FRUGAL FAMILY ACTIVITIES:
How to Keep the Children Busy All Year
Without Spending a Fortune

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WHAT'S IN THIS GUIDE

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1: SAVING IN SUMMER

CHAPTER 2: SAVING IN AUTUMN

CHAPTER 3: SAVING IN WINTER

CHAPTER 4: SAVING IN SPRING

CHAPTER 5: OTHER FRUGAL FUN IDEAS FOR ANY TIME OF YEAR

CONCLUSION

APPENDIX 1: HOW TO START YOUR OWN GARDEN TO SAVE MONEY

APPENDIX 2: HOW TO BUDGET FOR SCHOOL TRIPS AND ACTIVITIES

APPENDIX 3: HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLIES

APPENDIX 4: FRUGAL HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

APPENDIX 5: SUCCESS STRATEGIES FOR SAVING MONEY AT THE HOLIDAYS

APPENDIX 6: HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

APPENDIX 7: HOMEMADE MODELING CLAY RECIPE

FURTHER READING

WHAT'S IN THIS GUIDE

When you have children, it can be a real struggle to keep them occupied without spending a lot of money on expensive forms of entertainment. In this guide to frugal family activities, the authors give you a range of ideas on how to keep your children busy all year round without going over your budget.

In this guide you will learn:

+ The best ways to keep your children busy during the long summer vacation
+ Great ideas for Halloween and Thanksgiving activities
+ How to enjoy the end of year holidays like Christmas without getting into debt
+ Terrific ideas for spring celebrations
+ Excellent activities you can do any time of year.

In this invaluable guide, you will also discover:

+ Fun outdoor activities every member of the family will enjoy
+ Great year-round indoor activities when the weather is too terrible to go outside
+ The best ways to save on movies, swimming and more
+ How to plan great "staycations" the whole family will love
+ How to handle the touchy subject of expensive school trips
+ Ways to have a frugal Christmas without seeming as though you are skimping

and much more.

No matter what your children's ages and your budget, you are sure to find a wealth of frugal and fun activities to keep them occupied for hours and still stick to your budget—and even have some left over to save for your family's better financial future. Download this guide now and get your family on the fast track to frugal family fun.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Annabelle Stevens and Carolyn Stone are two of the main writers and editors for the popular website Guru-Goddess.com, and the authors of over two dozen health and self-help guides.

FRUGAL FAMILY ACTIVITIES:
How to Keep the Children Busy All Year
Without Spending a Fortune

Annabelle Stevens
Carolyn Stone

Eternal Spiral Books

COPYRIGHT 2012 by the authors
All rights reserved.

Published by Eternal Spiral Books
New York, New York
http://EternalSpiralBooks.com

Eternal Spiral Books is pleased to publish a variety of guides to help you transform your life through practical action steps. Topics include finance, health, marketing, self-help, and small business.

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FRUGAL FAMILY ACTIVITIES:
How to Keep the Children Busy All Year
Without Spending a Fortune

INTRODUCTION

Most of us look forward to vacation days from work in order to spend time with our families, but it can be a challenge to keep children occupied all the time without spending a lot of money. It can also be tough to keep them busy during the longer periods of time when your children are too young for school, and when they are older and off for school holidays. It can also be difficult to keep children entertained in the summer heat, and the winter cold if you live in a seasonal climate.

Due to the poor economy for the past three years, may people can no longer afford to get away on an annual vacation. "Staycations" have become more popular, with families making the most of the amenities right in their own home town or nearby areas that they might have taken for granted previously.

Even opting for a staycation, many of the things that children love to do cost money, and it can all start to add up to a budget breakdown if you don't plan ahead carefully.

Summer vacations when the children are off school can be the hardest to budget for, especially if parents are working from home or are self-employed and need to keep the cash coming in while still keeping the children occupied.

The children will also want to do many of the seasonal activities we take for granted as part of summer, from going to the beach, lake or swimming pool, to spending more time outdoors playing rather than being cooped up indoors.

Unfortunately, this also means that summer can be a very expensive time of year. There is so much to do, and we want to cram it all in before the children have to go back to school and before the colder weather comes again. By the time we visit the beach, make trips to the pool, go to an amusement park, and do all of the other activities our children want to do with us or their friends, it can truly bite into our budget.

Then there are the fall and winter holidays. It seems like a non-stop party from October to the end of the year. First there is all the excitement and often the expense of getting ready for Halloween and Thanksgiving, and the end of year holidays such as Christmas and Chanukah, right the way through to New Year's Eve.

You have to keep children busy through the school holidays in December, and then the ones that fall in January and February, with only a brief rest before it's time to celebrate Easter and other spring holidays.

Your children's time off school does not have to cost a fortune if you plan ahead and budget for it. In this guide, we want to offer ideas on how to keep children of all ages occupied while they are out of school without breaking your budget.

We will look at the year season by season, starting with the summer, and try to provide you with a variety of ideas for children of all ages, with activities to suit all budgets.

CHAPTER 1: SAVING IN SUMMER

Once the weather starts getting warmer and the children are out of school, it's time to start thinking about keeping them entertained, especially outdoors, without spending a lot of money.

We have a detailed guide to outdoor family fitness that you might wish to consult if you want to focus specifically on your family's level of physical activity and overall healthy lifestyle. In this guide, we will be focusing on the money-saving aspect of many activities, rather than the how-tos of fitness.

Many forms of exercise and sports cost little or nothing, but can be a great way to keep your children busy and entertained, as well as fit and active. Baseball, softball, soccer, basketball and touch football can all be enjoyed with only the most basic equipment. Chances are you already own these items, so it is time to dust them off and put them to good use. If you live in an apartment, there will be amenities for these activities at your local park, along with a variety of other attractions.

If you live in a house with a backyard, be sure to fence it in so that pets and your children can enjoy a relatively safe and enclosed place without you having to keep an eye on them every second.

If you have a deck in your back yard, consider covering it over against bad weather or even screening it in to protect your children from insects. The area can double as a playroom if the weather turns bad in the summer.

You might also try to create a family room full of their favorite toys and activities so that they are not all scattered around the house. A finished basement or attic can be ideal for these purposes.

Even if your accommodations are small, set up a place that the children can call their own and make them keep the area neat and tidy. Have a work and play area, such as a small table and chairs with shelving or plastic chests of drawers nearby, so that you and the children can access all of their painting and art supplies easily and clean up quickly when they are done with their projects. You might also want to put bulletin boards and shelves up on the walls to display all of their work.

A bookshelf or inexpensive plastic shelving units can hold all their books and videos, as well as their most used toys and games. You will also want to equip the room with toy chests or other storage items so they can pack things away neatly when they are finished playing with them. For example, use plastic storage bins in clear plastic with differently colored lids. Store dolls in one, cars in another, building blocks in another, and so on.

Try to limit the number of toys they have to ones that are age appropriate and don't all run on batteries. Replacing batteries is not only expensive, button batteries are a choking hazard and also a real health hazard if swallowed. That is because they break down rapidly in the digestive tract and can cause battery acid burns in the throat, stomach or esophagus.

Children taste the world with their mouths, so beware of any small toys if you have a mixed household of older and younger children. The younger ones will often want to play with their older siblings but might not always use the toys the way that they should.

You will also want to set up a play area for your children to keep the rest of the house tidy, and also save money. Don't keep buying toys—make them play with the ones that they have. If they don't like them or have outgrown them, sell them on eBay or donate them to the Salvation Army and get a receipt for your donation. Then deduct the value specified at their website as a donation on your taxes.

Another reason to set up a play area is to have a place where your children can keep themselves entertained if the weather is bad and/or if you have to work at least part of the time while they are home from school.

Having everything set up for them and establishing a routine in which they play nicely in their recreation room can take a lot of pressure off of you to entertain them constantly. It also relieves financial pressure because they will not be seeking new things to do outside the house that will all add up to a lot of money that will stretch your budget to the breaking point.

No matter which parent, relative or babysitter is looking after them, they will be grateful for a well-organized area with well-behaved children, rather than a messy house with toys strewn everywhere.

Despite the more educational programs that are available on television, recent studies now show that television is more of a distraction than a real learning tool for younger children, and that certain programs such as Sponge Bob Square Pants can even cause behavior that strongly resembles Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder for hours after it is viewed (see our two guides on this subject for more information about ADHD). It is now recommended that no children watch any television prior to going to school because of the agitating effects of many of the cartoons shown in the morning.

During the summer, you will want to try to keep your children to a similar schedule and routine so that they do not run completely wild and then have a hard time getting back to school in the fall, especially if your children have any school issues or a learning disorder.

Do not use the television and DVDs as a babysitter, but do allow your children to watch certain programs and movies, and watch with them if possible to show that you are supervising what they consume. Check your local library and use all of the free resources at your disposal. Rather than buy DVDs, join Netflix and have DVDs sent to your home, or select the streaming option.

Remember that Netflix does not have just movies. They have educational programs, fitness DVDs and more. Try to choose videos that are educational and activity-based. Do research on the computer and projects that follow up on what your children have seen and learned.

Another way to help keep your children occupied and learning at the same time is to look up homeschooling resources online. You will find many great ideas for science projects, recipes your children can help you make or make themselves, games, activities and more. For example, if your children love clay, make your own Play-Doh for a fraction of what it costs to buy (see Appendix 7).

Encourage the children of your neighbors and your children's schoolmates to come over for a play date, and vice versa. In this way one parent can supervise multiple children while the other parents get a break, and the children can also play other toys and games besides what they have in their own home and therefore be less likely to get bored.

Teach them simple card games with a regular pack of cards, or get a fast moving game such as Uno for children ages seven and up. Card games are easily portable and can be played just about anywhere, even in a car.

Another reason to set up a separate play area outdoors is to let your children enjoy the warm weather, but take refuge from extreme heat and from the harmful rays of the sun. It is great to take your children outside for a variety of activities, such as bike riding, walking, hiking in the woods, or swimming at a lake, outdoor pool, or at the beach, but only if you are prepared and protected.

Most of us hate the oily feel of sunscreen and insect repellent. Since your children's skin is much more sensitive than your own, you will need to be vigilant whenever they are outside to keep them protected. Apply the lotion at least 30 minutes before being exposed to the sun, and every two hours thereafter, unless they have been swimming. In this case, reapply sunscreen or sunblock as soon as your children emerge out of the water.

You will also want to avoid being out during the hottest times of the day, usually between ten in the morning and two in the afternoon when the sun's rays are at their strongest. During these times, it is probably best for all of you to be indoors. Heat stroke is a serious medical emergency that needs to be dealt with right away. (See Carolyn's guide to safety in the summer for more detailed information on how to stay safe in the sun at the beach and other outdoor venues.)

In the summer, you don't need to spend a lot of money on air-conditioning if you use ceiling fans and other standing fans and take advantage of any natural breezes coming in and out of open windows. Do be sure that small fingers can't poke into the fans. Also check that any room the children play in has adequate cooling and is also curtained off from any direct rays of sunlight. As you should take advantage of these rays in the winter, however, to help keep the room warm, choose your child's room location and curtains carefully.

If you work full time outside of the home, you will have to arrange for childcare when your children are off from school. This might involve sending them to summer camp or even sleep-away camp, but if your budget doesn't run to these expenses, you will need to compare the costs of having a babysitter versus daycare or camp.

If you have a childcare provider, they will be much happier working with well-behaved children in a pleasant child-oriented room than candidates for "Super Nanny." If you make arrangements for a neighbor to watch your children during the day, they might be glad to bring their children over to your house, especially if you have different facilities than they have themselves. If you take turns to mind their children at the weekend to keep costs down, you will want a nice place for all the children to play together.

You will need to decide on what you can and can't afford, but childcare can be a great expense for many families, without adding the costs of activities into the mix. If your job offers Flexible Spending Accounts for Dependent Care, take full advantage of the deduction of pre-tax dollars to save money.

Remember that the more you save now, the more you will have for other things, such as your Emergency Fund or college fund for your children (see Evelyn Trimborn's two guides on these subjects for more information).

If you have to work for most of the summer months, your time off with the family will be very precious, so you will want to make the most of it without having to worry about money all the time. However, planning ahead can often mean big savings, so let's look at now at some of the typical things that families spend money on in the summer, and how to save money on them.

SAVING ON SWIMMING

One of the most popular activities in the summer is swimming, especially outdoors and at the beach. If your children love to swim, here are some of the best ways that you can save money on this activity.

On a hot summer day, one of the most popular destinations is the local pool. Admission is fairly inexpensive, but if you go as a family several times over the course of the season, it can start to add up. By the time fall arrives, you might be wishing you had saved more money to buy school supplies.

If you and your family love to swim, here are a few alternatives to the community pool:

* The lake
If there is a state park with a lake nearby, you may be able to swim inexpensively or for free. Some have beach-type areas with sand, so the children can have a wonderful time building sand castles and playing other games. Check the beach area around the lake for a safe area where they will not be jostled and crowded, especially if they are small. Also beware of any boats in the water.

Taking the children to the lake is a great solution if you don't live near a beach, but don't want to spend a lot on pool fees. You will also find many other inexpensive amenities in parks that can help keep your children occupied for hours, such as pedal boats, kayaks and more. Just beware of the sun and apply sunscreen or sunblock often.

* A friend's or neighbor's pool
If you have a friend with a pool, perhaps you could take the children over to swim from time to time. In return, you could take refreshments for both families or invite the friend's family over to your house for other activities.

* The gym
If you have a gym membership, you may be able to bring guests to the pool for free or at a reduced rate. Check with your gym for details. Also consider a family membership to the YMCA. They usually have well-kept pools and a variety of interesting activities for children of all ages. They also have regular swimming lessons for children, and family swim times each week. The Y also offers an excellent summer camp with a variety of activities, all at very affordable prices.

Low-income families may qualify for reduced rates or even free scholarships. The secret is to apply early for places for your children. Look for the enrollment forms and scholarship applications as early as the end of February, and be prepared to present your most recent pay stubs or unemployment payments and so on, since the scholarships will be means-tested.

* Quick-set pools
Inexpensive quick-set pools have become quite popular among families who want to keep their children cool during the summer without spending a lot. All you do is inflate the plastic pool ring, fill with water, and you have an instant pool. They come in many sizes, and some are priced under $50. Larger ones are only a few hundred dollars, but can still save you money. By the time you calculate the cost of gas and pool admissions throughout the summer for two or more children, a quick set pool can pay for itself in no time.

Just check your water bill—don't leave the hose running and do keep in mind that the water will be cold. Set the inflatable in a warm, sunny place before starting to fill it. Don't leave the water in the pool for more than a couple of days, as it will start to become full of bacteria, which is why public pools are usually chlorinated.

If you are fortunate enough to live near a river, there are all sorts of summer activities in which you can participate. In addition to swimming, there are other things you can usually enjoy on the riverbanks. Canoeing is lots of fun for adults, teens and older children. Inner tubing is especially popular among children. So are rope swings and tire swings.

Of course, you don't have to get in the water to have fun with water. Here are some other wet and wild activity ideas that are fun for all ages:

* Water guns
Having a water gun fight is a classic summer activity for children, but there's no reason that the grown-ups can't get involved, too. You can find inexpensive water guns at the dollar store. Take care of them by emptying them at the end of each use and not dropping or stepping on them, and you will be able to enjoy them for many years to come.

*Water balloons
These are a bit more expensive, but you can play a fun game of catch with potentially exploding water balloons.

* Water slides
You don't have to visit a water park to go down a water slide. You can buy slides that hook up to your water hose for $20 or less and use them right in your own back yard.

* Sprinklers
It is not necessary to buy any toys at all when the children want to cool off on a hot day. You can simply hook up a sprinkler and let them run through it. If you don't have one, just get out the water hose and start spraying. It is guaranteed fun, and you won't have to pay anything other than your water bill.

Public parks will often turn on the sprinklers once the weather has reached a certain temperature. Just make sure your children are wearing flip-flops or water shoes to stop their feet from getting sore on the bare cement or concrete surface of the sprinkler area, and to prevent them from picking up germs such as athlete's foot. Water shoes are also always a good idea at the beach or the public pool.

In large cities, the fire department will open the fire hydrants and put on a special sprinkler cap so that all the neighborhood children can enjoy it. If you live in a large city, set a date with your neighbors and request permission for a block party. Then contact the fire department to arrange for the sprinkler cap to be turned on, and have fun.

*Have your own "beach party" at home
The dollar store may have some summer and beach-themed items. Look out for inexpensive plastic bats and balls, pails and shovels, and other fun beach and outdoor items, such as deck chairs, beach towels, plastic cups and flip-flops. You can have your very own beach party right in your own backyard with the help of an inflatable pool and/or water slide, hose and sprinklers. Have a barbecue as well and you can have a great day with the family for very little cost. Avoid buying takeaway meals in the summer by making the most of your barbecue if you have one, and save even more money.

ENJOYING THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Summer is a wonderful time of year for getting out and enjoying all that nature has to offer. It doesn't have to cost anything, either. Many nature areas have hiking trails that you can access for free, and some don't even charge for parking.

Some state parks offer nature programs that the whole family can enjoy. These programs have various themes, including plant identification and bird watching. Check your local newspaper for dates, times and locations. You may have to register to participate, but there is rarely any cost.

There will often be weekend family hikes and trail activities. Meet at the designated place with your lunch, a bottle of water per person and sensible footwear, and have fun. If your children do not yet have their own backpacks, check the dollar store or the early back-to-school sales, and always make sure they are stocked with food and water, paper towels and hand sanitizer, and perhaps some baby wipes for quick clean ups no matter where you are.

If you live in a larger city with several public parks, contact them to see what special programs they have. Often they will arrange special events around Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day, such as concerts, parades, storytelling and more. They might also have camping, overnight events such as stargazing and identifying the constellations, evening nature hikes, family picnics and games, and more.

In New York City, they have camping overnight in the public parks in all five boroughs. One of the locations is Central Park. They provide all the equipment and even the barbecued food, including hot dogs, hamburgers and Smores, complete with stories around the campfire. It is completely free, and takes place on Friday and Saturday nights. All you have to do is bring yourself. They organize the tents, sleeping bags and so on. Be sure to book well in advance. The camping takes place rain or shine, so dress accordingly and pack bug repellent.

No matter where you live, there is some sort of natural wonder that is probably not too far away from your home that is worth visiting. There are large rock formations, caverns, waterfalls and more throughout the United States.

Have your children do the research to plan the places they want to see. There is sure to be an area of great natural beauty which will encourage the children to spend their time outside exploring everything and not being bored or cooped up at home.

Visiting these places is often free, and if there is any cost, it us usually quite affordable. If you are not familiar with the attractions in your area, pick up a travel guide from a nearby visitors' center or search for information online. Get the children to help you with a schedule of all the things to do for the summer. A staycation can be great if you know all your options and have a spirit of adventure.

Of course, camping is the ultimate nature activity for families. RVs and pop-up campers offer all the amenities of home, but they aren't essential for you to have a great time. All you need is a tent, some sleeping bags, food and drinks, and a grill or camp stove.

Most campgrounds offer tent space for a small fee. Or, if you don't want to spend a lot of money on equipment, you can simply set up camp in your backyard or on your deck. If you have an enclosed deck, it will protect against insects and rain. You can cook out over an open fire, or use your barbecue and make Smores.

Fishing is another favorite activity for adults and children alike. You can find poles in all sizes at your favorite sporting goods or discount store. Fishing licenses are generally required for adults and teenagers, but not for children under certain ages (which vary from state to state). If you only fish on occasion, you can save money by buying a short-term license in most states and head off to the lake or river to see what you can find.

Some fishing spots will be catch and release, while others will allow you to eat what you catch. You can have some great meals on the grill or at home. Just remember to pack a cooler if you plan on bringing your catch home to cook.

GARDENING

While many adults enjoy gardening in the late spring and early summer, it is a great activity for children as well. Even toddlers can get in on the act by helping to weed the flower beds, plant delicate seeds with their little fingers, and so on. If you are fortunate enough to live in a house and have a garden, this could be a great activity that will keep everyone busy for hours.

Planting a flower garden is a great starter project. You can buy trays of flowers at a nursery inexpensively, or buy seed packets at a discount store for next to nothing.

Let the children help pick out flowers in a variety of colors, and plant them together. They will be able to see the results right away, and they can be responsible for caring for them throughout the season.

Vegetable gardening is another great family activity. It provides an opportunity to teach children about good nutrition while having fun as a family. The results generally take longer to see than flower gardening, but the end result is well worth the wait. Even the pickiest eaters are usually eager to try foods that they have grown themselves. You will also save money on groceries.

Try to choose plants that will give you more than one crop. In this way you will save more on the produce you buy, and it will also be healthier, being close to organic if you don't spray it with pesticides.

See Appendix 1 for tips on how to save money by planting your own garden for more information on how to get started.

OPEN-AIR FESTIVALS

Even the smallest of towns usually has some sort of festival during the summer months, usually on Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer, and around the Fourth of July. These celebrations feature a wide variety of activities that adults and children of all ages can enjoy. It is easy to spend a lot of money at these events if you overindulge the children, but if you watch your spending you can have a good time without breaking your budget.

Many festivals offer free concerts as a means of drawing larger crowds. Street performers such as magicians, clowns and mimes are great free entertainment for the children. Kiddie rides, face painting and other activities may be free or can be had for only a small fee. If they are not free, set a budget for the day and have your children choose things to do that fit within that budget.

One of the most expensive aspects of festivals and carnivals will be the food. It can also be a diet buster, full of sugar, starch and fat. To avoid overspending, pack a lunch or eat before you go to the event. Bring some healthy snacks and drinks along in the children's small back packs if they are allowed on the premises, or in a large purse.

If you must buy something during the festival, consider going to a nearby deli and buying cold cuts by the pound and some rolls. You can usually make sandwiches for the whole family for a fraction of what it would cost to have them make up the sandwiches, or buying from overpriced food vendors.

Also beware of food poisoning during the summer months due to food not being refrigerated in hot weather or not cooked through thoroughly, such as at a barbecue or on an outdoor griddle. (See Carolyn's guide to safety in the summer for more detailed information.)

VISITING FRIENDS AND FAMILY

If you are looking for a change of scenery on a budget, visiting friends and family who live out of town could be a great solution. If you can stay with them instead of renting a hotel room, you could even make a vacation out of it with very little expense.

If you have family living in Colorado, for example, that would make for a great summer vacation, but no matter where your friends or relatives live, there is bound to be something fun to do together.

Even a simple trip to the park can be an adventure when you are away from home. Or you could visit inexpensive local attractions such as nature areas, farms, or petting zoos. Research the area you will be visiting thoroughly on the Internet and plan fun, inexpensive things that everyone can enjoy together.

If you are driving, decide between how much to pack, and how much you can buy when you get there. For instance, when you arrive, head to the local warehouse club for food and snacks and to the local supermarket to shop their sales.

Plan your meals carefully while away and don't be a burden on your hosts. Share the cooking if possible with some fun foods such as homemade Sloppy Joes, and avoid takeout food or eating out to keep costs down.

If you do need to stay at a hotel or motel, try to book one that has a suite and kitchenette with a refrigerator and microwave. Eating out for every meal will be prohibitively expensive. Instead, buy cereal and milk for the morning, have lunch out, and head back to the hotel or to your family's house for the evening meal.

A suite will usually have a sofa bed that can pull out for the children to sleep on. As an alternative, ask about rollaway beds and cribs or cots for smaller children, and how many will fit into the room.

Planning to visit relatives in the summer can stretch your budget to the limit if you are not careful, but these few simple tips can help turn your trip into a frugal vacation.

And of course all of these tips will apply for the winter holidays as well, if you go to see the relatives for Christmas or the other end-of-year holidays. Plan ahead carefully so that you are not caught with any big budget burners.

CAMPING HOLIDAYS

Camping for several days to get away from it all can be wonderful if you are prepared for it and the weather is good. It will also be great if you pick a location that is safe and interesting, and watch out for natural hazards such as poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac, which can affect you all year round, even in winter, if you happen to brush up against a patch of it.

Camping equipment can be expensive if you do not shop carefully, but it can also be an investment in the future if your family is the outdoor type that loves to get away from it all. You can often find great bargains in thrift stores, or at end-of-season sales.

A good sleeping bag for the children is always handy for long car and even plane trips as well. Buy bags that are lightweight but warm and durable and which roll up easily into a small bundle that can be hooked or tied onto any back pack.

Invest in a good camp stove, lightweight cookware and a good can open in a bright color you can easily see. Save money on paper plates and cutlery with a good lightweight picnic set, plastic glasses and sturdy ceramic mugs such as you would see in a diner.

Camping food can be fun and very high-tech and nutritious, but also expensive pound for pound when it comes to feeding a hungry family, so opt for family-sized cans of soup or baked beans. Open them first but leave the lids on if you want to heat the cans right in the fire. Stir the contents carefully every so often to heat them through. Avoid pork in your beans in case it is undercooked and could cause food poisoning.

If you are going camping, don't forget toilet tissue, paper towels, hand sanitizer, insect repellent, sunscreen and sunblock and a cell phone in case of emergencies.

Avoid so-called health bars, which are packed with sugar. Make your own healthy granola bars instead and carry them in plastic Ziploc bags with zippers. They may be more expensive than regular plastic bags, but unless you put something such as meat or cheese in them, they are also reusable time after time.

You can make your own trail mix by buying your favorite dried fruits and nuts in bulk and mixing them together. Throw in a few chocolate chips for a sweeter treat. You can make your own Chex mix as well to bring for handy snacks while you hike. And don't forget the Smores ingredients.

Also remember to bring things the children can do easily in the evening, such as cards, Scrabble and so on. You might want to bring small items for a treasure hunt around your camping area and other activities to keep the children occupied.

Depending on where you are camping, you might also bring bikes to ride the trails. Always bring your helmets, and don't forget the sunscreen and insect repellent.

THE BEACH

The beach can be a great place to take children, or a total nightmare, depending on how organized you are and how frugal you are determined to be. If you are going to the beach, plan to get an early start or a late one, rather than be there during the hottest and most crowded parts of the day (between ten o'clock in the morning and two o'clock in the afternoon, in most cases).

Bring plenty of sunscreen in a high SPF and lightweight clothing for each family member that they can use as a cover-up. Protect sensitive shoulders, knees and ankles and do not forget the tops of the feet, ears and the back of the neck. Bring a large umbrella and perhaps a sun shelter. Then children can play and have fun without getting scorched.

When they do go in swimming, always have an adult supervise them and do not allow them to go out of their depth. Follow all the signs and instructions given by the lifeguards, as there can be dangerous currents and an undertow. Keep an eye on the children at all times, and even if you go with friends, never assume that they are being as vigilant about your child's safety as you would be yourself.

Discourage any roughhousing in the water or jumping off piers, groins or other objects near the water. Do not permit any diving. Have your children wear flip flops or water shoes to protect them from sharp shells, broken glass or rusty metal that might be on the beach.

Bring plenty of ice and ice packs to keep the drinks and food cold. Do not use the ice the cans and food are sitting in or on as ice for your drinks. Don't let the coolers bake in the sun for hours. Try to bring things in the cooler that will not spoil in the heat.

If your children complain of feeling dizzy or thirsty, get them out of the sun and cool them down with a shower.

Pack toiletries to wash off after your swim, with one bottle of body wash for the guys and one for the gals. You can buy large sizes in warehouse clubs and then decant it into a smaller bottle so there is not as much lost if you leave a bottle behind by mistake.

On very hot days, splurge for an ice cream cone or other iced treat. Otherwise, watch what you spend in terms of gas and food outside of the home.

The beach can be a great way to spend hours entertaining the children, so long as you are careful and don't let the sun get to you. For more information on safety in the summer, see Carolyn's guide on the subject.

So far we have covered many great things to do outdoors when the weather is nice, but of course you will be bound to have a few dark and dreary days when the weather is less than perfect. In this case, you will want to enjoy some indoor activities. Let's look at a few now.

THE LIBRARY

The library may not sound like a lot of fun in the summer, but consider it resource central when it comes to keeping the children entertained over the summer, especially on rainy days.

Most libraries sponsor a summer reading program for children and teenagers. These programs usually feature prize drawings for children who read a certain numbers of books while they are out of school. This is a great way to keep your child's reading skills up to par and not have them waste the summer not doing anything educational.

Have them keep track of the books that they read using a reading log, and also ask them to write a review of each book. This can help you know their likes and dislikes and also determine how well they understood the book.

Libraries are also a great resource for DVDs, audio books, magazines and more. They are also an excellent place to meet people and make new friends. The librarian can offer suggestions on age appropriate reading and educational resources. You can enjoy newspapers and magazines, too.

Don't forget to check out the crafts, science and cooking sections for great project books you can borrow to help keep your children occupied throughout the summer.

For example, you can find ways to make a volcano using ordinary items you already have on hand. See the back of this guide for a great recipe for very inexpensive and all natural Play-doh that will keep the children busy for hours.

BOWLING

Bowling is a great activity the whole family loves, but by the time you add up the cost of a couple of games each plus shoe rental, it can seem to be a small fortune.

Compare alleys in your area to see which are the least expensive and have the most amenities, such as children-sized balls and bumpers to avoid gutter balls. Also determine what times are the least expensive to go, and family discount packages that are on offer, such as two hours of unlimited bowling for a single price. Some package deals might even include food and drinks while there.

Avoid the temptations of the concession stand. Eat before you go and bring your own bottled water. Also bring a bottle of hand sanitizer and use it before and after the children eat any of the snacks you might bring.

THE MOVIES

Going to the movies is a wonderful family activity year-round. In the summer, a lot of movies aimed at children are released. In the winter, a lot of great holiday movies are released. There is nothing quite like getting to see a well-reviewed movie on the big screen. It is also a great way to stay cool during the most scorching days of summer.

However, since going to the movies with a family of four or more can cost a small fortune, there are a number of ways to try to keep the costs down if you plan ahead and look for bargains.

Keep an eye out for special advanced previews at low rates, or check out Groupon, Google Offers, Amazon offers and other sites for discounts through Fandango. With adult tickets currently at over $13 in our area, if you can get the adult tickets discounted down to $5, this can be a big savings.

Be sure to check matinee prices at the local theater to determine whether daytime showings on the weekdays and on the weekends are less expensive than evening shows. Some theaters also have inexpensive showings complete with extra cartoons before the main movie on weekend mornings. Some offer special discount programs that could save you money if you go to the movies frequently. You can accumulate points that will give you free tickets or free concessions.

Also look at top grocery brands to see if they have free or inexpensive movie ticket promotions. You will usually have to purchase a certain amount of items and keep the receipt, or collect ring pulls or box tops to get the good deals, but the children can certainly help you with all of these activities, and cutting coupons from the weekly papers as well, to help you save even more money.

Watching movies at home is even less expensive than going to the theater. There is no temptation to buy giant tubs of expensive popcorn, and everyone can watch a rented movie for one low price. If there's a Redbox location near you, you can rent new releases there for $1 per night. Or you could join Netflix and borrow as many movies as you wish each month for one low price with no late fees.

Better yet, you can borrow movies for free. If you have a friend with a large DVD collection, inquire about borrowing a movie to watch every now and then. Or go to your local library and borrow some movies.

Pop some microwave popcorn and dim the lights for an authentic theater experience. Turn up the air conditioner and stay cool during the hottest summer days and nights.

As you can see, there are many ways to keep the children busy during the summer without spending too much money. All too soon, the summer will be over and the autumn will begin.

Towards the end of the summer, starting in August, you will want to start looking for the best bargains on back-to-school supplies. You will be able to keep your children busy making their list of what they need, checking the store sales circulars for the best deals, and fitting them out with their wardrobes. Don't forget to shop carefully for back packs/book bags to be sure that they are getting quality items that can be used more than one year, and for activities other than just school, such as hiking and camping.

Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer in many parts of the country. This will be your last chance to have a three-day weekend as a family, so enjoy a barbecue or other fun activities, and then have the children get ready to head back to school and work in earnest.

Let's look at all of the frugal family activities related to autumn next.

CHAPTER 2: SAVING IN AUTUMN

In the autumn, the children will be back at school, and this will be an ideal time to check the family budget to make sure that you are on track after the summer and will be ready for the rest of the year.

You will also need to keep them entertained during several school holidays and teaching administration days, and also at the weekends, all without spending a lot of money.

Back to school does not have to cost a lot if you keep the family budget firmly in mind and shop the sales for the best bargains in stores and online (provided you get free shipping). You can have the children help you cut coupons and search for bargains.

For older children, you can give them an allowance and see how far it can stretch. Have them keep all the receipts, and award prizes for the biggest bargain or most items for the money you have given them.

For more ideas on how to save money on school supplies, see Appendix 3.

The biggest buzz once the children are back at school will be their school work, but they will also want to engage in fun after-school activities with their friends and you as a family. Having them join sports teams can be very rewarding, but it can also be a big commitment in terms of both time and finances. If you can't afford to be a soccer mom, you need to be honest about that up front.

Wanting to participate in school trips can also be a bone of contention when it comes to good budgeting in the household. With times being tough in many families, it can be a real struggle to make ends meet. A school trip might seem inexpensive to a child, and it often is because of group discounts, but it can be a real struggle if you are living paycheck to paycheck.

As you have discovered, when you are a parent, it is a constant balancing act. You will constantly have to make decisions all the time about what your children want versus what you can realistically afford. Every family situation is different, but for your convenience, we have provided some advice on how to handle the topic of school trips in Appendix 2 to help you deal with this tricky subject.

Another pressure to spend will come with Halloween and the end of the year holidays. In a consumer society, the emphasis on spending versus savings has not gone away, in the main because the United States has become a service industry-based society, rather than a manufacturing one.

All of the economic indicators the experts seem to be looking for to signal some sort of recovery from the recession that started in September 2008 are based on consumer spending and consumer confidence.

The secure feeling you get from having money in the bank in an emergency fund is far more exciting and meaningful that shopping victoriously. (See Evelyn Trimborn's guide on how to get started saving in your own emergency fund for more information.)

Of course you want your children to have good holidays. Think of what you remember about your own holidays as a child, however. You probably can't list all the Halloween costumes you wore, or all the presents you got each year, or the funny events that made a particular holiday or birthday special.

The trouble with a consumer society is that we also consume, literally. Americans are now 67 percent overweight or obese. Compare this with only 9 percent in Italy, which has one of the best cuisines in the world.

Many of our celebrations and traditions are based around food, and plenty of it. Cutting down on the consuming can certainly help your budget go further. And don't get caught by the scam of special edition candy in wrappers for Halloween or Christmas, which sends the price shooting up. If you are going to buy those items, start shopping for them in September and keep the candy in a cool (not cold) and dry place.

Halloween and Thanksgiving celebrations can keep the children busy without spending a lot of money, but you will need to plan ahead if you want to stay within budget.

Labor Day may be the unofficial end of summer, but there will still be great Indian summer days that your family can enjoy in the great outdoors. As the weather turns colder, though, and the seasons change, your activities will change with them.

Two great things to enjoy at this time of year are visiting orchards or farms. With an orchard, you can go apple, pear or peach picking. The children will have a wonderful time running up and down the rows picking apples and filling your bag. Many of these places will also have homemade preserves, jams, jellies and baked goods. Buy them ready made, or buy the fresh fruit by the pound and have the children help you make your own when you get home.

At the local farms, you can get everything from tomatoes to eggplants and squash. Of course, the most fun to be had can be found at the local pumpkin patch, with pick your own pumpkin activities, hay rides, a petting zoo, and more. You can make corn dollies, your own scarecrow, a cornucopia and other great items with the bounty that you can get from the autumn harvest. This is healthy eating at its best, for a fraction of what you would pay in a supermarket.

For older children, you might consider taking them to a vineyard to see how grapes are grown and wine is made. The vineyard will often have a farm stand and freshly made wholesome foods you can buy.

If you are keeping up with your garden, you can plant bulbs in the fall for certain kinds of flowers in the spring, or plant additional winter crops for even more food and more savings on your grocery bill. Harvesting your garden and getting it ready for the next growing season can keep the children busy for hours.

Here are some more ideas for the autumn that will also keep your children entertained and still keep you within budget.

THE ZOO

One destination that children of all ages tend to enjoy is the zoo. Wild animals aren't something that most of us see every day, so watching them up close and personal can be a real treat. There are zoos to fit every budget depending on the basic price of admission.

The zoo is a good destination at most times of year, but can be very crowded, hectic and expensive in the summer, and more quiet in the fall and spring.

The first thing to think about is the cost of the admission. See if you can get discounted tickets online or a family ticket. We recently got Bronx Zoo admission for $4 per person from Google offers, a savings of $12 per adult.

Whenever you are out with the children, the most expensive thing will always be food and drinks, so eat before and then pack beverages and snacks. Try to keep the children away from the gift shop, or give them a set allowance.

A popular and inexpensive option among younger children is a petting zoo. These zoos may not feature large animals such as elephants and giraffes, but they make up for that by allowing physical contact with the animals. Children enjoy petting and feeding the goats, pigs, ponies and ducks. Bring a camera along and capture some memories that are sure to be cherished for years to come.

Another option is a local farm, which might allow you to visit the animals around the fall harvest time after the crops have been brought in.

Check before you go to see if the zoo, petting zoo or farm has any special events for the fall, such as hayrides, Halloween or Thanksgiving-themed events, and so on.

Once you get home from the zoo, follow up on the trip with research in the library or online regarding your children's favorite animal. You can also pick a location, such as the desert or the rain forest, and study the different kinds of animals that live there.

For older children, see if you can find the DVD series Planet Earth from the BBC (aim for the British version with noted naturalist Sir David Attenborough rather than the American version with a monotone Sigourney Weaver). This is a fantastic series that teaches all about the planet we live on by looking at different regions in detail. If you have younger children or sensitive ones, however, be warned that some scenes are not always suitable. Be sure to avoid the segment set in Africa in which the lions eat the elephant.

THE AQUARIUM

The aquarium is also a great place to go all year round, but it can be a good choice in the autumn as the weather starts to turn colder. Many of the displays will be indoors and there will often be special events and attractions around the holidays.

You can often get discounted tickets online at Groupon or in the local paper, and also check for family pricing discounts.

As with a zoo, beyond the expense of the tickets will be the food and drinks, so eat before you go or bring your own healthy drinks and snacks and steer the children away from the gift shop.

You can follow up on any trip to the zoo or aquarium with research online or in the library, and little projects to commemorate your trip. Your children can choose their favorite animal and do a project on it, find images of the animal online and make a collage or color in a line drawing, and so on according to their age.

You can get blue craft paper and pictures of all the creatures you saw at the aquarium and create your own ocean of animals.

The only limit here is your imagination and the cost of the supplies.

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES

If you are looking for a fun and educational activity for the entire family, you can't beat a trip to a museum or art gallery. Most smaller cities, and even many small towns, have at least one museum or gallery. It will often be attached to the local college or university and feature a particular theme or local artist.

There are a wide variety of types of museums. Art and historical museums are among the most common, but you can also find museums based on all sorts of interesting themes. Museums featuring oddities (such as Ripley's Believe It or Not) are popular among children and adults alike.

There are also museums geared toward children that make learning fun. If you are not sure what types of museums can be found in your area, check with your local Chamber of Commerce or tourist board.

Many museums offer free admission, so all you have to do is resist the urge to splurge in the gift shop or the cafe. Some do charge admission, but prices will usually be very reasonable. If you want the best possible deal, consider organizing a group trip. Call ahead to find out how large a group you will need to qualify for a discount. You could invite the neighbors, or members of your church or an organization to which you belong to meet the requirement for numbers, and do some team building at the same time.

For example, you could go first and arrange a scavenger hunt for adults and children. Break them up into teams and get them to search for the answers to the questions. Give each team a different starting point so that they are not all crowded together and can't overhear each other's answers or follow each other. Arrange for a clear meeting point at the end and a pre-arranged time, and have a little prize at the end for each person on the winning team.

When you get home from the museum, have the children look up their favorite artists, artists that might have been born in your city, a particular work of art, and so on. Have them try to create their own art work in imitation of what they have seen, such as a mosaic or mummy case. Again, use free resources such as the library and online to create projects that are both educational and beautiful.

If your children are at all artistic, bring along their art supplies and encourage them to sketch one of the works they see. You can spend hours in a museum and never spend a dime. It will be warm and dry, and educational as well as fun.

SAVING MONEY AT HALLOWEEN

Halloween is becoming a bigger celebration every year, with colorful displays of expensive candy, decorations and costumes going up in stores as early as August (sometimes side by side with the Christmas items). There are several ways to enjoy Halloween on a budget, however, and keep the children occupied at the same time.

*Make Your Own Decorations
Let your children participate in the decorating. Buy craft paper in a variety of colors and help each child create their own decorations. Create leaves, pumpkins and other seasonal items in various appropriate colors. (Hint: You can keep these kinds of decorations around the house right the way through Thanksgiving.)

Also let them make some more scary ones, ghosts, zombies, witches and so on.

Tape them onto the windows, or mount them on the refrigerator door or your outer door. You can cover the ones on the outer door with plastic film to protect them from the wind and rain. For example, using white computer paper, your kid could make a huge life-sized skeleton for your door.

Go online to some homeschooling or teachers' resources sites to download free coloring sheets and activity ideas. You don't have to buy expensive Halloween decorations. Let the children use their imaginations, and keep the pumpkins and leaves for Thanksgiving. Save the more spooky items for next year and they can be keepsakes for years to come.

*Make Your Halloween Costumes Inexpensively
Everyone loves to dress up at Halloween. The more children you have, the more money you are in danger of spending unless you take steps to get your costumes inexpensively. There are a number of ways to do this.

Use what you already have on hand as much as you possibly can to avoid having to spend a lot on costumes every Halloween. The children grow every year, but in most cases your budget doesn't, so start with anything that your children might have used last year and pass along or freshen up the costumes as hand-me-downs.

In many cases, you can easily add bits or take them away to modify or create a whole new look. For instance, a pirate costume one year can be a three Musketeers costume the next. A black witch costume one year can be a black cat costume the next. You may still need to buy a few accessories, colored felt, fabric, face paint, headbands and the like, but using what you already own will still greatly reduce the costs of your Halloween costumes.

Also consider getting patterns online and using fabric remnants. A vampire, witch's or magician's cape with appropriate clothing underneath (a white shirt and black pants or a dark colored dress) is simple and fun to make. Then all you need are fangs, a broom stick or a magic wand. You can keep the cloak for years for other costumes or hand-me-downs. See Appendix 4 for a few more ideas on how to make your Halloween costumes inexpensively.

*Save Money on the Things You Really Do Need to Buy for Halloween
Avoid the fancy Halloween party stores and opt for other options instead. You can buy Halloween decorations through Goodwill and similar secondhand stores. Halloween decorations and certain costume elements can easily be purchased inexpensively and, when you are done using them, you can donate them back to these stores to pass the savings on to someone else.

You can also get a receipt for your donation from the Salvation Army and take the deduction on your taxes. Check their website for the value they allow for each item you donate and be sure to get a receipt from them for everything you bring them.

Another way to save big is to check out 99-cent stores. They often have inexpensive decorations, paper goods and coloring and activity books with holiday themes that your children can use for decorations, placemats, costume ideas and patterns, and more.

Check Pier 1 as soon as the season is over and save up to 90 percent off on any leftovers of their holiday line. Then put them away until next year.

*How to Save Money on Candy at Halloween
Candy prices go up during the last couple of weeks of October because everything adopts the Halloween packaging and is sold specifically for this purpose. Beat the price jump by buying your candy a couple of weeks before the big rush. Store your candy in a cool, dry place, so it will be fresh when it is time to use it.

To save big, shop the sales after the holidays and buy anything that is not specially packaged for Halloween. This candy will do just fine for the Christmas holidays and can be up to 90 percent off the list price. If it is orange and other fall colors, it will probably do just fine for the Thanksgiving holiday, too.

Halloween has become a huge holiday in the United States. If you want to get into the holiday spirit without spending a fortune, shop smart and try a bit of Do It Yourself. Then you can enjoy the sense of accomplishment that you and your children will experience in creating a fun Halloween, and saving money at the same time.

BARGAIN THANKSGIVING IDEAS

We have a lot to be thankful for, living in a country with such bounty and so many natural resources. However, that does not mean we should take our good fortune for granted or over-consume.

There are many inexpensive ways to celebrate Thanksgiving with the family and keep the children from being bored over the long holiday weekend.

Arts and crafts related to Thanksgiving and the autumn are always great fun. You can create decorations out of craft paper, using a variety of colors to resemble autumn leaves and the other dominant colors of fall. You can create a cornucopia from craft paper, or make turkeys, pilgrim hats, ears of corn and more.

No Thanksgiving would be complete without a history of Thanksgiving project, and menus and recipes for the day itself. Planning ahead prior to the holiday will help you save money on groceries before the prices start to go up, usually about two weeks before. If you can get a frozen turkey a couple of weeks before, you can save a lot per pound.

You might also find that your supermarket will do a free turkey promotion if you spend over a certain amount of money within a specified period of time. With the winter coming in many parts of the country, this can be an ideal time to stock the pantry with staples to have in the house so you will be well-provisioned when the cold weather and snow eventually arrive.

Canned goods, long-life milk and frozen fruits and vegetables can be a great way to stock up and save and still maintain a balanced diet if you can't get out for fresh provision easily. Buy a couple of loaves of bread and put them in the freezer. Whenever you need a slice or two, defrost them in the microwave for about ten seconds.

Get in your baking supplies early as well, to start making great gifts and treats for your family and friends. Get extra tin foil, plastic wrap, or handy plastic food containers when they are on sale. They are great for carrying lunches or making your own 'TV dinners with leftovers every time you cook. Shop the sales every week for anything you know you will need for the holidays, and watch your free turkey points and savings grow.

Have the children help you decorate the table and look up recipes for what to do with the leftover turkey. Many people say they do not like dark meat, and vice versa, but with the price of turkey breast only, you are better off buying the whole turkey and smuggling the dark meat into meals via soup, turkey wraps, turkey tacos and more. A little will go a long way, so dark meat turkey can be great for feeding a family on a budget. It is higher in fat, but a little goes a long way, and fat does make you feel full.

Plan lots of activities for the day itself and the next few days to help work off the pounds. See Evelyn Trimborn's two great books on celebrating Thanksgiving, complete with menus and activities, for more detailed information and ideas on how cost-conscious families can make the most of the Thanksgiving holidays.

You can have the children make up plays about the first Thanksgiving, including the crossing in the Mayflower and the first encounters with the Native Americans. Children can dress up or practice living without any modern conveniences for a day or half a day just to have the experience. Just think what it would have been like to have no electricity, running water or a flush toilet, or to cross over the ocean on the Mayflower without any of these items either. It can bring you together as a family, and certainly save money.

If the weather is nice, be sure to get out and exercise over the long weekend to work off the extra food you've eaten. Games in the park such as soccer and touch football can be an excellent way to burn calories as well. Rent a movie and don't let Dad hog the television with nothing but football games. Watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and have the children keep track of all the floats, and then draw their favorite or turn their wagon into a float of their own. (This will also work well as a Mardi Gras idea in late winter/early spring.)

If you are traveling to see family or friends for the Thanksgiving holiday, plan ahead well in advance to keep down costs. Decide who will be responsible for the food and meals while you are staying or visiting, and keep hotel or motel costs in mind if you are not able to stay at their home.

As we have said, the trouble with a consumer society is how much we consume. And if you think about it, we are taking perfectly healthy, natural food and adding a lot of unneeded calories to it. Sweet potatoes and green beans are great for you as is. There is no need to throw a mountain of butter and then marshmallows, or salty cream of mushroom soup or even saltier French fried onion chips, onto them.

It all adds up in terms of cost and calories, so try to keep it simple this year and put the money you save into your emergency fund. You will remember it much more warmly in your fund than the food you crammed into yourself at Thanksgiving.

As autumn gives way to winter, it is time to start thinking more about the kinds of activities you can enjoy in the cold weather with the family without spending a lot of money. Let's look at a few of them in our next chapter.

CHAPTER 3: SAVING IN WINTER

As autumn turns to winter, the weather tends to change with it in most parts of the United States, leading everyone to hurry indoors. This can be a great time to do fun activities together as a family, but it will also be a time full of holiday excitement and high spirits.

Since your little ones will start to get restless if they are cooped up all the time, do not neglect free or inexpensive outdoor activities during the winter months to help your children burn off some excess energy and get some fresh air and sunshine.

*Walking and Hiking
These are both free activities except for the cost of good footwear and perhaps the price of gas to get to your nearest nature trail. Have each child carry their own small day packdaypack with water and snacks and keep it pre-packed with hats, gloves, a scarf and sunscreen. Remember that you can still get sunburned even in the winter, especially when the raynlight bounce off the reflective snow.

Avoid staying out too long and walking long distances away from shelter, especially if it is a windy day. Frostnip and frostbite can set in quickly on fingers, noses, and ears, especially with small children, who tend to love running and playing in the snow, but don't always keep their hat and gloves or mittens on.

*Snowshoeing
This is becoming an increasingly popular sport. If you live in an area that gets nice powdery snow, you might want to invest in some snowshoes. They give you a good workout similar to hiking and cross-country skiing. Just be aware of the dangers of staying outside in the cold for too long for younger children, and prepare for your activity in a similar manner to what we just discussed above in relation to walking and hiking.

*Playing in the Snow
Snow shoveling, building snowmen, making snow angels, and building an igloo or snow fort can all be great activities provided that you make sure your children are dressed for the weather and do not overdo it. Be careful on windy days in particular, when the temperatures can drop and frostnip or frostbite can set in.

Watch out for your children's fingers, especially if they are packing the snow in their hands to make a snowman and so on. You might want to consider sheepskin mittens as they keep the fingers warmer and tend to be more waterproof. For smaller children, invest in the little glove/mitten clips that will keep them clipped to their sleeves so they won't lose them if they want to take them off. Otherwise, you will end up spending a small fortune in gloves and mittens every winter.

*Ice Skating
Many lakes and ponds freeze in winter, for free ice skating if you own your own skates. Just be careful that the ice is thick enough to skate on. Safety should always come first. Keep close to shore, especially with small children. Never venture out too far towards the center of a lake, and never try to rescue a person or a pet yourself. Call for help on your cell phone before attempting any rescue.

Many large cities offer indoor and outdoor ice skating rinks during the winter months. These rinks will often be free or very inexpensive because they are being sponsored by major corporations. Check the local newspapers to see what is on offer.

*Hosting Your Own "Winter Olympics"
The Olympics only come one every four years, but you can come up with a list of winter sports that you and the children can try in your own backyard or at the local park. Create and award medals to the children for their achievements and efforts. They can create their own teams, costumes and even invent their own countries and flags if they wish. This inexpensive activity will also work with Summer Olympics as well.

If it does happen to be an Olympic year, get into the spirit by inviting the neighbors and have the children compete against one another based on age, gender, teams, families and so on. And of course, you can spend time watching on the television and supporting your favorite teams and athletes.

*Outdoor Parades and Christmas Pageants
Look in your local newspaper to see if there are any local parades, pageants and other winter holiday festivities. These can include carriage rides with Santa, visits to the North Pole, holiday Christmas fairs, which will often feature inexpensive presents as well as entertainment, and so on.

If the bad weather means you want to seek more indoor pastimes, here are a few ideas.

THE LIBRARY

When it comes to winter activities, going to the library may not be the first thing you think of, but the library will often have a great selection of holiday-themed books and resources that can give you a lot of inspiration on things to do at home.

Don't just rush off five minutes after you get there. Check the listing of the upcoming events for all the activities they are organizing that you and the children can enjoy for free.

For young children, storytelling is a popular library activity. Some libraries also feature activities such as movie showings, craft classes and even concerts. Most of these activities are free, but they may require pre-registration so they know how many to expect. Call your local library to find out the details or ask the next time you visit.

Also check out any holiday-related specials they might have for Christmas, Hanukah and Kwanzaa, or for the Lunar New Year. They will usually set out interesting displays, and this might be a great chance to learn about how people celebrate these holidays in various parts of the world.

You might even want to try to look up a lot of great holiday-related recipes to try yourself or give as gifts. You will also want to look in the crafts section for great homemade gift ideas. These can keep the children busy for hours and also save a lot of money because you will not have to purchase so many gifts.

Also look up books and resources on how to make your own decorations, wreaths and more. See Appendix 6 for some easy and inexpensive Christmas decoration ideas the whole family can get involved with. Also check Evelyn Trimborn's two great Christmas guides on how to have a fun family Christmas, and a stress-free Christmas for more great ideas.

HAVE THE CHILDREN HELP WITH THE HOLIDAY GIFTING

The easiest way to shop without hassle and stress is to shop early. Most of us use shopping as a way to get into the Christmas spirit, but it can also promote a stressful holiday season and cause us to spend more money if we rush around at the last minute.

We have often heard that it is the thought that counts, but what that phrase often means is that a person ends up with a gift they don't appreciate. What it should mean is that you think about the tastes of each person on your list, put some thought into who they are as a person, and try to make or buy something that will please them.

The most meaningful gift is one that a person can truly use. If Grandma is a traditional person who loves to send out letters even in this Internet age, and cards at Christmas, then have the children help you put together a correspondence package or basket for her, complete with nice stationery, envelopes and stamps.

Be on the lookout for ideas and gifts for the people on your list that you buy for every year, searching for them long before Christmas. Then make a list of them in a safe place, such as on your computer. If you look for the item later in the year, you might never see it again. Shopping a bit at a time will also spread the cost of the holiday over several months, not leave you struggling to pay for everything in December and January.

Once the holidays start to approach, check your list twice. Take advantage of any Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals you can get for anything else that you still need to buy. Then have the children help you organize and wrap for all of the people on your list, make cards and so on.

When we were children, it was a tradition to make holiday gifts at school. In art class, homemade cards were the normal thing to make for everyone for Christmas. Family and friends thought they were cute and very personalized. They hung the cards on the walls to display them, or would put a hook through them and turn the cards into ornaments.

Email cards are common these days, but homemade cards can be a cherished keepsake for years to come. You can still use the computer to get clip art and print cards, but try to get each child to personalize their own cards in some artistic way.

Most of the supplies can be purchased at a dollar store or a craft store. Set the children up at the kitchen table or their play area or desk, which you have covered so you can clean up easily afterwards.

Let them experiment with different decorations for the cards. They can utilize crayons and markers, glue, glitter, stickers, stamps and an ink pad. Construction paper cards can be hand-delivered to local friends and family members.

For the older children and adults, creating a construction paper Christmas card may seem a bit too childish. In this case, greeting card program software for your computer can help everyone in the family create cards for every occasion that look professional and attractive.

The programs on the market are inexpensive and filled with a variety of holiday themes and sayings. If none of them suit your tastes, blank templates are also provided for putting your own words into print. We have also found that people who speak different languages have a hard time finding cards in their native language, so they can create them easily using this program. They can create the perfect card, and don't have to search in vain or find one, but then have to spend a lot.

Heavy-duty card stock paper in holiday colors works best for these types of cards. The card sizes will fit a standard card envelope if any of them need to be mailed. The card will usually tell you which envelope size to buy. You can look for good prices on card envelopes at the local office supply store.

If you are good at digital photography, take an annual Christmas picture of the family and send it with a homemade card or letter and a paragraph from each child about what they are doing. You can also create photo postcards using inkjet printers and specially designed card stock. The children can keep busy designing, making and mailing them. Look for bargains on ink for your printer, and don't forget to recycle and get money back from Staples for used cartridges; it can all add up.

Card software will pay for itself in no time and is worth it in terms of the artwork and fonts you will often get that add to and enhance your computer system. You can also use the program all year round to create cards for birthdays, Valentine's Day, Easter, graduations, weddings, and other special occasions.

The software will have other great projects you can do as well, such as invitations, calendars, banners, and more. You can make an entire personalized calendar with a different photo of the family for each one of the twelve months and print it on heavier card stock for a great personalized gift any relative will love.

Greeting card-making software is a tool that is useful beyond Christmas, stretching to all year round and every holiday. We have even seen teens go into business selling customized cards for people (especially if they speak a different language and know people who are not that skilled on the computer). You can even use it for your own business purposes; for example, if you work as a party planner or are in direct sales, such as selling Avon products or Tupperware. (See our two titles on how to get started with direct sales to earn extra income, and how to market your direct sales business, if you are interested in not only stretching your budget, but adding to it.)

Food makes a great gift for the holiday season. Wrapping up a cake in plastic wrap and tissue paper, with some decorative ribbon around it, is always a welcome gift, as long as it is not a heavy fruit cake that could be used as a brick.

Fancy bread, cakes, cookies, pastries, candy and fudge with seasonal twists are always popular. Think of gingerbread, items containing cranberries, peppermint or candy cane type of treats. These all work well and can cover a variety of people you need to gift, such as the mailman, teachers, Sunday school instructors, and coworkers for whom a food gift is appropriate.

Children like to give sweets such as cookies, cake, and homemade candy that they helped to make. With food gifts, presentation is important. A batch of homemade cookies means more when given in a decorative tin. Have the children take the time to jazz up the gifts and make them look special.

If you are concerned that your gift might go stale, or don't want to give away your secret recipe, take a Mason jar and layer the dry ingredients inside. Create a label with the recipe instructions and affix it to the jar. Cover the top with a piece of holiday print cloth and some ribbon and give them as gifts.

If the gift is homemade sweet bread, wrap each one in decorative plastic wrap and tie a bow and a card to it. If there are any special instructions for food gifts, have the children make up special cards on the computer and attach them to the gift. (See Evelyn Trimborn's Christmas recipe books on candy, vegetarian recipes and more, for great holiday ideas you can eat yourself or give as gifts.)

Another great idea for homemade gifts that children will love to help with is gift baskets, which can have any theme you desire. Uncle Tom may enjoy board games. A basket filled with small travel-sized editions is a thoughtful gift that does not have to cost a lot, especially if you find these items in dollar stores. (Thrift stores are great places to pick up unwanted items after the holidays.)

Begin by choosing a basket that can be used for something else once all of the gifts are removed. Baskets come in a variety of colors and styles, such as a chest, a laundry hamper, or an Easter-type basket with a handle. We always keep every basket we are given and try to transform them into great gifts.

Fill the basket with stocking-stuffer-type gifts you and the children know they will enjoy. Then have the children help you cover it with decorative wrap in a festive color and a bow. They can learn all about making a Christmas list, arts and crafts, shopping on a budget and more through you teaching them how to be a frugal shopper at Christmas.

They will be proud of their work and the cost of the homemade gift basket will be far less than ready-made basket or being put in the position of having to buy an expensive gift.

The winter and Christmas holidays can be full of fun, but they can be times of dread as well for parents who are short of cash and short on ideas on how to make ends meet and keep the children occupied at the same time. Hopefully these ideas will help maintain the Christmas spirit in your home even if you don't have a lot of cash.

During the time the children are off school, have them play with their new toys, and enjoy old ones. If there are any that they have outgrown, consider selling them online if they are in good condition, or donating them to the Salvation Army; get a receipt and deduct the donation from your taxes.

Don't forget about any last minute end-of-year donations to your favorite charities, and deposits to your children's 529 accounts. This can help you save on your state taxes and save for your children's college tuition. (See Evelyn Trimborn's guide to college savings plans for more information.)

Charity gift giving can be one other way to occupy the children with helping you pick out meaningful gifts, and for you to find some for the children as well. The World Wildlife Fund allows you to sponsor a species and the gift pack they provide will contain a high-quality plush toy (usually by Gund), a certificate of sponsorship, and a kit with fascinating facts about the animal that you or they have chosen. Did you know there are only forty Amur leopards left in the wilds of Russia due to hunting and loss of habitat?

The World Wildlife Fund has over one hundred species to choose from and very reasonable prices for these great gifts that are tax deductible. Other fun places to shop are heifer.org, where you can donate and make great ecards, and theanimalrescuesite.com, part of the Greater Good Network. Every purchase you make through the website and the other sites in the network is themed for different charities, such as rescuing animals, protecting the rainforests, ending hunger and so on.

They have Fair Trade goods to support Third World small business people as well, so you can get great gifts that can have more far-reaching benefits than just saving money. You and the children are sure to find something to suit every taste and budget, and can feel good knowing the profits are going to worthy causes, not just huge corporations.

Christmas comes but once a year, but we give gifts all year round, especially for birthdays and other special occasions. Another one comes only a few weeks after Christmas, and has also become an increasingly larger and more commercial holiday in the same way that Halloween and Christmas have become. We are of course talking about Valentine's Day, so let's have a look at ways to save money and keep the children happy on this special winter holiday as well.

VALENTINE'S DAY ACTIVITIES

Valentine's Day can be similar to Christmas in terms of the amount of busy time and the emphasis on giving a special gift to at least one important person in our lives. Your greeting card software program can help keep costs down and occupy the children for hours making attractive cards and other personalized items. Homemade gifts of food or gift baskets are also a great idea, using similar recipes and ideas to those you used at Christmas, but with everything in red, with perhaps some white and gold or silver to dress up the items more.

You and your spouse will naturally want some romantic time together, but there is no reason the children can't help. You might have them help set the table for your "date" and help with the meal. Then they can head off to their friends' homes for a sleep over, and you can return the favor for the other couple the following night.

The children can also make cards by hand, try romantic recipes, make their own candy, and more. Valentine's Day is a nice opportunity to show our loved ones we care, but there is no need to spend a lot of money to do it. Use whatever art supplies you have around the house from Christmas, and if there is anything you do want to buy, shop the after-Christmas and January sales to pick up some real bargains.

If the children are home from school for any winter breaks, there are a number of fun projects, including who Valentine was and how the holiday is celebrated around the world. They can look up terrific recipes ranging from a romantic dinner for two, to breakfast in bed to spoil Mom and Dad.

Other winter days off school will include Martin Luther King Day in January and Presidents' Day in February. Projects on these topics can keep the children busy for hours without spending a lot of money.

Lunar New Year commonly referred to as Chinese New Year, will also fall in January or February each year. This is a moveable feast that focuses on spending time with the family, and the giving of gifts in red envelopes.

You can have a celebration of your very own by having the children look up information on the festival, researching recipes and doing arts and crafts. You might also decide to gift the children with red envelopes, following the rules of the tradition, and perhaps giving a bit more to the child who achieves the most.

2012 will be the year of the water dragon and 2013 the year of the snake. Children can look up their own Chinese horoscopes to learn more about them.

If you live in a large city which has a Chinatown, you might determine if they have any special festivities you can attend. There will probably be inexpensive street foods to try, such as dumplings and dim sum, which are small dishes of various kinds.

Winter can be a fun but challenging time in terms of both your budget and keeping the children busy. This can be hard if the weather is bad and they are stuck indoors a lot. Channeling their energy productively into arts and crafts can help keep the holiday spirit alive and show you care without spending a fortune.

Now it is time to look at fun and frugal family activities for spring.

CHAPTER 4: SAVING IN SPRING

Depending on how cold the spring is, you can do many of the activities that you did in the winter in the spring. Depending on where you live and how warm the spring becomes as it progresses, you can do many of the activities that you would do in the summer, including going to the beach.

There are other things that you can do in the spring as well, including making the most of the seasonal holidays, Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras), St. Patrick's Day, and Easter.

One celebration the whole family will love will be St. Patrick's Day. Let's take a closer look at it next.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day, so celebrate with some fun arts and crafts, go see a parade, or make St. Patrick's Day-themed recipes for delicious treats. Popular favorites include corned beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread, either the hearty kind with whole meal flour, or the more dessert kind with white flour and raisins, plus green punch and more. Children can look up the recipes and help you make them.

The children might also learn more about Ireland and its history, and the immigrant experience in America as the Irish came to America, especially after the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s.

Arts and crafts ideas can include signs, posters, themed sticker books and coloring books, and even getting dress up in costumes. You can also make doll clothes and/or a project or diorama on the life of St. Patrick.

St. Patrick's Day can still be quite wintry, so if they are having a parade in your area that you want to attend, be sure to wrap everyone up warmly. Also remember to take your own snacks and drinks to save on eating out.

If you get lucky and have a nice warm day, try to celebrate it outdoors with a picnic in the park and other fun activities. For example, have the children make small four-leaf clovers, a paper rainbow and a pot of gold. Hide them in your garden or local park and have the children go on a hunt for them. Each four-leaf clover can have a little prize written on it, so that every child is a winner (be sure to help smaller children locate at least one clover).

The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow can be a bigger prize for the child who wins, such as extra pocket money or a special privilege they have been asking for. The only limits will be your budget and your imagination.

You can also rent St. Patrick's or Irish-themed movies and cartoons. And naturally if you are Irish yourself, you can trace your family tree to learn more about your family history.

SHROVE TUESDAY (MARDI GRAS) AND EASTER

Easter is a moveable feast, so Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras) and Ash Wednesday will vary from year to year, as will Easter Sunday.

Shove Tuesday will be 40 days before Easter, a little over five weeks before. If Easter will be later in April, you can probably count on some good weather for both dates. If Easter is coming earlier, in March, Mardi Gras might be a bit chilly.

Even if you don't live in New Orleans and are not Catholic, a lot of people have fun at Mardi Gras dressing up, having parades, and eating special foods such as King cakes. Then there are the hot cross buns that are commonly eaten in this time period.

You can look up the traditions surrounding Mardi Gras and have your own party with the children. Learn more about New Orleans and jazz, and about Carnival, or Carnavale as Mardi Gras is called in other parts of the world.

Two other famous carnivals related to Mardi Gras take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Venice, Italy each year. You can also learn more about them and have a samba festival on the one hand, or a masked ball on the other.

Many of the masks they make for the festivities in Venice are works of art. This would be a great chance for children to learn more about Venice and the artwork there, and the canals and gondolas. They could learn about the Grand Canal, St. Mark's, the artists of Venice, the Guggenheim museum there, or the musicians associated with Venice, including the great composer Vivaldi.

They can also do projects on the beautiful city of Buenos Aires and its history, including culture, customs, and life in the southern hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed and it is autumn.

EASTER IDEAS

Easter is also a perfect opportunity to keep the children busy with arts and crafts and the often colorful activities that can keep them occupied for hours without spending a lot of money. You can have them color Easter eggs with kits or make the dyes yourself at home to save money and avoid exposing them to artificial coloring (see Carolyn's guide on the subject).

You can buy a large quantity of eggs at the local warehouse club and either hard-boil them or hollow out the shells and use the eggs in recipes for cakes, cookies and more. The hard-boiled eggs can be eaten within three days in a variety of ways, from egg salad, to deviled eggs, to sliced eggs as part of a salad, to a component in a Thai salad or Salad Nicoise and more.

Coloring the eggs and making great recipes are only the beginning. Then there are Easter egg hunts, Easter egg rolls, egg and spoon races and more. Coloring books, sticker books, arts and crafts to decorate your home, and more, can keep your children occupied for hours without you needing to spend a lot of money.

Baking is a great way to spend the time at Easter, making fun recipes the children will love. Our favorite is a simple rabbit cake that will work with any packaged cake mix that will make a two layer round cake.

You will then need one tub of white frosting or your own homemade butter cream or white glaze, dried coconut, a couple of drops of red food coloring, a couple of black jelly beans and a pink one, and some thin black licorice laces. You will also need some large round gum drops in any color cut in half so they resemble buttons. It will help to have a large flat cutting board or cookie sheet covered in foil or plastic wrap on which to assemble the cake.

Bake the cake according to the package directions and let cool. Then remove half of the frosting from the can or one half of your frosting or glaze recipe. Add a few drops of the red food coloring until you get a nice shade of pink, which will be for the rabbit's ears.

Frost one layer of the cake white and the other pink. Save some of the pink frosting for the edges you will then create. Cut the pink layer carefully into oval ears by using the edge of each cake as one side of the oval ear, and cutting freeform into the center for the other. Then use the opposite oval edge of the cake to cut the other ear. The remaining wedge of cake will be the bunny's bow tie.

Place the cakes on the board to assemble, with the pink ears on top, the white rabbit face in the middle, and the pink bowtie below. Frost the edges of the ears and bow tie with the remaining pink frosting. Sprinkle the coconut lightly on the white face to give it a fluffy look and perhaps edge the ears with a bit of the white coconut.

For the face, use the black jelly beans for eyes and the pink one for a nose. Trim the thin licorice whips into whiskers and a mouth and perhaps thin eyebrows.

Next, decorate the bow tie with the multicolored gum drops. You will have a handsome Easter bunny sheet cake that you can take anywhere with you for a centerpiece or attractive dessert. Enjoy it yourself at home, or bring it to any Easter celebration with family, friends or at church without spending a fortune in the bakery. This cake is not only adorable, it will also make a great centerpiece for a holiday buffet or potluck.

For more religious families, a white cake in the shape of a cross can be made easily by baking the white cake mix in a 9-inch by 13-inch pan and cutting out segments until it achieves the shape of a cross. Then frost with white icing and sprinkle on coconut if desired. (Use the left over cake sections for homemade ice cream sandwiches, slice into fingers for trifle, or just eat as is.)

To make a cross cake for a large group, use three 9-inch by 13-inch oblong cake pans. Lay two of them end to end and cut the third in half and position them to make the cross piece of the cross. Then frost and sprinkle with coconut if desired. You can also decorate it and/or the tray or board you serve it on by using plastic lilies from a 99-cent store.

99-cent stores can also be a treasure trove for Easter trinkets, coloring books and more. Just don't bring the children with you or they will want to buy everything in sight.

Oriental Trading online has great ideas for small gifts, novelties, activities, and crafts, including stickers, puzzles and more. The items usually come in groups of 12, so if you are a member of a church group or your children regularly play over at other children's homes, buying these items in bulk can lead to hours of fun and goodwill without you needing to spend a lot.

They have both religiously themed and secular items for almost every holiday, and very useful items, too, such as holiday-themed pens, pencils, erasers and more. Shop there at Easter and Christmas each year, and any time you might need party-favor items for larger groups.

Visiting family and friends for spring break or Easter can be another way to have a mini-vacation without spending a lot of money. Having a modest spread at Easter rather than a huge Easter dinner will also help keep costs down at this time of year.

It may be tempting to splurge during the holidays, but always remember that the more you save each month, the more your family emergency fund and/or your children's college funds can grow. (See two great books by Evelyn Trimborn on these subjects for more information.)

So, what else can you do around the spring holidays and in between them? Here are a few suggestions.

HEAD FOR THE PARK

The park is a wonderful destination for family fun in the spring. There's something for everyone in the family to do. Youngsters can play on slides, swings and so on. Older children, teens and adults can shoot hoops, play softball or go walking on the trails. Or you could bring along a Frisbee or football, find an open space and toss it around. You can also bring your bikes or mountain bikes if the park has any designated bike paths or trails.

With all of these fun things to do, consider packing a lunch and making a day out of it. The whole family can have a wonderful time and get some exercise, too. If you prefer a hot lunch, many parks have shelters with grills that you can use without charge. As the weather gets warmer, you will want to check into making a reservation in advance.

Be careful of food poisoning; pre-cook all of your food to doneness and keep it cold in an ice chest. Pop it on the barbecue for that great grilled taste, but do not rely on it to cook a raw chicken leg right to the bone. Be careful of any salads made with mayonnaise or sour cream as these can also be food poisoning disasters.

Don't forget sunscreen and plenty of water, especially if the weather is warm.

BLOCK PARTIES

As the warmer weather arrives in spring, you might consider holding a block party. Children love them because they get a chance to play with the other kids in the neighborhood, and adults love them because it gives them an opportunity to socialize and not have to keep an eye on their own children all the time.

If you bear all of the expense yourself, having a block party can be very costly. If you make it a potluck block party, you won't have to pay much at all. For example, you can tell the neighbors that you will provide the main course, and ask each guest to bring snacks, a side dish, dessert, drinks and so on. You could even ask some to bring supplies such as paper plates, cups and napkins.

For inexpensive live entertainment, ask any neighbors who play an instrument to bring it along and have an impromptu jam session. Or have the children who will attend prepare an act and have a talent show with fun and inexpensive prizes.

You could also have someone hook up their karaoke machine and have family-versus-family competitions. The same will work with a Wii or Xbox 360 featuring Dance Central. Try to find some independent judges to give out prizes to the top three families. Someone in your group might have talent as a disk jockey as well.

There can be different games, competitions and, as you draw closer to the time, you own Olympics if it is a Summer Olympics year. You can have egg and spoon races, three-legged races, and more.

AMUSEMENT PARKS

Amusement parks are known for being expensive through the summer, but they have early spring specials and also early-bird deals on season tickets. In particular, if you were a season pass holder the previous year, you will probably get some great special offers.

These can also come through sponsoring companies, sometimes in exchange for collecting ring pulls or box top lids. Check out the local Sunday newspapers, the free papers and the pennysavers if you live near an amusement park. Also check out the per-ride versus unlimited passes prices.

Some fast-food restaurants also distribute coupons for discounts off of admission to amusement parks, so be sure to look in the bag when you get takeout, or check your receipt.

Also go online to locate special deals and bargains. Many of the best discounts can be found early in spring (except for the Easter holidays) and late in the season as the children get ready to return to school.

OTHER CELEBRATIONS IN SPRING TO ENJOY

Mother's Day is in May in the United States (March in the United Kingdom) and Father's Day is in June each year. These two spring dates are great ways to keep the children busy without overspending.

Homemade cards, gifts, food, meals at home, perhaps even a barbecue for Father's Day, can all keep the children entertained without spending a lot of money on outside activities or on expensive cards and gifts.

If you have started a garden and planted flowers that blossom each year, the children can decorate a tray with the flowers and offer breakfast in bed for Mom and then Dad. Help them find recipes and ideas on how to celebrate.

And don't forget the grandparents, too. Cards, photos, and personalized notes will help your family stay close, especially if you live some distance away and they don't tend to use the Internet that much.

It is always fun to celebrate special occasions, but families can come to dread them if they are on a tight budget. The good news is that with a bit of imagination and supplies around your home, you don't need to spend a lot to show that you care.

CHAPTER 5: OTHER FRUGAL FUN IDEAS
FOR ANY TIME OF YEAR

The possibilities for frugal activities are endless. You know your family best, so choose things that they will enjoy. If they don't have the same tastes, then take it in turns to select things that each child will enjoy. Here are a few more ideas to try:

*Inquire about touring a local factory
Some offer interesting educational programs, and you may even get some free samples after the tour. If you have a candy, cookie or bread factory nearby, this could be a great way to spend the day and enjoy some delicious treats as well.

*Organize a family reunion
Rent a shelter at the park, and have a potluck lunch, dinner or a barbecue. You will get to see family members you haven't seen in ages, and the children will have lots of fun playing together.

*Volunteer
There are volunteer opportunities suitable for children as well as adults. Some organizations need lots of help, such as animal shelters, so the whole family may be able to get involved with the same project. The children will learn new skills and pass the time, all for no cost except the price of transportation to and from the location where you are volunteering. Time is a valuable commodity, so instead of the children wasting it watching television or playing video games, they can get involved in worthy causes and help others at the same time.

One great charity to consider would be Habitat for Humanity. If you dream about owning your own home but don't think you would ever be able to afford it, you can gain equity in a home of your own for every 300 hours of volunteer work per adult who would be living in the home.

If you have older children who are well behaved, they can learn a lot by tagging along. Once they are old enough, they can also help build your dream home, or one for another family.

*Visit state, local or national government offices.
Many offer tours that are educational and will help children learn about how the country is run. This is a great way to see the interiors of some impressive buildings and teach the children to be civic-minded at the same time.

*Gaze at the stars.
You can do this for free on a clear night, or you can visit a local planetarium. Get a book on constellations from the library and see how many you can spot in your own particular night sky.

*Pick wild berries.
They taste great right off the vine or bush, and you can also take them home to use in desserts such as crumbles, cobblers and other fruit-based dishes that you can make with children. Just be sure to wash them well before eating.

*Set up a scavenger hunt for the children.
Make a list of items found in nature, and let them loose in your back yard or at a nature park. Provide a special prize for the winner and consolation prizes for the runners up.

*Go to a minor league baseball game.
Tickets are much less expensive than those for major league games, and the atmosphere is much more relaxed and family-friendly.

*Learn more about bird watching.
Make a bird feeder by spreading peanut butter on a large pine cone and rolling it in birdseed. Hang it up in the front yard and watch as the birds flock to it. Borrow a library book on how to identify different birds and have the children sketch the ones you see or keep track in a log book.

*Create a family scrapbook.
Have each child contribute a page or two, or assign each one a task such as creating page layouts, choosing photos and cropping. The family scrapbook can be on any theme, a holiday, or just a running record of keepsakes as the year goes by. Take it out every month to add to it for a priceless treasure trove of memories which costs little or nothing to make.

You might also want to have a scrapbook for each child so they can pass it along to their own family when they have a family of their own.

*Research your own family tree.
Children can research each side of the family and make their own family tree. In addition to the chart, they can also make an online scrap book or website with information on each person, a Christmas tree ornament per person, and more.

*Check your local newspaper for event listings, and the Time Out if you live in a large city.
You can find free concerts in the park, play groups and more. Look for special exhibitions in the museum, arts and crafts classes with discounted materials, do it yourself sessions at Lowe's and Sears (everything is included for them to complete a particular project, all for one low price), and other events according to the interests of each of your children. Use the newspapers and magazines in your local library to plan ahead.

*Plan a family vacation.
One of the main fun things about a family vacation can be the planning stage. If your budget can stretch to an annual vacation, have the children help you look up prices, things to do and see, and so on. (See Carolyn's guide to bargain travel for more detailed information.) If you are planning a family cruise for one low price, have the children research everything there is to do on board the ship. Also have them research the activities at any port of call at which you will be stopping.

*Learn a new craft.
You can go for inexpensive or free classes at local businesses that specialize in crafts. Children can try their hand at ceramics, pottery, knitting, crocheting and sewing.

You can also try various handicrafts at home and produce items that your family will love, and/or which might be worth selling in your own home-based business. These crafts can include plaster casting of models, making stained-glass effect ornaments, making marbled paper for gift wrap and stationery, making your own potpourri, and more.

*Start up and run your own business.
We have been talking about ways to save money, but one of the best ways to stretch your budget is to start earning more. It has never been easier to start an online business or go into business for yourself at home. Think of the things that people need around your area; mowing lawns, washing cars and so on. If you have older children, allow them to help.

You might also consider running a business on the Internet (see Joan Mullally and Evelyn Trimborn's guides on how to start your own small business or information product business). Think about selling direct sales items such as Avon or Tupperware (see our guide on the subject).

You can also become an online affiliate and earn commission on every item you sell from top-name companies through just a simple link you can post in your emails, on social networking websites, and at blogs, discussion boards and forums. Once your children are old enough, they can help you maintain accounts and do social networking. (For more information on becoming an affiliate without having a website, see Joan Mullally's guide on the subject.)

Children can also get a paper route or help you with your business as an intern, paid or unpaid. If you pay them, don't forget to deduct their wages on your taxes. They can hand out leaflets and flyers, print out posters and business cards, and more.

There are many things you can do to work from home to earn more money, and a family business is a great investment in your family's future, helping you meet your financial goals and teaching a lot of valuable lessons along the way. In most cases, Internet businesses and direct sales businesses can be started for less than $100.

Direct sales and affiliate business are great ways to get an instant discount on all of the products and services that you, your family and friends would use anyway. A digital information business, with you as a published author and acknowledged expert, can help you bring your career to a whole new level without having to climb your way up the corporate ladder, and you can even start your own successful consulting and coaching programs. (See Joan Mullally's guides on how to launch an information product and a coaching program for step-by-step instructions.)

If you are looking to earn more money in your spare time, replace lost income, or bring in additional income earmarked for your special goals, such as a vacation or college funds for the children, consider having the whole family help. It is an excellent way to help spend your time without spending a lot of cash and making your free time that much more meaningful. It will also help children understand budgeting and the value of hard work to earn a salary, and how to spend that salary wisely.

CONCLUSION

Having fun all year round isn't only for the well-to-do. There are plenty of activities you can do in your own backyard or close to your own home that are free or inexpensive. With some research and planning ahead, you can find affordable activities in your hometown and neighboring areas that will keep the children occupied during the times you decide to get out of the house to have fun.

There's no need to let boredom get the best of you and your family, or allow them to become couch potatoes. Fun can be had on budgets of any size if you plan ahead and make the most of the free or inexpensive resources you have available, in order to keep your children and their friends occupied, and your whole family together bonding over fun activities.

Making free time meaningful and not just wasting it can also save money, or even earn money for you if you make great gifts for everyone on your list, and sell any surplus you have to others. All work and no play can be dull, but the same can happen if children do nothing but play the entire holiday, especially during the long summer vacation. Then it can be very difficult for them to get back into the swing of things at school once the autumn arrives.

We hope this guide has given you a lot of ideas for frugal family fun that can help improve your family life and finances.

Enjoy your fun, frugal activities as a family!

AS
CS
January 2012

APPENDIX 1: HOW TO START YOUR OWN GARDEN
TO SAVE MONEY

If you live in a house with a plot of land around or behind it, one way you could consider saving money is to plant your own food or herb garden. Having a garden has a lot of advantages. Growing your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs can save you money at the grocery store on food, jams and jellies, flavorings, medicines, and even homemade gifts.

And these days, with food prices so expensive, especially for organic produce, there are even more reasons to think about starting your own garden. Food just doesn't get any fresher, tastier, or healthier than picking it out of your own garden. You can enjoy being frugal while increasing your quality of life with a food garden.

Even if you do not think you have a green thumb, starting your own garden can be easy once you know how. These tips will help get you started and make sure that your garden thrives:

A. Decide what you're going to grow.
What does your family like to eat? What do you use a lot of? What will produce the best yield? Keep in mind that some vegetables, such as squash, tomatoes, and peppers produce continuously, while others, such as carrots and corn, produce only once.

B. Decide how much you are going to grow and how much space you will need.
Most new gardeners tend to get a little carried away and take on a garden that is bigger than they need. Again, look for the kinds of vegetables that produce continuously and you will not need as much space, which will mean less work but a steady harvest of items for your kitchen table.

C. Find the perfect spot.
In general, your garden will grow better if it receives a lot of sunlight. It also needs to drain well, so do not use the dark spot in the back corner of the yard. Instead, find a place that is sunny and flat.

Also consider how much traffic you will get in your yard. People, children and pets can be more harmful to the garden than any wildlife. Also consider it in relation to the house and facilities you will need to maintain it. For instance, if you live in a dry climate, you will need to put your garden within a garden-hose length of the house so you can water it regularly.

D. Start with good soil.
Ask your local nursery for advice about the soil in the area; you can even have it tested. In general, you want soil that's not too loose (sandy soil) and not too solid (clay soil). Either sand or organic matter can be added to the soil to improve its quality.

E. Prepare your soil by tilling it.
Tilling the soil means to turn it over, break up hard clumps, eliminate any rocks, and generally prepare the soil to be able to help the items you want to plant thrive. A tiller makes easy work of the job. Rent or borrow one for the day or the weekend depending on how large a garden you have and how rugged the soil. A pick and shovel might do for a smaller patch of garden and will also give you a good workout.

Turn over the soil, and then add whatever the local nursery has suggested to make the soil suitable for planting. Then try to smooth it into a good bed for the crops you plan to plant.

F. Plant your garden.
Follow the directions on the seed packets or seedlings. Be sure to space the plants properly, plant at the proper depth, and plant at the proper time for your area.

G. Maintain your garden.
Gardens need two things after they have been planted: watering and weeding. Most new gardeners tend to over-water. Things have to dry out from time to time to prevent mold or fungus from developing. The soil should stay soft and damp, but not soaking.

Water your garden twice a week. This should be sufficient in most locations in the middle of summer. A light watering every day tends to encourage shallow root growth, so deep watering once or twice a week is better for forming deep roots and healthy plants. This is known as drenching. Obviously, judge what your garden needs based on the amount of rain that has fallen that week.

Spend a few minutes each day pulling any weeds or using natural weeding remedies. Weeds can take over the garden quickly and choke the life from the plants you are trying to grow.

If you have the space, plant your rows with enough room to allow your rake to fit between the rows. Then you can quickly drag the rake through to pull out the weeds. You might also consider planting other plants that are natural pesticides/insect repellents to help keep down pests and make your garden truly organic.

In the initial phase, having a garden is a fair amount of work and involves paying attention and applying a small amount of effort each day or so in order to maintain it. However, the rewards can be bountiful in the form of fresh, organic produce that you and your family can enjoy, to help you save money and eat in a healthier manner. Start doing your research to see if a garden is right for you and your family.

APPENDIX 2: HOW TO BUDGET FOR
SCHOOL TRIPS AND ACTIVITIES

Most of us have fond memories of the trips we took and the activities in which we participated when we were in school. When it comes time for our children to do these things, we may suddenly realize just how much our parents had to sacrifice in order for us to have had these experiences.

It's not that we don't want our children to have fun and educational experiences in school; it is that they are just so expensive, and money is very tight for most people these days.

In addition, today's school trips are often much different from those we went on during our school days. They often involve traveling out of state and staying one or more nights, even for elementary and junior high students. Even day trips have become more expensive, requiring parents to pay bus and admission fees. This is generally a result of reduced education budgets and everything having become more expensive.

School staff should be more sensitive to the pressures of the present economy on many household budgets, but often they do not think about anything other than events that have been planned in the past and have gone well, which they are organized for and prepared to use as a learning experience before, during, and after the trip. Any child who is not able to go on the trip might miss out on valuable lessons.

Handling requests to go on field trips and participate in activities can be difficult. Here are some ways you can work these things into your budget or handle the topic realistically as and when it arises.

* Pick and choose.
If your child's class goes on multiple trips during the year, you will probably not be able to afford them all. Consider saying no to the ones that you think are of the least value in terms of education. Talk to your children about which ones they want to attend the most if they are educational, and work out a budget for each one. It might be better to go on one very great trip than several small ones. You might also consider permitting them to go if they work off the price of the trip through their allowance and chores/work around the home or good grades. Make a decision and stick to it.

* Be honest with your children if money is a major concern.
They may feel that it is not fair that they don't get to go on a trip that everyone else gets to go on. Explain that you would pay for the trip if you could, but it's just not an option with your budget.

* Talk to your children about raising the money on their own.
Older children could get a part-time job to earn the needed funds, or work a paper route. Younger children might do a fundraiser such as a car wash or bake sale to get the money they need. If your children get an allowance, perhaps they could pay the fees out of that, or through additional work or chores. You might give them special projects around the house or yard.

* For big, expensive trips, find out if you can make payments.
Coordinators often let parents know about such trips well in advance, and they may even set up a payment schedule for everyone. If you don't feel that you can pay on that schedule, meet with the coordinator and ask if you can set up an alternate payment plan, and perhaps pay the balance after the trip is over, and by the end of the school year.

* Consider asking relatives for help.
Grandparents and other relatives will often give gifts that are nice, but not needed, compared to the monetary value that could be better spent in other ways. Perhaps each grandparent, aunt or uncle could contribute a small amount to help fund the trip, or give cash for birthdays, Christmas, and other holidays. If you can get several people to give a small amount, it won't put a huge burden on anyone to fund the whole cost of the trip.

*Find the money through cleaning out the home.
Your children probably have a great number of things that they have either outgrown or simply are not interested in any more. Have them hold a yard sale to sell their items, sell them on eBay if they are in good condition, or donate them to the Salvation Army and get a receipt. Consult their website for the value of the items, which can then be deducted from your taxes as a charitable donation. Pass the money the children have earned along to them to help fund their needs.

Field trips and other activities usually have educational value and foster a love of learning. If you explain to your children why you can't afford to pay for these expensive extras, they will understand, and also start to learn more about the value of money and having a budget. You can then work together to come up with resourceful ways to find the money if they want to go.

This can also help your children establish a real work ethic and appreciate the value of money and the need to earn the better things in life. As the finance expert Suze Orman says, as soon as they are old enough to contribute usefully in a household, make your children work for their allowance, otherwise they will take things for granted.

Any work they do and efforts they make to raise the money themselves will be a valuable learning experience. It could also motivate them to keep up the good work and build their own bank account, and also teach them how to budget what they earn in the same way that you have to.

APPENDIX 3: HOW TO SAVE MONEY
ON BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLIES

How to Save Money on Back-to-School Supplies

Waiting until the last minute to buy your children's back-to-school supplies can be a financial nightmare if you are not careful. First, there will be the wasted time at the store as everyone rushes in the same way as you are going to in order to try to get what they need. They also will be on the lookout for any great deals that the store is offering.

* Sales on Back-to-School Supplies

Remember that in a lot of cases, the ads that you see are for what are known as the "loss leaders," that is, the products the store can afford to take a loss on because they know they are going to make large profits on other items.

So while there is still time left before the children return to school, there is still time to plan your line of attack and save money on back-to-school supplies.

* Buy Only Essential School Items

Make a list. Do not be tempted to stray from it no matter how much of a bargain it looks or how much the children ask.

One of the main ways to save money on back-to-school supplies is to buy only what your children really need at this point in time. There is no sense in putting the cost of a pile of stationery on your credit card that they are not going to use for months.

Another key thing to remember is that every teacher has their own preference for notebooks and stationery, such as permitting loose-leaf paper in ring binders compared with spiral or hard-bound notebooks. This being the case, you might end up overbuying several items and then still have to go back to shop for what they need. Then you will end up spending even more money on special notebooks, math or lab equipment and so on.

* Clean Your House for Back-to-School Supplies

Before you ever even go to shop, the first thing to do is a bit of house cleaning. See what you already have that can be used in the first few days or weeks the of new school term. Look inside each old notebook and see if it is almost full, or if there are plenty of pages that can still be used, or salvaged for things such as scrap paper and note paper.

What about pens, pencils and crayons? All children would like to get everything brand-new at the start of each school year, but the money you save can be spent on other things. If your children think it is uncool, why not remind them of how important it is to be "green" and go around the home looking for other things you can recycle. Remember the motto: "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle," and discover just how much you can repurpose in your home as you search for school supplies you already have.

* Use Hand-me-Down Backpacks, Lunchboxes and Stationery

What about hand-me-downs from older to younger children kids in your family? Chances are an older child's backpack or other durable items from a year or two ago will work just fine if your younger child needs a bigger bag or a new lunchbox. If you have to shop for any new durable items such as these, avoid the trendy kind that may be all the rage now, but will date the item and put your children "out of fashion" with their peers. Also buy them with any younger children in mind. Don't forget to wash them from time to time according to the manufacturer's instructions to keep the items fresh and new looking for as long as possible.

The same holds true for calculators, pencil boxes, rulers and so on. If you have to buy new this year, buy items you are sure will be sturdy. Also emphasize to children the importance of not losing their possessions or lending them to others they know are never going to return them.

* Shop the Back-to-School Supplies Sales

Shop the sales only for the loss leaders. Do not be tempted to pay full price unless you really can't find the item on sale. Chances are that each of the stores will have slightly different items on sale and you will be able to get everything on your list.

Back-to-school supplies can quickly add up if you are not careful. While no one likes to feel like they are depriving their children of necessities, the cost of school supplies can be exorbitant because they are considered so essential.

Hunt for bargains and be honest if things are tight financially. This is a better message to communicate to your children than the idea that they can have anything they want, or that a credit card will take care of everything.

Shop wisely for back-to-school supplies, but first make the most of everything you already have on hand.

APPENDIX 4: FRUGAL
HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

Dressing up in costume for Halloween is one of the most enjoyable parts of the month of October, but costumes can be expensive to purchase. This is especially true when you must purchase for several children. They can add up quickly in price, but you can save a significant amount of money by either re-using the ones that you bought last year, or creating your own.

*Re-use the ones from last year.
If your children are the same gender and similar in age, pass along the costume to the next child. If the costume has parts to it that can be used, by all means do so. For example, a black cape can be great for a vampire, witch, warlock or magician. A red dress can be great for a vampire, Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White with the addition of a white apron, Heidi with the addition of a white pinafore, a salsa dancer with the addition of some multicolored ruffles at the hem and some maracas, and so on.

*Keep it simple.
If you need to start from scratch because nothing fits or you already gave it away to a charity shop (a great source of inexpensive costumes), then try creating some of these frugal and fun costume ideas for your children this year:

1. Weatherman (or Weathergirl).
If your child already has rain gear, such as a yellow jacket and rain boots, you can easily add to this attire for a creative costume. Outfit a large umbrella with craft paper lightning bolts and raindrops or snowflakes strung up on fishing line. This simple costume is super cute and very inexpensive to make.

Many "occupational" costumes are simple to make using materials you already have in your home. You may need to buy a costume hardhat to finish off a carpenter or construction costume, for example, but the cost is much lower when you can use your own blue jeans/carpenter's jeans, flannel shirt and tool belt from home. For a policeman costume, you would need a blue shirt, dark trousers and a badge or emblem such as NYPD.

2. Crayon.
This is another fun costume you can make with things you may already have. Take a solid color shirt and pant set and adhesive-backed felt. Create "CRAYON" or a color label with black felt. Make accents for the wrists and ankles that coordinate with a typical "Crayola." Finally, top it off with a pointed party hat in a coordinated color for the perfect sharpened tip on your crayon. You can also roll them in a craft paper tube in the appropriate color with CRAYON written on it, and the hat. Hold up the crayon roll with shoulder straps made out of the craft paper or a couple of matching socks stapled to the paper.

3. Animal costumes.
Animal costumes are easy to make, beginning with a leotard or a single-colored outfit and a coordinating fabric or felt. Attach ears to a headband, and create a tail that you can safety-pin to the waistband. A little face paint goes a long way, but doesn't cost much to acquire. Dogs and cats work well as quick animal costume ideas.

Get more creative with lizards, birds and other animal costumes depending on what materials you have at hand. Ear headbands and various animal headpieces can be found in a party store, but are easy to make. For young children, you can use striped or fluffy fabric to turn your child into a lion or tiger. You can find free patterns online that will help you judge just how much fabric and trim you will need.

With enough planning, you can create your own costumes quickly and easily, often with items that you already have. This will allow your children to get the most out of their Halloween experience without forcing you to spend more than you can afford.

Halloween is now an important holiday in which that many schools participate with parties, costume parades, baked goods and more. Your children will not want to be left out, but luckily you can get them a great costume if you refurbish last year's, shop at a charity store for one, or make your own at home and keep them occupied with inexpensive, fun activities all at the same time.

APPENDIX 5: SUCCESS STRATEGIES
FOR SAVING MONEY AT THE HOLIDAYS

The best way to save money at the holidays is to be honest with yourself and others about what you can and can't afford. Don't burden yourself with debt, or feel guilty if you don't have much or indeed any money for the holidays.

The holidays seem to be synonymous with gifts, food, parties and alcohol. Not that long ago in England, however, Christmas stockings hung from the mantelpiece were considered stuffed to the brim if they contained an orange and a sixpence (about a dime).

We are not sure how things have become so commercialized in the past few decades, but with the current economic recession still biting hard, this year is the right time to get back to basics. For example, do you need to buy a gift for everyone in the family? Or more than one gift per person? Is quality important, or quantity?

Each family will have to decide these things for themselves, but it is important to ask the question. If you have a large family, can you do a Secret Santa in order to just gift to one? Or can all the adults agree that Christmas this year will only be for the children, and that they get to ask for a list of three things, and Santa will be bringing them one?

You can create a lot of family fun without having to spend a lot on food and alcohol. If you do want to indulge yourself by going out for a meal or drinks, don't starve yourself all day in preparation for a feast. Also don't buy a lot of expensive and watered-down drinks. Your friends might consider taking turns hosting and getting in cases of beer from the warehouse club, or larger bottles of wine. In many cases, the whole bottle will be less expensive than what you would pay for one glass of wine in a restaurant.

Have a potluck holiday supper in which everyone brings a dish, or you assign people appetizer, main course, sides and so on. You can provide all the cutlery and drinks or have everyone bring a bottle or six pack and you provide the tableware, glasses and desserts.

Make do with the decorations you already have, or get some free resources online and use crayons, colored pencils and whatever else you already have to make your own decorations with the children. Spend time using the toys that they got last year and probably have not played with since.

In fact, one great way to spend early December planning for the holidays is to take the time to start clearing out things in your home, and especially in each child's room. Start gathering all the things that you and the children don't use or have outgrown.

If they are of decent quality, put them on sale at eBay or donate them to the Salvation Army and be sure to get a receipt. Then look on their website to calculate the value of the items and deduct those amounts from your taxes.

Use the money you earn on eBay or the money you save on your taxes as the foundation for next year's Christmas savings account. Don't feel pressured to spend what you don't have. Practice saying, "I can't afford it," or "If we want it, we have to save up for it."

Also be sure to revise your Christmas list in light of what you find as you do your holiday cleaning and sorting. You may find yourself crossing a lot of items off the list that you thought you needed, only to determine that you already have them.

Try to stick to practical gifts for your loved ones, such as attractive items that double as school supplies. These can make great stocking stuffers. Clothes, shoes, boots, a new back pack and so on also make excellent gifts, especially if they are at the right price and your children did not get very many new back-to-school supplies because you were being frugal in August.

As for re-gifting, we are all in favor of it provided it is not fruitcake. Seriously, if you have no use for a gift, by all means pass it on to someone who will appreciate it, so long as no one will find out, or expect you to use or wear the item you were gifted.

Also consider if it is genuinely that person's taste or not. Re-gifting can help fill in blanks in your list, and it can also enable you to give a gift to someone you would like to be able to give one to, but might not be able to afford in your budget.

Everyone has different perspectives on Christmas and what they wish to spend versus what they can afford. If your gap has widened this year, be honest about it and focus on all the fun and free ways you can celebrate the holidays. The new-found financial freedom you start creating for yourself and your family will be well worth it and the best gift you can give to your children.

APPENDIX 6: HOW TO SAVE MONEY
ON CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

Decorating for the holidays adds an element of warmth and fun to your home, but these can be expensive, and in some cases fragile as well. They can also end up as money in the trash if you use live trees and greenery, leaving you with nothing but the expense and mess. Candles, potpourri and other festive but consumable items can also burn a hole in your budget as they are used up.

Some people love a real tree, or a wreath on their door, but buying artificial ones can serve just as well to help make the house festive, and a good tree can last for years. You might also consider a fiber optic tree that changes color. Some of them are so pretty you might not even need that many ornaments.

The best thing is that you don't have to go overboard, or put a lot of time or effort into decorating. Below you will find some inexpensive but fun ideas, quickly and easily making your home festive-looking for the season.

* Outdoor Displays
A wreath on the front door or some garland and lights around the door will make your home look welcoming. Decorate the front yard with an inflatable Santa or other suitable figure. Decorate any evergreens you have with garland and perhaps some fake snow (make sure whatever you use is biodegradable). Use attractive signs with a Christmas theme, which can be hung from the eaves of the house or staked into the ground.

* In the Home
Add some Christmassy touches to your home by making simple sofa throws and pillow cushion covers in red, green or a tartan combination, with perhaps some trim in silver, gold or white. A tapestry throw with a Christmas theme such as cardinals or a winter wonderland can also beautify a home and double as a spare blanket that you will use for years to come.

* The Christmas Tree
Decorations can cost a fortune these days, but there are ways of making your own decorations for a fraction of the cost. You can purchase clear ornaments from a hobby store and paint them yourself. You can get your entire family in on the activity and have them create a tree covered with memories. There are photo-frame ornaments and more that can help make your holiday special this year, and for years to come.

Of course, safety should always be your first priority. Check the ingredients in any do-it-yourself decorations and keep any breakable or chewable ones out of reach of children and pets.

Your tree should be attractive, as well as safe. Beware of balls that can fall and break, especially if you have pets. Also remember that the presents under the tree will be part of the decor as well.

* Mantelpiece Display
The mantel over your fireplace is the perfect place to decorate for Christmas with Christmas stockings and stocking hangers. For a simple display, arrange some lights or garland along it. You can also place a wreath above the mantelpiece as well as on the doors of the rooms you will be using for the dining and entertaining rooms.

* Christmas Plants and Flower Arrangement
Stop by your local florist for some flowers in red, green and white, such as carnations or mums (silk flowers will last for many years). Arrange them in a vase along with some greenery. Poinsettia flowers are also a good choice. Then there is holly with berries and mistletoe, which can be used throughout your home so long as you do not have pets who might ingest the berries and become ill.

* Pine Cones and Festive Figurines
Make festive displays of pine cones, angels, Santas, trees, creche figures and so on.

* Garland and Tinsel
Tinsel and garland can be hung from anywhere in a room, from the walls and windows to around the doors and the stair banisters.

* Making a Unique Christmas Centerpiece
Your centerpiece is going to be the main decoration on your Christmas table. Here are some ideas as to how to make it more special. These decorations will look stunning if you set them on a counter, or the mantelpiece over the fireplace. Get everyone in the family involved for a unique display you can photograph and put in your Christmas holiday scrapbook.

Begin with a plain pine cones, then if you like, decorate them with paint, glitter or fake snow. Loosely arrange them on the table in a bowl. Set a red or green candle on each side of your display. Finish your centerpiece by sprinkling colorful wrapped green, red and silver candies such as Hershey's kisses all over and around your centerpiece.

You can make Christmas trees with green construction paper and use as either decorations or place card holders for a formal sit down meal. Other popular decor choices would be snowmen, reindeer, Santas and so on.

* Christmas "Gift" Basket
Using colored craft paper, make paper shapes in various sizes and colors so that they resemble gift boxes. You can color ribbons onto them or paste some on, or use contrasting colors to make them look like gifts. Write down on each one a gift in your life that you or a family member is grateful for. You can also attach them to wooden sticks to make them stand up in the basket.

* Christmas Ornament Blessings
Similar to the basket above, cut out shapes to resemble Christmas balls, write down the gifts you have in your life, and string on a wall, door or on your tree.

* Angel Blessings
Similar to the above ideas, you can make a garland of angels instead. Look for line drawings of angels you can easily photocopy, cut out, color and use.

* Edible Garlands
Popcorn, cranberries or now handy craisins, raisins and dried fruits can all be strung to hang on the tree (or be nibbled on as you work around the house getting all the Christmas chores done).

* Christmas Gift Placemats
Using a large rectangle of craft paper and some strips of craft paper in a contrasting color, make a parcel with ribbon and then decorate the four sections of the mat with either a collage of pictures or photos, or the children's own writing and drawing about all the gifts they have in their life.

* Santa Hats
Make your own Santa hats out of felt or paper and cotton.

* Christmas Creche
All of the characters from the Christmas story can be brought to life through coloring books, figurines and more.

Are you feeling inspired yet by any of these ideas? Dig through your Christmas supplies or take a stroll through your local craft store, and you will come up with your own versions of these suggestions.

Above all, enjoy the holidays, don't stress them, and get the whole family involved in making the displays and beautifying your home for the holidays.

APPENDIX 7: HOMEMADE
MODELING CLAY RECIPE

Modeling clay is fantastically fun, safe, and inexpensive, especially if you make it at home yourself. Whip up a batch today and see what masterpieces your children can come up with.

Ingredients:
3 cups flour
1/3 cup salt
2 Tbs vegetable oil
1 cup water
7 drops food coloring, more or less depending on how deep you want the shade

Mix dry ingredients with oil. Add food coloring to water and mix together. Add water to flour/salt/oil mixture slowly, about 1/4 cup at a time, mixing together continuously with a wooden spoon. Once you have added all the water, knead the dough with your hands until all the water is absorbed and the texture is smooth.

Then you can model the dough into any shapes you wish and bake it if you wish to keep the shapes permanent. Or you can leave them as is and reuse the clay.

The dough will dry out over time. To delay this, put it in a plastic container or bag and seal it tightly. Any leftover dough will keep in a plastic tub for about two weeks. At the end of that time, you can flatten it and bake it, and then break it up into small pieces and use it as dog biscuits or food for outdoor animals.

To get the most fun out of your modeling clay, you might want to use a rolling pin, cookie cutters and a dull knife to shape and cut the clay into all sorts of shapes.

FURTHER READING

ADHD: A BEGINNER'S GUIDE FOR PARENTS What It Means When Your Child is Diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Health Matters) by Annabelle Stevens, Carolyn Stone and Siobhan McNally

Bargain Travel Tips For Your Summer Vacation (Get More For Less Guides) by Evelyn Trimborn

Coaching Business Secrets: How to Create a Highly Profitable Coaching Program (Business Basics) by Carolyn Stone and Annabelle Stevens

Easy Christmas Recipes (Holiday Entertaining) by Evelyn Trimborn and Annabelle Stevens

Fast and Fun Christmas Recipes (Holiday Entertaining) by Annabelle Stevens and Evelyn Trimborn

Festive Vegetarian Cookery (Holiday Entertaining) by Evelyn Trimborn

Great Christmas Candy Recipes (Holiday Entertaining) by Evelyn Trimborn

How to Build an Emergency Fund For Your Household Finances (More for Less Guides) by Jim Franklin and Evelyn Trimborn

How to Create a Loving Christmas Celebration for the Whole Family (Holiday Entertaining) by Evelyn Trimborn

How To Create A Loving Thanksgiving Celebration For The Whole Family (More for Less Guides) by Evelyn Trimborn

How to Make Money with Affiliate Marketing Even Without a Website (Marketing Matters) by Joan Mullally and Evelyn Trimborn

How to Market Your Direct Sales Business Effectively (Marketing Matters) by Annabelle Stevens and Carolyn Stone

How to Save Money this Holiday Season (More for Less Guides) by Annabelle Stevens and Carolyn Stone

How to Slash Costs and Save Money on Everyday Expenses (More for Less Guides) by Evelyn Trimborn

How to Start a Successful Direct Sales Business (Business Basics) by Annabelle Stevens and Carolyn Stone

How to Start a Successful Small Business Even If You Don't Have Much Cash (Business Basics) by Joan Mullally and Evelyn Trimborn

How To Transform Your Hobby Into A Home-Based Small Business (Business Basics Series) by Jeff Hamilton

Outdoor Fitness Fun for the Whole Family (Health Matters) by Carolyn Stone

Planning For and Preparing a Stress-Free Christmas At Home (Holiday Entertaining) by Evelyn Trimborn

Planning For and Preparing A Stress-Free Thanksgiving At Home (More for Less Guides) by Evelyn Trimborn

Safety In the Sun for the Whole Family: A Guide to Safety at the Beach and During Other Outdoor Activities (Health Matters) by
Carolyn Stone and Evelyn Trimborn

School Success Secrets for Children with ADHD (Life Matters) by Annabelle Stevens, Carolyn Stone and Siobhan McNally

Smart Spending Strategies (More for Less Guides) by Jim Franklin and Evelyn Trimborn

The Dangers of Artificial Coloring in Food (Health Matters) by Carolyn Stone and Evelyn Trimborn

The Essential Guide to College Saving Plans (More For Less Guides) by Evelyn Trimborn and Jim Franklin