Blogging Away Debt Our Journeys to a Debt-Free Life

by Hope

The kids frugal birthday party was last week.  If you were watching the weather almost anywhere in the country, you could probably guess that my super frugal pool party which would have cost me less than $100 for 18 kids plus those parents that stayed did not quite happen as planned.  THE RAIN!

The night before the party, I was still holding out hope that we could still squeeze in a pool party in between down pours, but when I woke at 5am…the weather just didn’t seem to want to agree with me.  Luckily, I was prepared.  I had spent a little time the day before checking out last minute alternatives and settled on bowling.

So we met at the apartment office to complete the SURPRISE part, and boy were Princess and Little Gymnast shocked.  It was AWESOME and worth all the worry and work!  We then trooped over to our tiny apartment and ate pizza (supplied at a discount by History Buff and his job) and drank water bottles ($3.48 for a case of 24.)

Then thankfully, all the parents who stayed helped me carpool all the kiddos over to the local bowling alley where we bowled for 2 hours and had the cookie cakes (supplied by Sea Cadet and his employer who let us use his employee discount.)  Hands down the best party yet and despite having to pay for bowling was still one of my most cost effective parties I’ve ever thrown and for two kiddos at that!

Little Gymnast – Ready to Bowl

Princess with her Cookie Cake

Total for the Party = $211.97 which again included lunch, bowling and cookie cake for 18 kids and 5 parents. So even though I had to spend a little more than planned. I am very happy with the results and the kiddos were too.

Hope

Hope is a resourceful and solutions-driven business manager who has spent nearly two decades helping clients streamline their operations and grow their businesses through project management, digital marketing, and tech expertise. Recently transitioning from her role as a single mom of five foster/adoptive children to an empty nester, Hope is navigating the emotional and practical challenges of redefining her life while maintaining her determination to regain financial control and eliminate debt.

Living in a cozy small town in northeast Georgia with her three dogs, Hope cherishes the serenity of the mountains over the bustle of the beach. Though her kids are now finding their footing in the world—pursuing education, careers, and independence—she remains deeply committed to supporting them in this next chapter, even as she faces the bittersweet tug of letting go.

Since joining the Blogging Away Debt community in 2015, Hope has candidly shared her journey of financial ups and downs. Now, with a renewed focus and a clear path ahead, she’s ready to tackle her finances with the same passion and perseverance that she’s brought to her life and career. Through her writing, she continues to inspire others to confront their own financial challenges and strive for a brighter future.