? Soup is such an easy way to [feed a crowd on a budget]( — and these are some of the best fall soups for cool fall evenings! Fetch Rewards App -- Fetch Rewards is a [free app (for iOS or Android) that allows you to earn free gift cards]() to Amazon, Panera, Barnes & Noble, and so much more — just for scanning your grocery receipts. (Psst! You can now also [redeem eReceipts to earn points for online purchases](, too!) _______________ Have a wonderful week! -Crystal P.S. Are you [following me on Instagram]()? If not and you love my personal enewsletters, you'd probably really enjoy [all the behind-the-scenes and real-life updates I share there!]() I'd love to connect with you there! [Unsubscribe]( Money Saving Mom, LLC 2020 Fieldstone Parkway, Ste. 900 #313 Franklin, Tennessee 37069 United States