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Great Frugal Vacation Options That Won’t Leave You Broke

As the old saying goes, “All work and no play make Jack and Jill a dull boy and girl.” And that’s exactly why it’s crucial to ensure that a vacation is an important part of your annual rituals. Spending the whole year at work or school can really take its toll if you don’t have the opportunity to relax and enjoy a little of what life has to offer.

The issue that faces many families, however, is that vacationing often times works out to be quite pricey. As such, we choose to spend money on more immediate needs and activities than on a vacation. However, you should feel reassured by knowing that there are actually quite affordable and frugal ways to take vacations that definitely won’t leave you broke at the end of the day.

Consider these affordable frugal vacation options:

1. Take a camping vacation. One of the most cost-effective ways to vacation is to go camping. Especially for people with kids, this is a perfect way to strengthen the bond as a family and have fun all at the same time. Remember that kids love outdoor spaces, so as long as you can take them to a safe campsite, you can leave the rest up to them. Enjoyment awaits!

2. Add a hiking element. To add even more adventure and frugal fun to a camping vacation, you could perhaps choose a camp location that offers hiking opportunities. There’s just so much excitement and adventure a hiking trip can bring, not to mention the exercise value that comes with it! You’ll burn some serious calories during a hike.

3. Choose a countryside cottage or farmhouse. Who says you have to stay at a five-star resort in order to enjoy a vacation? There are several rural and countryside options available for people interested in vacationing on a budget. Depending on where you live, you may be able to find:


• Wonderful farmhouses or cottages nearby that are tailored to families looking for a vacation with a difference

• A self-contained vacation opportunity that allows you to pack up your own food items and head off out of town

• The perfect chance to enjoy the rest and relaxation of a good vacation

4. Visit amusement parks. Any child you ask will tell you that being able to visit an amusement park would completely make their vacation experience worthwhile. Many parents, however, avoid that option because they feel it would be quite expensive. However, nothing could be further from the truth! You can find:


• Affordable hotels and motels with self-contained amenities like kitchens surrounding most of the popular amusement parks.

• Accommodation options that provide a great opportunity for you to pack your food items and head off on your amusement park vacation without worrying about “breaking the bank.”

These are just a few of the frugal ways you can take your family on vacation without overspending. Utilizing online resources as well as magazines and information from travel agents can help you identify other affordable options. The imagination you put into planning a vacation can make the normally expensive choices manageable by the standards of your pocket.

There comes a time when our bodies and minds need a crucial break from day-to-day activities. The best way to achieve that break would be to go on vacation. However, the idea is to identify vacation options that won’t be financially strenuous.

Once you identify such frugal vacations, you’ll be able to exhale in the comfort and relaxation of your vacation destination without worrying about how your bills will get paid when you get back.

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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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7 Top Tips to Enjoy a Frugal Halloween Party on a Budget

One of the enjoyable aspects of Halloween are the parties. Throwing a Halloween party can get quite expensive. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be. Following are just a few of frugal and budget-friendly Halloween Party tips to help you and your family enjoy a frugal Halloween party on a budget.

1. Buy your candy early and check out the bulk food stores, warehouse clubs and dollar stores. Candy takes stage front and center during Halloween and the weeks preceding it. However, candy can be purchased year around. In fact, if you’re a savvy Halloween shopper and party thrower, you’ll buy next year’s candy right after the Halloween holiday. That’s when it’s cheapest. It’s kind of like buying a turkey the day after Thanksgiving.

2. Invite your guests to bring their favorite Halloween party snacks. This will save you a lot of time and money preparing snacks and you’ll get to enjoy all of the creative snacks people bring. You can then devote your attention to making scary but delicious punch, and decorating.

3. Gift bags – Visit a website like Orientaltrading.com for great goodie bag items. They have all sorts of fantastic Halloween knick-knacks and crafts for an extremely low price. You can also visit your local dollar store for great ideas.

4. Invitations – You can use an online invitation system like evite.com to send email invitations, or if you like old school traditional invitations consider making them yourself. A cut-out black spider from construction paper, glued onto a white note card, is a simple and attractive invitation. You can also make them on your computer if you’re not crafty.

5. Set the mood with music. Fortunately, music is now quite inexpensive. You can download a Halloween album or scary sounds for just a few bucks. Plug in your iPod or MP3 player, hit shuffle and repeat and your music is set. You can also position speakers in the windows on the front of your home to set the mood for partygoers as they approach your house.

6. Carve pumpkins – This makes both a great decoration for the party and a fun yet inexpensive activity for party goers.

7. Speaking of decorations, you can find them quite cheaply right after the holiday for next year. Also check on auction sites for decorations. Another option is to make your decorations yourself. Sheets, black dye, cotton balls pulled out to make spider webs and other items you can find around your home are enough to create a scary scene. And if you don’t want scary (maybe the children are too young) you can create cute Halloween decorations too. Spiders, bats and Jack O’Lanterns – oh, my!

With a little planning and creativity, it’s easy to enjoy a frugal Halloween party on a budget. Be prepared to plan ahead, ask others to contribute, and embrace your crafty side. This holiday only happens once a year so enjoy it and make the most of it.

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Frugal Summer Activities for Kids

by Frugal Simplicity

Frugal Summer Activities for Kids

If you have recently looked into summer camps for your kids, you were probably shocked to realize it could cost over $500 per week to keep two kids occupied from 9 to 3 every day. Insanity! Instead, you may want to get creative and entertain your kids for free or nearly free over the summer months.

Library and bookstore programs

In addition to regular year-round storytimes, many libraries and bookstores ramp up their summertime offerings for kids to include craft classes, visits by authors, and book clubs – all at a low cost, and sometimes absolutely free. Local libraries may even host magicians, clowns, cartoonists, and more.

Vacation Bible schools

Week-long day camps are a mainstay for many church youth programs. Usually the cost is minimal as the programs are subsidized by the church. The kids are treated to crafts, songs, outdoor activities, and more. If you plan it right, you can sign up for several camps at different churches in your area. Sometimes parents are enlisted for staffing, snacks, etc., so be aware of the requirements before you commit.

Babysitting co-op

Your friends with kids are in the same position you are – a long summer with no relief in sight. Team up to provide each other support. Enlist several of your friends with kids, and each family takes one day a week to host the kids for three or four hours. One day per week in exchange for three or four days of freedom is a great bargain!

Mother’s helper

If you have younger kids, you may want an extra pair of hands to help you entertain them while you get some work done around the house. And if you have older kids, you may just need someone to keep an eye on them to keep the living room from becoming a battle zone. In either case, a mother’s helper may be your ticket. Usually a mother’s helper is younger than a babysitter hired to watch the kids while you’re out. A mother’s helper also would typically charge less than the average high school sitter. Perfect for at-home, part-time help.

Start your own part-time daycare

Turn your pain into a gain, and watch other people’s children at your home for pay. Most states don’t require licensing for casual babysitting of just a few children, but check with your town and state to make sure you’re fulfilling all requirements. Be sure you have a schedule that remains structured in order to provide reliable care. Offering a safe and fun place for several children to remain while their parents are at work may be a perfect solution to your own family’s summer activity plans.

Having enough activities for your children this summer doesn’t have to cost a fortune. You can keep your family active and happy all summer long with just a little bit of ingenuity. Have fun for very little money and create a summer full of fun!

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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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