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FREE FAMILY FUN

How to Have Family Fun Cheap

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Not everyone has enough money to visit places suggested as perfect for family outings. There are a lot of things people want nowadays, but with a family you have got to be budget-conscious to have fun. Here are soome ideas for how you can have family fun on a budget.

Steps

Figure out what matters most to you. Is it:
- your home?
- your family?
- your food?
Prioritize the things that matter. All of these are important of course, but what do you enjoy the most? If it is all of them, you'll need to consider how you can juggle between them, to stretch your dollar as far as possible.
Think about the sorts of things you like to do. It may be learning; outdoors activities; eating out; movies or other ideas. Once you have thought about these things, the next step is to consider the ways that you can do these things without it costing too much, or perhaps even for free.
Look at the following activities and suggested "low-cost" or "free" alternatives. See which ones appeal to you and come up with more of your own alternatives as well:
- Learning activities: Visit the library. Libraries offer several resources that can be of great benefit for free or for a very low joining fee. You can borrow books (fiction, non-fiction, craft, art, hobbies, language, math, science etc.), music and reading CDs, DVDs and videos and even games and toys at some libraries. Save by not buying these things but borrowing them for the whole family; take the whole family to the library for regular visits, so that everyone can make their own choices. Libraries also offer a lot of activities such as "meet-the-author" sessions, book reading evenings and children's clubs. All of these are a great way to meet others and to have an enjoyable time.
- Rent movies and stop cable TV subscriptions: Get rid of cable TV costs through regular movie borrowing or cheap rental from DVD stores. Initially there will be withdrawal symptoms but soon you'll discover that between the movies you can borrow for free or rent for low prices and the free-to-air choices, you'll have plenty to watch. All the extra time you gain to spend together as a family is an enormous bonus!
- Increase your knowledge: You can learn a lot of new things from reading books (the ones you've borrowed from the library). A great way of learning is to base the learning on a famous novel. For instance, after reading a novel like Little House on the Prairie, your family could follow up the reading by borrowing books on farming during different periods of history. Learn together the different ways people have done things and how they are done today.
- Take up craft or homesteading activities: Try craft books, "free fun" books, homesteading books (old-fashioned knowledge and tips), games books and science books (kids love the experiments). You could have a fair in your house - make up the games and have events like balloon dart-throwing.
Make the most of city life. Cities offer a lot of free events - hit every free event imaginable with your family and enjoy them. These include parades, outdoor concerts, national day celebrations, marathons, charity runs, food promotional fairs, art displays, children's events and more. Keep an eye on the newspaper or internet for upcoming freebies to attend. Many museums and galleries have "free days" where you can visit for nothing at all. Don't forget to take a packed lunch or meal and plenty of water. Saves queueing as well as money!
Visit garage sales. What other people no longer want, you might get for a song. make it a day's event to trawl around garage sales in your area. Even the haggling can be fun and you never know what you might find.
Take a "field trip" downtown. Many cities, towns and villages have amazing buildings in their central district. Pack a great lunch (sandwiches, drinks etc) and catch the bus in to go "sight-seeing" as a tourist might. You can glimpse animals outside the zoo on the way, ride the elevator to the top of the biggest building to look out the windows and if you and the kids look presentable and well mannered and you ask the receptionist at the top office nicely to look out the window they'll probably say yes. Learn all that you can about the buildings from plaques on the walls, signs or a library book on the history of your area. If you become really knowledgeable, you might even end up telling tourists in the area more about what they're looking at!
Shop wisely. Visit the bulk buying area at the grocery store and save money on the things you need (don't buy things you don't use just because they're cheap - it's still a waste of money if you won't use it.)
Have a "junk food party" at home. Save on restaurants or fast food places by letting the kids enjoy the fast food at home. When shopping, buy the "junk food" items and store them at home for special days. Another way to make junk food stretch is to only buy some of the junk food (like a burger each) and then cook the rest at home (store brand or homemade fries/soda pop, for instance). It'll taste a lot better and it goes a lot further. If you do want to eat out, buy the burgers and split the fries, take your own drinks and extra food items with you and eat it all in the park instead of inside the restaurant. (Take the picnic gear and it'll feel 100% better than staying in the restaurant!) Do the same with take-out - only order some of it (e.g., the pizza) and make the rest at home (e.g., the salad, the rice, the wings, the sauces etc.)
Be home savvy. Learn some enormously useful skills that 'll save you a lot in the long run. For instance, learn to sew and use your hot glue gun. Visit the dollar stores for bargains and also visit used (secondhand) stores and thrift stores, which have a lot of goodies that people don't want anymore but are still in terrific condition. Learn to dress up old stuff! Finding a bargain can in itself become a real addiction and as you learn more, you'll find more bargains.

Tips

Try this fun home fair game: use an old fridge box, cut out holes for your heads (box laying sideways) and take turns being the "groundhog" sticking your heads out with the rest of the family shooting at the heads with squirt guns and even the hose! See if the "groundhog" can duck back in fast enough.
When you shop, plan an 'at home restaurant type meal'; it'll still be cheaper to make it at home. Buy a bag of shrimp or a fancy fish. Don't buy the stuff and still go out to eat. If you stick to it and make the out-of-the-ordinary meal at home, it will be cheaper than going out.
Another good at-home meal is making burgers and hot dogs but make all of the fixin's: Cut up tomatoes and cook bacon, heat up some hot dog sauce n' sauerkraut. Have it all out to make your own ultimate burger or hot dog.
When reupholstering, you can use a scrap fabric that's "close to", if not perfectly what you want, and staple gun the thing to the underside of the chair or other item that you're doing up.
Curtains are a three step process, anyone who can use scissors and a sewing machine can do it.
To get your hands on a sewing machine: If you think hard, you probably know someone who has one. They could show you how to thread it, if you can do this you can work it. Another place to try is thrift stores; leave you name and phone number with a request for the next one that comes in.
Swags are just flowers you like and that match your home, arranged on anything you can bend into a swag shape (hanger, a stick): Just hot glue them until they look good. It's a great past time to pull apart old arrangements and "refresh" them by giving them a rinsing and gluing them like this.

Warnings

Don't go to a federal or government building asking to look around unless you know in advance that they allow tours. They will only say "no" and they may not be polite about it either.

Related wikiHows

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Natural Remedies For Kids

Running to the doctor's every time you child is sick is not always feasible, or necessary. If your child has just come down with a cold or the runs, a tummy ache or something normal and non threatening, the money for a doctors visit may not be worth the trip to hear "the child seems fine, it's just a bug, watch them for a few days and call if they develop a fever".

I have found some natural remedies to share with all of you.

DIARRHEA:
add yogurt to the diet as soon as possible, it contains a good bacteria that fights bad bacteria.
for babies is for them to eat carrots, rice cereal, bananas, potatoes, and applesauce to help firm the stools. Fruit juices, peas, pears, peaches, plums, prunes and apricots should be avoided until the stools are back to normal. Adults and older children can also eat cheese, crackers, bread, rice and potatoes. During diarrhea outbreaks, it's best to avoid most dairy products, which tend to make diarrhea worse. This includes milk, butter, creams, and eggs. Yogurt is the exception; it will help to stop diarrhea.

Drinks like Pedialyte or KaoLectrolyte can be given to replenish both in babies, and even in older children and adults. These will help to avoid dehydration.

SUNBURN:
cool down the burn first, use ice directly on the burn, not on serious burns, they can only tolerate cold water.
Aloe vera products are often just lanolin with a touch of aloe added, lanolin will hurt, so read ingredients in those aloe vera treatments. Pure aloe vera will not prevent peeling later, so use the following to avoid peeling.

Lavender oil will stop the pain and prevent peeling, saving the skin from blistering and turning white after healing. Carefully drip the oil onto brun then blot (not rub) to spread with a gental tissue. Do not shower immediatly and reapply after next shower.
for more click here http://www.lacetoleather.com/natcurforsun.html

These are just some of the natural remedies I have tried and had success with, see the link above for more remedies.

WHERE I GET FREE ARTICLES...well better than free, they PAY ME!

Get Paid to Place FREE Content onYour Website or Blog!

TheNewsRoom provides bloggers with 100% FREE, no catch content written by top authors from companies like Associated Press, real newspapers and more. You can use unlimited content including articles, images, web vids and more for absolutely NO CHARGE!

THEY PAY YOU TO USE IT.

You actually get paid to place their great, accurate article, video clips and images on your websites! The pay works just like Google Adsense does. You get paid every time someone watches the video, reads the article, etc. You can even increase your earnings by adding videos that are set on auto-play and begin rolling as soon as your site is entered.

They have no limit to how much content you can use! Plus, the articles and videos are available on every topic you can think of, celebrity gossip to sports news to cooking, home improvements and more. This is an awesome way to get content for your site that you don’t have to research or write.

After signing up with TheNewsRoom, you can immediately begin placing their articles, videos and images on your site. You can search by keywords, dates, publishing companies, and more. Or, you can simply browse a category, like sports, news, finance, etc. You can find content on every topic! I can’t tell you how great this site is!

The payment structure is as follows:

Image Ad Impression
$0.50

Text Ad Impression
$0.50

Video Ad Impression
$3.50

Video Ad Impression (2nd Generation)
$1.25

Video Feed Ad Impression
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(Second generation is when someone takes an article from your site and adds it to theirs)

All earnings can be tracked under the “My Revenue” section located in the left hand side bar, so you never have to wonder how much you have made.

(great lifesaver for busy days) click HERE to join.

ARE YOU FREECYCLEING, I AM! The place to get a real helping hand.

Are you looking for help finding some basic household needs? Well if you are reading this you have a goldmine of genuine "Helpers" at your fingertips.

Freecycle. You NEED to join your local freecycle group. You need to.

I cannot believe out here in the real world how many people are not taking advantage of, or not even aware of this resource.

It's like signing up for a million friends with extra stuff to give away. No it is just that.

I have seen vehicles given away!

I got a refridgerator a couple of months back of of my freecycle group.

Not only is it a list of "I have....to give away", but you can ask for what you need.

"Ask and you shall recieve" Well this has never been so easy.

You do have to be patient. You may have to re-post your request, but you most likely can find the item you need on your freecycle group. It is free. It is easy and you will recieve emails alerting you every say of what is being offered in your group.

Now think about it. do you know someone without a computer who needs something? Do you belong to a church group and get requests for items familys need? Post for them you may be their saving grace! Do it over and over for area needy people and you can be an angel.

To join Freecyle click HERE. There is no referal program for freecycle.

BLOG BLOG BLOG....I'M JUST GONNA WRITE A BOOK?

I am serious. Why not just write a book?

http://www.lulu.com/ It is a site that lets you write a book and upload it to thier site for free. They will publish and print and bind the book for free.

You can order one, five or fifty books! There are discounts for ordering over 25 books.

You can choose the size and type of covering too.

I think this is a great site for those in the midst of self discovery. Write for self theropy and then give you work to those who you need to let see it.

Write a childrens book and sell it at your local library.

Write your life story and give it to mom for mothers day (assuming you and your mom are on good terms)

Write a childrens book based on the stories you tell your children at bed so thy will always have them.

Geeze,the list could go on and on.

Publish your art work. Publish your kids' artwork.

Lulu also allows you to make calanders and sell downloadabl books too.

You can make cook books as well. This really would have helped out my aunt who once hand wrote recipe books for the family for christmas!

Go write a book and advertise the heck outta yourself and make some money!

I Can't Afford Prom! Charities Can Help or Maybe Just Some Tips on Saving.

Prom is way too important for your teen to miss. Every child should have the oppourtunity to go. I have some tips on saving money for the dress or tux rental and where to shop or even apply for help if you really don't have the money.

Tell your son or daughter to go through all of their clothes and "toys" and have a garage sale to raise the money for the tux or dress and tickets. You could also help out bygoing through your own goods!

Have them start clling relatives to do errands for pay to raise the money. They can offer to mow or weed landscaping. Babysit or clean. They could even organize a much needed garage for a neighbor. Don't limit their customers just to relatives.

Check ALL of your used stores, open your phone book to find the nearest. Often there are plenty of dresses to choose from for under $20.00. Alterations may only run a few dollars if you just need a hem up or if you are creative, you and your daughter may just have fun sprucing up a less than perfect dress.

Next check out the stores. Inform your child that they have X amount of dollars to spend and that is THAT. This way you both won't have to feel bad when you see the prices. You can find a dress for $30.00-$40.00 fairly easy in the stores' clearance. Don't forget how to use accesories to spice up a plain gown. The used stores are almost never out of jewelery. Use several long chain necklaces to form a belt on a plain black dress. Buy some arm length gloves or short lacey ones if they look great. These are fairly cheap accessories.

Look in your phone book or call all of the tux rental stores to see if there are any coupons available. Or see if a discount is available for groups and get your son's friends together to all go in on the same day for rentals.

There are several charities for prom gowns and tux rentals all over the states and even in Canada. I have included links to the lists of them. If you feel you may qualify for any of them plaese click over and check these out.

Remember to go over prom safty with your teens. Each year as I am sure you are aware, many die involved in alcohol and drug related issues. Also remember to find out with who and where your child will be. Let them know you will pick hem up if they get into trouble and to just call you. Most of all enjoy one of your most precious memories of your child's life!

http://wy.essortment.com/waysfindreal_tuln.htm
5 ways to find a cheap dress

Sharon Stone's Charity to help the needy. They offer help to poor students in need of prom gowns and tuxedos.
General Information
Planet Hope is a non-profit 501 c3.
1-800-314-HOPE

Here is a list of state by state individuals willing to help and programs in these states.
http://www.glassslipperproject.org/yostate.htm

An even more extensive list for wikipedia!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charitable_Prom_Organizations

I AM SUCH A CHEAP Mom I Shop Garage Sales For.

I think I may have let on by now that I own very few items that are bought new. I love a bargain, what can I say?

Well my favorite time of the year is here... GARAGE SALES! This is the time of the year I find allot of things that can really run up a tab when bought new through the year.

I always keep track of which child needs summer clothes and keep their sizes jotted down. I look for like new items. Shoes, I usually find the kids sandals and swimsuits used. Summer toys too. pools and sprinklers, bikes and roller skates, I always look for these things.

On a bigger note I look for school clothes and back packs. I have all summer, so I hold out for the right style and newest looking clothes I can find. Allot of times I can find most of their clothes for the next year used. I often find their dress shoes used too. I will usually end up buying under garments, socks and sneakers new. That's quite a deal considering the under garments and other new purchases I mentioned add up to about $100.00 for my two children. (that does include supplies). I also look for pencil cases and pencils and any other goodies I run across that are new looking and fall under school supplies.

I like to look for big toys my kids are wishing for and anything close to them. If I luck out and find the item new enough I save it for their birthday or Christmas, which ever is closest. I have found a Nintendo Game boy with a case and several games in the box. That was a great birthday present and unexpected since we normally don't buy such a big present. I have also found allot of games and cars with race tracks in boxes for our son. Radio control cars too. Those usually cost allot new. I have raised my kids this way so they are thrilled if they get the thing they are wishing for new or near new! The little ones don't even know the difference.

Other great buys are Tupperware. I love Tupperware. I will not buy it new though, it costs too much. Too much when I can buy it at the used store or at a garage sale. I just picked up a ten piece set of fridge containers for $5.00. This is a lot of containers that would run more than $50.00 and it is so new looking I would not be surprised if they never used it! Anyways, I also buy our drinking glasses and dishes. (the kids do dishes) We go through allot of glasses. Even at the dollar store you don't pay a quarter a glass.

The trick is to not just buy junk and stuff. Buy what you need. What is on your list of things to buy? Can you find them at a garage sale? If you're like me, the answer is likely yes.

How Do You See A Teen Mom? How My Mother Saw Me Through. (WHAT I GAVE MY MOM FOR MOTHERS DAY)

Memories came flooding to my head, burning my eyes in our small town grocery store yesterday; "Mom, there's that pregnant girl" my daughter whispered.

I was 15 when I found out I was pregnant with my daughter. She is now one month shy of that age.

I saw myself yesterday. I saw my own mother standing there too.

Clinging to her mother for dear life, this girl quietly and not too obviously shamefull. I knew it was hard for my mother then. Not until now did I realize what kind of strength it actually took. There she stood guarding her daughter's feelings. Her head up high as if to say go ahead look a little longer. Dare to say something to my daughter.

As my own daughter gets closer to that age, I find myself often reliving those feelings. Praying to God she does not have to face the feelings and struggles I did. I wonder if I have the will and strength within myself to protect and provide the same quality of support my mother did.

Could I be tough enough through those glares? How about the whispers. Would I be able to hold my own tears in for what she would be feeling, losing and facing? Would I be strong enough not to show my tears so that she may know I can handle "it" through the times she cannot?

I urge all of you to think about the courage and drive it takes a teen mom to face the world. She has to face her peers, teachers and family every day.

Smile and say hello the next time you come face to face with a young mother. She is a child who must become what it takes the rest of the world years to accomplish. An adult. She won't have the luxury of living on pasta and rooming with friends through college. Responsible for her childs' well being, nutrition and growth, she must hurry up and create a future for herself so she can provide one for her own child. How long did it take you to find your career and home? Have you yet? She may be a child now, but soon whether she or anyone near her likes it, she will be an adult.

Hope her mother is as wonderful and strong willed as mine was (and is). Wish for her at least for some person to stand half as strong as my mother did for me. A teen mom needs someone to tell her she is still beautiful, smart and wonderful. That she will be a great mother. Someone to let her know that she is such a capable person that her own child/children will turn out just as wonderful as she is. That no matter what else life may have in store, that someone will love them and be there to lean on.

The Nat'l. Crisis Pregnancy Helpline 1-800-521-5530

http://www.teenage-pregnancy.org/resources/ list of links including pregnancy options (abortion and adoption)counselors teen parenting guides.

http://dmoz.org/Kids_and_Teens/Health/Teens/Pregnancy/ extensive list of links to resources from personal teen mom stories to specific programs (financial and legal help, ect.)even a link to help you "break the news" to your parents.

If you are in need of even just a listening ear, please list it in our classifieds or contact me directly at lullabell@frontiernet.net

That Should Be In A Greeting Card. I SUBMITTED GREETING CARD DESIGNS EASILY!

I like to draw. I don't know how many times I've heard from someone that one of my drawings should be in a greeting card. As an art major in high school, I as other art majors, felt this would be a sign of a failed artist.
Well, fast forward to stay at home money hood, a list of bills and four mouths to feed! Sign me up! I have found several links to greeting card job offers.
No experience needed. These links list all of the requirements and thay are not just looking for good art. Take a look and next time some one says some thing funny and you think it would make a good greeting card, send it in. Some of the companies are just looking for good slogans. Anything from the light hearted to the very gruesome or explicit. What have you got to loose? They pay depending on the company from $50.00 to $300.00 per card accepted.
comstock cards
ephemera inc.
fantus paper
recycled paper greetings

FRUGAL LIVING Garbage Picking Guide I LOVE BIG GARBAGE DAY!

With spring cleaning comes great big garbage piles chock full of finds. I love to garbage pick. This is the time I find every thing from toys to income potential.

There are so many possibilities when you're treasure hunting, but the three reoccuring finds are usually toys, furniture and stuff to sell.

TOYS: I look for big out door toys, ride-ons and furniture. Be sure they things you can thouroughly wash and disinfect. Also look for things that are sturdy still and not broken beyond repair. People are wastfull and lazy. You'd be suprised what you will find. My finds include a "Step 2" shopping cart, a handmade wooden kitchen hutch (children's) a "Little Tykes" picnic table, the list is really long so I'll stop now. But I am proud of my 6 yr. old son, this weekend he found a "Little Tykes" play yard set for his little sister. It is a slide with a small hid out and platform!
Cleaning is usually the biggest job with all of these finds. Some good spray cleaner or diluted bleach accompanied by a ruff plastic scrubbie and hose usually do the trick. I have gone as far as painting these plastic toys. The picnic bench and table for example. I covered the table with minnie mouse contact paper (shoving the ends down in the toy's seems. the rest of the table and benches were painted pink to match the contact paper.
I stay away from stuffed and cloth items. Too hard to be sure it's clean enough.

FURNITURE: I love to redecorate my home. I am always on the look out for furniture in the garbage. Often like finding toys, furniture is in pretty good condition. I am always leary of cloth and stuffed furniture. (it may smell or have gross stuff in it)

Shelves, dressers, bed frames, desks, lamps, pretty much you name it I have found it. Some items take more work to get into presentable condition, but they are free. Paint, nails, staple gun, hot glue gun are some things you should try to keep around for these jobs. Be creative and open minded. You need to look at finds as potentially finished products, and not nessicarily used for what they are intended. Think "Design on a Dime". Don't be afraid to use say a step ladder as a plant shelf. Or a bunch of miss-matched wood chairs in your kitchen (you could pick some coordinating colors and paint your chairs to match). Decopage is also a great great way to spruce up dressers, tables and even frames on mirrors and pictures. Or just keep the frames to ugly pictures in the trash too. They are always handy.

a beautiful key rack from an old rake head

HERE ARE SOME RESOURCES:
http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/lv_budget_decorating/article/0,2041,DIY_14102_2268740,00.htmlthis is a cute way to utilize some finds such as a garden rake with no handle as a coat rack.

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/pac_ctnt_lnb_gutter/text/0,1783,HGTV_3938_5182,FF.htmla listing of projects to make outta trash
MONEY MAKERS: This could probably be a whole article in it's self, so I'll keep it brief. Well to start all of the above will get you money if you sold these "refurbished" items in garage sales or craig's list or ebay.

Scrap metaling is also a great option. I have not tried this YET. After my research for you guys, I will this season. Look for : copper, aluminum, brass, lead and iron. You can find these in airconditioners, piping, old door knobs, car batteries, gutters, storm and screen doors, soda cans, lawn furniture, catalitic converters (the big part of a muffler) anything metal.
Check homes that have been remodeling, esspecially rewiring, the wires are often copper.
Take the scrap to your local scrap yard or recycling center. They pay you on the spot. Do a local search online and call them first. Many people make a living doing this you can surely make some money too!

HERE ARE SOME RESOURCES:
http://www.xomba.com/how_to_make_money_recycling_scrap_metal detailed description of metals and where they can be found and how to process it and approximate pricing info.

Do a local search to get the dates of big garbage pick up in your's and surrounding areas.
Good luck and have fun treasure hunting.