Frugal Family Entertainment, How to have Low Cost Fun!
It's The End Of The Month And We Are Having Some Frugal Family Fun!
Why does there always seem too much month for our money? Sometimes money can get so tight that for the last week of the month I have to start reverting to tips I used in my student days to make the pennies stretch further. Now I don't mean eating beans on toast for every meal, or having pasta with,... err... pasta, but trying to find more frugal ways to have fun with my son. So I thought I would share some of my cheap family activities for frugal family fun.
Low Cost Ways to Have Family Fun
Having little spare money does not have to mean boredom for your family. You can still have family fun without having to spend too much. Here are some ways to keep your family entertained without putting a big dent to your budget, and maintaining happy families and health.
Fun Things To Do As A Family
Grow a Green Thumb: Gardening is one of the most productive and yet less-costly ways to entertain oneself. If you have the kids helping, you can double the fun. You can have so much fun growing vegetables and fruits that you can also use to make your own meals. This means more savings for your family, as well as promoting good health and family life.
Watch your Local Sports Team. From football or rugby to cricket or hockey. Kids enjoy watching sports. Support your local sports team by adding yourself and your kid as part of its cheering team.
Look out for local free events, such as village fetes, town shows or festivals to visit. Check our magazine or website for event listings in the area.
Visit your local museum, which is usually free or has cheap admission, especially when they have family-friendly events or exhibitions running.
Turf out the junk in your, cupboards, attic or from the back of your garage and run a garage Sale - get the kids to make some posters that you can put up around the neighbourhood. Great fun, and an inexpensive way to earn some extra money.
Do you own a tent and some camping equipment? Shake off the dust and set up camp in your back garden. Get the camping stove out to cook some bangers and baked beans for tea. Great fun, and a nice break from the TV!
Purchase annual passes for cheap family outings. Do you live near a family attraction? Check out their annual pass or family membership packages. Buy these at a time when you do have a little spare money, or ask for them as a Christmas or Birthday gift. This will always give you an exiting place to go when money is low.
Get on the net for some free fun. With most of us using broadband with monthly payments instead of the old-fashioned pay as you go type connections, making use of the internet is great when looking for family entertainment. Watch some hilarious videos, or watch movie trailer clips to see what's about to be released at the cinema. There are also loads of online games you can play for free, just do a search for free games and lots of sites will come up. You can even get nostalgic with space invaders and Pac-man. My son really enjoys playing on sites that are specifically designed for children, but that also have an educational slant, so kids will learn while they are having fun. These sites are all free to play, and you don't have to pay for memberships unless you want to.
Have a family day. Whether you play Scrabble, Monopoly, or another favourite board game, watch DVD's together, or even getting into the kitchen to bake some cookies or make a cake, setting a regular family day doing these simple and yet fun activities will condition your family to look forward to less-expensive ways of having fun. It's a great way to bond with your family too.
Here's to plenty of low-cost family fun! Michelle & Joseph x
Fed up of buying expensive kids clothes that they grow out of too quickly?
AN ANSWER to the expensive problem of buying clothes for growing children has arrived, thanks to a pair of Gloucestershire mums.
Manic Mums is the brainchild of Nicky Murray and Mandy Griffiths, who run a business buying secondhand clothes from parents and selling them on to others at a fraction of the shop price.
The pair thought of the idea after getting fed up with paying so much for clothes for their growing children that only lasted a month or two before they got too small. "We just thought the amount of time babies are in each set of clothes didn't justify the cost of them," says Mandy, who lives in Gloucester. "We started using the charity shops and found them really good, but sometimes even they seemed overpriced. "Then other mums started coming to us and asking what they could do with their unwanted clothes." And so Manic Mums was born – named after the first part of their names Mandy and Nicky – and has grown steadily ever since.
Their range includes clothes mostly for children aged between newborn and seven, plus hats, shoes and maternity wear for expectant mums. "It started out as just a hobby but it has grown so much that we've run it as a proper business for several years," says Mandy, 35, who is mum to ten-year-old Harry and Eva, seven. Bags of clothes are dropped off by parents and then the pair sort them out, weeding out any unsuitable ones. They are then sold at village hall sales six times a year. "We also visit playgroups, ante-natal groups and nurseries with a selection of rails," said Nicky, 41, of Whitminster, mum to Noah, eight, and Hugo, six. "With nearly new sales becoming more and more popular people can also come to my home to visit between sales, if arranged beforehand. People often visit with a few friends. "We get clothes from right across the range from ASDA and Marks & Spencer to Gap and Boden. "Parents get a great deal – it's a lot cheaper than buying new. We have all sorts of mums who buy and sell through us. It's not just restricted to those on a tight budget. "We have a lot of mums with the money to buy new but who just resent paying that kind of money for something that only gets worn a few times."
Manic Mums are always on the lookout for new customers to buy from. "All we ask is that when the clothes are dropped off they're clean, in good condition and preferably less than two years old," says Nicky. Sales are held at Whitminster village hall and there are usually around 70 rails of clothes to choose from. Manic Mums charge 50p admission to the nearly new sales and all proceeds go to four children-based charities – Hope Romania, Bristol Children's Hospital Cardiac unit, a Kenyan orphanage and FARA. Any clothes that are unsuitable and the customers don't want back are sent via a charity to two orphanages in Romania. "So far we have sent more than 1100 bin bags since we set up," said Nicky. "We also support Gloucester Maternity Unit by donating sleepsuits and vests for their new arrivals." The next sale is on Sunday, 27th September at 11am at Whitminster village hall. If anyone has any questions, clothes they would like us to look at, or to find out when future sale dates are, please contact Manic Mums on 01452 742327.
Tips for Choosing the Best Disney World Package Deals by Dee Schrock | | Tips For Keeping the Thermostat Down This Winter by Tara Smith |
Even when families go on vacation they are always looking for ways to save money, especially on Walt Disney World package deals. Any time individuals or families take grand vacations they want to get the most for their money especially in today's tight economy. By saving on hotels and park admission tickets, there is more money left to save on fun things like souvenirs.
This article provides some very effective strategies for choosing the best package deals to use when taking your next vacation to Disney World. Keep in mind that none of the packages is better than another, because all of them are complementary.
One of the best ways to find and secure bargains on package deals is to do your research on the Internet and book your reservations online as well. Because there are many sites that offering Disney World package dealsyou are able to compare the packages and make your selection with a simple mouse click, even if you're half way across the world.
Don't be afraid to take your time looking around. Many times you will not see any good deals one day, but be sure to check back every few days because things can change pretty quickly. Keep detailed notes so you will have something to reference when making a decision.
If you have the ability to make a direct call to the Disney World resort that you are planning to visit, by all means do so. This is a great way to confirm that the Disney World package deals that are available with an online retailer, you can confirm the validity of the deals.
Calling Disney World directly has other advantages as well. You will be able to find out if they are offering any promotional deals that might not have been advertised on their website or other affiliated sites. Another very important advantage is that you can rest assured that your reservations are absolutely valid.
If you are afraid of running up your phone bill, you can always use emails and online chats. Use these options any time you take vacations and enjoy the benefits later.
One tip that cannot be overemphasized enough when looking for the best Disney World package deals is you have to do plenty of comparison shopping. You may have to compare rates and prices between more than just the online retailers. You may have to do comparisons between the best online agency and the best online retailer, and between Disney World itself and an online retailer.
The factors that should be compared are many and will likely include the following:
·Ticket prices - Disney World attractions use over 62 tickets so each package you are offered will surely contain an assortment of tickets. By choosing the package that suits your vacation needs best will save money because you won't be paying for extras you may never use.
·Hotel rooms - It's important to remember that your budget will determine what kind of accommodation package you choose. You can find packages that range from a basic campground all the way to luxurious castle like hotels in any of the Disney resorts.
·Cancellation fee - Sometimes life throws things at us that can make us change our vacation plans. Make sure you are aware of any fine print that may indicate a period where cancellation fees would be applicable.
Choosing the best Disney World package deals is a lot like purchasing a service. You have to be cautious and careful or you may become a victim and have the worst vacation imaginable. About the Author For more information on Disney World package deals, Disney vacation planning, reviews, age recommendations, video footage, and fun facts visit http://www.mouse-world-vacation-fun.com/disney-world-vacation-deals.html as well as tips for making Disney World affordable. | | Winter is just around the corner and many individuals are starting to think about those exorbitant heating bills that will soon be arriving in the mail. And with the economy so bad this year it will be even harder for many families to keep up with the rising costs associated with heating their home. There are a number of ways that you and your family can lower your heating costs though. Simple tricks and a few changes in your lifestyle can make all the difference and have you turning down your thermostat this winter and saving money on your heating costs. You can save a considerable amount of money just by being more conscientious and paying attention to how your house feels and how you feel. Here are a few tips to keep yourself and your home comfortable this winter without having to have the heat cranked and without having to run up your heating bill. Make sure that any cracks, including those around doors and windows, are sealed and weather proofed to keep out drafts and keep in the heat. Weather stripping can be purchased to go around windows for very little cost and it will work wonders for keeping the heat in and the cold out. Doors should have flaps on the bottom of them for the same purpose and are also very low cost. Drafts in homes are one of the biggest reasons for turning the thermostat up and are actually one of the easiest and cheapest things to fix. Stock up on warm clothes to wear around the house and actually use them. Many people will automatically run to the thermostat when they feel a little chill and those variations in the heat all the time can significantly raise your heating bill. Rather than turn up the heat every time you're a little chilly go to your dresser and grab a sweater or sweatshirt or grab a throw blanket to cover up with. And make sure your family knows to do the same. You will be surprised at how much lower your heating bill is if you just leave it set at one temperature most of the time. Utilize the heat generated from cooking. If you are baking something in the oven for dinner then open up the oven when your done and let the heat spread throughout the house and you will be surprised at how much it will take the chill out of the house. Considering we use the oven a lot more during the winter months this can be a great way to supplement your heat and you will not be spending any additional money. Finally, plastic any windows and doors you will not be using. Not only may there be drafts that you will be covering up but cold air that comes off the glass itself will be blocked out as well making your house warmer than it would be otherwise. Heating costs can add up to a lot in the winter but y making a few simple changes you can be spending less on your heating costs this year. About the Author Tara Smith is a successful webmaster and owner of popular and comprehensive Spa Gift Baskets web site. For more article and resource, visit Birthday Gift Baskets site. |
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