Summer is coming! Families all over are starting to plan their recreation for the warmest season. Fit in more fun this summer when you include plenty of free activities that won’t affect your family finances. Keeping the kids busy has never been easier or cheaper. Make sure to do your research early, as some of these free events require registration and can fill up quickly. Free Factory Tours All around the country you’ll find free factory tours. Witness the making or potato chip or chocolate or find out how jelly beans are formed. Sniff perfume before it is bottled or … Continue reading →
Family bonding! Fresh air! Life skills! Fun! No matter why you camp, there is no doubt that you ultimately do it because it is a great activity for your family. And while the expense might be worth the experience, that doesn’t mean that you have to spend more money than is necessary. Camping can be expensive or inexpensive. It all depends on how you approach it. Here are some tips on how you can cut down the costs on your great escape. Go Car Camping What is car camping? Basically, you drive to the campsite and park your car and … Continue reading →
From meeting musk ox to sampling your favorite chocolate or jelly beans, factory tours can be a frugal way to fit in some extra activities this summer. Both fun and educational, their low-cost (in many cases, these factory tours are free!) makes them ideal for keeping the kids busy without negatively affecting your family finances. Here are some of the best and most interesting factory tours that are available across the country. Visit factorytourusa.com for additional available tours. Alabama Blue Bell Creameries “Folks of all ages seem to like our plant tour, but it may be ’cause they get to … Continue reading →
Booking a cheap flight can be confusing these days. You want to get the lowest price, but going about it can be confusing? Fortunately, a little knowledge can go a long way when it comes to cheap flights.. Now you can spend less but travel more with the following frugal flyer tips. Get all of your questions answered. What Is the Cheapest Month to Fly? To save money, you can plan your flights during the cheapest months of the year. Low cost flights are pretty consistent. For domestic travel within the country, choose the month of September to fly. The … Continue reading →
Affording a great family vacation may not be as far off as you think! Use the following four steps and start saving now. Here is how. Estimate Your Vacation Costs Take the time to sit down and do some research to determine exactly how much your family vacation is going to cost. Include air fare or travel expenses, lodging, food, souvenirs or other additional purchases, and tips. You can an idea of your travel costs by visiting travel websites, asking friends and family who have taken similar vacations, or calling a travel agent. Don’t forget to keep in mind your … Continue reading →
Chances are that the savvy family sitting at the next table is paying less for their meal than you are. Whether you opt for a family style restaurant at lunch or something a little more upscale for dinner, the following tips will work to save you money. Find out how to get the deals at your favorite chain restaurant. Be an Investigator of Great Deals Put your detective hat on and start sniffing out all of the little known offers, such as rock bottom prices on rotating deals, kids eat free nights, and promotional offers. Some restaurants will even offer … Continue reading →
Free Entertainment is all around us. We just have to reach out for it. 1. Free movie rentals from Redbox. Search for “Redbox codes” online. You’ll get at least one free movie rental a week when using the Redbox video machines. 2. Free Lego Build Event. Each month Lego stores sponsor free building events for ages 6 through 14. Kids can build a new Lego model each month (this month it is a log cabin) and then take it home. 3. Free video games from the library. Chances are that your library is stocked with video games for current systems. … Continue reading →
If you haven’t visited your local library in a while, you might want to plan a visit sometime soon. The library is a very different place than it was just ten years ago, thanks in part to current technology. Plus, with the economy, there is a new need for additional services, all of which most community libraries are trying to provide. They are doing a very good job of it, too. So get that library card out (or sign up for one) and start saving. Here are seven things that you can get at the library for free. • Free … Continue reading →
Are your kids asking for the $70 Skylanders game or a new video gaming device that costs more than your first car did? Video games can get expensive, and because new and hot games are constantly emerging, and the old technology can become obsolete in a year or two, many parents feel like they are spending quite a bit of their budgets keeping their kids up to speed with video games. To reduce the cost of video games, try the following options. Consider an Older System The newer the gaming system or computer, the more it will cost. Consider purchasing … Continue reading →
Often, when times are economically tight, as they are now for most of us, the entertainment or fun budget is the first thing to go. Just because there is less money available, doesn’t mean that there has to be less fun. Do Put Something in the Budget for Entertainment Designate some amount for family fun, even if it is only limited to $20 a month or even less. Budgeting for entertainment sends the message that family fun is important, even when it isn’t expensive. If you create a zero-based family fun budget you may wind up indulging anyway, and blowing … Continue reading →
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