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How to Celebrate Good Times on a Budget

Think you can’t afford to have fun on your birthday, anniversary, or other milestone? Think again. The month of May is chock full of special occasions for my family. From birthdays to Mother’s Day, Memorial Day to graduations, there’s no shortage of celebrations in the coming weeks. Typically, I would be concerned that all of these “big days” would put a big dent in our family’s budget, but as I mentioned in my previous blog, fortunately these special occasions are yielding some major savings. My email inbox is filled with deals from hotels, theme parks, and restaurants offering freebies and … Continue reading →

How to Get More Fun for Your Money

You can be happy with less money. It all depends on how you use it and what it does for you. Apply your money in the ways that will make you happiest. Be purposeful in how you spend your cash, and your life will be enriched, even on the tightest budget. Choose Experiences Instead of Materials Experiences can be one of the best investments of your money. Long after the money is spent, you will look back on the time with many fond memories. Money that is used toward experiences generally leaves people feeling that it was absolutely worth it. … Continue reading →

What’s Ahead for 2011?

I’m sure I’m not the only person looking ahead at the new year with a combination of excitement about all the possibilities and apprehension about the situation we find ourselves in, economically. You can hardly turn on a news station without seeing self-proclaimed financial gurus sharing their thoughts on this, that, and the other thing, while no one knows who the experts really are any more. But here are some facts that we need to face as we make our goals and plans for the coming twelve months: 1. Unemployment rates are skyrocketing. There are currently six million Americans who … Continue reading →

Blended Families’ Holiday Visitation Time

The holidays are fast approaching, and many children will be forced to spend time with more than one family. Visitation time can be a very hard time for children and parents alike. Will you be the parent that wants the most and best time with the child? Meaning you want Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Or will you be the parent that simply values your time with the child? Many parents want to be the first, the first to have Thanksgiving dinner, the first to celebrate Christmas, and the first to celebrate any holiday in general. Some parents (I think … Continue reading →

Create an Accessible Playground in Your Town

Playgrounds are great fun for kids – the slide, the swings, and the bobbling horse. It is an adventure every time. For kids with physical limitations, however, the playground is an obstacle standing in the way of the good times the other kids are having and leaving them feeling left out. Communities across the country are finding the solution to this problem through accessible playgrounds. Accessible playgrounds are just what they are called, accessible. Wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches can no longer keep a kid from having fun and playing with the other kids at the park. If you would like … Continue reading →

Road Trip Sanity Savers

If you are trying to maintain your sanity on a long car ride this Labor Day weekend, you know that being prepared is a critical component to achieving your goal. These boredom busters will go a long way to keep your end of the summer road trip on the right track: GEOGRAPHY BEE There are different versions of this game, but this one best suits a road trip. Have one member of the family think of a place (city, state, country, etc.), then the next person has to think of another destination that starts with the last letter of the … Continue reading →

Learning Can Be Fun

Who says you can’t learn anything during summer vacation? Instead of having your kid’s brain turn to mush during the dog days of summer, encourage him to explore science in the great outdoors. Spend the day outside with your son or daughter catching butterflies, planting a garden or snapping digital pictures to create a nature map. Need some more ideas? Take a look at these educational activities: HOMEMADE VOLCANO Materials: Disposable baking pan Soda bottle (16 or 20 oz.) Moist soil 1 tablespoon baking soda 1 cup vinegar Red food coloring Directions: Place the baking pan on the grass, and … Continue reading →

Affordable Outdoor Summer Fun For Kids

Whether you are at the beach, in the woods or at the park, having some structured activities for your kids to participate in always makes the day run a bit smoother. The following outdoor activities are simple and affordable. What’s more, they come in very handy when your child gets tired of exploring nature on his own. AT THE BEACH: Sand Obstacle Course Materials: Plastic shovel Stick Directions: Use the stick to draw a winding line in the sand (this is the path your child will follow). Use the shovel to dig ditches along the path for your child to … Continue reading →

Fun Projects to Keep Kids Busy During Summer Break

In Hawaii public school kids headed back to class last week. Meanwhile, parochial schools in the Atlanta area open for the new school year in less than two weeks. But here in the Midwest, public school students don’t begin classes until September 8th. For parents, that means four more weeks of summer, and subsequently, an additional month’s worth of hearing: “Mom, I’m bored!” If you are looking for simple boredom busters to help get through the rest of August, consider the following fun ideas: EDIBLE DIRT Ingredients: 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1 (8-ounce) Cool Whip 1 cup powdered … Continue reading →

Summer Fun in the Kitchen with Kids

Don’t let an afternoon rainstorm put a damper on your summer fun. Rather, you can use the inclement weather to your advantage by gathering the kids in the kitchen to make nutritional snacks that are so festive they won’t even know they’re eating healthy. FISHY SNACK MIX Ingredients: 3 cups goldfish shaped baked snack crackers 2 cups pretzel sticks 2 cups toasted oat cereal 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese 1/4 cup butter, melted 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1/2 teaspoon celery salt 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 2 cups gummy candy fish and worms Directions: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine … Continue reading →