Fall is in full swing in our neck of the woods. Autumn’s amazing palette of yellow, red and orange is on display, and the best part—-it’s free. Free to look at and, in most cases, free to take home and turn into phenomenal fall-themed decorations. All you need to do is get out and explore the beauty Mother Nature has to offer. While you are soaking in the change of scenery, consider collecting a few leaves, nuts, berries, and branches to fall-ify your home. Some simple and affordable projects include: LEAF STAMPS Stamping is an inexpensive and fun way to … Continue reading →

In my home, nothing sparks a chorus of groans louder than hearing the following three words: Back to school. Of course, returning to class doesn’t have to be wrought with tears, fears and jeers. With a little creativity you can turn the worst part of the year into one of the best. Here are some ideas on how to make it happen: Movie Night: This is a great way to motivate your child to study hard in school without constantly being nagged. A few days before the new school year gets underway, clean a large empty jar and place it … Continue reading →

Tis the season for super savings on school staples. With the summer coming to a rapid end, just about every discount retailer known to man is offering spectacular sales on back-to-school items, from spiral notebooks for a penny to double-pack Sharpies for a mere 25 cents. In most cases, the deepest discounts are reserved for generic items. If you are on a budget, then you’re probably not worried about getting a notebook covered with cute animated characters or the latest and greatest teen heartthrob. However, your kid might. Fortunately, with a little creativity, you and your child can turn boring … Continue reading →

Are you running out of affordable ways to keep your kids busy during the last days of summer vacation? August is quickly coming to an end, but for some families, money for summer fun ran out a long time ago. Now is the perfect time to use up any supplies you might have leftover from early summer projects or parties. For example, if you have any extra water balloons in your home fill them up and place them in the freezer for a few hours or overnight. When your kids start singing the “I’m bored” blues, cut away the balloon … Continue reading →

School lockers can be downright dreadful. Not only are they typically painted in a revolting shade of puke green, institutional gray or dingy yellow, but you also have to deal with exterior and interior cracks, dents and marks. To help cure the ugly locker blues while operating on a tight student budget, consider crafting the following affordable items: Decorative Magnets: Nothing helps liven up the interior of a locker easier and faster than a bunch of bedazzled magnets. The simple embellishments can help keep things in place, such as notes, photos, and homework assignments. What’s more, you can make almost … Continue reading →

Nothing beats the sizzling summer heat better than your favorite beverage on ice. Ice is cheap, easy to make and extremely versatile. In fact, as a parent, ice can be one of your best friends. Not only can it help cool off your sweaty son, reduce the swelling on an injured ankle, and lessen the sting of a bug bite, with a little creativity ice cubes can also be an affordable boredom buster for kids. An inexpensive and easy way to add spice to an ordinary paint project is to place it on ice. Painting with ice; what kid wouldn’t … Continue reading →

Viewing this weekend’s Perseid meteor shower may have been one of the most thrilling moments of the summer. And the best part: I didn’t have to fork over a single penny for the opportunity. Rather, my family got to witness a sky set ablaze with so many shooting stars we lost count of them all. Free family fun. It doesn’t get better than that. According to AAA, the price of gas has increased 34 cents since July 1st. It’s no wonder why parents are counting their pennies and looking for affordable ways to entertain their kids. And by affordable, I … Continue reading →

My young daughter is a huge fan of Funny Color Foam; however, at more than two bucks a can, the bath time novelty can really add up. To save money, but still allow my daughter to create fun foam masterpieces in the tub, I’ve taken to making my own colored fluff. I simply spray super cheap generic shaving cream (less than 99 cents per can) into plastic zip-top bags. Next, I add a few drops of food coloring to the bag and give my daughter the “job” of mixing the two together. This activity is a fabulous hands-on lesson in … Continue reading →

The opening ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympics get underway in just a few days. However, you don’t need to travel to London in order to get in on all the athletic fun. Kids, who are inspired by the mega-athletes they view on TV, can replicate the record-breaking moves at home. Here are a few ideas to get your children into the spirit of the 2012 Summer Games: Relay Races: Foot races are one of the oldest and most popular Olympic Games. What’s more, they are also one of the easiest for kids to participate in. Simply collect some small … Continue reading →

My 7-year-old daughter channels Bill Nye the Science Guy on a daily basis. I don’t blame her; growing up, I constantly tried to recreate Mr. Wizard’s experiments in our garage, much to my mother’s chagrin. Since school left out for the summer my mad scientist has stirred up a bunch of weird-looking concoctions from various benign ingredients she found around the kitchen. However, last week she actually got to experiment with real science projects thanks to our “friends” who help staff a Parks and Rec summer program. If you are looking to prevent brain drain this summer consider the following … Continue reading →