Hey y'all!
Ok, now let me start from the beginning and fill you in! As some of you may know my family and I have been in the process of relocating back to Dallas ( which we finally made the move on July 8th) and since we still had a place in Kansas City, we weren't keen on signing a new lease.... in a new city and having a whole new set of bills. What if we had an emergency?! We didn't want all of our money tied up into two apartments. My husband and I have been separated for so long, I told him we just needed to figure something out so we could be together again lol. He moved to Dallas in March so it was just me and the kids... all alone... FOR MONTHS! ( heads up, I may be making a post on how to survive with the husband out of town).
So friends! If you are in the process of relocating, needing to cut back on expenses, get financially stable or just like the idea of not signing a lease and being free to roam, then this post is for you! Check out these life saving hotel living hacks!
So let me just get this out there in the open. Hotel living is NOT WHAT YOU THINK!
So any way.. to keep this story short and sweet.. husband gone for 3 months, me and kids alone, can't have two houses in two cities so we are now living in a hotel!
When my husband and I first decided that living in a hotel would be the best/safest route, I did what I always do, that's right.. GO TO PINTEREST lol. I found so many hacks that I was actually more excited than nervous! I was really looking forward to this new adventure! Once I started sorting through Pinterest, I was able to have an idea of what I needed to do and also start thinking of things I wanted to do.
1. Find an Extended Stay!- No, this post is not sponsored. I honestly love this hotel now! Before, I never really knew much about them and I'm kinda sad I didn't lol. Extended Stay has a full kitchen and even private rooms! I was concerned about us all being cramped in one room, but when my husband saw that they had private rooms, we knew this was the place for us. They actually have two bedrooms available as well! When we planned our hotel living time frame, we also found out that the longer you stay the cheaper it is! We were able to book our room far enough in advance and for a specific amount of time that our room rates were almost half of what it would normally be. Talk about saving on a hotel room! Of course all hotels are different so I would call guest services or check online first!
2. Pack the essentials- We all know clothes and personal hygiene products are a must, but what are a few more essentials you may need? Well for one, blankets and pillows are a must have! I will say that the blankets and pillows provided are not what I would prefer to be cuddled up with at night. Bringing an extra comforter and some pillows definitely make your stay more comfortable. Especially with the kids! I also wanted them to feel "at home" so they each have their favorite pillow and blanket.
3. Keep a routine- So since we are living in a hotel with kids, it can become messy or feel very crowded very quickly. Our first night we established a routine and we have been doing our best to stick with it! Since the kids are sleeping in the front( until a 2 bedroom opens) the first thing they do is fold their comforters and put the sleeper sofa back together. the big blankets are then folded and stacked in the basket in the closet. Next, we eat breakfast at the table and get ready for our day. There is a single sink in the kitchen so all the dishes are washed, dried and put away after each meal. This allows us to stay on top of any unnecessary mess.
4. Organization- Organizing your stuff was the second thing I did when we got there. I started to unpack all of our clothes and give all of our cookware a home. To save on counter space in the bathroom, I purchased a hanging shoe divider that goes on the back of the door. I found one at Walmart that cost less than $4. It has 26 pockets so I was able to organize all of our daily personal items. I have our shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, soap and just about anything else you can think of that's in a bathroom in that divider. It saved so much space, kept the medicine out of kids reach and allowed them to grab their daily care items with ease. This way, everyone knows where everything is at all times!
2. Pack the essentials- We all know clothes and personal hygiene products are a must, but what are a few more essentials you may need? Well for one, blankets and pillows are a must have! I will say that the blankets and pillows provided are not what I would prefer to be cuddled up with at night. Bringing an extra comforter and some pillows definitely make your stay more comfortable. Especially with the kids! I also wanted them to feel "at home" so they each have their favorite pillow and blanket.
3. Keep a routine- So since we are living in a hotel with kids, it can become messy or feel very crowded very quickly. Our first night we established a routine and we have been doing our best to stick with it! Since the kids are sleeping in the front( until a 2 bedroom opens) the first thing they do is fold their comforters and put the sleeper sofa back together. the big blankets are then folded and stacked in the basket in the closet. Next, we eat breakfast at the table and get ready for our day. There is a single sink in the kitchen so all the dishes are washed, dried and put away after each meal. This allows us to stay on top of any unnecessary mess.
4. Organization- Organizing your stuff was the second thing I did when we got there. I started to unpack all of our clothes and give all of our cookware a home. To save on counter space in the bathroom, I purchased a hanging shoe divider that goes on the back of the door. I found one at Walmart that cost less than $4. It has 26 pockets so I was able to organize all of our daily personal items. I have our shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, soap and just about anything else you can think of that's in a bathroom in that divider. It saved so much space, kept the medicine out of kids reach and allowed them to grab their daily care items with ease. This way, everyone knows where everything is at all times!
5.Cleaning supplies- While living in a hotel does have the perk of weekly cleaning services, it's best to have your own as well! I have plenty of disinfectant wipes, sprays and everything in between. The first thing I did when we got to the room was disinfect everything we touch. I used a Clorox wipe to wipe down the remotes, light switches, handles and counters. I also got carpet deodorizer! Before we lied in the beds, I sprayed diluted bleach on the mattresses and white sheets, in the tub, toilet and sinks. Gotta prevent germs!
6. Bring that Crock Pot!- If you are in a regular hotel or one with a kitchen, a crock pot is a must! You can make so many things in it and not spend so much time making meals. I have made soups, roast and pulled chicken! Clean up is a breeze and it's one less thing I need to think about during the day.
7. Go green- Getting a suitable plant that doesn't require much attention is definitely a must as well. We all know plants produce oxygen and with windows that don't open, having a plant can keep your room fresh and air clean. When we first checked in, I never thought about opening the windows for fresh air and the stuffy rooms quickly caused a trail of colds. So I researched the best plants and I ended up buying a snake plant for our room. So far no one has gotten sick and our room definitely seems less stuffy!
8.Roku/Firestick- Hotels mostly have basic cable and are usually through a satellite provider. Getting a streaming device where you can add your favorite streaming apps is highly recommended. Our family cut cable years ago and we switched to HULU Live. We found a few other apps that allow us to record certain shows, watch live tv and stream movies at the drop of a dime. This has been perfect for our family!
9.Garment racks- My SIL had a garment rack for me and It has been one of the best things ever! The dressers are perfect for holding all of the kid's clothes as well as the hubby and I's daily items. Hotels have limited closet space so a garment rack is great for your dressy items and don't take up a lot of space.
10. Get out- Kids are just that... kids! They need to get out and about, run, jump and be free. Getting out as much as possible will keep EVERYONE from going stir crazy and will even give you the chance to explore the area you are in. We have found several hidden gems that were very close by that we never knew existed..
There are so many more things I could add to this post to help you enjoy your time living in a hotel but I'm sure by now your eyes are TIRED from reading lol. I honestly have been loving our time in this hotel. I am comfortable, the kids love it and it will definitely help us save some money. I know our current living situation may not be ideal for some people and even after reading this, they may still have a certain opinion or view on it. That's OK! Living in this hotel has allowed our family to relocate back home without the strain on our finances and has even allowed us to start the saving process to purchase our first home! Trust me though.... it's not as bad as you may think!
Have you lived in a hotel before or are you considering it? Let me know your experience or what you are looking forward to (or not) about living in a hotel! Or, If you want some more tips, just let me know!
