If you check my blog post NAVY PIR FOR DUMMIES: BOOT CAMP GRADUATION. I tell you about PIR.. What to wear, where to stay, things to do. But what if you're on a budget? Who isn't, right?! So, how can you save money while still making the weekend special for your loved one who is graduating? There are plenty of ways!
First and foremost, calling off work can be hard. If you have a job that allows you to work early/late, pick up or switch shifts, try to arrange accordingly so you aren't losing a substantial amount of money. You can also go through your house and clear out some old things that you don't really use any more. Have a garage sale or sell it on Ebay or Craigslist. Whatever you can't sell just donate. It will feel great getting rid of stuff that was previously just taking up space. It may only be a couple bucks but it can still go towards your trip.
Of course some expenses are unavoidable like travel and the hotel. Make sure you look for good deals. PLAN AHEAD! PLAN AHEAD! PLAN AHEAD! Flights are always cheaper when booked in advance! If you type in where you're flying from, and where you're flying to into google it will give you a list of flights from different airlines, you can pick your dates. I've found the cheapest ones here.
Example: "Cleveland, Oh to San Diego Ca flights"
The hotels around Great Lakes fill up fast. I've tried booking a week in advance and that has been to late. All the cheap hotels go first and you're left with the $250-$300 a night ones. (Thats 1/3 of my rent!) They also hike up their prices on the weekends. The navy lodge is definitely reasonable if they have rooms available. I think my total bill from the Navy Lodge for PIR weekend was somewhere in the low $300's. Another thing to keep in mind is to spend the extra money to get a refundable or exchangeable hotel room if your hotel offers it! The navy is unpredictable. You never know what can happen. God forbid your soon-to-be-sailor doesn't pass Battle Stations or they get set back for being sick or hurt. Losing a few hundred dollars because plans changed is horrible. I know from experience. A month or two after PIR, I had plans to go see my husband. It turned out that he ended up losing liberty that weekend because someone royally screwed up. So, I couldn't go see him. Another time he didn't do well on a test and lost liberty. Needless to say, Id rather lose $25-$50 to ensure I can change my travel date, than lose $350+.*Ask for Military discounts! Whether you're at the mall or out to breakfast. It can't hurt! The worst they can say is "no".
FOOD!
Going out to eat for 3-4 days, for every meal can break your bank account. Try to find a hotel with a kitchenette! I know for sure, The Navy Lodge and Candlewood Suites in Waukegan both have little kitchens in each room! Candlewood even has a grill outside with a picnic table. You have a fridge, a stove, toaster, sink and a microwave. They provide plates, cups, mugs, flatware and cooking necessities. Or you can pick up paper and plastic. This can save you a TON of money. When you arrive, you can go to Wal-mart (right next to Candlewood Suites) and buy food for the weekend. OR wait until you can see your sailor and have them go to the Commissary with you. Its tax free. The food isn't always a whole lot cheaper. However, produce can be better quality. Sometimes. Other times it's picked over.
By cooking in your room you can spend around $50 to eat and drink for the entire weekend if you shop smart. That beats spending $50 to eat out for just one night. Not to mention your sailor will probably love a home cooked meal from mom/dad, grandma/grandpa or the husband/wife. Granted, theres no oven. But you can still make a lot of wonderful dishes. Pasta, BLT's, tacos and rice, chicken and stuffing, stir fry, veggies, burgers, fish, mashed potatoes, eggs bacon and pancakes. I mean, the options are endless. Here are some stovetop recipes from food.com. Below is an incredibly easy recipe for those looking for something very quick and cheap. I make this when I don't feel like cooking because it takes less than 10 mins. Add a small salad and a side of green beans or corn on the cob and you have yourself a meal.
Mushroom Burgers
If you like cream of mushroom soup.... this is EASY, cheap, quick and my husband loves it.
It takes less than 10 mins to prep and cook and it really is good.
-Brown some lean ground beef you can add chopped up onions and fresh mushrooms if you choose
-Add anywhere between half and the whole can of Campbell's Low Fat Cream of Mushroom soup depending on how much ground beef you're using
-Add a 1/4 to 1/2 a can of skim milk (or any other kind of milk) to mix in with the soup and beef
It should be like sloppy joe consistency. Chunky beef and the soup provides a sauce. If you find it to be too soupy, just let it simmer and it will cook down. Make sure you stir it so it doesn't burn.
Serve on wheat toast, hamburger buns, egg noodles or just eat it plain.
Another way to save money on food is to buy things to pack in a lunch. Some turkey and cheese from the deli, PB & J, pitas, some fruit, a few snacks and some bottled waters or sodas. Throw it all in a back pack, take the Metra downtown and have lunch at Millennium or Grant Park. (weather permitting) Or, you can take the Metra or drive to Ravinia (about 35-40 mins) and go to the Botanic Gardens (free parking with their military ID and free admission, all the time for everyone) and have your little picnic there. Again, weather permitting. Even if you choose to go out to eat, buying snacks at the store, is significantly cheaper than buying them downtown, or at the train station. You can buy a case of 12 sodas for $3.00-$4.00 or a 22oz bottle for $3.50....I'd go for 12 cans.
In the winer its a little harder, because you can't really eat a packed lunch outside. I mean, you can if you're an Eskimo...but, I don't recommend it. If you opt to go out to eat for lunch or a celebratory dinner. USE GROUPON! I'll say it again. USE GROUPON! or any other "coupon" website. You can find some incredible deals. Whole meals with an appetizer, sometimes including a drink for 2 or 4 people for $20-$40 (ish). Look locally or downtown. Especially if you're already in the city and planning to eat out anyway. Use your smartphone. Why spend more than you have to? Just make sure it isn't too far away.
ALCOHOL/DESSERT
For those of you who drink (even though your sailor can't), don't go out for drinks. And don't get a beer or glass of wine at the restaurant. Unless of course its included in your Groupon coupon. ;) Those $3.00-$10.00 beers/martinis/glasses of wine add up. And they add up quick. Opt for getting a bottle of wine or a case of beer at the grocery store. Maybe some hot chocolate and some yummy desert (some small cakes, brownies, donuts or ice cream) and have it at the hotel. .Just make sure you get something non-alcoholic for your sailor, the kids and whoever is driving your sailor back to base! This would be a great time to sit down and talk. Something you haven't had a chance to do in a while. Or better yet, make cookies/brownies/your sailors favorite treat at home and bring them in tuperware containers. Those sort of things travel well.
THINGS TO DO
When I went to Great Lakes for PIR it was February and below zero wind chills. Needless to say we had to stay inside. But If the weather is nice, there are a ton of cheap or even free things to do. And, there are things to do even if its cold and snowy.
-Botanic Garden
This is one of my favorite places! As I mentioned, the Botanic Garden is free to everyone and its beautiful. If you take the Metra, its a little over a mile walk from the Ravinia Metra stop to the garden. Its not a bad walk if the weather is nice, some of the houses on the way are beautiful. Or, you can call a cab. Personally, if you're just going to the garden and not planning on going downtown, I would say just drive if you have a car. I doubt your sailor will want to walk in their dress whites or blues or peanut butters. Those shoes aren't terribly comfy. And when you drive, you don't have to worry about train times.
-Going Downtown
Another thing that is cheap which I also previously mentioned is taking the Metra downtown. Its around $7.00 per ticket and I've seen sailors in uniform ride for free. The ride takes little over an hour and drops you off in the center of downtown at Oglive Transportation Center. I'd say most things are within a two mile radius. Definitely walkable if you like to walk. You can take a cab. Or there are other train lines but that can get confusing if you aren't familiar. If you choose to take a cab, flag one down. OR if you or someone you know is cell phone savvy, download the app UBER. This app shows you UBER drivers that are close to you. You pick your driver and they come get you. Its cheaper and relatively quick. You pay through the app too. You can drive downtown if you really want to, but Chicago traffic is horrible. It will take about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to get downtown and find a place to park. Parking can run $50 upwards on the weekends. And with how unpredictable traffic is, I would be concerned about getting my sailor back to base on time. I've sat in weekend traffic coming out of the city for over an hour and hardly moved a few yards. The Metra is cheaper, more convenient and literally drops you off outside of base.
-Millenium Park / Grant Park
Parks are free. If you're lucky there may even be a festival of some kind going on. If there is, admission is either free or cheap. They have art festivals, food festivals, jazz/blues/music festivals. thats always fun. Oh yeah, and go see the bean!
-Navy Pier
Free to get in. Inside its like a little mall. The pier is pretty and a nice place to walk around. Sometimes they have different events going on. Check the website.
-Michigan Ave
Shopping. Shopping. Shopping. The "magnificent mile". Even if you don't want to shop, there are a lot of really cool stores that are worth a look. Its always fun to walk around and look at things that you'll never actually buy. Guys, there's a huge Nike store! You'll want to check it out.
-Museums (Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Art Museum )
I believe almost all of them are free for anyone with a Military or Military Spouse ID. Otherwise admission can be a little expensive, but you absolutely can spend all day on some of the museums. SO, it evens out. Check reviews of museums and see if there are any that you would be interested in. The Planetarium, Aquarium and Field Museums are all right by each other. The Art Museum is little ways north on S Michigan Ave.
-The Waterfront
Right next to Grant park is Lake Michigan. All along the shore is paved and makes for a beautiful walk. You can walk all the way to the Museums if you want to. Its beautiful.
Gurnee Mills Mall
You can go to the mall. Window shopping is free and your sailor may want to pick up a few things with their boot camp pay check. Gurnee Mills is HUGE. I've gone there many times just to walk around and look at stuff.
Movies
You can go see a movie, but the movies aren't really cheap, especially if you get snacks....If you do want to go to the movies there is a theater in Gurnee. You can channel your inner high school rebel days and sneak your own candy in your purse. ;) I've known "people" to sneak all sorts of things from gummy worms to taco bell....I have no shame. lol I'll leave that up to your own judgement. haha. You CAN however rent a movie from red box or NetFlix if you have it and watch it in your hotel room. If you aren't feeling so daring. If your sailor is a movie buff, there very well might be a movie that came out while they were in boot camp that they never had a chance to see.
Bring Games/Cards
When the weather is yucky and none of you really want to go out. You may want to just stay in and play a game.
However controversial, Cards Against Humanity is HILARIOUS and can be a very fun time. Granted, playing it with your family can be embarrassing, awkward and downright wrong. But, that makes it even more hilarious. Keep in mind this is not a game for anyone under the age of 17 ish. (give or take a year or two depending on maturity levels) It has crude, rude and horrible yet hilarious humor. Not for the faint hearted, overly sensitive or easily offended. That being said, I've played it with people's parents and grandparents and I was in tears because I was laughing so hard. The game runs about $25 on amazon. And is worth every penny. It's also a great game to pull out if you have people over coming over your house....depending on the people.
For the less adventurous, the people who have small children or if you just don't want to play embarrassing games with your family. A deck of cards can provide almost as much fun. Some hotels even have board games at the front desk.
LADIES (random!!!)
Don't forget your birth control! Don't forget your birth control! Don't forget your birth control!
When traveling this is literally the one thing you CAN NOT forget besides your ID. Whether you use hormonal birth control or condoms (I recommend both!) you don't want to forget them! Particularly if you're on the pill. Even if you don't plan on "getting busy". If you forget your pills, it will ruin your entire weekend. 1. If you don't take your pill, you'll get your period and who wants to get their period when they aren't supposed to? Nobody, ever. and 2. For obvious reasons. We're talking about saving money and getting pregnant isn't cheap. Defiantly not in the budget. Also if you're on the pill keep in mind the time change. Depending on your pill, an hour or two may or may not make much of a difference. But, its better to be safe than sorry. Or better yet, better to be safe, than pregnant!
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