Sweet Frugal Life

Being Frugal Doesn't Make Life Any Less Sweet

10 Free Fathers Day Gift Ideas

By: Sweet Frugal Life14 Comments

Celebrate dad with these Free Fathers Day ideas.

Do you ever want to gift your Dad something extra special…..but constantly draw a blank???   This is how I feel every.single.holiday.  I am constantly racking my brain for that perfect “knock your socks off” gift…..but, I am also on a tight budget and don’t want to spend a lot of money on this gift. This makes it so difficult!  You know what I have learned though???  My dad doesn’t want me to spend a lot of money on him!  Sure, he wants to be loved and appreciated, but that doesn’t come with a price tag.  It comes through loving actions and careful thought.  So, I have started giving him Free Fathers Day Gifts.  They are all chosen from the heart with love and thought to his personality.  Here are a few of my gift ideas.

frugal fathers day ideas

I am a member of online affiliate programs.  I will receive compensation from purchases made through links in this post.  All opinions are my own.

Here are 10 Ways You can Show Dad You CARE, Without Spending a Dime

1.  Bake Him Something

Bake your dad his favorite treat!  Does he have a favorite cookie, or does he love fresh homemade bread?  Make it for him!  Be sure to package it in a gift bag with a nice ribbon for the perfect finishing touch.

My dad loves homemade snickerdoodles, so this is a gift I’ve given him for a few Fathers Day.  He loves the cookies and loves that I remember his favorite things.

2.  Watch the Game Together

If your dad loves to watch sports, invite him over to watch a game together.  Use this as a time to enjoy each others company and bond over something he enjoys.  Ask him questions about the game and take genuine interest in his interests.

My grandpa LOVES to watch “the game”, it honestly doesn’t matter what “the game” is, he just wants to watch it.  I lived with him very briefly a few years ago and I treasure the evenings when I sat down next to him, watched a game together, and listened to him explain all of his insights and opinions on what we were watching.

The simple moments spent with a loved one is often the times that bring the best memories, don’t you think???

3.  Give Him Service

Do something kind for your dad!  Does his garage need cleaned out or the lawn mowed?  Don’t even ask him first if he needs help!  Simply find a need, show up at his house, and get to work.  He will appreciate your thoughtfulness, and your willingness to help him without being asked.

4.  Send Him a Thoughtful Card

Pick out a nice card for your dad (from The Dollar Tree, of course), and write a thoughtful note inside.  Let him know just how much you appreciate everything he has done for you.  Stick it in the mail, or hand deliver it with a hug!

My love language is words of endearment, so a card means more to me than any other gift I could receive!

5.  Movie Night

Does your dad have a favorite movie?  Invite him over to watch the movie together.  Make sure to provide some popcorn and other treats (I love Good and Plenty…I know, I’m weird).

I always know I can get in some good quality time with my Father-In-Law if I offer to watch a John Wayne movie together!  I don’t necessarily enjoy John Wayne, but I know he does, and that’s what matters most!

4.  Get Outside

Is your father an outdoors man?  Suggest a day in the mountains together to go on a hike or fishing trip, choose whatever your dad enjoys most.  He’ll love that you’re the one doing the inviting!  Enjoy the quiet time together as a way to get to know him a little better.  Ask questions about his interests and childhood.  You just might learn something new!

7.  Game Night

Host an old fashioned game night at your house.  Invite your dad and a few of his friends and family members over.   Ask him to teach you one of his favorite games, or you can teach him one of yours!

Games are such a great ice breaker and the perfect way to have some laughs and bonding time together.  My favorite memories with my grandfather was playing games with him.  He didn’t talk much, but when we played games together he had a twinkle in his eye and I loved watching his quirky side come out.

Need a few game suggestions?  Here’s my list of our favorite frugal games.

8.  Best of Memory List

Make a fun list of all of your favorite memories together.  Include a few heartfelt memories, and some funny ones.   You could make the list a little extra special by including a few photos!

I have made my parents a few of these memory books from Mixbook.  They aren’t free, but you can make one for less than $20.  Memory Books are such a sweet keepsake.

9.  Cook Him Dinner

Invite your dad over for dinner and cook him all of his favorite foods.  Let him relax while you do all of the work.  Don’t forget to decorate the table in his favorite colors or interests (maybe even a sports team theme???).

My dad loves antiques, so if I were to decorate a table for him, I would be sure to include a few antiques as centerpieces.  Think for a few minutes about what your dad loves, and try to add it to the table in some way.  It’s these special details that can make a big difference.

10.  Play a Sport Together

Does your dad love sports?  Spend an evening outside playing a sport together.  You could shoot some hoops, play catch, or whatever it is that your father would enjoy most.  You might not be a sports fan, but play it with him anyways.  This makes it even more special that you were willing to put your interests aside for your sweet dad.

In Conclusion

There are so many cheap ways to celebrate Fathers Day!  The most important thing is you show him you care and love him.  Choose one of these free Fathers Day ideas and spoil him rotten!

 

Related Articles:

Cheap Gift Ideas for Neighbors, Teachers, and Friends

10 Valentines gifts for him under $10!

 

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Your dad will love these Free Fathers Day ideas.

10 Quick Ways to Save Money on Groceries

By: Sweet Frugal Life4 Comments

The best tips to save money on groceries.

Groceries is one of the biggest monthly expenses in most households.  And, unfortunately food prices continue to rise every single day.  The good news is that this is one of the expenses that can be lowered, it just takes a little extra effort.  I’ve been learning how to save money on groceries for over a decade now.  It has taken a lot of trial and error, but I have finally found a few tricks that work.

I am a member of online affiliate programs.  I may be compensated by purchases made through links in this post.  All opinions are my own.

secrets to spend less on groceries

1.  Meal Plan

Make a meal plan for all of your weekly meals and snacks.  Browse through pinterest boards, and recipe books to give you fresh ideas of what to cook each week.  As you meal plan, make a list of  groceries to buy.  Take this list with you to the grocery store and only buy what you wrote down, nothing else!

A good meal plan will be written based on what you already have in your pantry and cupboards.  Take a few minutes to take inventory of what you already have at home and plan your meals around those items.

Meal planning limits impulse buys and the temptation to eat out.  Do not skip this important step!

2.  Keep it Simple

It’s fun to experiment and try making a few fancy meals.  But, when you meal plan remember to think about the cost of ingredients.  Sometimes those fancy meals have ingredients that will cost you a lot of money.

Try simplifying how you cook to save money on groceries.  You don’t need to have simple meals every day of the week, but try to plan a few meals each week that are simple and basic.

Here are a few simple dinner ideas:  breakfast for dinner, grilled cheese sandwiches, pasta bake, bean burritos, spaghetti, quesadillas, etc.

3.  Buy What’s On Sale

As you meal plan check the weekly grocery ads to see what’s on sale for the week.  Plan your meals around those sales.  For example:  If chicken is on sale, I will plan a few meals with chicken.

If you have room in your grocery budget buy extra of what’s on sale.  If you buy it when it’s on sale, you will be spending less in the long run.  I like to stock up on snacks, cereal, fruit (buy fresh and freeze for later), and canned goods during sales.

The best way to check ads is by using the Flipp App.  It’s a completely free app to use and very easy to navigate.  You will enter your zipcode, select your favorite stores, and then can browse each of the ads.  There are new ads each Wednesday.

4.  Shop Your Pantry

Before you ever meal plan or even look at the weekly ads, look through your pantry.  Take a quick inventory of what you already have.  Plan your meals around those items.  Turn it into a game and try to come up with as many meals as you can, only using the ingredients you own.  This is a great way to use up the items you bought shopping sales.

If you have kids, turn this into a game.  Tell your kids that you are playing  Box Car Children (did anyone else love those books as kids????).  You can only eat the food you can find and gather around the house.  Kids love this!

Another way I use up my pantry is by having regular YO-YO nights.  YO-YO stands for “You’re On Your Own” and is really just a fancy way of saying we are having leftovers for dinner.  When I plan Yo-Yo for dinner the family knows we are eating leftovers and whatever can be found in the pantry.  Cheapest dinner around!

5.  Utilize Cashback!

Take advantage of every cashback app available.  It hardly takes any time to scan your receipts and you get FREE MONEY!

If I ever see my husband throw a receipt in the garbage without getting cashback I ask him, “Would you ever throw 50 cents in the trash can?  No!  But when you throw away a receipt without scanning it first, it is the same as throwing away money.”  The small cashback adds up!  In the 5ish years I have been using cashback apps I have gotten hundreds of dollars  back.

My Fave Grocery Cashback Apps

Ibotta:  The first cashback app I ever used was ibotta, and I’m still using it weekly.  It’s so easy to use!

All you have to do is shop, check the app for rebates, scan your receipt, and the money is instantly put into your ibotta account.  Easy.  Peasy.  They have a wide selection of rebates, and I can always find something to earn on.  My favorite rebates are the “any brand” rebates they often put on items such as milk, produce, pantry items, beauty and household.

*******Sign up for Ibotta with this link and you will get up to a $20 welcome bonus!  Yay!  This is the perfect way to try it out!***********

 

Discover Card:  My FAVORITE way to earn cashback is by shopping with my Discover Card.  I know a lot of people don’t like using credit cards, and I get it!  But, for me, this has been the best way for us to earn more money.

In short, when I shop with my Discover Card I automatically earn cashback on all purchases.  They give you 1% cashback on EVERYTHING and 5% on different categories that are rotated monthly.  (Currently, I am receiving 5% on groceries).

You don’t have to do anything, just use your card and your cashback will grow.  I earn around $500 cashback with Discover a YEAR, and all I do is shop like normal!

Fetch Rewards:  Fetch Rewards is hands down the easiest cashback app to use!  All you have to do download the Fetch Rewards app, scan your grocery receipt, and fetch will automatically reward you with points.  It’s seriously that easy!

These points can be redeemed for gift cards to ALLLL of your fave stores (I usually choose Amazon or Target!).  One of my favorite parts of Fetch Rewards is that your points can be redeemed for as little as $3 (3,000 points equals $3).  This makes collecting the reward quick and fun.

Checkout 51: Checkout 51 is very similar to ibotta.  You shop, scan your receipt and qualified purchases and you will get the rebated money instantly in your account.  Once you reach $20 in your account you can request your money, same as ibotta.  Most importantly, it only takes a few minutes to check for rebates and one minute to scan your receipt.  I have made over $50 cashback using Checkout 51!

6.  Cook From Scratch

The more you cook from scratch, the less money you will spend on groceries.  I know how big the temptation is to grab the prepacked foods at the grocery store.  But, if you really want to save money on groceries you need to learn to resist this temptation.

If cooking feels really overwhelming to you, start small with a few simple recipes.  Slowly try new things.  Don’t let a few failures get you down.  I have been cooking almost my whole life and I still make a few flops every now and then.

If you struggle finding the time to cook start meal prepping during the week.  Set aside one day each week as your meal prep day.  This might be a weekend, evening, or whenever you have free time.

Your meal prep day will be the day you cook up your meat, cut up veggies, and mix up a few snacks.  These can all be stored in your fridge to use throughout the week for meals.

7.  Buy Meat on Sale

Meat is one of the biggest grocery expenses.  Get into the habit of only buying it when it’s on sale.

One way to get cheaper meat is to buy it in bulk.  Look for places selling bulk meat, like Butcher Box, and stock up when they are having sales.

7.  Shop Less Often

How many times have you gone to the grocery store for “just one thing” and left with a cart full of food?!?!?  It has happened to me more times than I would like to admit!  The less times we go to the grocery store, the less money we will spend (I know you’re shocked right).

The next time you feel that temptation to run to the store for one little thing, don’t do it!  Instead, figure out how to make it work without buying that one ingredient.  Look up a good substitute ingredient, or find something else to make.  I promise your bank account will thank you!

8.  Calculate Your Spending

Make sure you don’t go over your grocery budget by keeping track of how much you are spending while at the grocery store (before checking out!).  Whip out your phone calculator and add up each item as you put it into your shopping cart.

This helps keep you on track so there is no surprises at the checkout counter.  If you see you are going over your budget, take some of the food out of your cart and put them back on the shelf.

The EASIEST way to keep track of how much you spend while grocery shopping is to shop using Walmarts Free Grocery Pickup.  This is probably the best invention ever.  Not only does it save me time and sanity (hello no crying kids in the grocery cart), but it also saves me so much money!

The Walmart Grocery App is easy to use.  Just open it up, click the items you want to add to your cart, and then check out when done!  You will select a time and day to pick up your groceries at your nearest Walmart.  A nice Walmart employee will bring your groceries out straight to your car and load them up for you!  It’s the best!!

Grocery shopping this way helps me easily keep track of how much I am spending.  Before I check out I look at how much money I have spent, if I have gone over the grocery budget I delete a few items until I get to the right amount.  I haven’t gone over budget since I started doing this!

********If you want to try Walmarts Free Grocery Pickup (AKA My Favorite Thing Ever!) you can get $10 off your first order by using this link!

9.  Buy Generic

I use to be such a name brand snob (not proud of it) and insisted I would never buy generic.  Many years later I am so glad I saw the error of my ways.Most generic grocery brands are just as good as the name brand, sometimes even better!  I now wish I would have realized this earlier, we could have saved so much more money!

Try buying less name brand and more generic and you will notice a huge savings on your grocery spending.  This is such a simple change that can make a big difference.

10.  Meatless Mondays

Spend less money on expensive meats by incorporating a few meatless meals into your weekly meal plan.  We like to have Meatless Mondays, which is one day every week when I plan a meal without meat.  You can set up your meatless days however works best for you.

I have found the best meatless meals are meals with beans, quinoa, soups and pastas.

BONUS

11.  Learn from Others

One of the best things I have one for my grocery budget is to study!  I read blogs, follow money saving Instagram accounts, and do what I can to study and learn from others grocery tips.  It takes time, and it takes a little bit of effort, but it has helped me tremendously!

One of my favorite blogs to follow is Money Saving Mom.  She gives realistic advice to help moms (and anyone!) save money.  I actually just bought her BRAND NEW ebook Slash Your Grocery Bill:  25 Tried and True Strategies and was so impressed!  She goes over 25 of the best methods to save money on groceries, giving details and easy to follow instructions.

I actually had no idea you could freeze baking mixes until I ready this book (it’s shared in tip #16!).  I am planning on whipping up a few baking mixes today and sticking them in my freezer for later use.

The best part is she has the book on sale for only $8.50!  Don’t waste any time and download Slash Your Grocery Budget today!  It is full of so much money saving goodness!

In Conclusion

I know you save money on groceries!  Try a few of the tips in this article, the more you try, the more you will save.  The most important thing is to never quit.  It takes constant effort to spend less at the grocery store.  I know you can do it!

 

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I know you can save money on groceries with these strategies.

 

 

The Best Free Audiobook Apps

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

How to listen to audio books for free.

Any other book worms out there??  I love to spend my free time reading a good book.  This year I set a goal to read 50 books as part of a reading program my library runs.  So far I am sticking to my goal, but only because of audiobooks!  They have helped me so much in finding time for a book.  I’m busy (aren’t we all) and some days I just do not have the time to sit down on the couch and read.  With an audiobook I am able to listen to the book while I’m washing dishes, folding laundry, driving in the car, etc.  They are the best!  A lot of people ask me how I can afford all of the audiobooks I listen to, but here’s the secret:  I have never bought an audiobook in my life.  All of the books I listen to using free apps (I love free!).  Today I am sharing my favorite free audio book apps.

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best free audiobooks apps

Libby

Libby is seriously my favorite free audiobook app.  I love it for audiobooks!  Libby is very user friendly and easy to use.  All you need is the free app and a library card!

How It Works:

  • Download the free Libby app to your digital device.
  • Sign up using your library card.  If you do not have a library card contact your local library.  They are free to get and sign ups are really quick and easy.
  • Once you are signed in you can browse thousands of audiobooks and eBooks.
  • When you find the book you want, simply click “Borrow”.  If the book is available it will instantly be made available for you to listen to.
  • Because Libby is connected to the library there are a limited number of copies for each book.  When the copies are all in use you will need to click, “Place Hold.”  You will now be in line for the book.  When it’s available it will be checked out to you.
  • You get to have your audiobook for two weeks before it needs to be returned.  If you need more time to listen, you can renew the book for another week (just as long as nobody else has a hold on it).
  • Lastly, listen and enjoy your audiobook.  After two weeks your book will automatically be returned, no need to worry about a late fee (yay!).

I love using Libby for so many reasons (it’s user friendly, it’s free, and all of my favorite books are on the app).  It does have a few drawbacks though.  The biggest is there is usually a long wait for the most popular books.

Check the app regularly for your favorite books (I usually browse weekly).  I have found if I reserve a few books each month, I will always have one or two available to listen to.

If you are wanting to listen to a book immediately, select “Available Now” in the Preferences section when you are browsing for books.  This helps narrow down the search to books you can listen to in the moment.

Overdrive

Overdrive is a very similar app to Libby.  It connects to your library card and offers thousands of free audiobooks.  In my experience though Overdrive was not very user friendly and I didn’t enjoy using it at all.

There is a plus side to Overdrive!  It is compatible with more devices than Libby is, including Kindle Fire, PC, MACs, etc.  This makes it easier for everyone to listen using their favorite method.  I know a lot of other people who love and recommend Overdrive, so maybe it was just me!  If your library doesn’t connect to Libby, try Overdrive!

LibriVox

LibriVox is an awesome app and website devoted to providing the public with free audiobooks.  The selection is a little limited, but you will find many classics and popular books including Little Women, Pride and Prejudice and Gulliver’s Travels.

The books are all read by volunteers, which is fantastic!  But, it also means that some readers are a little more boring to listen to than others.  Try out a sample or two before deciding on a book, I have heard some great readers!

Audible

Fair warning, Audible does cost a monthly fee for unlimited audiobooks.  It’s not a place I would recommend to most people.  However, I have used their free one month trial before and loved it!

I think the Audible free month trial is a great option for when you are going on a vacation and are wanting some fresh new books to listen to.  Try out the one month free membership and listen to as many books as you can for that month.  Just don’t forget to cancel before the next month!  (I like to set an alarm on my phone to help me remember)

Loyal Books

Another great public resource for audio books is Loyal Books.  It offers a huge selection of free audiobooks and ebooks.  The site is very similar to LibriVox with volunteer readers.  Loyal Books will offer you a few different titles though, so it’s great to check both places.

Amazon Prime

Did you know an Amazon Prime membership not only offers you free shipping, music and movies, but also free audiobooks?  That’s right!  Prime membership gives you access to thousands of audiobooks to listen to for free (for paying members).

If you are already paying for a prime membership, be sure to take advantage of their free books.  I personally don’t think it’s worth paying for a membership JUST for the books.  However, I did use their free 30 day trial membership and loved listening to free books during that time.  If you want to try it out, sign up for the free 30 days (but remember to cancel before your trial is done).

In Conclusion

There really is no reason to pay for audiobooks with all of these free audiobook apps available.  Remember that not all audiobooks are created equal.  Some reads have been really boring and hard to get interested in….others I haven’t been able to turn off.

For me, it comes down to who is reading the book and what the genre book is.  A non fiction book is really not enjoyable for me to listen to, but I love fiction.  And, there have been many books I have turned off because I didn’t connect to the readers style.

Don’t give up if you don’t enjoy your first few audiobooks.  Try a few genres until you find what works best for you.

 

Related Articles:

21 Free and Frugal Kids Educational Websites

9 Money Books That Will Change Your Life

7 Apps That Will Help You Save Money

 

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How to listen to audiobooks for free

best apps for audiobooks

I hope you love these free audiobook apps as much as I do!

 

The Best Budget Travel Tips

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Sharing my best Budget Travel Tips for your next vacation.

Do you long to to see the world, but finances are always holding you back?  I get it, I have this inner struggle almost daily.  But guess what I have finally learned……you CAN travel while on a budget!  We have successfully traveled to Disneyland, Kauai,  New York City, and more, all without spending a fortune.  You can do it too, you can travel, make memories, and see new places….it just takes a bit more planning, and a little more effort.  Today I’m sharing 17 of my Favorite Budget Travel Tips!  I wanted to gather even extra advice, so I asked my amazing Instagram followers for their budget travel hacks as well.  My wonderful followers delivered with some great responses and budget travel tips.

20 Plus Budget Travel Hacks

I am a member of online affiliate programs.  I will be compensated for purchases made from links in this post.  All opinions are my own.

Budget Travel Planning

1.  Plan Ahead

One of the most important budget travel tips is to plan thoroughly.  Plan your trips well ahead of travel time.  This will give you the time needed to search out the best deals, learn the peak travel times, and begin your travel Sinking Fund.  I prefer planning at least a year in advance; but anywhere between 6-12 months is ideal.

2.  Research

Study, research, and learn everything you can about the place you want to go.  Read travel blogs, check out books from the library, and a regularly check out travel websites to watch for deals on hotel and flights.  This gives you a good idea of how much the trip will cost, so when you see a good deal, you will know it’s a good deal.

3.  Be OK With Less

We have all seen the picture perfect vacations, with the expensive restaurants and luxuries.  It is fun to dream about these ideal vacations…but it’s more fun to be debt free!

Learn to be OK with a vacation that is maybe less than glamorous.  Ask yourself, “are you going on a vacation to relax and make memories, or to have the best pictures to show all of your friends????”  I bet it’s to make memories!

Most of us want a trip that is fun and relaxing, one where we can rejuvenate and make memories.  This can all be accomplished WITHOUT the fancy resorts.  Be mindful of your personal reality and financial situation.

This might mean your vacation will be a camping trip, or a stay cation.  For some it just might even be a stay at a resort island.  No matter the trip you can afford, love it, embrace it and make it the time of your life!

4.  Make a Budget and Stick to It

After some thorough research you should have a good idea of how much your trip will cost.  Use this information and your monthly income to make your trip budget.

Write this number down and commit to it.  You will find it extremely easy to spend a little extra here, and a little extra there, and before you know it you have gone FAR over budget.  Practice self control and don’t allow yourself any wiggle room.

5.  Travel Sinking Fund

Once your travel budget is in place, you need to make a Sinking Fund.  This will be a fund you save into over a long period of time.

Choose your target travel date, and divide your Sinking Fund by the number of months until travel.

For example:  if I had a budget of $1000 and wanted to travel in 6 months, I would divide $1000 by 12 and get $84.  I now know that I need to save $84 into my sinking fund each month to have enough money to cover the trip.

6.  Travel During Off-Peak Times

If possible plan your travel dates during off-peak travel times are for your specific destination (this will vary based upon where you are going).  Traveling off-peak will save you money on flights, hotels, and activities.  You’ll also be treated to less crowds!  (my fave!)

Off peak traveling does come at a small sacrifice.  To save money you might not have the best weather or specific circumstances, but it will save you money, focus on the positive!

More Travel Planning Tips From Instagram:

mommypa123:

“Besides having a vacation sinking fund, I buy stuff for vacation after season on clearance.”

melfinaw:

“RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH”

jane_tern:

“Trailer or RV travel instead of hotel.”

sellybelly:

“Travel off season!  Sometimes waiting just 1 week after “peak” times can save you hundreds.”

How to Travel When You are On a Budget

Savings On Traveling

7.  Tuesday Travel

Tuesday is the secret budget travel date.  Airfare is commonly cheaper on Tuesdays, than other days of the week.  Knowing this, try to plan your travel dates around Tuesdays.

8.  Road Trip

Seriously consider driving to your destination instead of flying.  The costs are significantly less, and some of the best family memories can be made in a car!  Really!

9.  Incognito Browsing Window

When you are searching flights, change your browser to incognito.  Websites use cookies to monitor your browsing habits; if they see you are searching for a particular flight, they will raise the prices.  Fortunately, with an incognito browsing window you can look at flights without being seen by cookies (yay!).

10.  Only Pack Carry-On Luggage

Most airlines charge for all checked luggage.  Save that money and only bring a carry-on suitcase.

Honestly, this is so hard for me (I like to pack options….)!  I am that person who is always sitting on my suitcase, trying to pack my clothes down while zipping it up at the same time.; all while looking longingly at my pile of clothes that didn’t fit into the suitcase (cue sad violins).

But, even though I don’t like to pack less, it is WORTH IT!  And truly, I never miss that extra “stuff” once I’m on vacation.

11.  Check Multiple Airports

When booking flights check all airports in the area you are traveling to.  You can usually find much cheaper deals at a smaller, less popular airport in the area.  This might mean you have to travel a little further to get to your final destination, but the savings is worth it.

What’s Instagram Saying????

thingsilearntalongtheway:

“Flying isn’t the only way to get around.  I once took a 12 hour overnight bus to save $500.”

amandaraybould:

“Pack half of what you think you need to pack so you don’t ever have to check a bag!”

hayleebroadhead:

“Use the Gas Buddy app.”

kkrhea12:

“Gate check your bag for free instead of paying when you initially check in, $25 saved!”

How To Cut Costs On Travel Food

10.  Pack Your Own Food

Save on food costs by packing as much of your own food as you can.  If you’re driving, pack a cooler full of cheap, quick to fix meals.

If you’re flying use Walmarts Free Grocery Pickup to order your groceries online, and the pick them up when you get to your vacation spot.  Always pack your own snacks and a lunch to eat at the airport.  Airport food is so expensive!

11.  Book a room with a kitchen

When booking a hotel room, find one that has a small kitchen.  This will help you prepare more food at the hotel and save on expensive eating out costs.  Or, even better stay at an Airbnb Rental.

I love to make easy, quick to fix meals while traveling.  We like oatmeal, sandwiches, frozen dinners, etc.

12.  Restaurant Gift Cards

Buy a few gift cards on Restaurant.com for restaurants in your travel destination.  These gift cards are sold at a discounted price giving you more food for less price!  (yay!)

You can also buy restaurant gift cards at Target.  If you use your Target Red Card you will get 5% off your purchase, including gift cards!

13.  Share Meals

When eating out order one large meal and request a few extra plates.  You can all share the one meal together.  Most waiters and restaurants are happy to oblige to this request!

What’s Instagram Saying?

flybytheseatofourpants:

“Bring your own food, eat out once a day.  Use credit card hotel points.”

garnishathome:

“Book an Airbnb with a kitchen so you can do some, or all, of the cooking yourself.”

theresa.runn:

“I make pizza the night before our travel day so we save money and time by not having to stop for lunch.”

Where to Stay

14.  Rent a Home

Consider renting a home from Airbnb instead of staying at a hotel.  The prices are much lower than hotels, and we love having a little extra space for our family.

****Bonus:  Save even more and get $40 off your first Airbnb Rental using this link! *******

15.  Earn Cashback

Always book your hotel through the Rakuten website.  This is the easiest way to earn cashback.

Rakuten partners with many popular travel websites, such as Travelocity and Priceline, to give you cashback on your normal purchases.  Many hotels offers 10% cashback on hotel room bookings.  This is free money, don’t miss out!

It’s so easy too!  Simply log into Rakuten, click the website name you want to shop on, and book your room as usual.  You will receive your cashback check every few months in the mail.

********Bonus:  Sign up for Rakuten using this link and you will get an EXTRA $10 cashback after you spend $25 (which is so easy to do if you’re traveling!)**********

What’s Instagram Saying????

jane_tern:

“Trailer or RV travel instead of hotel.”

3girlsmom29:

“Don’t buy anything at the hotel.”

Anonymous:

“I find that boutique hotels have modern looking interiors at a fraction of the cost of staying at a big hotel chain.”

Entertainment

16.  Free Activities

Every city you travel to will have free activities to do, you just have to search for them.  Take some time, do a little research and find the free activities every where you go.  Spend the day at a beach, explore a new park, go on a hike or explore a free museum.  You might just stumble upon a secret treasure.

17.  Use City Pass

Explore a new city using a a City Pass, or something similar.   City Pass gives you huge discounts on the top city attractioins, and is available in most large cities.

What’s Instagram Saying????

stewbrosmom:

“We always do Restaurant.com, Groupon, Living Social for discounts on food and activities.”

chantelle.hitchock:

“Camping is cheap. Also, travel near national parks – hiking is free!  Pack snacks for road trips.”

garnishathome:

“Google the best free sights/activities for the area you are visiting and plan ahead.”

 

In Conclusion

A good vacation is such a great way to unwind and relax!  You can enjoy this without going into debt or spending a fortune.  Just remember to do your research and plan smartly.

 

Related Articles:

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How to Budget With Sinking Funds

By: Sweet Frugal Life4 Comments

The answer to What Is A Sinking Fund and your other most asked questions about sinking funds ANSWERED!

My husband and I really like to travel.  We don’t do it a lot, but it is a conversation we are always having.  The secret to being able to travel while on a tight budget?  Sinking funds!  They are my very favorite part of our budget!  Today I’m explaining exactly what are sinking fund.

Do you use sinking funds in your budget??  If you don’t use them yet, I strongly suggest beginning immediately!  They have enabled me to save up for the things we want, and the things we need; and they allow me to enjoy spending GUILT FREE.

complete guide to sinking funds

What is a Sinking Fund?

A sinking fund is a smart way of saving money for planned future expenses.  You contribute a small percentage of your income into the sinking fund each month.  This gives you the ability to pay for the large expenses without having any stress; the money is ALREADY there!

For example, we use a sinking fund to save for our Christmas expenses each year.  We know that December will be an expensive month, so we save a little bit of money each month into our Christmas Sinking Fund, and when the time arrives, we can easily pay for everything.

What types of Sinking Funds should I have?

Sinking Funds will be different and unique to each person and situation.  Any known expense that you feel you should save up for, is a Sinking Fund.  A few examples of sinking funds are:

  • Christmas
  • Vacation
  • Home Repair
  • Taxes
  • Car Maintenance
  • Clothing
  • Retirement

Is this my Emergency Fund?

No, no and no!  Your Emergency Fund is for emergencies ONLY!  An emergency is usually an UNPLANNED expense.

A sinking fund is for all of those other expenses that arise, the ones that you know are coming and know will be expensive.

Example:

I KNOW that Christmas will come EVERY year, so I save for it through my sinking fund.  I KNOW that we want to take our kids on a vacation in a couple of years, so I have a sinking fund to save for that large expense.

How much should I save?

The amount to save into your sinking funds will depend on your income and what you are saving for.  The best way to determine this number is to write down your goal amount, divide it by the number of months until you will need that money, and then you have the exact amount to save each month.

Example:

If we wanted to spend $1000 on Christmas and we started saving in January we would compute the equation:  $1000 divided by 11 = (about) $91.  So, now we know that we need to save $91 every month to have our Christmas fully funded by December.

Do I need to save a large sum each month, or make smaller contributions?

I encourage you to put money into your Sinking Fund with every budget that you make.  Budgets are made at different intervals, usually depending on preference and pay period.  I make my budget monthly, so I deposit into my sinking fund once each month.  If you budget weekly, deposit money into your funds weekly.

Piggy bank with one dollar bill

Where do I keep my Sinking Funds?

You will want your money saved in a place that will be readily available.  Do not put these funds into the stock market.  A regular savings account or money market account is best.  I know of a few people who prefer setting up multiple savings accounts for each individual Sinking Fund.  Check with your bank about opening up multiple accounts, my bank charges for each account, so it just wouldn’t be worth it to me.

We decided to keep the funds all together in one savings account.  This is where an excellent budgeting program comes to play.  I use YNAB for budgeting and it allows you to set up certain categories as Sinking Funds.  This makes it possible (and so easy) to be able to track how much each fund holds at all times.

If paper and pen is your thing, go with it!  You can easily track your sinking funds using my Free Sinking Fund Tracker.  Download it, along with 4 other free printables below.

 

 

How is a Sinking Fund different than a Savings Account?

It’s not really.  I use my bank savings account as a place to store my emergency fund and all of my sinking funds.  The biggest reason to use a sinking fund is to encourage you to save with intention and purpose.

Scenario 1:

Johnny saves $100 every month into his bank savings account.  He is proud of his regular savings and dreams of one day having enough for vacations, a new car, or any emergencies that may arise.

After one year Johnny has $1,200 saved.  He had some needed to make repairs in his basement bathroom and used the entire savings account to cover the costs for those repairs.

Scenario 2:

April saves $100 every month into her bank savings account.  She uses YNAB (or any other budgeting program) to save this money into separate sinking funds.  Monthly she puts $50 into her emergency fund, $25 into her new car fund, and $25 into her vacation fund.

After one year April has $1,200 in her emergency fund, $600 in her home maintenance fund, $300 in her new car fund, and $300 in her vacation fund.

April now has possibilities.  She can use her home maintenance fund to begin repairs on her basement bathroom, or wait a few more months to help that grow a little more.

The Lesson

When you save money using sinking funds you are are giving yourself options and control over your savings.  You are making it possible to save for large expenses, without having to juggle all of the other costs that can get in the way.  Think of sinking funds as a budget for your savings account.

In Conclusion

If you aren’t using sinking funds in your budget, I highly suggest you start now.  It opens up a whole new world of saving possibilities!  Make sure to grab my free budget printables below to help you get started.

 

 

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Now that you know what is a sinking fund, start making a few today!

10 Quick Ways to Lower Your Electricity Bill in Summer

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

How to lower your electricity bill in summer.

Summer time is just around the corner.  I can’t wait for the slow pace of summer and the fun memories we will make.  The only downside to summer is the increase in the electricity bill!  It gets hot around here, which means we run our Air Conditioner a lot.  I have researched a few ways to lower your electricity bill during summer and wanted to share them with you!

lower summer electricity bill

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1.  Seal Leaks

Often you will find air leaks around windows and exterior doors of your home.  These leaks lets the hot air in during the summer.

Spend some time checking all of your doors and windows for leaks.  Many of them you will be able to see, but others might require a little more searching.

One tip I have used before is to wet my hand and hold it around the door or window.  It there is a leak I will notice my hand getting cold due to the slight breeze.

Once you determine where your air leaks are you will need to seal them off.  This can be done with caulking and/or weatherstrips.

2.  Close Your Curtains and Blinds

Give your home added insulation by closing your window blinds and curtains on hot summer days.  This will keep your home cool and the heat out.  Keep in mind that heavier curtains will insulate better!

3.  Use Ceiling Fans

Use your ceiling fans to help keep yourself cool while at home.  They are much cheaper to run than an air conditioner.  Remember, they only cool you if you’re sitting under them, so turn them off when you aren’t in the room.

4.  Open Windows To Let In The Breeze

If you live in an area that gets cool in the evenings, use this to your advantage!  Open up your windows, turn off the air conditioner and let the cool breeze in.  We like to keep our windows open up all night, and then in the morning we shut them to trap the cool air in for as long as possible.

5.  Spend More Time In The Basement

It’s no secret that heat rises, so spend more time in your basement.  The more time you hang out downstairs, the less you will need to run your expensive A/C.

We like to head to the basement in the afternoon, right when the heat starts to rise.  It’s always nice and cool and a good change of scenery!

6.  Unplug Devices

A device plugged into the wall will use energy (which costs you money), even if it’s not in use.  Get into the habit of unplugging all devices and appliances when they are not in use.  So, the next time you finish using your toaster, coffee maker, phone charger, etc. unplug it from the wall and you will see your utility bill decrease.

7.  Use LED Bulbs

As your old incandescent light bulbs burn out, replace them with LED light bulbs.  The cost upfront is more expensive, but so worth it in the long run.  Check out this Light Bulb Showdown article to see the huge life time savings in this one simple change.

8.  Keep Lights Off

Another way to lower your electricity bill is to keep household lights off as much as possible.  Turn off all lights when you leave a room and when the sun is shining.

A few months ago we found our utility bills a little high, so we had a talk with our kids reminding them to please turn off lights when they aren’t using them.  The kids responded well, and the next month we were so happy to see our electricity bill decrease!

9.  Increase Thermostat Setting

Try increasing your thermostat setting by a few degrees.  We try to keep ours at 78 degrees during the summer months.  Every degree you can raise your thermostat will make a difference in your electricity bill.

If 78 feels high, try increasing it just 1 degree every few weeks.  Your body will adjust to the higher temps and it won’t feel as hot if you do this slowly.

10.  Use Your Grill

Ditch your oven and do more cooking outside on the grill.  The heat from the oven contributes to heating the house, resulting in your A/C unit needing to be ran more.  Keep that heat outside by using your grill more often.

Get creative with your meals!  Did you know you can grill a pizza???  You can!  We do it all the time and love it!

In Conclusion

Choose two or three (or all ten) of these tips and start implementing them into your routine.  If you stay consistent you will see a change in your electricity bill immediately.

 

You Might Enjoy These Related Articles:

8 Ways to Save Money on Utilities This Winter

What to Cut From Budget to Save Thousands

Extreme Ways to Cut Your Budget

 

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I hope this helped you learn how to lower your electricity bill in summer.

50 Free Screen Free Summer Kids Activities

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

The Ultimate List of Screen Free Summer Kids Activities

Summer break is just around the corner.  I have been looking forward to summer for weeks!  I just love having my kids home with me and I always look forward to a more relaxed schedule full of fun family activities.  There are so many free summer kids activity, and we love to take advantage of all of them!

fun summer activities

Outdoor Summer Kids Activities

 Picnic at The Park

Enjoy some time outdoors with a picnic at the park.  We love going to a new park each week exploring different areas of our city.  We bring these Rate The Park sheets with us and my kids love critiquing each park we attend.

Rate The Park printable

Play Frisbee

Get out a Frisbee to throw around with your kids.  Check to see if your local parks have a Frisbee golf course for something new.

Run Through the Sprinkler

I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to run through the sprinkler without having fun.  There is just something about this simple activity that brightens up the day.

“Paint” with Water

Get out a bucket of water and an old paintbrush.  Let your kids use the water and brush to “paint” the sidewalk, house and anything else they want.  It’s so fun for them to watch the color change as they paint.

Go on a Walk

Get outside and get moving with a nice walk.  We love to walk around our neighborhood or try out a few of the walking paths in our city.  Make a family goal to walk 100 miles over the summer and celebrate with a treat once accomplished.

 

100 Miles Challenge Printable

Picnic in Backyard

Move the meal outside with a simple backyard picnic.  Lay a blanket down in the shade and eat dinner outdoors enjoying nature.

Draw With Sidewalk Chalk

Get out some sidewalk chalk and draw pictures on your driveway.  You could draw a hopscotch course or a road for your bikes to travel through.

Draw on Sidewalk With Ice Cubes

Don’t have any side walk chalk?  Draw with ice cubes instead!  They will melt on the hot pavement as you are drawing your picture.

Go On A Bike Ride

Go on a fun bike ride together as a family.  Make sure to log your bike miles on your 100 Miles Challenge printable.

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Give your kids a paper bag and a list of items to find out in nature.  This might be a rock, pine cone, dandelion, etc.  Have them go out and collect their findings in their bag.  When they get back let everyone show up their new treasures.  Such a fun way to get kids outside exploring.

Go On A Hike

Take your kids on an easy hike.  Make sure everyone finds a hiking stick!  That’s always a necessity in our family.

Plant A Garden

Have your kids help you plant a garden.  They will be so proud when they harvest their veggies.

Jump On The Trampoline With Water Balloons

Fill up a few water balloons with water and put them on the trampoline.  The kids love jumping with them and the surprise of when they pop and spray out water.

Play Catch

Get out a ball and play catch.  Try to see how many times you can catch it without letting it drop.

Blow Bubbles

Go outside and blow bubbles together.  See who can make the biggest bubble!

girl blowing bubbles

Go Geocaching

We love geocaching.  It’s such a fun way to explore new places, and the kids love finding the treasure!

Play Night Games With Flash Lights

Invite a group of friends over to play night games together.  Our favorites are Ghost In The Graveyard and Kick The Can.

Catch Bugs

Look for bugs to catch.  Keep them in a jar for an hour to watch and observe.  Then set them free again.

Star Gaze

Stay up late one night so you can watch the stars.  Show your kids a few of the constellations and try to find a shooting star.

Make a Fairy Garden

Use your creativity and put together a Fairy Garden in your back yard.  Build a mini house out of twigs and decorate with twigs and flowers around.  We did this a few years ago and it was such a fun summer activity!

Give The Bikes a Wash

Set up a car wash, but for the bikes!  Kids love using the hose, rags and soap to wash off their bikes.

Play Jump Rope

Get out a few jump ropes to play with.  Try to see how many times you can jump over the rope before it stops or play a few games like Double Dutch.

Make An Obstacle Course

Use your backyard to make an obstacle course for your kids.  They might have to walk across a “balance beam” (piece of wood or jump rope), run around all the cones (or chairs), jump on the trampoline three times, and then throw a ball.  Use your imagination and get creative while setting it up.  Use a timer to see how fast they can get through the course.

Set up a Lemonade Stand

Mix up some lemonade and sell it in front of your home.  This is a fun way to socialize with the neighbors and help the kids learn about money.

Make a Nature Journal

Start a Nature Journal.  This will be a place to save some of the fun things you find outside, draw pictures of the places you visit and write all about what you love about nature.

 

 

Indoor Summer Activities

Make Play Dough

Whip up some homemade play dough to play with.  This play dough recipe is so quick and easy!  Or, if you want to try something different (and my kids fave) check out this Peanut Butter Play Dough recipe.

Lined up plasticine balls isolated

Try A Science Experiment

Try out a new science experiment.  We love this Magic Toothpick Experiment.  It’s super quick and mess free (just the way this mamma likes it!)

Bake Cookies

Spend a few hours in the kitchen together baking your favorite cookies.  We personally love chocolate chips!  This is a great way to help kids learn how to read a recipe too!

Make Up A Play

Encourage your kids to make up a play that they can perform.  Set up a little stage area to help them feel official.  Invite over a few grandparents to watch the big performance!

Build A Fort

Get out some blankets and build a big fort.  You can drape them over the kitchen table or a few chairs.  Once your fort is built you can cuddle up and read books together or watch a movie!

Make A Dream Catcher

If your kids enjoy crafting, make a dream catcher together.  It’s a great craft for older kids who are able to sit still.  I love this tutorial for making a beautiful dream catcher.

Make Slime

Slime is all the rage in the kid crowd.  It only requires a few ingredients and brings hours of fun play.  Here’s a super easy slime recipe.

Play Hide-and-Seek or Sardines

Play a few family friendly games in the house.  We love Hide And Seek or Sardines!

Color Hot Rocks

Try out our favorite twist on painting rocks.  All you need is a rock and some crayons!  Find the tutorial here.

Painting Baked Rocks

Write Letters To Friends or Family

Everyone loves to get an old fashioned letter in the mail, or at least I do!  Spend an afternoon writing letters for friends or family.

Play Board Games

My daughters and I love spending an afternoon playing board games together.  It’s such a fun way to pass the time!

Make A Summer Scrapbook

Put together a summer scrapbook of your favorite summer memories.  Include pictures and any special events.

Sing Karaoke

Find free karaoke songs on YouTube and have an old fashioned karaoke party.   We have this karaoke machine and love it so much!

Make A Nature Bookmark

Preserve flowers you find on your nature walk by turn them into a Nature Bookmark.

Fold Origami

Learn how to fold origami.  There are many easy tutorials on YouTube.  I would start with a frog, they are my favorite!

Put On A Puppet Show

Make puppets out of brown paper bags and put on a puppet show.

performance in the puppet theater

Make Homemade Butter

Teach your kids about life on the prairie by making homemade butter together.  All you need is some cream and a jar!

Indoor Treasure Hunt

Put together a simple indoor treasure hunt for your kids to go on.  You can hide different items around the house with clues to find each one.

Go To The Library

Visit your local library for a fun day out.  We always set a goal to read 50 books in a summer, the library is the perfect place to get to that goal!

Play Dress-Up

Get out a few dress up clothes for your kids to play in.  If you don’t have any, let them dress up in some of your clothing.

Have A Dance Party

Turn on some music and have a dance party in your living room!  I have a playlist on my phone with all of our favorite dance tunes, it’s so fun!

Put Together A Puzzle

Spend the day doing a puzzle together.  It’s so relaxing and a great way to bring out some conversation.  We love Eric Dowdle Puzzles!

Make Ice Cream In A Bag

Make homemade ice cream in a bag.  It’s really easy to do and the perfect activity for a hot summers day!

ice cream in a bag

Have An Impromptu Photo Shoot

Get dressed up and have an impromptu photo shoot.  Let your kids choose the poses and locations.  It’s always so fun to see what they come up with!

Learn Magic Tricks

Look up a few magic tricks on YouTube.  Once you have a few tricks learned, put on a magic show for your friends!

In Conclusion

There are so many fun kids summer activities out there, and many of them won’t cost you any money at all.  Kids grow to fast!  I hope you will use summer time as a way to reconnect and build lasting memories.

 

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How To Watch TV Without Cable or Satellite

By: Sweet Frugal Life2 Comments

Everything you need to know about how to watch TV without cable or satellite.

Truthfully, I use to be so in love with my cable TV (this was back in my non-frugal days).  I remember telling my friends that, “I could never live without my DVR!”  I didn’t even know how to watch TV without cable or satellite.

Well, years and years later, I am here to tell you that I CAN actually live without cable (go figure 😉 )!

Five years ago we decided to make some big cuts in our budget.  When the talk of whether or not we should cut out the cable I wasn’t super thrilled with the idea.  But, I wanted to trim our budget and knew that this was a need, not a want.  So, we cancelled it.

And you know what.  There has not been a single day when I have regretted it.  There have definitely been a few times when I have MISSED having cable,  but I have never regretted getting rid of it.  The amount of money that we have saved is so worth it.

If you are wanting to cut costs in your budget, I highly recommend cutting out the expensive cable or satellite television.  I’ll share a few budget friendly options below.

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save money today with cheap tv options

Budget Friendly Cable Alternatives

It wasn’t even hard to find a few cheaper services for our family.

Digital Antennae

The first and cheapest option we did was to buy a digital antennae.  This was a one time purchase of $30 and enables us to get all of the public channels for free.  The only TV we had for a few months was this digital antennae.  If you are on a strict budget, this is the perfect option for you.  It provides great TV with NO monthly payments.  My kids love watching PBS Kids and my husband and I enjoy the news and a few favorite evening shows (I’m talking about you This Is Us).

Library

Did you know that your local library has hundreds of free videos available to checkout??  They do!  If you aren’t using this great service, I recommend starting now.  We love to stop every week and choose a couple of new books and videos while returning the old ones.

Young woman watching TV

Streaming Services

Looking for more options than a digital antennae provides?  Check out these affordable subscription services.

Netflix

Netflix is seriously one of the best inventions ever!  They have just about anything you would want to watch, available 24/7!  Documentaries, horror films, chick flicks, popular TV series, kids shows, and more!  Everything is there!

With plans starting at just $8.99/month, this is a great budget friendly option for TV viewing.

Hulu

Another great option is Hulu.  They are one of the cheapest options with the lowest plans only $5.99/month.  One of my favorite things about Hulu is there great selection of new releases and current TV shows available.  You don’t have to feel like you’re missing out on current TV.

Disney+

One of the newer TV subscription services available is Disney+.  Our family have quickly became huge fans!  We love all of the Marvel and Disney options.  My teen/tween daughters especially enjoy watching the Disney Channel original series.  Plans start at only $7.99/month.

Amazon Prime Video

We all love Amazon (don’t we? or is that just me???).   One of the awesome perks of Amazon is Amazon Prime.  With their low price of just $12.99/month you are given access to stream hundreds of popular TV shows and movies, including a few Amazon Prime originals.  PLUS!  Amazon Prime offers access to music, books, two day shipping and more!

How To Watch

You can watch these streaming services on your smart TV, computer, or phone.

If you don’t have a smart TV I recommend getting a Roku.  The Roku gives you the ability to access all of these subscription services in one easy place.  It is a one time low price and very user friendly.  There are hundreds of apps/channels available to add to your device, some of them are even free…no subscription required!  Yay!

The Results

By only subscribing to a couple of streaming services and cutting out our cable we have saved $500 a year!  This means that in the 7 years since we have cancelled our cable we have saved $3,500!

Just think about what you could buy for $3,500.  I don’t know about you, but I would much rather spend that money on something other than TV.  The little expenses always add up!

 

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I hope this helped you know how to watch TV without cable or satellite.

Easy Summer Break Ideas For The Kids

By: Sweet Frugal Life2 Comments

A few ideas to keep the kids busy over summer, including some awesome free summer Printables.

I am so excited for summer to start.  I honestly love having my kids home with me and have been busy coming up with some fun summer break ideas.

We have started a few summer break traditions that I look forward to each year.  It helps to keep some routine and structure at home, and helps keep the kids from getting to bored!

Today I’m sharing all of the printables I use for these activities.  I hope that it helps you and your kiddos have a wonderful summer.  Each of the printables are shared in each section.

OR!

If you want all of the printables in one easy bundle, just scroll to the bottom and you can download all of them together.  Yay!

Screen Time

I really hope my kids aren’t the only kids out there who think they need hours of screen time a day (and tell me your secrets if your kids don’t think this!)  BUT, I do not want them spending the warm beautiful months sitting in the house staring at a screen.

A few years ago I implemented a few rules for the kids to earn their screen time.  It has worked SO well!  Here’s how it works….

Every morning my kids have chores that need to be completed.  Once those chores are done they can then begin working towards earning screen time.

Screen time is earned by doing one of activities on our list for 30 minutes.  For every 30 minutes completed, they will earn 15 minutes of screen time.

Do you want to know what’s been great about this???  Most of the time, when they start doing one of the activities on the list they forget they even wanted screen time in the first place!  And watching the kids use their creativity and imaginations all day long is the best parts of summer.

summer screen time printable

Download your Free Summer Screen Time Printable here.

Weekly Park Ratings

A friend shared the idea of weekly park ratings with me a few years ago and we have absolutely loved it!

Here’s how it works:

Every week visit a new park in your area.  Bring the Park Rating Sheet with you each time.  Let your kids explore and critique the park.  They get to be the one deciding if it’s a good park or not.

Kids think it’s so fun to be the one in charge of the park critique.  I usually put our rating sheet on a clipboard with a pen attached….this makes them feel even more legit.  😉

Rate the park printable

You can download your Free Park Rating Sheet here.

Summer Bucket List

A summer bucket list is always a must in our household!  It helps me remember all of our summer break ideas and gives us something fun to look forward!  Plus, it’s so fun to cross each item off the list as we finish another activity.

A few of the favorite summer bucket list items are:

Ice Cream In a Bag

Play Dough

Nature Craft

Color Hot Rocks

Summer Bucket List Printable

Here is your Free Summer Bucket List download!

50 Books Challenge

We love signing up for our library summer reading program.  It’s such a great program to encourage kids to read, and they love earning prizes throughout the summer.

Our family goal is to read 50 books every summer.  We use the chart below to help us track our progress.  It’s a little hard to complete, but fun to try!

Read 50 Books Printable

Download your Book Challenge Printable here.

Chef of the Day

If you are looking for a way to get your kids cooking in the kitchen, I highly recommend starting a summer Chef of the Day.

Each child is given one day of the week where they are the chosen “chef.”  The chefs job is to choose what to make for dinner and then help mom prepare it.

My kids have learned so much about cooking and it’s such a fun bonding time for the two of us as we cook together preparing dinner.  Try it!  You won’t regret it!

100 Miles Challenge

Encourage your family to stay active during the summer with the 100 miles challenge.

For every mile someone in your family bikes, walks or runs you can mark a square on the chart.  Easy and fun, just the way I like it!!

After completing your 100 miles challenge celebrate in a fun way.  Make go out to dinner or to a local water park.  Whatever your family decides.

100 Miles Challenge Printable

100 Miles Challenge Free Printable

In Conclusion

I hope that one or two or all of these printables will help you have a wonderful summer with your kiddos!  Remember, we only have 18 summer with our kids before they are gone.  Let’s enjoy every single one of them!

 

Here are your 5 Free Summer Printables in one easy download.  Enjoy!!

 

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How NOT to Be Frugal

By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Never do these things if you want to be frugal.

Want to be frugal?  Great!  So do I!  Here is a list of what NOT to do if you want to live a frugal life.

I hope it will help inspire you to make a few changes in your life….or maybe you already don’t do them all!

how to not be frugal - frugal tips

1.  Pay Full Price

A frugal person will always look at a price and think, “how can I get this for cheaper?”  They will look for ways to get a better deal by:

  • Waiting for it to go on sale
  • Looking for a coupon to use
  • Ask for a cheaper price
  • Use a cashback app after purchasing

2.  Buy Something Just Because It’s On Sale

Yes, a frugal person will always look for a better price, that doesn’t mean they pay for every deal that comes their way.

Real talk here, I use to be the person that bought something just because it was on sale.  I took advantage of every deal that came my way, thinking I was such a smart shopper (eye roll)….

I remember proudly telling my husband about my good buy.  Our conversations use to go a little like this:

Me:  “Guess how much money I saved on this shirt because it was 10% off?!?!”

Husband: “Did you need a new shirt?  Were you going to buy a new shirt?”

Me:  “No, but it was such a good deal, I had to buy it!”

Husband:  “So, basically the store tricked you into spending $15 today.”

Me:  “Ummmm…..well….ehhhh…..”

Sound familiar to anyone????

Now that I am frugal I know that sales and deals are often geared towards the purpose of convincing the shopper to spend money.  If you need something and it goes on sale, buy it!  If you don’t need anything, skip the deals!

My rule of thumb is….there will always be another sale.  Always.

3.  Impulse Shop

Buying items on impulse is something a frugal person would never do.  They always make a plan and stick to it while shopping.  Every purchase has already been thought about, planned out, and saved for.

4.  Throw Away Leftovers

Leftovers are always saved in a frugal household.  A frugal person knows a few tricks to make these leftovers work for a new meal.  They might eat it for lunch the next day or turn it into a whole new meal.  I love to make tacos and then use the leftover meat for a yummy taco soup the next day.

5.  Make a Big Purchase Without Comparison Shopping

Frugal shoppers know to always compare prices before making a big purchase.  They research similar products and ask around for a better deal.  After a few days they can make their purchase with confidence knowing they are getting the best bang for their buck.

6.  Run To The Grocery Store For Just “One Thing”

When a frugal person realizes they need just one item for dinner, they don’t run to the grocery store to buy it.  Instead, they figure out how to make it at home.

A few weeks ago I realized I didn’t have any enchilada sauce for the dinner I had planned.  So, I took a little extra time and made my own from scratch.

How many times have you gone to the grocery store for “just one thing”, but left with 4-5 things???  I have done this WAY more times than I would like to admit, so now, I avoid any “just one thing” shopping.

7.  Eat Out Regularly

Most frugal people cook at home as much as possible.  Eating out only happens on occasion.  When a frugal person does go out to eat it, they try to choose a place with a deal or coupon.

8.  Ignore Cash Back Apps

A frugal person knows that every single penny matters.  They would never toss away a receipt without first scanning it into a cashback app.

9.  Pay a Handyman

Why pay someone to do a job that you can easily do yourself?  Frugal people will learn the skills they need to do any handy man jobs around the house.  This might include changing their oil, fixing a leaky faucet, yard work, etc.

Handyman ready for work

10.  Buy Something You Could Make Yourself

Similar to not paying a handy man, a frugal person will learn how to make things at home, rather than buying it at the store.

A few items you might find at a frugal household is homemade; household cleaners, bread, pizza, crafts, gifts, birthday cakes, spaghetti sauce, etc.

11.  Pay For Cable

Netflix is a frugal households best friend!  They don’t want to pay for an expensive cable subscription, and instead finds cheaper ways to enjoy television.  In addition to Netflix they probably enjoy Hulu, or Amazon Prime.

We cut our cable out a few years ago and have saved thousands of dollars since.  And, you know what….I have never missed cable…not ever!

12.  Pay Late Fees

When you are frugal you never pay a late fee, all bills are paid in full and on time.

14.  Buy The Newest Trend

There are always new trends that come on the market.  New gadgets, phones, clothing, cars, etc.  When you are frugal you realize that trends come and go and that waiting a few years to buy the new big thing will likely save you hundreds of dollars.

I can’t tell you how many times I use to buy the new clothing trend to only have it sit in my closet collecting dust a few months later.  It’s so important to focus on only buying items you know you will enjoy and use for the long term.

15.  Shop Without a List

Frugal people know that going to the store without a list is just flirting with a spending disaster.  Shopping with a list prevents impulse shopping and overspending.  It keep you accountable and focused on your shopping goal.

16.  Pass Up Opportunities To Earn More Money

An opportunity to earn more money is rarely passed up by a frugal person.  They are always looking for more streams of income.  This might be from a side hustle, a smart investment, or working overtime.

17.  Care About Brand Names

Frugal people understand that brand names simply do not matter.  They focus more on value over brand.  At times they might decide a brand name is worth the value, and other times it’s not.

For example:  When I had young kids, I always bought name brand diapers….because it’s the only one that worked.  The extra money was worth it!  However, I never buy name brand medications.  I’ve found the off brand works just as good!

18.  Buy Everything Brand New

There are so many ways to buy used high quality products.  A frugal person will look for used products before immediately buying something brand new.  A few of the best things to buy used are:

  • Clothing
  • Cars
  • Furniture
  • Books
  • Tools
  • Baby Gear

I love Facebook marketplace, garage sales, and thrift stores for buying gently used items.

19.  Wait to Invest

A non frugal person will put off investing, thinking there is always time later down the road to worry about investing.  However, if you are frugal you understand the value of time when it comes growing your wealth.  They will start investing and contributing to a retirement plan as soon as possible, and will never stop.

20.  Keep an Empty Freezer

A frugal freezer is always a full freezer.  A frugal person will stock their freezer with good deals they find at the grocery store, bulk products and any leftovers to prevent waste.  They understand how to freeze products to extend the shelf life.

21.  Ignore Clearance Racks

A thrifty shopper heads straight to the clearance racks at every store.  They know this is the very best place to find a good buy…..while also making sure to not fall into the trap of #2 (buying because it’s on sale).

clearance rack

22.  Buy Something Because Their Friends Did

We have all been there!  Your friend comes home with a cool new toy or gadget.  They tell you alllll the reasons why you just “have to buy one“……and you believe them!  What happens next?  You come home with the same toy.

I know this has happened in my house (more than once, unfortunately!).

When you are frugal you know how to be excited for your friend, without feeling the need to keep up.  They are content with the items they already own.

23.  Go To The Store Without Consulting the Budget First

A frugal person knows exactly how much spending money they have in their budget at all times.  They check the budget regularly and never buy without making sure they can afford it.

24.  Leave Lights On In The House

Does anyone else have memories of their parents always saying, “Turn off the lights!”  Just me?!?!?  Frugal people always turn off lights that aren’t in use.  They understand that lighting a house costs money, money they would rather use for a different purpose.

25.  Throw Expensive Birthday Parties

DIY birthday parties are a frugal moms expertise.  They look for simple ways to celebrate their kids, without spending a lot of money.  This is done by making the birthday cake, putting together a few homemade decorations and simple games.  The birthday child is given a special day to remember, without a lot of money spent.

26.  Buy A Car On Credit

While the world likes to tell us that the only way to buy a vehicle is to buy it with credit, frugality tells a different story.  A frugal person will wait a few extra years to save up the money to buy the vehicle that they want, or they will choose to buy something cheaper.

They know that paying cash for a car will help them financially, and that’s more important than a fancy care.

27.  Throw Out Clutter

A frugal person understands that clutter can be turned into cash.  Instead of throwing out unused items, they clean it up and sell it.  They see the value beyond the dirt.

In Conclusion

It’s true that a frugal life requires some sacrifices.  But, from my experience, the sacrifice is so worth it!  I am so grateful for this simple life I have created and the money lessons I have learned along the way.

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Let’s keep this list going!  What else would you do if you were NOT frugal?

 

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