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If you are looking into opening a Florida Prepaid College Savings Plan, I’m sure your first question is What is the Cost Of A Florida Prepaid College Plan. I have the answers plus a Florida Prepaid College Plans Promo Code for you. This post is sponsored by Florida Prepaid College Plans, through my role as a Believer Blogger. All thoughts are my own.

What is the Cost Of A Florida Prepaid College Plan?

Open Enrollment for Florida Prepaid College Plans is here.  That means if you have been considering opening a college prepaid plan for your child or grandchild, you are probably researching the different Prepaid Plan options.  You are probably also wondering how much is a Florida Prepaid College Plan.  Well, I have the very literal answer to that important question for you, but I also have the emotional one.  Emotional answer to a pricing question?  What?  Yes.  My personal answer to that question is very emotional.  I will first give you the facts about Florida Prepaid College Plan prices and then be sure to read on for my personal answer to that question.

If you pay attention to the news at all, you have heard that the Florida Prepaid College Board lowered Florida Prepaid Plan prices by $1.3 billion. This huge reduction in pricing not only benefited current customers, but also customers that already had already paid their plans in full. Over 200,000 customers were impacted, with some even receiving refunds totaling $500 million. Why did Florida Prepaid reduce prices? This reduction was due to successive years of lower than anticipated tuition increases and fee inflation.

So, what is the cost of a Florida Prepaid College Plan now?

Pricing for the 2020 Florida Prepaid College Plan Open Enrollment has the lowest rate it has had in five years.

Here are the current Florida Prepaid College Savings Plans and the Florida Prepaid Plan prices:

1. 1-Year Florida University Plan – This is the most flexible plan and starts at the lowest monthly payment. The 1-Year plan allows you or other family members to buy one year of State University at a time as your budget allows, up to four years. The 1-Year Florida University Prepaid Plan prices start as low as $44.28/month
2. 2-Year Florida College Plan – This prepaid plan is the most affordable way to earn an AA degree from a Florida College and guaranteed admission to one of Florida’s State Universities. The 2-Year Florida College Plan prices start at $52.65/month
3. 2 + 2 Florida Plan – This prepaid college plan allows you to save money on lower-level courses while receiving a bachelor’s degree from one of Florida’s State Universities.The 2 + 2 Prepaid Plan prices start at $141.97/month
4. 4-Year Florida College Plan – This prepaid plan option is the most convenient and affordable way to earn a bachelor’s degree from a Florida College. The 4-Year Florida College Prepaid prices start at $113.63/month
5. 4-Year Florida University Plan – This is the most popular prepaid plan because it offers the widest variety of bachelor’s degree options from one of Florida’s 12 State Universities. The 4-Year Florida University Plan prices start at $176.97/month

The prices listed above are for newborns, they will vary based on your child’s age. If you want to find the exact Florida Prepaid College Plan pricing for your child, visit the Florida Prepaid College Plan Calculator.

So, if you were to ask me how much is a Florida Prepaid College Plan, I would say it’s priceless.

We have Florida Prepaid College Plans for both of our children and I can tell that it was the best decision we have made. We started my son’s Florida Prepaid College Plan before he was one year old. We had his college tuition paid for by the time he was 5 years old. Since funds were a little tighter when our daughter was born, we didn’t start her plan until she was almost 3 years old. At that time, prices had increased, but the customer service staff since provided us with affordable options that would work within our budget. Before my daughter was 10 years old, we had her college tuition paid for.

That is one of the biggest gifts (besides unconditional love) that we can give our children. The gift of a college education. The gift of graduating college without the stress of a huge student loan. The gift of not having to pay off student loans for 20 years. Florida Prepaid College Plans allowed us to give our children the gift of a bright future. And that’s something I can’t put a price on. So, if you were to ask me how much is a Florida Prepaid College Plan, I would definitely say it’s priceless.

If you are considering opening a Florida Prepaid College Plan during Open Enrollment, I’m sure you have some questions.

Here are a few of the questions I researched before opening our Florida Prepaid Plans:

• Can Florida Prepaid Plans Be Used Out Of State?
• What Happens To Your Prepaid Plan If Your Child Gets a Scholarship?
• If Your Child Decides Not To Go To College, Will You Lose The Money You Invested In Florida Prepaid College Plans?

You can also check out the Florida Prepaid College Plan FAQs

And if you still have questions, the Florida Prepaid College Plans phone number is 1-800-552-4723, their customer service team is exceptional.

I am sure you have heard about the recent Florida Prepaid College Plan price reduction! If you aren’t a customer already, you won’t have a refund obviously, but you will be able to take advantage of the price reduction! If you do have a prepaid plan and are curious if you qualify for a Florida Prepaid College Plan Refund you will have to login into your Florida Prepaid College Plan account, check your plan and see if there is an over-payment. If there is, request it! It’s that simple. We were one of the Florida Prepaid College Plan customers that received a refund, my son didn’t qualify as we bought his prepaid plan before 2008, but my daughter’s plan did. I honestly couldn’t believe it when I called Florida Prepaid College Plans Customer Service and they told me we had a refund coming. What an incredible company (and state that we live in!) for them to issue my family a refund on something we bought TEN YEARS AGO. I mean, seriously, who DOES that?! We feel beyond blessed.

So, if you were to ask me What is the cost for a Florida Prepaid College Plan, I would say it’s priceless.

Open enrollment is now through May 31st, if you are ready to open a Florida Prepaid College Plan, be sure to use Florida Prepaid College Plan Promo Code SAVING20 to save on the application fee.

Learn more about Florida Prepaid College Plans online and feel free to follow Florida Prepaid College Plans on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to stay up to date with information on open enrollment but get tips on college and more.

Be sure to follow Food Wine Sunshine on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for more helpful tips, things to do in Florida, and family fun.

There are some basic Sauces and Spices Everyone Should Have At Home. Having these sauces and spices at home make cooking and meal planning easier. Read on to learn more!

Sauces and Spices Everyone Should Have At Home

What are some basic condiments, sauces, and culinary spices to keep in the pantry? What are some good spice mixes? No matter what type of recipes you like to cook, there are some basic condiments, sauces, and spices you should have in your kitchen. Having these basic spices and sauces will make cooking at home easier.

Cooking and meal planning is so much easier at home if you keep a variety of spices and sauces on hand. That way, when a recipe calls for something, you don’t have to stop everything and run to the store. Plus, it makes it easier to come up with your own recipes. So, I wanted to share some sauces and spices I like to keep on hand at home.

Basic Condiments and Sauces

• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Mayonnaise
• Barbecue sauce – or make your own BBQ sauce
• Salsa – or make your own homemade salsa
• Soy sauce
• Worcestershire sauce
• Steak sauce
• Spicy brown mustard
• Horseradish sauce
• Stir Fry Sauce

I usually keep at least three bottles of stir fry sauce on hand: a cheaper sauce, plus a couple more exotic (and expensive) kinds. That makes it easy to throw together some stir fry vegetables as a side dish or as a meal.

I keep frozen stir fry vegetables on hand to make it easier and quicker, but I prefer to use fresh vegetables, especially onions, peppers, celery, carrots, cabbage, broccoli, and mushrooms. After stir-frying for a few minutes, I add two kinds of stir fry sauce and a few shakes of soy sauce, cooking wine, and/or lemon juice.

Chopped Garlic

Garlic is healthy and adds flavor to various foods, from stir fry to salad to casseroles. Garlic powder just isn’t the same as fresh garlic, but let’s face it – chopping garlic is difficult. I compromise by purchasing small jars of minced garlic.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice adds a tangy taste to salad dressing, stir fry, casseroles, fruit salad, to name a few. Plus, it acts as a preservative for fruit.

Wine

I usually keep several kinds of cooking wine on hand: white, sherry, and red. In addition, good vermouth keeps well on your shelf. If something needs an extra zip, I just add a bit of wine. Meat marinated in wine makes a great kebob, and scallops taste great floured and sautéed in wine and butter. Mushroom soup and white wine poured over pork chops in the crockpot make an easy dish. If the wine is heated thoroughly, the alcohol cooks out, leaving a great taste. Plus, it gives you a good reason to have a glass of wine while cooking 😉

Basic Spices To Always Have At Home

The following spices are most likely to be found in recipes, and I always try to keep them on hand. To save money and keep the spices fresh, you can buy the small store brand containers or purchase small amounts in bulk.

• Salt
• Pepper
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Chili powder
• Garlic powder
• Ground cloves
• Ground allspice
• Paprika
• Thyme
• Cumin
• Parsley
• Rosemary
• Ginger
• Oregano
• Basil

All-Purpose Seasoning

A good all-purpose seasoning just makes things easier. You can add it to roasted vegetables, sauces, stews, and soups, or sprinkle it on meat. Try to find one that doesn’t contain much salt. Some are completely salt-free. I usually keep several kinds on hand, and I look for locally produced ones if possible. My absolute favorite all-purpose seasoning is DIRT by VooDoo Chef.

Specialty Spice Mixes

In addition to an all-purpose seasoning mix, I keep several specialty spice mixes on hand. The following spice mixes make it easy to add a special zest to your dishes:

• Cajun spice mix
• Italian spice mix
• Lemon pepper
• Pumpkin pie spice
• Seasoning Mix with Grinder

Freshly ground spices taste so much better. A mixture of whole spices in a grinder makes it easy to add freshly ground spices to dishes while cooking. These usually contain a combination of basic spices, such as salt, peppercorns, mustard seeds, coriander, onion, garlic, paprika, and chili pepper. A grinder is excellent to keep on the table to use in place of the ubiquitous salt and pepper.

What are some of your go-to sauces and spices at home? What spices and sauces are always in your refrigerator and pantry?

Be sure to check out all my recipes and follow along on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

You can find the two new flavors of Voortman Sugar Free Cookies and Wafers at your favorite retailers. Get a taste of the tropics with Voortman Bakery sugar free key lime wafers and sugar free coconut cookies. While this post is sponsored, all opinions and my love of Voortman Bakery Cookies and Wafers are my own.

Voortman Bakery Sugar Free Cookies

Voortman Bakery prides themselves in making wholesome baked goods for us to enjoy. Voortman uses real ingredients like whole grains, coconut, real fruit and almonds. What their bakers don’t add in their delicious wafers and cookies is high fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors. And in their Sugar Free Cookies and Wafers, they don’t add any sugar. That’s right, no added sugar in these delicious cookies.

Just in time for Spring, Voortman Bakery released two new sugar free treats. You can now find sugar free coconut cookies and sugar free key lime wafers in your favorite retailers.

When I think of these two flavors I automatically think of Florida. Florida is known for making the best key lime pies because key limes are from our Florida Keys. Thanks to Voortman Bakery, you don’t have to travel to Florida or buy a whole pie to get a taste of the tropics, you can just snack on their sugar free key lime wafers.

If the tart deliciousness of key lime isn’t your favorite but you still want a taste of the tropics, Voortman Bakery has you covered there too. One bite into their sugar free coconut cookies will make you think you are on the beach shaded by palm trees.

So if you want to add some sweet treats to your day, but would rather not add in extra sugar Voortman Bakery has your covered. I definitely recommend trying the sugar free key lime wafers and the sugar free coconut cookies and you can feel like you are down here in Florida with me! Just close your eyes and dream of the tropics 🙂

Voortman Bakery sugar free cookies have 20 percent less net carbs than regular cookies and the wafers have 30% less net carbs than regular cookies. No added sugar. Less carbs. Thank you Voortman Bakery!

Find Voortman Bakery Cookies

Have you tried Voortman Bakery cookies and wafers? Which flavors are your favorite?

Be sure to stay social with Voortman Bakery by following on Instagram and Facebook. And check them out online for all the delicious bakery-goodness.

While you are at it, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + and Instagram for more tips, fabulous recipes and more!

The Monster Jam is a family event that we have been going to for over 10 years! We love watching the Monster Trucks and the talented Monster Truck drivers. If you have have ever wondered how to become a Monster Jam Truck driver, read on! And watch the interview with Morgan Kane, the driver of Grave Digger! While I was able to attend the Monster Jam show in Tampa at no cost, all opinions are my own.

How To Become A Monster Truck Driver From Grave Digger Driver Morgan Kane

We love it when the Monster Jam comes to Tampa! We went to the Monster Jam show last year and it was our 10th consecutive year, my son asks for this event to be his birthday “party” every year. I will be honest, I wasn’t sure at the age of 15 this was still what he would want to do, but when we asked he answered with a very enthusiastic YES. The Monster Jam is actually enjoyed by our whole family, my daughter and I included! What isn’t to love about really big trucks, especially when you consider all of the tricks that they can do in a vehicle that size! If you haven’t seen an event in person, you really should go at least once, you will have a blast even if monster trucks and racing aren’t your “thing”.

Monster trucks are approximately 10.5 feet tall, 12.5 feet wide, 17 feet long, and weigh around 17,000 pounds. That is a serious truck! Now take a minute and think about the crazy stunts they pull off in these trucks. Wheelies where they get at least two wheels off of the ground, full 360-degree flips, donuts, and freestyle tricks to wow and entertain the audience. That’s some real talent, especially in a vehicle that size!

Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a Monster Jam truck driver though? I know my son has been asking me that question for about 10 years now 😉 In addition to having nerves of steel, monster jam truck drivers must be in excellent physical condition, and always have safety at the forefront of their mind.

Did you know there is a Monster Jam University? There is! It is located in Paxton, Illinois and is run by a monster jam legend himself Tom Meents. The “Professor” Tom Meents is a twelve-time monster truck world champion, and he in partnership with the University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH) teaches new and aspiring monster jam truck drivers the tricks of the trade.

Monster Jam University also teaches potential Monster Jam truck drivers about how to handle media appearances and the best ways to stay physically fit enough to drive. So how do you attend Monster Jam University? Anyone is allowed to fill out the Monster Jam University Application, but most students are discovered by talent scouts who attend motor cross or drag racing events around the globe to look for new talent.

I actually had the opportunity to ask Morgan Kane, one of the driver’s of the infamous Grave Digger, what he would tell someone that was interested in becoming a Monster Jam Truck driver and I absolutely loved his answer. You can see the full response here:

I love that he encourages participation in sports, school and becoming involved with what you love. He also points out that everyone on his team is equally important. As a parent, I love that. Be involved. Be proud of what you do. Be a part of a team.

Do you know how monster truck events get started? Well, in the mid to late ’70s people started jacking up old trucks and putting large tires on them. These trucks would be part of the show for tractor pulling events. The first officially recognized monster truck was built by Bob Chandler and he called it Big Foot. I remember Big Foot!

In 1981, as part of a show Chandler drove over some old cars with his Big Foot truck, and others started doing the same thing at tractor pulling events around the country. In 1995, the United States Hot Rod Association started Monster Jam, and under the leadership of Feld Entertainment, it has become a thriving global entertainment industry.

Becoming a monster truck driver typically requires a combination of experience, training, and connections in the industry. Here are some steps you can take to pursue a career as a monster truck driver:

1. Gain experience in the automotive industry: Monster truck driving requires knowledge and experience in the automotive industry, especially in the areas of mechanics, engineering, and driving. Consider working in fields such as auto repair, auto racing, or off-road driving to gain relevant experience.
2. Attend monster truck shows: Attend monster truck shows to learn more about the industry and network with professionals in the field. You may also be able to speak with current monster truck drivers and learn about their experiences.
3. Obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL): A CDL is required to operate commercial vehicles, including monster trucks. You may need to complete a training program and pass a series of tests to obtain your CDL.
4. Practice driving and performing stunts: Monster truck driving involves a high level of skill and precision. Practice driving and performing stunts in a safe and controlled environment to hone your skills.
5. Apply for monster truck driving jobs: Once you have the necessary experience and training, apply for monster truck driving jobs with professional teams or organizations. You may also need to build a reputation and connections in the industry to increase your chances of being hired.

Remember that becoming a monster truck driver can be a competitive and challenging process, but with hard work, dedication, and perseverance, it is possible to achieve your goal.

Now Monster Jam events are held all over the United States in sold-out arena’s and over the past few years events are even being held in Australia, Singapore, China, and Saudi Arabia. The end of the Monster Jam season culminates with the Monster Jam World Finals also known as the “Super Bowl of Monster Trucks” every year. In previous years, this event was held in Las Vegas, but it is now going to be held in different arenas around the US.

If you or your family have never been to a Monster Jam event, you should definitely attend one. They are great family-friendly fun, and you are sure to create memories for your family that will last a lifetime. You may even find you have an aspiring Monster Jam truck driver of your own! Before you go, be sure to check out these Tips For The Ultimate Family Fun Monster Jam Experience.

Check out Monster Jam on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and on Youtube. In fact, make sure to check out Food Wine Sunshine on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for more Florida Family Fun!

Have you been to a Monster Truck Show? Have you ever wanted to be a Monster Jam Truck Driver?