The Outer Banks consists of many cities; Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, Corolla, and Hatteras Island to name a few. Each area offers beaches, restaurants and unique attractions. We have been vacationing in OBX for as long as I can remember. We tend to take mini trips since we only live a couple hours away. Here are few ideas for vacationing for less in the Outer Banks:

Lodging
I must confess that a family member owns a cottage in Nags Head, so I’ve never had to pay for accommodations. Don’t know anyone you can beg for a place to stay? There are countless hotels and cottage rentals to suit every need and budget.

Checkout the usual discount sites such as Travelocity.com, Expedia.com, and Tripadvisor.com for hotels. I also found discounts using the Entertainment Book website.

Cottage Rentals are the best way to go if you plan to stay for a week. You have a kitchen so you can cook your own food which cuts the food budget substantially. A couple sites I found for rentals are HERE and HERE.

Try Camping if your looking to “rough it,” what better place than on the beach!

Tips:
Rates jump during peak season. A cottage rental in February may cost $1250wk, in June $1920wk. Try for early spring or late fall. The waters too cold for swimming but the weather is usually warm. I found sites offering “minivacations” (3 nights) during the off season.

Don’t stay right on the beach. Yes, the view is amazing, but you will pay for it. Staying a couple blocks from the beach lowers your rate plus the extra walk is good for you. I’ve always had a 2 block walk and it’s not that bad, really! If we’re planning a full beach day with Tons of stuff, we drive down early and get set up then walk down later with the kids.

Obviously, rates are more expensive for rentals with pools. Think about if it’s really a necessity. If you don’t like swimming in the ocean (Rip Currents are VERY real), you may want the pool. If you don’t think you’ll use it much, skip the extra cost and hassle.

Share with friends. Rentals tend to be for a week and that can get costly. Further, it’s a long time to be off work. Consider splitting the rental with good friends. An over lap of stay can be extra fun for kids and adults.

Entertainment:
The BEACH–Hey, it’s free and why you came to OBX right? Pack your sun block, water, snacks, and sand toys and spend the day relaxing in the sun.

Jockey’s Ridge State Park is located in Nags Head; it is the largest sand dunes on the East Coast. Climb the dunes, fly a kite or take hang gliding lessons. Free admission!

Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education is located in Corolla. There are also classes for children ages 4 and up-click programs. Free Admission!

North Carolina Aquarium is located on Roanoke Island. Take a break from the beach or use as a rainy day activity. Fees: $8 adults, $6 children, FREE ages 5 and under.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was completed in 1870 and is the tallest brick lighthouse in North America. There’s No Fee to enter Cape Hatteras National Seashore. It’s just amazing to stand outside and look at the lighthouse and play on the beach. Climbing Fees: $7 adults and $3.50 for children under 12 (must be 42” tall)

Wright Brother National Memorial is located in Kill Devil Hills and is the sight of Wilbur and Orville Wright’s first successful airplane flight in 1903. Fees: $4 ages 16 and older, FREE ages 15 and under.

Corolla Wild Horses the name says it all! You can also pay to rent jeeps or take guided tours.

Drive on the Beach. We used to love to do this in Corolla. Do you own a four-wheel drive vehicle? Make sure your vehicle can handle the deep sand otherwise; you’ll pay for it, literally.

There are several movie theaters for a break from the beach or even better, go to redbox and rent a movie with a free promo code!  You could also try miniture golf.  Here’s a site with attraction and dining coupons.

Dining:
As a couponer you know that eating at home is always cheaper so take that concept on your vacation, at least for breakfast and lunch. You’ll find Kmart, Walmart, Food Lion and Harris Teeter to get your perishables. If possible, pack your free cereal, cheap granola bars and water to save more. Do you live close? Take a freezer casserole so you don’t have to cook. It’s your vacation too!

There are numerous restaurants in OBX that we have here in VA; Papa Johns, Tropical Smoothie, Outback, etc. See if a local coupon is valid anywhere or use a gift card if you have one lying around. Checkout these sites HERE and HERE for online coupons and reviews.

You can make any vacation cheaper by planning ahead, doing research, and implementing some of the same frugal principles you use at home.

Happy Traveling!

Note: I can’t  guarantee rates or tips and sites listed are not necessarily recommendations. You must perform your own research and use your best judgment when planning vacations.

A parent’s decision to home school, use private school or public school depends on many factors. Parents must think about what works best for the child, the family, and themselves. All families are different; no two children are the same. What works for your neighbor or sister, may not work for you.

Here are a few of my family’s reasons for sending our son to public school:

I don’t have a lot of patience. I would love to be able to home school my children. There are fantastic methods and resources available to teach children from home. Plus it can be scary out there (more as they get older, but still). However, I know it is just not something that would work for me.

Private school is expensive! My husband and I had MANY discussions on the public versus private education topic. He grew up attending public schools, while I attended both. I wanted the education part of private schools but more importantly; I wanted the values, discipline, and religious education offered at a private institution. We found the perfect private school then realized that although we could swing one child’s tuition there was no way we could afford two.

We live in an area with good schools. We are fortunate that the schools in our area are good; however, we wanted the best. We narrowed down local elementary schools and started searching for houses. After several months, we finally found the not so perfect house. We couldn’t be more thrilled with our decision.

A few things I love about our school:

The teachers and staff are terrific. All the staff seems to enjoy their work and the school itself. You just get a good feeling walking into the building-you know when you walk in somewhere and it just feels right?

“Monkeyboy” is always learning. He is taught a multitude of information and is given an opportunity to learn at his pace. He is excited when he comes home from school and enjoys telling me about his day. I see progress on a daily basis.

Values we teach at home are reinforced in the classroom. Manners, how we treat others, etc are all part of his education. Additionally, there is not discipline, there is a reward system. This works wonders for “Monkeyboy” who would love to just be the class clown. Reward and praise him for good behavior and he’ll strive for greatness.

He meets new friends (and so do I). We have had countless play dates, and I’ve become friends with the moms. I actually met my best friend because “Monkeyboy” and another child got along so well in preschool.

The parents and community are extremely involved. The PTA and Booster Club (I belong to both) are always having fundraisers and activities for the kids. Through the fundraisers and community support, we have materials that other local schools do not. Further, the teachers are able to use more hands-on learning and reward systems because they can count on the parents to donate materials and organize class events.

These are just some of the reasons public school works for our family. The only thing I feel he is lacking is a religious class, but I’m not worried. Children are always learning from you, their parents, and that is something they will always have.

Please don’t think I’m saying public school is better than other types of schooling. This is just what works for our family.

How do you educate your children?

Well, I’m off to Nags Head with my husband!  I may not have internet service so there may or may not be posts added for a couple days.  I won’t just be relaxing, though.  A reader suggested a post on vacationing cheap in Nags Head, so I’ll be doing some research while I’m there.  If you have any ideas PLEASE leave a comment.  I’ll also be working on a Getting Started Series so be on the lookout for that too if your just starting out in the world of couponing.
Stay safe and warm-we may be getting more snow!

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