1.  Go to the park.
2.  Watch a dvd and eat popcorn.
3.  Make pancakes.
4.  Make playdough.
5.  Play with playdough.
6.  Build something with blocks.
7.  Play school.  Let your child be the teacher.
8.  Paint or draw together.
9.  Ride bikes.
10.  Go for a walk around the neighborhood.
11.  Garden together.
12.  Visit a neighbor.
13.  Do something special for an elderly person such as clean their house, do their errands, cook, or visit.
14.  Write a card or letter to someone.
15.  Sing songs.
16.  Play video games together.
17.  Pray for the needy.
18.  Make Oobleck.
19.  Go through all of the toys and organize them.
20.  Visit a farm to pick fruits and vegetables.
21. Have a picnic lunch.
22. Play board games.
23. Create a photo book or scrapbook.
24. Go camping.
25. Tell jokes.

Also, check out these free winter fun ideas. What low cost fun activities can you suggest?

image (c) Karen Weideman

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

1)  Grocery store customer cards – Some stores, such as Food Lion have a program for schools.  Basically, the school registers at the grocery store and then the parents, grandparents, etc register their store card under the school’s account.  The school automatically gets proceeds from the sales.  There’s no need to sell anything.

2)  Restaurant fundraiser - Your child’s school can sign up at a restaurant such as Chick-Fil-A for a special fundraiser night.  Proceeds from that night go to the school.  Again, no need to sell anything.  If you want to show your support, you just come to the restaurant to eat.

3)  Cookie dough - Most people like cookie dough, especially around the holidays.  It’s easy to sell and it brings in a lot of money.  I was talking to a teacher last month and she said their school made about $10,000!

4)  Invest-in-a-Kid – My kids’ school does a fundraiser where they don’t sell anything. They simply ask for monetary donations for things the school needs.  It gives parents an opportunity to just give without having to sell.

5)  Candy bars -  These are a bit more aggravating, but pretty easy to sell.  After all, they’re only a buck. Most anyone will buy a candy bar. People don’t have to wait around for something to be ordered.

6)  Sodas - Schools can partner up with a soda company such as Pepsi or Coca-Cola. They take orders and money for the soda and then the soda is picked at the school on the arranged date. No delivery needed.  Usually the soda is about the same price as the soda from the grocery store.

7)  Read-a-thon or Walk-a-thon – Most people don’t mind donating money if the kids are going to do something useful like reading or walking.

8)  Silent auction – Parents and the community donate items of value.  It’s an easy fundraiser and you can get some great bargains.

9)  Coupon books – Each year my husband and I buy at least one coupon book which has coupons for dining out and entertainment.  The books generally sell for $20 and the school gets $10 for each book sold.  Most coupons in the book are for buy 1 get 1 free.

10)  Dinner or festival – Have a dinner or festival for the community.  Usually, schools serve spaghetti because it’s an easy, cheap meal.  Perhaps the school could do a fundraiser dinner and silent auction on the same night.

11)  Buy a privilege.  Some schools have one day each month where the kids can pay $1 to wear a hat to school.  I’ve also heard of paying $1 to wear a costume, flip flops, or crazy clothes.

12)  Box tops  – Most schools participate in this program and it’s super easy with no pressure.  Simply save the box tops from specially marked products.  The schools get 10 cents for each box top.

What do you think of these fundraiser ideas?  Do you have any others to add to the list?

image sxc.hu

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

After some thinking, I realize there are more positives to the recession.  Another plus is that we’re eating out less.  We seem to be known for our lack of time in the kitchen, quest for easy meals and prepackaged foods, and fast food fixes.  After all, Americans do suffer with obesity problems. 

When you cook your own meals at home, you spend more time with your family.  You allow time for the family to sit around the table relaxing, eating, and talking.  There isn’t a rush to get in a restaurant, the wait to be seated, and if you have little kids (like I do) there isn’t the worry about inappropriate behavior in public.  Eating at home  is healthier for you. You have a choice about what you prepare and there are no surprises about the fat and sugar that is going into the meals.  Eating at home also opens opportunities to allow the kids to help with meal planning and preparing foods with you.  It’s a great time for kids to learn and converse with their parents.

What positives have you found from this recession?

image sxc.hu

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Entertaining a family on a budget can be a challenge. It isn’t impossible though. Investing a little time and following a few simple tips, can save you a lot of money. 

Research.
This doesn’t have to be a lot of work. I regularly check the event calendars on our state, state parks, and library websites. These are full of free and low cost events for all ages. We also get a free paper that lists quite a few events.
If there is someplace you want to go, check their website first. You can find coupons or times that are discounted. For example, by checking the website I found our local art museum is free on Tuesdays and offers free kids classes on Saturday. Another museum near us is free on Thursday nights.

Sometimes the website will have deals you can’t find anywhere else. I learned of a local theater’s free movie camp (kids movies in the AM) on the web site. I haven’t seen this advertised anywhere else, not even at the theater itself.

Go early. Go late. Don’t go on the weekends!
In other words go when it isn’t busy. Not only is it more enjoyable, (in my opinion!) it is cheaper. Movies offer matinees, restaurants early bird specials, some museums and amusement parks offer after 5 specials. (and with little kids do you really want to spend the whole day at the amusement park?!) We used to have a minor league ball park near where we lived. They offered lots of family specials and discounted tickets during the week to try to fill the park.

During the week you can find great deals at restaurant. Does going out to eat count as entertainment? Well, in this house it does. We love to go out to eat. During the week there are often specials where kids eat free. There is a local Italian type restaurant here that offers Two for Tuesday, buy one pasta dish and get one free. As rule going out for breakfast is also cheaper than lunch or dinner.

Buy the Membership.
To the museum, to the zoo or other places your family loves. It is one money for a year of entertainment and fun. Zoo and museum memberships are very reasonable. In addition to allowing you year long access to your local location, many also give you free (or discounted) entry to zoos and museums all over the country. This is wonderful when you are traveling to visit family or on vacation.
What I really love about memberships is that you can pick up and go whenever. You don’t have to plan it for the budget or even plan to spend an entire day for your outing. You can go to the zoo for an hour. You can the budget is tight. By the way, memberships are great family gifts to give and receive!

Pack a lunch!
If you are not taking advantage of cheap dining as mentioned above, save yourself a ton of cash and pack enough food and drinks for the day. The food at places like the zoo or amusement parks is so over priced! Even running through the drive thru for lunch can make free entertainment at the park an expensive day. If you find yourself with little in the house to pack for your outing, swing by the grocery store instead of the drive thru. Quick and easy foods at the grocery store cost a fraction of what you will pay at a restaurant.  

So enjoy cheap entertainment this summer, and all year round! Research. Go early or late and during the week. Buy the membership and pack your lunch! 

Stephanie at Make it from Scratch and Stop the Ride!

image sxc.hu

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

You can stop by The Knack website for free printables.  There are over 200 to choose from.  There are also loads of project ideas.  Click on the spring project idea list and you’ll have plenty of ideas to keep your kids entertained and crafty.  This might come in handy during the Easter breaks from school.  The projects ideas helpfully tell the age range, messy level, and craft time.

Have fun!

image from michaels

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Don’t worry.  I didn’t go through a nine month pregnancy and childbirth without telling you.     My husband and I are adopting a 10 (soon to be 11) year old.

We met J while we were working at the group home last year. Sometimes in life you question God and wonder why He placed you in certain places in your life.  Sometimes you’ll never know why.  In this particular case, we know the reason.  It was to help out this sweet young man.

I won’t share pictures of J until it’s closer to being official.  And I must come up with a nickname for him!  It just wouldn’t be right to have Alligator girl and Cuddlebug on here, but no nickname for J.

We start our home study today, so I need to get back to work!  Have a great day everyone!

image is mine

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Hope this helps you brave the cold this week.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

I would like to say, however, that we really enjoyed seeing family.  We only get to go home once a year but this year seemed especially hectic for some reason.

Dec 23rd – I worked a 10 hour shift and packed some

Dec 24th – I worked an 8 hour shift and packed some

Dec 25th – We flew to Houston and then took a 1 hour drive to my dad’s.  Total travel time: 11 hours

Dec 26th – We visited with my dad, mom, all my sisters, and had Christmas at home

Dec 27th – We took some time to go and see Kemah Boardwalk.  I was amazed at how hurricane Ike tore up Galveston.

Dec 28th – We said goodbye to my family and drove 3 hours to my aunt’s house in south Texas.  There we had a good time with my mom’s side of the family.  This was the first year my grandma wasn’t there to great us and it was very hard for me.

Dec 29th – My kids got to feed the cattle and ride around on the ranch.  They had a great time with their cousins.

Dec 30th – We ate lunch at my favorite restaurant from childhood and drove 2.5 hours to my sister’s house.  My mom and sister met us and my older sister and her two kids for dinner.

Dec 31st – We flew to Missouri to see my mom and dad.  Total travel time: 11 hours

Jan 1st – We celebrated my dad’s birthday and had Christmas in Missouri.  Turkey Butt finally got Chou Chou.  She didn’t put that silly doll down for days!  My allergies kicked in so I started taking Benadryl every 4 hours until Monday.

Jan 2nd – We played with the kids and mom and my dad even got to hang out with Turkey Butt for 2.5 hours while we put away the tree.  I had to call my doctor’s office to get DH an antibiotic as he was ocne again very sick.

Jan 3rd – We took the kids to the park for a while.

Jan 4th – We finished packing and flew home.  We fell into bed around 1 am.  Total travel time – 10.5 hours

Jan 5th – I had to be at work at 7:30 am.  By the time I got home, my eyes were bloodshot and my face still had lovely hives from my allergy attack at mom’s.  My co-workers said I looked like I was wasted!

Jan 6th – I took the kids to school and baby sitter and then took a nap.

Total travel time: ridiculous and I lost count

Total allergy/sick time: way too much

Total family time: priceless

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Lands’ End would like to make planning family holiday get togethers a whole lot easier this year by giving a chance to win a great family get together for 7 nights for up to 12 people at The Resort at Paws Up in Montana! Hurry because Lands’ End will accept entries at this website through noon October 30, 2008.  Prizes include:

• Grand Prize:  A get together for 7 nights for up to 12 people at The Resort at Paws Up in Montana, which includes round-trip airfare, meals and four half-day wilderness adventures per person and also includes a new waterproof Windfall outerwear package
• Second Prize:  Cashmere Great Get Together package with Lands’ End’s high-quality cashmere sweaters and scarves for the family
• Third Prize: Fleece Great Get Together package with cozy fleece jackets and accessories for the family

Just fill out the online entry form and submit an up-to-300-word essay and photo.

Good luck everyone!

image from Lands’ End contest

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Images: mine

Post from: Thrifty Mommy