For holiday gift giving, kids sometimes need a little push. I’m not a fan of giving gifts galore, but that’s mainly because I’m interested in more meaningful and less expensive holidays. That said, I also think it’s smart to include your child in what gift giving you do participate in, because kids tend to get, get, get during the holidays, so a little giving can go a long way at forming their mindset about the holidays. Also, this creates a good opportunity to discuss money and budgeting issues.

How to pull it off:
Give each child a set budget for gifts. I …read more

Birthday parties can be spendy, no doubt about it. It’s crazy how it all adds up because basically there’s not really too many components – food, activity, goodie bags, decor. There’s one way you can combine at least three of the components though and cut costs in the process.

For fun and savings combine the food, activity, and goodie bag components or at least two of each. For example…

Have kids decorate cookies or cupcakes at the party. Set a table out with all the necessary decor items – frosting tubes, little candies, sprinkles, and more. Have kids go at it for …read more

Kids furniture can cost a pretty penny. Less expensive options include thrift store or garage sale furniture you can fix up. This is a great choice because it’s also eco-friendly. Your second option is to make furniture with other objects, not simply fix up a piece. The problem is that often parents get a decent piece of kids furniture and then have no idea where to start when it comes to creating a cool piece of furniture that a kid will love.
Following are some great ideas for DIY kids furniture that’s also totally low-cost.

DIY Inexpensive Kiddie Table & Chairs!- I …read more

During the last year it’s been tough money wise for most families. Tough economic times are hard on parents, but it’s important to keep in mind that your kids are also affected by the economy, and not just in a we can’t have this toy kind of way. Kids have actual money concerns and it doesn’t help when they see you freaking out or worrying endlessly about it.

What you can do to keep your kiddos calm when money is tight:
Don’t hide the issues: Kids are smart enough to handle money issues. They can be taught about the family budget. It’s …read more

Kids see an endless amount of plastic cards being used to pay for everything from groceries, to toys, to household goods, but they rarely see cash anymore. Older kids even get pre-filled debit cards from their parents to use vs. cash. The problem is this sets up kids to consider money as something that arrives in an endless supply so long as you don’t lose the card.

If you consider a small child’s point of view, it makes no sense where money comes from if you only see people pay with cards. It also makes less sense if you don’t explain …read more

I’ve known my fair share of thrifty folks who wash plastic bags. They’ll hand wash and dry and some people even toss them in the laundry on cold. This obviously reduces your trash, so saves you cash there, reduces your consumption of plastic bags, so again with the savings, and reduces your negative impact on the planet, especially if you recycle the baggies after. Still…
I have to wonder, with all the reusable sandwich and snack baggies and wraps available now, why are people still washing bags? Some may argue that you have to wash the reusable baggies or wraps too, …read more

Seventeen Magazine and Bank of America just released findings from a new survey that revealed that teens are pretty darn anxious about the current economy.

According to the survey, most teens are indeed stressed out about their finances and money but girls are more so anxious than boys. More than eight in ten girls (85%) say they’re worried about the economy, vs. 75% of teen boys. And nearly nine of ten girls (88%) say they’re fretting about money, vs. 82% of teen boys.
Girls’ fears about money are a little more far reaching too. They worry about the little things; i.e. no …read more

Get a free child’s admission to the Greensboro Children’s Museum with a paying adult when you show your Harris Teeter VIC card.

This offer is good until September 7, 2009 and is not valid on Fridays after 5 pm or Sundays.

Staples has kicked off the back-to-school shopping season early with lots of cool deals. Such as their backpack special going on right now through July 25. The backpack deal allows families to earn Staples Rewards that match the 100% full price of a backpack purchase. That’s a backpack for free if you’re using your Staples Rewards card.

Other back-to-school promotions at Staples…

Increased discounts on Staples Brand items, like the Better Binder and ACCEL Notebook.
Staples is offering a series of weekly penny …read more

Packing a healthy lunch in reusable lunch gear is not only a waste-free and eco-friendly way to go but it’s way cheaper. Lunch items you can refill again and again cost less than buying juice boxes, paper napkins, plastic silverware, brown bags, single servings of food, plastic baggies, foil, and so on.
Here’s everything you need for a waste-free less expensive school lunch for the entire school year…
A lunch box or bag:

ACME Bags – Recycled PET Medium Thermal “6 Pack” Lunch Bag – $9.95
L.L Bean Flip Top Lunch Bag in tons of solid colors and print – $19.95
Built Tasty Lunch Tote …read more