BIG IDEAS tiny budget

 School is out.  Here are 20 FREE adventures to help beat boredom this summer: 1- Walk to a park & bring a picnic 2- Find a nearby museum (some cities have museum's that accept donations, but don't charge admission) 3- Text friends to meet up at a playground 4- Walk around the mall, window shop at the pet store, & play at the indoor children's area.*   *This is especially great for a rainy day or when the weather is too hot to be outside 5- Go for a hike  6-  Sign up for the summer reading program at your public library 7- Check out a video while you're at the library & have a movie night at home 8- Teach your kids how to cook something fun 9- Host a pot-luck in your own backyard 10- Some communities have outdoor summer concerts that are open to the public--search for one you might like & grab a blanket or camp chairs 11- Video chat with grandparents or cousins who live far away 12- Play hide and seek (Tip: hide in the laundry room if you have sorting to

Yesterday was my 1st trip to our local zero-waste store.  I love the minty handsoap I bought & it's a cool store. But I spent triple what I normally would per ounce on deodorant & shampoo. Being eco-conscious is something we value.  We drive a Volt (electric hybrid from Chevy that we highly recommend) and we have solar panels on our home. But, let's be real...many people are not so motivated to reduce waste that they're going to shop on the opposite side of town to spend $9 on a small package-less deodorant bar.  So if you are wanting to cut household waste without wasting money here are Five Fabulous & Fugal ways to start... 1) Buy more fresh produce .  Fresh produce is healthier and often less expensive than processed foods.  Also, when you eat a banana, watermelon, or cucumber, the only waste you have can be tossed in compost.  If you don't have a community compost service or a compost bin, it's ok to bury your compost in a corner of a flower bed or

If you need ideas for kids, but funds are tight this year, here are a few ideas that are free or nearly free: 1 - Room decorations! Get creative! Make something with materials you have on hand that they can hang in their room.  I drew the guitar on a piece of scrap wood in an afternoon for a child who wanted a music themed room. You can also clean their room as part of the gift so the new art or curtains or other decorative gift stands out. Kids may also want a canvas or chalkboard to make their own art, such as this cute llama... 2- Books!        With kids learning from home this year, they're probably tired of the books they have on hand. Exchange with another family or find a few they might like at a thrift store. A good book is a wonderful escape! 3- Photos!  Kids love seeing pictures of themselves & being reminded of happy memories. So, make a slideshow for them, frame a favorite photo, or put some prints in an album they can treasure as a keepsake. 4- Adventures! Give yo

As coronavirus stay-at-home orders linger, hair is getting longer... Luckily, this is no problem at our house! I've cut my family's hair for years. It has saved us a lot of money throughout our marriage. Search you tube for some helpful tutorials. You can do it! This is a great time to practice because no one is going to school for a long while! My best tips: 1) blending sides & tapering bangs is super important. Nothing is a dead giveaway that it was an ametuer job as much as cutting straight across a boy's forehead to trim bangs. Use the comb to comb up, hold the bangs at a slight angle with your fingers, then snip. In other words, DON'T do the bowl over the head method. 2)You can always cut more, so start gradual. You usually cut hair wet & it will look shorter when dry, so be conservative. 3)Don't say, "oops" or "uh-oh". It doesn't have to be perfect but don't verbalize any dismay. Hahaha! Good luck! This is such a useful s

Looking for ways to cut spending? Groceries are a necessary expense, but that doesn’t mean you can’t cut down that line on your budget. People are often amazed that we spend much less feeding 8 of us than most families half the size. Top tips to save on food: 1) Cook your own meals. I can buy a box of spaghetti, can of sauce, and bag of veggies for abt $3-4. That feeds all 8 of us! Guess how far $3 goes when we buy drive thru food...even if we’re sticking to the dollar menu. And the noodles only take 10 minutes to boil. Fast, filling food that costs next to nothin’. Gotta like that! 2) Enjoy meatless meals not just once a week but most nights. There are so many tasty options! Have flavorful black bean burgers, stir fry with peanut sauce, veggie pizza, corn chowder, crispy bean & cheese tostadas, omelets, your favorite pasta or chili topped potatoes. 3) Always pay attention to the per unit price. Applesauce in a pouch or baby food jar is about 10 times the price per ounce of gene

Our 8yr old was the first birthday we celebrated during our state’s covid-19 stay at home order. How do you make a birthday fun without friends? It’s extra challenging if your income has been impacted and there are only a few presents. We have some ideas to share! 1) Hide the presents throughout the house & have grandmas or cousins call to give clues. This adds lots of adventure, even if there are only a few gifts. You could also hide the cake and have them follow a treasure map to find it. 2) Let your child pick the meal. We made waffles for breakfast & homemade pizza before cake. Even if you’re cooking at home, kids like choosing their favorite meal. 3)Add celebration wherever you can. Hang a sign, blow up balloons, and play games. We set up mini golf in the backyard, so even though it was just her & her siblings playing, it was fun! If the weather is warm, you could have a backyard campout. A dance competition with wii “just dance”, soda bottle bowling, or a family ne