Fall is here and it seems everyone is encouraging you to get out and enjoy Mother Nature. The leaves are glorious, the temperatures are comfortable and the mood is relaxed. But, you’re broke and there are only so many free walks in the woods you can take before you get tired of looking at falling leaves. Fortunately, there are other options for penny-pinching families. Free festivals are amazing places for frugalistas to spend fall weekends. Simply pack up the gang and head out to these kid-friendly events that don’t require you to spend a single dime to partake in seasonal … Continue reading →

My daughter is dying to head outdoors and break in her new Razor scooter. She was fortunate to spend the month of January in Hawaii where she could scoot outside to her heart’s content (while giving my dad a heart attack in the process), but now she’s back to reality, dealing with the snow and cold that blankets the state of Wisconsin from October to June. Spring is officially here, though you’d never know it by stepping outside and feeling the chokehold Mother Nature has on our state. Still, if you are looking for ways to make the most of … Continue reading →

The month of August is primetime for state fairs. Fun! Yesterday the Wisconsin State Fair kicked off with a new addition to its food line-up: a Krispy Kreme cheeseburger. For five bucks you can consume 1,000 calories in a single sitting by chowing down on a hamburger patty topped with melted cheese sandwiched in between a Krispy Kreme doughnut. Basically, the culinary masters, who designed the foil-wrapped heart attack, swapped the bun for a glazed doughnut and called it a day. Of course, part of the fun of attending a state fair is seeing how far you can push the … Continue reading →

The month of May is cause for celebration in our family. In addition to Mother’s Day, we also celebrate three birthdays, one wedding anniversary, Memorial Day, and the end of the school year. Who knew we could do all that celebrating without breaking the bank? In the last week or so I have been inundated with dozens of special offers from different companies offering free meals, free gifts, big discounts, and a ton of additional ways to save big bucks on fun activities. For example, Disneyland and Walt Disney World are offering free admission throughout 2009 for anyone celebrating a … Continue reading →

If there was ever a time to visit Shamu and company this is it. Right now SeaWorld is offering unprecedented deals to families who want to mingle with marine life. The popular Orlando, Florida, theme park is offering a phenomenal “But 3 Nights, Get 2 Free” package deal when you book a stay at nearly two-dozen local hotels. In addition to getting the 40 percent lodging discount, you also get unlimited admission for the week to SeaWorld and either its popular sister water park, Aquatica, or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Prices for the five-night package start at $561 for a … Continue reading →

Not everyone is pinching pennies during these tough economic times, and for those lucky families, taking advantage of incredible travel deals is a no-brainer. A number of luxury resorts are slashing prices to entice families to visit their kid-friendly properties, which means if you have the means to scoop up these savings you are guaranteed a good time. For example, the Somerset on Grace Bay, located along a sugar sand beach in Turks & Caicos, is offering incredible deals on their collection of spacious, ocean-front suites, villas, and cottages with full gourmet kitchens, surround-sound plasma TVs, and marble-floored bathrooms with … Continue reading →

A new report claims that this year’s summer vacation could cost a family of four 30 to 60 percent less than last year. Too bad the deals are being offered at a time when most families are tightening their purse strings more than ever before. Still, if you are planning to take an annual summer trip with the kids, and you are on a budget, some of the following deals may be too good to pass up: FREE EATS AT DISNEY WORLD Disney World is once again helping cash-strapped families. The resort’s unprecedented “buy four nights, get three free” deal … Continue reading →