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Cheap Family Thanksgiving Travel Ideas

by Frugal Simplicity

Cheap Family Thanksgiving Travel Ideas

Traveling for the holidays can be expensive, as many people travel and transportation providers like to raise the prices in anticipation. You can get great deals on Thanksgiving travel, however, if you are prepared to do the research and plan a couple of months in advance. Do not snap up the first tickets you find, rather shop around and compare prices. You may find that by comparing prices you will spend less.

Planning in advance is your best bet for scoring cheap travel tickets for airlines and trains alike. As the flights fill up, ticket prices rise, all but guaranteeing that you will be paying more for your tickets as the holiday draws closer. It is always a good idea to plan your holiday travels in advance, months in advance if possible.

Try to take time off of work so you can fly on non-peak days and save even more money. Many people will fly the day before Thanksgiving and return home the following Sunday. If you can be a bit flexible with your dates, it may be a good idea to fly out on Tuesday and return home on Monday instead.

If you are driving to your destination, be sure to map out the lowest gas prices along your way. Gasbuddy.com is a great website that lists nearly all of the gas stations in an area and the price of the gas per gallon. This will help you to determine where the lowest gas prices are and it will help to cut your traveling costs.

On road trips, you will also need to eat. Take advantage of coupons to lessen the costs of your meals. Another option is to pack a picnic basket full of sandwiches or other similar items to snack on while driving.

If you find that you cannot afford a hotel, you might be able to exchange homes with someone for the duration of your vacation. Homeexchange.com requires a membership, but also guarantees that you will be able to swap homes with another member in the first year, otherwise your second year is free.

Home Exchange lists houses in a variety of countries. The way it works is that you pick a country, find a listing that you are interested in, and contact the member. It is that simple. It is a good alternative to renting a costly hotel room so as long as you do not mind sharing your home. This option does come with some risks, however, so please do your research before getting involved.

Thanksgiving travel is coming up right around the corner. Start preparing your travel plans now so that you can keep your costs as low as possible. It does not matter if you are traveling by airplane, car or train; there are significant ways for you to save money if you know where to look.

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Fun Autumn Days on a Frugal Budget

by Frugal Simplicity

Fun Autumn Days on a Frugal Budget

Around the country people look forward to autumn. Maybe it’s the cooler weather. Maybe it’s the changing of the leaves or the flocks of geese flying to warmer destinations. Or maybe it’s the other things associated with fall like back to school, football, Labor Day and apples. Whatever the reason, getting outside during the fall season is almost a must.

Here are five ways to enjoy fun autumn days on a frugal budget.

1. Go on a color tour. Hike in the wilderness or take a drive to the most scenic area near you. Enjoying the fall color is one of the many perks of autumn and it’s 100% free. If you want to spice up the day, bring your camera, pack a lunch, and enjoy the wonderful day outside. Enjoying the colors of autumn can be extremely enjoyable and extremely cost effective.

2. Hit the local fair. There are a number of fall fairs and festivals during the autumn months. A day at the fair can cost little and can be an enormous amount of frugal fun.

3. Rake leaves. Okay, this one may sound like a bit of work – and it is. However, it’s more than worth it. Don’t forget to grab your camera for this one. Rake the leaves into a huge pile and then invite your children to jump in them. Don’t have children? Jump in them yourself. It really is a ton of frugal fun!

4. Hit the orchard. The fall season in many areas is harvest season. That means apples, peaches and pears are ready to pick. Pumpkins are ripe on the vine and even beans and some berries are ready for picking. Visit your local orchard or visit a you pick it site and have fun harvesting your own food. Many orchards have corn mazes, hay rides and of course tons of yummy food.

5. Take advantage of an amusement park’s last days. Many amusement parks shorten their hours during the fall and they reduce their prices. This means they’re much more affordable and the lines are generally shorter. If you have a local amusement park, check out their fall rates.

Autumn is the perfect time for fun. There’s no lack of things to do. Hit a football game, visit an orchard or spend time at a local fair. And of course, don’t forget to bring your camera to capture the fun.

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Dining Out Frugally

by Frugal Simplicity

Dining Out Frugally

Eating breakfast, lunch, or dinner out can be one of the largest discretionary spending items in your budget. This luxury is normally one of the first things to get the axe when you’re pinching pennies. Here are a few ways you can still enjoy dining out, without forking over big bucks:.

Restaurant email lists

Want a guaranteed free meal each year? Sign up for your favorite restaurant’s email list, and chances are they’ve got it set up to send you a coupon for a free meal on your birthday! Do this at a couple of restaurants, and you could be eating out free your entire birthday month. These lists also get you in on special deals, two-for-one offers, and other frequent buyer specials.

Entertainment books

Long a mainstay of non-profit fundraisers, the “entertainment books” are now available at drugstores and bookstores, usually at a deep discount (we picked ours up for 40% off this year!). The book is full of coupons for two-for-one offers at local restaurants and special deals for fine dining. Each book claims to include thousands of dollars’ worth of discounts, but even if you just use two or three, you’ll have earned back your investment. Check out sites like Entertainment.com to see what books are available near you.

Groupon

Want to see collective buying power in action? Check out Groupon.com. Available in over 60 major metropolitan locations nation-wide, Groupon negotiates massive bargains for members by guaranteeing businesses a minimum number of takers. Free to join, Groupon offers a new deal each day. Recent offerings: $80 worth of take-out grub at a famous seafood restaurant for $40, and $30 worth of food at a Mexican bar and grill for $15. While not every offer is dining-related, a good number are.

Early bird

Early bird dinners aren’t just the provenance of the senior set; anyone can take advantage of these early-hour dinner specials. Think about it – you don’t want to wait until 8:00 pm to feed your kids, so why not feed them at 4:00 pm at an early bird special. When you’re dining with a large group or with young children, eating earlier can be not just less expensive, but less stressful, too. Early bird dinners can be significantly cheaper than dining at busy later hours (30-40 percent less), plus your wait-staff will be more attentive because they’re not worn out yet!

Kids eat free

Tired of paying $7 for a grilled cheese sandwich that your tyke will only licks the crust off? Then check out one of the thousands of “kids eat free” offers across the country. Ask your favorite restaurants if they offer a kids’ night special and sign up for their email list so you get a heads-up about all their specials for kids. Also, check out sites like MyKidsEatFree.com for a searchable guide.

Once you find out your favorite restaurant has a “kids eat free” night, you’ll be happy to enjoy a night out with your family more often. It is always nice when you get the bill after a dinner out and can relax and smile!

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Frugal Family Fun Tips

by Frugal Simplicity

Frugal Family Fun Tips

Frugal family fun is easy to find. Enjoying an outing doesn’t need to cost a lot of money. Below I list several ideas for frugal outing for the family. Pick one, or even all of them, and enjoy.

1. Be patient and wait to see new movies on video. Some communities even offer free video rentals at local libraries and will order new movies if library patrons request a certain title.

2. Check to see if there are any discount movie theaters in your area. Most of these places show movies just before they’re released to video. A family of four can go out for an evening at the movies and spend less than five dollars for a fun family outing. Keep a list of movies you want to see, and then check the discount theater listings each week. These theaters often keep the movies for just one or two weeks, so stay alert to what’s playing.

3. Go to the first show of the day at first-run theaters for the best prices (and shortest lines!).

4. Check your area for free days at museums, zoos, etc.

5. Check for free concerts, plays, and other live family entertainment in local parks.

6. Call and find out if your local college stage production group, ballet or orchestra will let you watch them rehearse for free.

7. If you want to eat at an expensive restaurant, go for lunch rather than dinner. The menu is usually the same, but the prices are often half.

8. When dining out, drink water only. Ask for a lemon or lime wedge if you want to make your drink seem special. This trick can easily cut $10 off your family’s total dining bill, which could mean the difference between going out for a fun meal or staying home eating frozen egg rolls again.

9. Go fly a kite. Literally!

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Frugal Camping Fun

by Frugal Simplicity

Frugal Camping Fun

When it comes to frugal vacation ideas, camping is hard to beat. Roughing it is much cheaper than traveling to a destination and shelling out for activities and accommodations. It’s a great way to spend real quality time with the family.

There are some expenses associated with camping. In fact, if you’re not careful, you can end up spending much more than you bargained for. Here are some tips to help keep camping expenses to a minimum.

* Invest in a good tent. You can find cheap tents with ease, but you get what you pay for. Spending the money to get a quality tent that’s big enough for your needs is wise. As long as you take good care of it you won’t have to replace it as soon, so you’ll be much better off in the long run.

* Seek out free camping spots. If you have friends or family members who are landowners, you might be able to talk them into letting you camp out on their property instead of renting space at a campground.

* Bring along plenty of food. You can eat very inexpensively when you go camping, but only if you avoid making runs for fast food and takeout.

* Be sure to store your food properly. A large, well insulated cooler is a must for keeping perishable food and drinks cold. Other food should be kept where animals can’t get to it. Large plastic tubs with snug-fitting lids are great for this purpose.

* Be realistic about what you will eat. If you’re going on a week-long camping trip, you’ll need to plan a little variety. Roasting hot dogs every night or eating cold sandwiches three meals a day gets old fast. Bring along a camp stove or grill and a few different things to cook.

* Consider taking reusable dishes, cups and flatware. Campers usually use paper plates and plastic cups and forks for convenience, but these are unnecessary expenses. If you bring along plenty of water, a camp stove to heat the water and some dishwashing liquid, you can easily wash up the dishes and use them again.

* Bring plenty of things for the kids (and the adults) to do. A long camping trip can get boring if you don’t. Some popular camping pastimes include volleyball, badminton, horseshoes and cards.

* Pack plenty of clothing and blankets. Make sure everyone brings a jacket and a pair or two of long pants, even if it’s hot out. It could get chilly at night. If you have all the clothes and blankets you need, you won’t have to make a trip to get more.

* Don’t forget the first aid kit. You can buy kits at drug or discount stores, or you could make your own. The essentials include band aids, antibiotic ointment, tweezers and needles (for removing splinters), an ace bandage, and a bottle of over-the-counter pain reliever. Also be sure to bring any medications that anyone on the trip may need. These things could save you a trip to the drugstore or doctor.

Camping is usually far less expensive than most outings. And if you keep a close eye on your expenses, you can have a fun vacation for next to nothing.

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