It’s looking like Sunday might be time for a road trip down to Seattle. It’s a great city and I always enjoy heading down there. If real estate prices down there weren’t so close to what it is here, I’d even consider moving there someday.
This time around my plan is to finally replace some sunglasses that have seen better days. My frugal side wants to just keep using those scratched up sunglasses, but that’s just asking for some eye damage. Apparently even a small scratch can be dangerous. Kim you probably know all about that.
The reason that Sunday makes sense is that there isn’t a Seahawks game that day. So the highway and border crossing might not be too bad. As much as I’d love to watch another NFL game live, it just adds so much time to the commute.
I’ll also be able to take advantage of a favorable exchange rate. Well more like I’ll avoid having to exchange some of the US currency that is sitting in my bank account. I’ve been waiting for a better exchange rate, but that might be too far away.
Favorite Posts On Other Blogs
While I’m off in Seattle, here’s some weekend reading material. By now you must realize that I only share posts from top notch bloggers. So if you’ve made this list, you must be producing some pretty awesome content. That or you just know the key to my heart 
When Should you Try to Pay Down Debt? on Canadian Personal Finance Blog
Where Do You Draw The Line With Pet Expenses? on The Family Finances
Are you a Grocery Store Snob? on Canadian Budget Binder
Saving for Retirement is a Ponzi Scheme on Money Smart Guides
Student loans…again on Bog Of Debt
Rental Property Series: Overcoming Setbacks on Eyes On The Dollar
The Fruits of Our Labor on Debts and Taxes
How I Save Money on Auto Insurance on My Own Advisor
The Best Investment EVER! on Savvy Scot
Mutual Funds: Professional Management for Next to Nothing on This Is Common Cents
How you Can Drastically Increase Your Net Worth on One Smart Dollar
To Be Young Entrepreneurs or Employees? My Kids Try Entrepreneurism on My Money Design
Make Your Credit Cards Work for You on Pelican On Money
The Buffett Rule: Does it make sense? on Street Smart Finance
Eating well while traveling on Outlier Model
Moving Back Home After College? on Making Sense of Cents
How to Save Money on Contacts and Eye Care on Work Save Live
Why is it Healthy to Change Bank Accounts? on Fearless Men
Legal Battle Over a Sagging Balcony on Blue Collar Workman
Who else makes road trips especially for shopping? I know it’s a pretty common thing for people to do here in Vancouver, but I’d be interested to know if it’s a common trend elsewhere.
Are you doing the road trip for fun and just getting sunglasses while you are there? I hope so
The post made it sound like the only reason why you were going was to buy sunglasses 
Lance @ Money Life and More recently posted..Random Thoughts, Round Up and Carnivals #22
The primary reason is sunglasses yes, but I’ll definitely be having some fun down there. If it wasn’t for the need for new sunglasses I’d just stick around Vancouver and have fun here.
Thanks for mentioning my article. How far of a drive is it to Seattle from where you are?
Sean @ One Smart Dollar recently posted..Common Banking Fees and How to Avoid Them
Depending on traffic, it’s only a few hours I think. Most people tend to stop at the outlet malls that are only about an hour and a half away. It’s the wait at the border that usually slows things down a lot. So hopefully not too many people are heading down there this weekend.
I certainly do hope one of my blog post will make the list some day.
I guess you need to discover the key to my heart. As much as I’d love to list posts from all of my blogger friends, it helps a lot if there is some extra incentive.
Good luck with your trip to Seattle, Jeremy! I really like that city. It’s beautiful. As always, thanks for the mention.
Shilpan recently posted..6 Must Decisions for Your Financial Success
It is a pretty cool city. I’ve only been a few times, but it’s always been fun. It is a lot like Vancouver though…just a lot more hills.
Never road tripped for shipping. closest would be my roommates and my tradition in college of driving the hr and a half into New York for dinner aye e had all finished out finals each semester.
Yeah for some areas it doesn’t make sense to travel for shopping, but around here prices are so much cheaper across the border.
Here in Tucson, AZ we may take a trip up to Phoenix once in awhile to do some shopping, but our trips usually consist of driving to see the mountains, museums, zoos, etc. (often kid-related) around the state, with occasional trips to northern Mexico or southern California.
The exchange rate for pesos is usually very favorable.
Terry recently posted..Dreams Still Come True
For sure, trips planned more around fun activities are a lot better. The occasional shopping related trip is sometimes necessary though. Besides the sun glasses I’m hoping to buy tomorrow, that’s about all the shopping I’ll be doing. So really it’s only going to be a very small part of the trip.
I had to laugh because for a moment there you sounded like my wife when you went on about how you are frugal with your scratched sunglasses. Mrs.CBB has this pair of runners with a hole on the bottom and a brand new pair in the closet along with a million pairs of high heel shoes, tall boots etc. She won’t use the brand new pair because she says there is nothing wrong with her other shoes…. I said, no, not at all just a hole at the bottom of your shoe. Sometimes I think she has these cheapo tendencies she’s hiding… I need to do a blog post on that I think lol. Have fun in Seattle! Thanks for adding me to your top notch posse! Mr.CBB
Canadianbudgetbinder recently posted..Costs Of Owning A Pet…Can You Really Afford One?
Yeah it’s not just the sunglasses with me. There are lots of other things that I will use until they fall apart. My runners and coffee table are both good examples. They both really should be replaced if it weren’t got my inner cheapo.
Yes, scratched sunglasses can certainly ruin your day, and the scratch always seems to be right in the line of sight. I hope you find some great ones. I certainly understand about having to travel to shop. I guess it makes me spend less because there is just really no where to buy some item in our area without driving at least an hour. Thanks again for the mention. Have a good trip.
In my case there is plenty of shopping here. I could even walk to the biggest mall in the city. Prices are just so much cheaper down in the US. So for some things it just makes more sense to buy it down there.
Thanks for the mention! I have never been to Seattle, but my wife is applying there for grad school (it’s a top 3 school for her phd program so we’ll see what happens).
I also need to get new sunglasses, I have a cheap pair that has a scratch on it.
Hope you enjoy the trip.
DC @ Young Adult Money recently posted..Quick Hits and Weekend Reading
If you end up in Seattle we’ll have to meet up. It’s a pretty awesome city. Good luck to your wife on getting accepted to the grad school.
Thanks for the mention Jeremy. We used to do an annual shopping trip to a place about 3 hours from us. We rarely do clothes shopping so the trip was normally worth it. Hope you have fun on your trip.
Stan@ DebtsnTaxes recently posted..Money Mistakes: Movies
I’m sure you buy plenty of clothes on that annual trip. That’s what we used to do when I was growing up since there really was no clothes shopping in the small town I lived in. So once a year we’d do a big clothes shop in the closest big city.
Thanks Jeremy! I don’t suppose a certain female will be accompanying you to Seattle? :p Hope things are good, let’s catch up soon!
Brian recently posted..Updates: September 16 – 22
lol yes a certain female did accompany me down to Seattle. I’m not really the type to just go on a road trip on my own.
I can’t say I’ve ever made a trip like that specifically for shopping. For me the border is just too much of a nuisance to want to bother, but that’s my own fault for not picking up a NEXUS pass. With that it likely wouldn’t be too big a deal to do an outlet store run.
Garrett recently posted..The Three Trade Types of Elite Range Bar Trading
The border sure is a hassle. It was smooth sailing on the way down there since we went nice and early. We weren’t counting on all of the extra traffic from the Mariners game though. So on the way back the line was pretty brutal, especially after a long day of walking around.
Thanks for the mention! What glasses are you planning getting? I always make a point of spending a bit of cash on sunglasses given the whole ‘you only have one set of eyes’ debate!
Savvy Scot recently posted..The Sunday Review – Top Posts of The Week
I didn’t even end up getting sunglasses. After all the touristy stuff we did, I just didn’t feel like shopping. I’m not into sunglasses enough to have a certain model in mind. I’m the type to never spend more than $100 on a pair. I just try to find that one sporty style that I like.
That’s fair enough. I would however recommend that you get a polarised pair, that truly block the suns rays. I have met a few people during ski holidays who have gone partially blind due to the increased intensity of the sun’s rays off the snow. I suppose the same thing happens from the water when you are on a boat / swimming etc.
Savvy Scot recently posted..Starting a Blog in the UK – Pt. 2 Domain Names, Hosting and More
I should check my ski goggles and see if they properly protect my eyes. The glare off the snow is definitely a lot worse than just regular sun.
Thanks for the great list! There are a couple of blogs in there which have some great content which I haven’t visited before. Looks like i’m going to be busy reading these for a while.
Glen@MonsterPiggyBank recently posted..Setting SMART Goals
Yup, plenty of reading to do on this list. I suggest you subscribe to these blogs to keep up with all their great content.
I can’t say that I’ve ever made a road trip to shop. I’ve never been to Seattle or really anywhere up on the Northwest. I’d love to head up there sometime and get rained on.
Jason @ WorkSaveLive recently posted..Stop Buying the Hype: The Average Rate of Return isn’t What You Really Earn
lol…hey don’t bash our rain. I’d take it over the 100+ degree days you guys have down there. I don’t mind the rain at all really. You should head up here sometime though.
Thanks for the mention — man, if I repalced scratched sunglasses all the time, I’d be buying new pairs ALL THE TIME! Although I lose them enough that I guess I buy new pairs all the time anyway, lol.
TB at BlueCollarWorkman recently posted..Not Getting Ripped of During an Oil Change: A Tune-Up
I’m pretty careless with my sunglasses too, but they do have a whole bunch of small scratches. It’s not as if I’d replace them after a single scratch. I have gotten a lot better about not losing them at least.
I love Seattle too. In fact, Cheryl has never been there so we’re considering including it on our anniversary trip next year.
AverageJoe recently posted..2 Guys and Your Money, Episode 11: Why Aren’t We Saving More? Luke Landes interview, BillGuard, PlanWise Gets an Update
Sounds like a good plan. There is plenty of romantic stuff that you could plan to do there.
Jeremy, I’m glad you liked Amy’s post on credit cards. I’ll have to include her as a guest poster more often
Seattle is a beautiful city! I had the privilege of visiting once and want to go back as soon as possible. I may have to plan a really long road trip up there!
Veronica @ Pelican on Money recently posted..What Should My Budget Be with My Income?
It is really beautiful there, but I have to admit that I was missing Vancouver by the end of the day trip. There’s just something about home and knowing a city better. Plus Vancouver is pretty beautiful too.
Awww, I missed making the list this week. But I do know the key to your heart, lol, and I will be on that list next week for sure
Ya’know, plus all the awesomeness I write on my blog
Also, have fun in Seattle. It’s nice down here, so it should be a good day trip.
Jacob @ iheartbudgets recently posted..Weekly Wrap-Up, Mentions and Good Reads #17
The trip was pretty sweet. That is until we ended up driving near Safeco field after the game. Getting stuck in all that traffic not knowing how to get back on the I5 wasn’t too fun. It turned out that the one on ramp I knew about was closed for construction and then the cops had another route blocked off.
Thanks for the mention! I’m not sure exactly why but traffic blew up over the weekend from your mention. So…thanks
Bobbie @bogofdebt recently posted..How To Turn Losing into Winning With Your Money
That’s what I like to hear. If I’m sending traffic your way, I’m happy. My traffic has doubled since last month.