Did you know that our National Parks offer FREE admission days?
Mark your calendar, plan a getaway, and enjoy the free fun! Visit nps.gov to find a park near you!
Free Admission Days for 2013
Don’t miss a moment of free family fun or a cheap date!
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Image courtesy of Liz Noffsinger / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Have one last summer hurrah this Labor Day Weekend by finishing up your summer bucket list!
What? You don’t have a summer bucket list?
Enjoy some frugal family fun with an idea or two from The Budget Diet’s Summer Bucket List!
Summer Bucket List #1 – Ice Cream Sundaes
Make homemade ice cream and start a summertime tradition of having sundaes on Saturday!
Summer Bucket List #2 – Berry Picking
Go berry picking and make some homemade jam!
Summer Bucket List #3 – Play in the Sprinklers
Remember the days before water parks? Remember when cooling off meant playing in the sprinklers? Treat your kids to some old-fashioned summer fun and play in the sprinklers!
Summer Bucket List #4 – Plant a Sunflower
Did you know that a Sunflower will grow about 5 inches in just 2 weeks? Let your children experience the fun of growing a sunflower this summer!
Summer Bucket List #5 – Make Frozen Lemonade Pie
Frozen Lemonade Pie just tastes like summer! It’s no-bake, uses 4 ingredients and is so refreshing!
Summer Bucket List #6 – Have a Water Balloon Toss
Cool off and have fun with water balloons!
Summer Bucket List #7 – Visit a Farmer’s Market
Enjoy free samples and make a “Farmer’s Market Plate” for dinner!
Summer Bucket List #8 – Catch Fireflies
I wish there were fireflies in my part of the country! I have fond memories of catching fireflies at my grandmother’s house every summer.
Summer Bucket List #9 – Watch the Sunset
When’s the last time you watched the sunset? Find a beautiful place near your home and enjoy!
Summer Bucket List #10 – Have a Backyard Campout
Don’t forget the s’mores!
Summer Bucket List #11 – Enjoy a Lazy Summer Day
Maybe stay in your pajamas all day, read books, watch movies…just relax!
Summer Bucket List #12 – Have a Stargazing Party
Check out a constellation guide at the library, spread a blanket on the lawn and see what you can find!
Summer Bucket List #13 – Have a Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest
Don’t forget to have a silly prize for the winner!
Summer Bucket List #14 – Have a Picnic
Let everyone help plan the menu and do the cooking!
What’s on your summer bucket list?
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Image(s) courtesy of: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
The countdown is on…school is almost out!
Don’t let the lazy days of summer be filled with hours of television, and don’t blow your budget on summer camps. Take advantage of free summer bowling from AMF! Your kids will love it, and your wallet will too!
AMF’s Summer Unplugged is this summer’s best deal for kids, and adults can get in on the fun too with AMF’s Summer Pass.
Summer Unplugged
Summer Pass
It’s another budget friendly idea for summer fun from The Budget Diet girl! Check out more ideas for budget friendly summer fun!
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I participated in this campaign as a member of One2One Network and am eligible for a prize drawing. All opinions stated in the post are my own
This offer valid through 3:40pm on Monday July 30th, 2012
You’ve been busy volunteering at the school all day, and your daughter has dance tonight…so, maybe you’ll just drive-thru Chick-Fil-A and pick up dinner tonight.
Many of us repeat this scenario over and over, week after week…so, let’s REWIND it, and come up with a better solution. Have you ever considered letting your kids do the cooking? Here’s how it would work…
Now, here is your one and only rule…give them free reign in the kitchen, don’t hover & don’t tell them what to cook!
For many of us, it’s summer, and it’s an ideal time to teach your kids some basic cooking skills, so soon YOUR KIDS CAN DO THE COOKING! You may want to introduce them to The Budget Diet’s frugalicious and fast recipes or easy pizza recipes.
Your kids will love to do the cooking because they will get to eat their favorites!
You’ll love for your kids to do the cooking because you’ll have a couple nights off from kitchen duty!
Your wallet will love for your kids to do the cooking because just 2 nights a week of fast food costs at least $40! Don’t you have something you’d rather spend $40 on???
Now, go enjoy whatever your children cook this week…even if it’s macaroni & cheese from a box! If they need a little inspiration, give them their first cookbook!
If you’d like to share a great idea that helps you delegate “kitchen duty”…please leave a reply below. Thanks!
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Image courtesy of Ohmmy3D / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Want to throw a summertime party, but you’re pinching pennies? Invite a few friends over for a backyard bbq, take advantage of simple summer fun, let mother nature do the decorating and enjoy! A backyard bbq is both simple and budget friendly if you follow these 5 money saving tips:
No sales, no worries – the all American hot dog can be the star if you dress them up with a fixins’ bar: cheese, onions, chili, relish, slaw, ketchup and mustard.
Don’t shy away from store brand condiments and chips because they’re easily disguised in serving bowls, and they’ll save you an average of 25%!
Grocery ads will also help you choose the best bargains for soft drinks, beer, chips and side dishes. Be nostalgic and serve a variety of ice cream bars for dessert!
What are your favorite ways to host a backyard bbq on a budget?
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Image courtesy of: Dino De Luca / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Looking for some new ways to have fun as a family this summer without spending a small fortune? Here are 5 ideas that the whole family can get involved in…
1. Have a water balloon fight. Kids love water balloon fights, especially when Mom and Dad are involved; and what better way to stay cool on a hot summer day? Divide your family into teams and make shelters from patio chairs, trees, and whatever else you can come up with. Parents against kids is always a good match, just be sure to let them win sometimes!
2. Make a “fun things to do / places to go” jar. A “fun things to do” jar can build up a lot of anticipation, which can often be just as much fun as the event itself. When you’re looking for something to do, simply have one of the family members randomly pull a slip from the jar and do it. Make sure that everyone’s idea gets included …and for extra fun slip a mystery one in there that you haven’t told the kids about yet.
3. Map out your favorite spots around town. This is great way to teach your kids about their hometown. Make a map of every ice cream parlor, walking trail, picnic spot, pool/beach or water park within an easy drive of your house and resolve to visit all of them before the summer is over. Hang the map on the kitchen wall and mark every place that you visit with a different colored thumbtack.
4. Go hunting (treasure hunting that is). What’s more mysterious and exciting than a treasure hunt? You don’t need to buy expensive prizes, because it’s finding them that’s the real reward! Get started by creating a series of cards with clues on them. Each card should lead to the next card until the last one finally leads to the treasure. If your kids aren’t old enough to read, use pictures to show them where they can find the next clue.
5. Challenge each other to crazy contests. What kinds of crazy talents can you discover among your family members this summer? Have a contest and find out! See who can skip the longest, fly their own paper airplane the furthest or eat a slice of pizza the fastest. Award the winner of the crazy contest a homemade plaque to be displayed on the refrigerator or their bedroom door.
Get creative with the ideas on this list and use them to come up with your own fun things to do this summer. If you’re running low on ideas, sit down for a family brainstorming session and you may be surprised at what you can come up with to beat boredom without breaking the bank.
Hope you have a great summer!
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Image courtesy of: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
About the Author:
Jennifer Kirkpatrick is a mom of two who loves planning unexpected things for her family to do. When Jennifer is not on a crazy adventure she runs Pipsqueak Boutique, an online children’s store specializing in personalized books for children and lots of other personalized kids gifts – all of which are alot of fun!
Summer sunshine and heat brings thoughts of getting away from it all for a week or two, and what kind of trip is more fun than a road trip? Road trips are about the journey, not the destination–if you even have one in mind. While gas is expensive these days, you can still take that summer road trip, whether it’s a romantic getaway for two, old friends getting together, or the whole family- kids included.
1. Skip the major summer holidays. Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day are going to be the busiest and most expensive times to travel. Gas and hotel prices will go up for the holidays. Schedule your road trip to avoid those holidays and save money.
2. Avoid resort-style hotels and theme parks. While tempting for an all-inclusive family vacation, these places are money-suckers and destroy the spontaneity that is the fun of a road trip. Stick to hotels with a pool and a continental breakfast. If you’re going to be traveling with Fido and Fluffy, research ahead of time to find out which hotels are pet-friendly.
3. Try camping. While not for everyone, camping out can be fun and less expensive than staying in hotels. Camping doesn’t have to mean a tent in the middle of nowhere and no facilities. There are family campgrounds with electricity, bathrooms, and showers. Camping can be great fun for the kids because it’s a break from being inside all the time and provides automatic, mostly free activities, such as hiking, canoeing, and fishing. Camping can also be a great romantic getaway for the more adventurous couple.
4. Pack non-perishable snacks and reusable water bottles. Eating on the road can be expensive and bad for the stomach, especially after one too many fast food pit stops. Bring along healthy snacks, such as fruit, granola bars, cereal, and apple sauce. Toss in a few bags of chips for tasty treats. Refill your water bottles rather than buying expensive bottled water and accumulating a car full of trash that will end up in a landfill.
5. Visit historical sites along the way. The expense is often small to visit museums, lighthouses, memorials, and battlefields. Stops like these keep the kids learning while on vacation and satisfy the adult history buff.
6. Take the scenic route. Plan your road trip to take advantage of scenic parkways, beaches, and overlooks. This is a dream vacation for the photographer in your family.
With a little planning and research, you can have a fun, memorable summer vacation and still stay within your budget. You might even discover that you can afford more than one trip spread out over the course of the summer.
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Written by: Nicole Rodgers
Nicole Rodgers has been blogging for three years; she encourages everyone to study hard for the DMV written test so that a summer road trip can be made possible. She also wants everyone to find the best online insurance quote so that you can spend more money on your trip and not on your auto insurance.
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Image courtesy of: Paul / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Summer officially started today, and if you’re already dealing with the “I’m bored” syndrome…take a look at these budget friendly summer fun ideas! 10 boredom busters that are sure to lead to a summer of fun!
Field Trips: Plan a field trip every week this summer! Here’s how…
Summer Book Swap: A fun way to kick-off a summer of reading! Here’s how…
Fun at Home:
Let’s make this a summer your kids will remember…even if it’s on a budget!
A program for serious savings! $29 includes:
