Tag Archives: summer fun

Five Ways to Get Amusement Park Discounts

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Do you think that you have to pay hundreds of dollars to visit an amusement park? Well, sure, if you don’t know the secret to getting amusement park discounts. Combine the strategies that work best for you and save big when you have a fun family day at the park. Save the difference for souvenirs, lots and lots of souvenirs, another trip back again, or a trip somewhere else! End of Season Discounts The end of the summer or early fall may mean that you can score some great end of the season discounts at the amusement parks. As the … Continue reading →

Frugal Summer Boredom Busters

How do you keep the kids occupied during the summer while still staying on budget? Stay away from the fancy camps and cheap indoor playgrounds and provide them with a summer that is rich in experience but inexpensive in price. Feel free to build upon the following ideas or add your own in the comments. 1. Visit the library: go on a summer adventure through free science in the summer activities, free movies and of course, free books. 2. Explore your town: take advantage of the fun and cheap things to do in your own backyard. Is there a pond … Continue reading →

Heatstroke in Pets

With the approach of summer, we pet owners need to start thinking about how our animal family members might be affected by the heat. Pets that go outside, particularly dogs and cats, face danger from heatstroke. In fact, even when an animal isn’t technically outdoors it can still get heatstroke if left in the car. I admit I’ve been guilty once or twice of leaving my dog in the car for “just a few minutes” in fair weather. Here’s the thing: according to a Stanford University study, a parked car on a sunny 70-degree day can reach dangerous internal temperatures. … Continue reading →

Super Summer Fun for Kids

Memorial Day marked the unofficial start of the summer season, but most kids are still in school for a couple more weeks. That gives moms and dads a little bit of time to prepare for long hot days when kids are home 24/7. The following fun activities are ideal for school kids of all ages looking to stay cool during the dog days of summer: KOOL AID FINGER PAINT: Ingredients: 2 cups flour 2 packs unsweetened Kool-Aid (in your favorite colors) 1/2 cup salt 3 cups boiling water 3 tablespoons oil Directions: Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add … Continue reading →

Edible Sand Castle and Other Summer Fun for Kids

Can’t make it to the beach this summer? Don’t let the “Mom, I’m bored!” blues get you down. Instead, consider making your own summer fun at home with the following fun ideas: EDIBLE SAND CASTLE Ingredients: 1 package (18 1/4 ounces) banana cake mix plus ingredients to prepare mix as directed on box 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 package (6 serving size) instant butterscotch flavor pudding mix, plus ingredients to prepare mix as directed on box Clean small plastic beach pail and shovel 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs, divided Beach-themed candy: Gummy fish, octopus, starfish, … Continue reading →

Fun in the Baby Pool

When the heat and humidity start rising, we enjoy getting out the baby pool and using it to cool off. It can be a lot of fun for little ones and even their parents. Here are some ways to have lots of fun with the baby pool. First let’s cover safety. Never ever leave a child alone with the baby pool. Babies and toddlers can drown in just an inch of water, and accidents can happen quickly. Last year, I witnessed my then one-year-old leaned over the side of the baby pool and topple in head first. Luckily I was … Continue reading →

Free Food and Entertainment

On Friday we hit the jackpot in free family food and entertainment, thanks to our community. Taking advantage of local activities can be a fun way to become involved with your neighbors, learn new things about where you live and have some fun frugally! We happen to be pretty lucky to be able to live in the area that we do. Before living frugally, we might have passed up some of the free community activities that are available. But knowing how much fun they can be now, there is no going back. If you have any of these types of … Continue reading →

Where Did the Summer Go?

A week ago I complained to anyone who would listen that the local bargain store was clearing out sunscreen and no longer had the zinc oxide I wanted. I couldn’t believe they would pack away those products in the middle of July when the weather was still plenty hot and sunny. But there were boxes where they were packing up summer things and unopened boxes with school supplies. Yesterday I complained about all the back to school sales going on. I said things like “couldn’t they just let us enjoy our summer”, and “we’ll worry about that next month”, and … Continue reading →

Are You Envious of Your Kids’ Summer Freedom?

Summer is in full swing and if the weather is accommodating in your area, your children are probably completely occupied with summer activities: camp, swimming, sports, playing in the park, fishing, camping, etc. For many children, the summer months seem to be a non-stop romp of play and vacation. As a parent and an adult, our children’s fun may bring us satisfaction and it may remind us of our own seemingly long childhood summers; but it can also stir up a little envy and resentment! As our children head off to day camp and the watering hole, many of us … Continue reading →

Blasting Water Guns

Water guns have come a long, long way. When I was a kid, they cost about seventy-five cents and held maybe a third of a cup of water, were hard to fill, and squirted a tiny stream that went a couple of feet away. When my husband and oldest son got their supply lists for an upcoming canoe trip, Stream Machine hydrobolic water launchers were on the list. My favorite part about these guns is that they are so easier to load with water. It’s basically a large syringe. To fill the gun you stick the end in water and … Continue reading →