Blockbuster Deal and Other Things to Do

With the Fourth of July holiday just around the corner, you may be looking for some fun and inexpensive things to do when your family and friends get together. Try some of these fun ideas: * Rent a movie. Not too creative, right? Well, did you know that between now and July 4th you can print an online coupon from Blockbuster for a 99 cent video rental? Believe it or not, this coupon is good for any movie, including new releases. Pretty hard to resist, isn’t it? You may even want to rent a patriotic film to fit into the … Continue reading →

Frugal Fourth of July Treat

Are you hosting or attending a picnic or barbeque for Fourth of July? If so, you are probably looking for a fun yet frugal dish to prepare. Try this treat: Patriotic Parfait Ingredients: 1 box of red Jell-O 1 box of blue Jell-O 1 – 8 oz. container of Cool Whip *For greater savings, opt for gelatin and non-dairy whipped topping in your favorite house brand. Directions: Prepare red and blue gelatin in separate bowls, following the directions on the package. Once the gelatin is firm, add a layer of red gelatin, followed by whipped topping, and then blue gelatin … Continue reading →

Cookie Cutter Fourth of July

Time to make fun food for Fourth of July. Your family and friends will be delighted with these holiday treats. You will need some cookie cutters for these ideas. Stars are perfect, and you may already have star shaped cookie cutters from Christmas. If not, you should be able to pick them up for very little money. Star Spangled Sandwiches Start by trimming the crust from white bread. Spread each slice with your favorite filling, or try pimento spread, tuna or chicken salad, egg salad, or deviled ham, or add inexpensive meat or cheese. Top with another slice of bread, … Continue reading →

Low Cost Activities To Do With Kids (2)

Yesterday, I offered a few great ideas on fun activities for your family to do. I’d like to offer you a few more and elaborate on a few others. Please feel free to share your own ideas as well! Your Local Community Center Community centers typically offer a variety of different types of classes. They are usually pretty low priced, but most offer scholarships for families that are financially struggling. Check out your local community center for interesting classes on swimming, karate, art and more! Plan a Movie Night Rent a few movies (be sure and visit your library for … Continue reading →

Throw a Barbecue For Less

Summertime is here and the days are longer and much hotter! Summer is a great time to throw a barbecue. It’s a nice time to connect with family, friends and neighbors! It’s also a great time to be cooking outdoors more often anyway. Less heating inside the house, means the air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard keeping the house cool. Barbecues are great fun for people to attend because they can bring their whole family, kids included. Fun and low cost entertainment. The best part is, barbecues are not expensive if you do it the right way. You … Continue reading →

Family Entertainment Ideas

With the prices of movies, meals, aquariums and zoos steadily on the rise it can be difficult for family’s to enjoy leisure activities together. A family of four could easily spend more than $50.00 to enjoy a Saturday afternoon at the Botanical Gardens or the movies, and that doesn’t even include lunch! You can have fun with your family without busting your budget. All you need is a little creativity, flexibility and a nose for research. Here are some tips to get you started. 1.Check out your local listings Many local papers now include an entertainment or happenings section that … Continue reading →

Entertaining on a Budget

Getting together with friends is fun, and if you like to have good company, that means you need to occasionally feed your visitors. This does not always mean that you have to have a full on dinner party, but you should have some nice things on hand to give. After all, you are entertaining, not just “hanging out.” Luckily, there are a few things that you can do to keep entertaining from busting a hole in your wallet without looking cheap. First of all, create your budget before you decide whom to invite. Figure out how much you can afford … Continue reading →

Entertaining: Money Saving Appetizer Ideas

From holidays or special parties to casual get-togethers, you can save money by making your own appetizers and snacks when entertaining. Open Faced Finger Sandwiches You don’t have to use expensive breads and fillings to make great finger sandwiches. You’ll also make your appetizers, not to mention your budget, go further by making open faced sandwiches. Aside from providing greater savings, they are far more elegant in appearance. You can use white bread, or for added texture, choose store brand wheat or rye. Cut the crusts from the bread (lightly toast bread if desired), cut each piece into four equal … Continue reading →

Entertaining: Inexpensive Appetizer Ideas

Every great party starts with great appetizers and munchies. Most of those tiny delicacies that you find prepackaged in the freezer section are quite pricey, and they are not nearly as good as fresh food you make yourself. You’ll save a lot of money preparing snacks and appetizers yourself, especially when it gives you the opportunity to use generically packaged items. No one will be the wiser, when they sample the delicious treats you’ve made from high quality, yet low cost goods. Tips for Making Party Trays: Cheese Ready to serve party trays tend to be lean on good things … Continue reading →

Entertaining Guests

Okay, so you don’t have fine china, gold flatware, or crystal goblets with which to set your table. In fact, maybe you don’t even have service for eight, and that’s how many people are coming for dinner! You can mix and match the settings you do have to create a charming effect. Simply alternate the pieces to create a pattern. It will look as if you intentionally set the table this way, instead of looking like mismatched pieces. Mix your serving pieces as well, to continue the mixed style. Another good way to make this look work is to make … Continue reading →