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31 Aug 2007 09:20 AM

Have A Frugal Picnic

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

Does anyone have any nice plans for labor day? If not, why not have a picnic? Picnics can be very frugal, especially if you follow some of the following ideas.

To reduce food waste, why not pack individual lunches for each person, selecting things you know they will eat. Pack it all up in individual plastic beach pails. These can be found for pennies right now as stores are trying to get rid of their summer inventory. This way, dad can have his beloved cold fried chicken, while the kids can cart their own sandwiches, grapes, etc. Use the pails to make sandcastles, cart around interesting rocks, pine cones, or leaves, etc.

A pretty tablecloth will jazz up the most humble of picnic feasts. Find one at a deep discount at your local thrift store, or make your own will some pretty clearance fabric at your craft store. Pick up some silverware at the thrift store to use on your picnic. You'll feel more elegant, and it will probably cost you less than buying the plastic stuff. Don't worry about matching anything up. And if you lose a piece, well, that won't be a big deal. The best part? You can always wash it and reuse it for next time, again saving on buying the plastic stuff.

Frugal picnic food include pasta salads, Jello made from a box mix, homemade bread and biscuits, leftovers, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, carrots you peeled and cut yourself, apples, leftover pancakes, homemade chicken salad, homemade potato salad, a garden salad, and more. For adults, why not try cheese, crackers and grapes.

Why not have a picnic in your own backyard? You'll save on the gas money that it would take to get anywhere else, and you won't have to worry about any of your food spoiling. If it starts to rain, well you can always bring the picnic indoors.

Mary Ann Romans also writes for the Computing Blog here at Families.com where she shares everything from the latest news on technology to cool downloads and fun websites.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. The goldfish, alas, has passed away.

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