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Fun Summer Ideas for Kids

Boredom doesn’t have to be busted by spending a lot of money. Try one of the following fun summer ideas for kids that are creative and frugal. No more “Mommy, I’m bored” this summer. Pick Blueberries  …Or raspberries, or strawberries. Find a local pick-your-own farm nearby and enjoy the sunshine. Picking berries is a fun and frugal activity for kids, and you get to take the sweet fruit home with you. Make Baggie Ice Cream Forget the expensive ice cream maker. Instead, grab two inexpensive plastic bags for a cool homemade treat. You’ll need a set for each child. Ingredients: … Continue reading →

How to Use Freebies for Family Fun

It is possible to have a year full of family fun for free or nearly free. It is all in what you know and how you do your research. Take advantage of the following free family fun opportunities. Free Movies There are a number of ways that you and your family can enjoy free movies. The first is through free movie screenings. Movie studios like to test out an audience’s reaction before a film is released to the general public. To do this, they offer free movie screenings. Sometimes you will be asked for your opinion, usually by filling out … Continue reading →

Anatomy of A Frugal Kid 2

I’m continuing my examination of a typical frugal kid, as he appeared this morning while waiting for the bus stop. You can see that it doesn’t take a lot of money to have a healthy and happy kid. If you missed the first post, click here: Anatomy of A Frugal Kid. Now, let us continue with the torso. In the backpack is a new lunch box that I purchased at the end of September for only $2. It is insulated and a name brand. In it, you’ll find a homemade lunch that includes items such as from scratch banana bread, … Continue reading →

Anatomy of A Frugal Kid

If you dissect a frugal kid, what do all of the parts look like? Don’t worry, this isn’t some creepy Halloween story. In fact, it is just a way of taking a look at how we typically live our frugal life and how it doesn’t take a lot of spending for the care and feeding of a typical kid who is healthy and happy. I’ll take my eldest son as an example, on a typical morning waiting for the school bus. Head In his head are already thoughts of his holiday wish list. He says that he is thinking about … Continue reading →

Frugal Kids: Make Your Own Play Dough

For a fun activity, why not make your own play dough? It is fun and very frugal. Playing with clay or play dough is one of the best things you can do with young children. It foster creativity, gives them lots of sensory input and allows them to be messy in a controlled way. I started my kids on play dough at very early ages. Making my own home made play dough saves me money. It costs just pennies to make. Making my own play dough from kitchen ingredients also removes the worry if it accidentally goes into a child’s … Continue reading →

Frugal Craft: Make A Baby Food Jar Garden

Baby food jars seem so useful, it is a shame to throw them away. Here is a great little craft that the kids can do. They can make a little garden inside of the baby food jar. With some adult supervision, even preschoolers can make this craft. For your baby food jar garden, you will need the following: A baby food jar with the lid. Any size will do, but a bigger jar will allow you to make a more elaborate garden. Small dried or fake flowers. I used some baby breath that was left over from Valentine’s Day flowers. … Continue reading →

Frugal Fun: Make A Mancala Game

Need a new board game for family fun? Why not make one right now? Have you ever heard of the game Mancala? It is one of those games that is fine to play at almost any age. The game is very simple to learn, yet it can be played with a lot of subtle strategy, depending on the skill level of the players. This game requires no reading, so younger players can get involved. It does require some simple counting, though, so a parent or older sibling may need to help the very youngest players. Because of the county aspect, … Continue reading →

Frugal Kids: Free Home Depot Workshops

Looking for something fun and frugal on a Saturday? Why not try a free Home Depot Workshop? If you have a child like mine who loves to build or do crafts, you’ll love the Home Depot Workshops. They are a great way to give your child the opportunity to participate in these pint-sized “How-to Clinics.” These clinics are designed specifically for kids from ages 5 through 12, and are offered on the first Saturday of each month. There is absolutely no cost, and kids can drop in anytime between 9 a.m. and noon. An adult will need to bring the … Continue reading →

Frugal Kids: Free Building Set

My 5-year-old son loves to build things. He carefully plans out machines and devices that in his imagination could do everything from picking up toys to feeding the cat. Sure we have invested in Legos, K’nex and Mega Blocs, but the downside to these toys is that unless you have an unlimited budget, the various pieces can add up in expense. Also, you can’t save any of the creations to display unless you never want to build anything with the pieces again. Our family’s solution was to establish a building box. Remember Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (with Johnny Depp)? … Continue reading →

Sorry Junior, the Economy is Hurting

According to a recent report by Bankrate, 49 percent of parents say that they will be spending less on Christmas gifts than they did last year. With fewer bottom basement bargains available this Black Friday (which was really creeping into Black Thursday) and parents who will be spending less this holiday, does this mean that kids will be disappointed on Christmas morning? It is easy to feel guilty or sad if you can’t get your kids certain items on their list. After all, we get the message everywhere that we go. Our kids must have the latest and greatest, or … Continue reading →