Super Savings Saturday (or should it be Super Splurging Saturday?!?)
We're in Kansas City this weekend enjoying a refreshing mini-vacation so I'm skipping my usual Super Savings Saturday post today. Instead, I thought I'd share a few pictures from our dinner tonight at one of our most favorite restaurants in the whole wide world--The Cheesecake Factory!
While our bill for dinner and dessert ended up being just shy of what we usually spend on groceries for a week, it was worth every penny of it. Besides, who says you can't splurge sometimes, especially when you do it with cash?
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Did you snag any great deals or bargains this week or save money in other ways?
If so, be sure to post about them on your blog and leave your link
below. Please remember that this weekly round-up is to share deals you
personally got and/or money you were able to save this week. In order
to keep this weekly round-up focused on helping and inspiring others in
their efforts to save money, links which have little-to-no content
other than promoting affiliate links, etc. will be deleted. Also, to
make it easy for everyone to navigate quickly through the links, your
link must link directly to your Super Savings Saturday post.
Hey, we were down that way last weekend!
Posted by: Dana | July 04, 2009 at 12:46 AM
I LOVE Cheesecake Factory. The only bad thing is I never manage to make it to eat dessert. If you've never tried the Fried Macaroni Balls, you def should! They are so delicious. I absolutely love their salads toO!
Posted by: Krsitin T. | July 04, 2009 at 12:58 AM
I love Cheescake Factory. I've been to the one in Baltimore MD. They have it at the Inner Harbor. Great waterfront setting and scrupmtious food. I'm glad your family got to enjoy it!
Posted by: Frugal Friend | July 04, 2009 at 01:09 AM
So cute :). Lovely kids. Do post more snaps after the vacation.
Posted by: Indymoney | July 04, 2009 at 01:54 AM
Looks like you had a great time! I love the Cheesecake Factory. YUM! Enjoy the rest of your vacation.
Posted by: Christy | July 04, 2009 at 02:34 AM
We haven't been to the Cheesecake Factory in ages! Looks like you had fun! Thanks for hosting!
~Liz
Posted by: Liz@Hoosier Homemade | July 04, 2009 at 06:38 AM
Good for you! You have a beautiful family. I am glad you enjoyed yourselves! Have a wonderful holiday.
Posted by: Jen | July 04, 2009 at 06:47 AM
Couldn't agree more!
Posted by: Marie | July 04, 2009 at 06:56 AM
You're family is sooo cute!
Posted by: cassidy | July 04, 2009 at 07:02 AM
What a beautiful family! Silas is smiling at so young an age- he must love the Cheesecake factory too.
Posted by: andrea | July 04, 2009 at 07:13 AM
Your family is absolutely adorable! Have a great trip together!
Posted by: Lisa | July 04, 2009 at 07:30 AM
One of the reasons I am so frugal in our daily lives is so that we can splurge every once in a while GUILT FREE! And that is what being a good money manager is all about. With what I can save each week on groceries and other household essentials, we can take our whole family of 6 to an amusement park or other fun activity! It makes clipping coupons so worth it.
We are flying our 4 kids out to Kansas City in a couple of weeks to visit family outside of Topeka. Nervous about 4 little kids on an airplane, but excited for them to see a new city. Not sure what the heck we are going to do that one day we will be in the city, but appears to be lots from which to choose. I've visited KC lots on business, but will be different with kids!
Posted by: Michelle at Wicked Cool Deals | July 04, 2009 at 07:45 AM
If you made it out of Cheesecake Factory spending under $40 a week, you are impressive! That place can add up!
Posted by: Sara | July 04, 2009 at 08:00 AM
Pictures are too cute!
Happy 4th!!
Thanks for a great website!!!
Posted by: Pamela Earley | July 04, 2009 at 08:14 AM
My FAVORITE Place too! Although, we went to the one in Waikiki over & over, but....still dreaming of it....ahhhhhhh
holi
Posted by: holi | July 04, 2009 at 08:15 AM
Cheesecake Factory is ALWAYS worth the splurge! :) We recently moved and have one close to us ... we tend to splurge a little too often now! Thanks for the sweet pictures of your family!
Posted by: heather | July 04, 2009 at 08:39 AM
Your family is just beautiful, Crystal! Ihope you enjoy the rest of your trip :)
Now, I'm craving cheesecake!!
Posted by: monica | July 04, 2009 at 08:39 AM
I agree with a previous poster - making it out of Cheesecake Factory for under $40 with a family of 5 is impressive! Also, your family is beautiful - it's fun to see pictures of all of you!
Posted by: Kelli | July 04, 2009 at 08:43 AM
I'm impressed you can eat there for under $40. Love that place! Enjoy your time away.
Posted by: Janet | July 04, 2009 at 08:45 AM
Oh my gosh, we were at the Cheesecake Factory in KC last night too - maybe we saw you and didn't even know it! :) LOL. I guess great minds think alike :)
Money Savin' Momma
Engineer a Debt Free Life
Posted by: $ Money Savin' Momma $ | July 04, 2009 at 08:48 AM
Hi Crystal,
So glad to see you and your family out "splurging" a bit.
With all the fantastic money savings and your strategic shopping you definately deserve a splurge trip once in a while IMO. LOL. I love your website and have become better at saving money.
Happy 4th of July,
Nikky
Posted by: Nikky | July 04, 2009 at 09:10 AM
I'm so glad you shared this because I think if people feel like the frugal life is about NEVER being able to have something you really enjoy, we get discouraged.
Posted by: carrie | July 04, 2009 at 09:13 AM
The Cheesecake Factory is worth the splurge!!! Your kids are so cute, especially your little boy with those dimples :-).
Posted by: momtaylor | July 04, 2009 at 09:17 AM
YUM. I love Cheesecake factory, but would never take my kids there. Of course, I have five kids, and some of them are BIG and eat more than me. That would cost me a fortune.
Posted by: PAIGE | July 04, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Welcome back to KC, if only for a few days. We miss having you as a local, Crystal!
Posted by: Robyn | July 04, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Your family is adorable!!! Splurging after scrimping feels sooo good! Enjoy your time off, mama.
Posted by: Ginger | July 04, 2009 at 12:00 PM
:) So cute. Good for you Crystal!
Posted by: Alisha | July 04, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Adorable family. Thanks for sharing your pics.
Posted by: Traci | July 04, 2009 at 12:09 PM
Yum! Have a great trip!
Posted by: Lori | July 04, 2009 at 12:36 PM
I love seeing pictures of your family. It's also nice to see other committed couponers splurging every once in awhile :) Have an amazing vacation!
Posted by: Becki Huml | July 04, 2009 at 12:52 PM
You all look like you had a GREAT time!!
Posted by: Meagan | July 04, 2009 at 01:04 PM
Cheesecake Factory is my favorite as well. I was taken there by a good friend my freshman year of college in Chicago in 1997. Ever since, my husband (we met freshman year) and I go there on special occasions such as our anniversary or birthday. It is worth the splurge (financially and calorically) now and then!
Posted by: jessica | July 04, 2009 at 01:24 PM
The pictures are....priceless!
Posted by: lizajane | July 04, 2009 at 01:46 PM
Cute photos! Funny story, about 15 years ago I belonged to an investment club at work. Each person took turns suggesting a stock to buy. The one I suggested was The Cheesecake Factory. This was well before all their expansion they've had. They were only in a few states at the time. That stock did very well for us, that I even bought some on my own. I have long since sold it, but wonder if I made the right move? We have one right up the street from us (I'm in DC) and I hardly ever go! Sounds like you had a good meal and a fun time. Enjoy your mini-vacation.
Posted by: Michele | July 04, 2009 at 02:27 PM
Hi,
Nice blog! I canceled my gym membership ($60 per month), after doing some research on exercises that I can do at home.
I read this story in ConditionNutrition that gave great home exercise tips, e.g., pushups, using a ball for doing sit-ups. It even talked about how many calories you burn doing household chores or simply taking a walk around the block.
I take vitamins and protein whey, too, just to make sure that I'm not exhausting myself.
Here's the link if anybody wants to read: http://www.conditionnutrition.com/reviews/the-most-effective-indoor-exercises-to-stay-fit-and-healthy/
Posted by: Bud M | July 04, 2009 at 02:59 PM
totally LOVE cheescake factory tooo!! sometimes my husband and I take out that Chinese Chicken salad!! and we share. its SO huge and we love it so much!!
Posted by: rachel | July 04, 2009 at 03:04 PM
Thanks for sharing!! Hope you have a wonderful vacation. Thanks for your blog and all your hard work!
Elizabeth
Posted by: Elizabeth | July 04, 2009 at 03:31 PM
what an adorable happy family you have.
Posted by: sunny | July 04, 2009 at 04:52 PM
I'm honestly surprised you got away with only spending $40 there for that big of a party. My husband and I can't walk out the door spending that much for just our two dinners. But oh, how I love their thai pasta...fantastic!! And in the fall, their pumpkin cheesecake is fantastic. Mmmm...makes me want cheesecake factory!
Posted by: Amys blah, blah, blogging | July 04, 2009 at 06:41 PM
Enjoy KC! That's where we live :)
Posted by: Helen | July 04, 2009 at 07:05 PM
I live in Texas and visit your page everyday. My best friend lives in Kansas City and we go to the Cheesecake Factory every time I visit. (I also go to them in many other cities) They are great! Thanks for the lovely pictures of your beautiful family.
Posted by: Jan | July 04, 2009 at 07:19 PM
I just have to comment on your beautiful son, Silas. I can't get over his focus for such a young baby. Mark my words, he is going to be a very bright boy.
Posted by: Cindy | July 04, 2009 at 08:21 PM
It is so good to see your faces....what a beautiful family!
Posted by: Kelli | July 04, 2009 at 09:21 PM
Your kids are so cute.
Posted by: Kristin | July 04, 2009 at 09:29 PM
I ate at a Cheesecake Factory over the weekend too! LOVE LOVE that place! :-) You have a beautiful family, thanks for sharing!!
Posted by: jenn | July 05, 2009 at 04:47 PM
You have such a beautiful family. What a blessing! I hope you have a victorious Sunday worship. =)
Posted by: Michelle Kim | July 05, 2009 at 06:22 PM
Hi Crystal-Silas sure is adorable, as are the girls! I am just amazed at all the great deals you find! It is great to enjoy a meal out, and pay in cash I agree! Well many blessings to you and have a great week!
Posted by: Shannon | July 05, 2009 at 07:46 PM
You guys look like you had alot of fun :) I love Cheesecake Factory! The best one is on the top floor of the Macy's in Union Square in San Francisco...it has the best views from the balcony.
-Morgan
Posted by: Morgan | July 06, 2009 at 10:46 AM
Great photos, Crystal! The girls look so much like you - especially their smiles. It's nice to have a splurge every now and then, just to make us appreciate all of our frugal work the rest of the time. Hope your holiday was fantastic!
Danelle Ice / Homemaker Barbi
Posted by: Homemaker Barbi (Danelle Ice) | July 06, 2009 at 02:46 PM
Looks like you had fun. Even the littlest member of the family appears to have enjoyed himself (so cute!). :)
Posted by: Stephanie | July 07, 2009 at 10:32 PM