When I was in school, my parents worked full time and taking a week off for a vacation wasn't always possible. Instead, they would take a day or two off during the spring break week and we'd do fun things in town. If you'd rather not spend spring break spending, why not stay in your city instead of … [Read more...] about Staycations for frugal families
Kids
Free coding classes and apps for kids
As a parent who graduated in the '80s, I found the list of classes looked like a foreign language: Learn to Run Linux, The Easy Way with Scratch, Learn to Build with Unity, Explore with Arduino. To me, they all sounded intriguing, but would my son agree? After reading through the list, … [Read more...] about Free coding classes and apps for kids
Throw a haunting Halloween bash on a budget
Halloween is one of those times of year in which we can all revert to being kids. We dress up and enjoy a little extra candy and parties. Planning a Halloween party can be so much fun. However, it's also easy to get carried away and find yourself spending a small fortune. Save the scares for the … [Read more...] about Throw a haunting Halloween bash on a budget
102+ cheap and easy Halloween costumes
Halloween will be here before you know it. Save your money for the candy you'll be giving out to trick-or-treaters by skipping the high-priced, mass-produced, store-bought costumes this year. You can make awesome custom Halloween costumes that will outshine anything you can buy in the store, … [Read more...] about 102+ cheap and easy Halloween costumes
Back to school: Is it time for your student to have a cellphone?
With a son going into fifth grade, I’m one of the few holdouts among the class parents who hasn’t given into peer pressure and gotten my child a smart phone. I have my reasons, most notably among them, he hasn’t asked for one ... yet. Truth be told, I also don’t think he’s ready for the … [Read more...] about Back to school: Is it time for your student to have a cellphone?
10 tips to organize your back-to-school life
When the kids go back to school, life should get easier, right? Nope. It gets way more complicated. You need to get the kids to school and back (if they don’t ride the bus). You need to get them to soccer/swim/ballet practice. They need lunches and after-school snacks. They have homework. And then … [Read more...] about 10 tips to organize your back-to-school life
Cheap summer family fun: hiking with kids
Summertime means plenty of opportunity to get outdoors, away from TV and video games, and enjoy nature at its best. If there is a nature center in your city, check out the programs for both kids and adults – they’re usually FREE or just charge a few bucks to cover costs. But maybe you’d rather … [Read more...] about Cheap summer family fun: hiking with kids
21 fun ideas for kids on summer break
School Break. Spring Break. Summer Break. Fall Break. The terms excite students across the country but also can instill dread in the minds of the parents of school-age children everywhere. Days or weeks in a row with no school. What can you possibly do to prevent hearing "I'm bored" over and over … [Read more...] about 21 fun ideas for kids on summer break
Free or cheap summer fun activities with kids
Involving children with cheap activities this summer will help to not only keep your kids entertained, but will also ensure they’re tired come the end of the day. But coming up with ideas that don’t cost a fortune can sometimes be a problem. Maybe this list of free/cheap summer fun activities will … [Read more...] about Free or cheap summer fun activities with kids
Clothing the kids without busting your budget
Kids go through clothes like boxes of Cheerios. We say: don’t spend a lot of money on play wear and school clothes. By the time kids wear them or use them once or twice, who can tell if they’re new or used anyway? You can find some kids’ clothes in excellent condition at thrift stores like … [Read more...] about Clothing the kids without busting your budget
How to get your adult child out of your basement
It’s become somewhat of a stereotype: Young adults are living in their parents’ basements, unable to secure gainful employment and unwilling to grow up. While that’s a bit of an exaggeration, 33% of 25- to 29-year-olds were residents of multi-generational households in 2016, according to a Pew … [Read more...] about How to get your adult child out of your basement
Create your own cheap summer camp for kids
For many, summer camps have become as integral a part of childhood as school. They provide a safe place for the children of working parents, allow kids to explore new activities and retain and continue their learning, and so much more. However, summer camps can be expensive, from $100 to $400 or … [Read more...] about Create your own cheap summer camp for kids
