Budget Friendly Family Fall Festivities

Fall has arrived, and with it, an abundance of vacationing opportunities. Cooler weather means less humidity and one last chance to soak up the outdoors before winter shuts in... [continue reading]...

Friday Fun: American Road Trips

For the past two weeks, my husband and I have been busy driving across America. It has been one of the most rewarding and exciting trips of our lives. To read more about our trip, click here to visit my other blog!

This trip is the inspiration for this Friday Fun post. If you have never driven cross country, I highly recommend that you do so. You not only get to see just how diverse this land is, but you also get to have a great time at an affordable price. Since we car camped and only stayed in motels a few of the nights, we spent less on this two week adventure than we did when we went to Cancun for four days! And although gas might be on the higher side, it's much lower than it was last summer. Many families are taking advantage of this and hitting the road.

So what are my tips for an unforgettable All-American Road trip?

1. Allow at least two weeks. This ensures that you don't feel rushed, and allows you time to explore all that you encounter on the road.
   
2. Plan a tentative itinerary. We actually deviated from our original plan by two days. Things will come up that you might realize you want to see or do.
   
3. Navigate with state road maps. Sure, GPS systems are great, but they don't give you the overall picture the way that maps do. With our state maps, we can see how far it is til the next exit or gas stop, where the campgrounds are located, and what the name of the mountain we passed was. Road maps give you a better feel of taking a road trip than mapquested routes do. Plus, if you are a member of AAA, you can FREE road maps for each state! Free maps can also be found at the visitor information centers near the state lines of each state.
   
4. Take the Scenic Byways instead of the Interstate. The interstate can get very boring rather quickly. Scenic byways take you through some of the most spectacular scenery of the area, and are much more interesting. It might take you longer, but if you choose to take a couple of these routes, you won't be disappointed.
5. Stop and smell the roses. Don't try to drive too much in one day. This was our mistake, and although we had a good time, the long days really wore us out. Expecially if you have kids, you will want to stick to shorter driving days. Plan your itenerary based on the route rather than the destination.
6. Pack a Cooler. On the way home, we ran out of food in the cooler and bought fast food to tide us over til the end. We should have just resupplied at a Walmart, because the fast food made us feel terrible and ended up costing us much more. To keep under budget, have lots of sandwiches and snacks on hand as well as plenty of cold water. It is also healthier this way.

Well, I hope this inspires you to plan a family road-trip sometime soon! To learn more about planning a road trip, visit www.roadtripamerica.com.

Friday Fun: Building Your Home Library for Less

I know I already did a post on Friday Fun, but I wrote this article and thought what useful information it could be to my readers. So rather than waiting until next week, here is another Friday Fun post to keep your appetite for Wallet Wise growing.

Do you dream of having your own home library? Are you craving to collect books and fill the spaces on your empty bookshelves but think the price of books is too expensive? Here is how you can build your home library cheaply and easily but utilizing discount book sellers, the internet and your local library.

1. VISIT GARAGE SALES. Many people sell their used books quite cheaply at garage sales. You might be able to find a whole box of books in good condition for a couple dollars if the seller is eager to get rid of them. Most of the titles will be old, but they will fill space on your bookshelf nicely for little investment. Use craigslist or your newspaper to find out when garage sales are happening at your neighborhood. Try to go to ones that advertise books or multi-family sales.

2. BROWSE THROUGH EBAY. Many people sell their used books on Ebay to make a little extra money. You can find great deals on collections and individual titles this way. All you need is an Ebay and Paypal account to get started.

3. SHOP LIBRARY BOOK SALES. Libraries are always selling books to make room for new inventory. It seems every time I visit local branch, there is a huge table full of books for sale as low as .10 each! Many college or university libraries also sell used books for fairly cheap.

4. SHOP DISCOUNT BOOK STORES. You can purchase gently used books at discount booksellers for more than half the regular newsstand price. Look for the used book shops in your area as well. Rummaging through the aisles will help bring your dream of building your library and collecting books a new reality. Or try amazon.com, an online bookseller that lets users sell their used books (sometimes all you pay is shipping!). Buy a little at a time, and before you know it, you'll have a home library of your own for a fraction of the cost!
   

This article was originally published on Ehow.com. To read the original article, click here. To read more of my Ehow articles, click here.

Friday Fun: Summer Festivals

Summer has arrived! And with it, the influx of many local fairs and festivals. What better way to spend a Friday or Saturday afternoon? Since many of these festivals are free, its a great date idea, or even a family outing!

Bring your lunch and have a picnic near the event (this will prevent you from buying expensive festival food). Take pictures of the unique costumes and events going on.

Click here for a directory of more than 40,000 festivals world-wide. Another good place to look is your local newspaper. Try searching through its online listings, or get the Sunday paper which usually lists the week's events.

Friday Fun: Cook Up Something New!

One of my favorite new things to do is try out new recipes. I just love looking in magazines for inspiration, since they usually come with gorgeous photos taken to make my mouth water. The key to cooking new recipes is to read the ingredient list and find out what you need. There are tons of delicious recipes out there, but sometimes they might turn out to be more than what your wallet bargained for! Finding the recipes that list ingredients you regularly have on hand will save you money and time at the grocery store.

Last night, I made Summer Chicken and Vegetable Hash from my Martha Stewart Living magazine, and I have to say it was one of the funnest things I've ever made. Perhaps it was the joy of making a dinner entirely from scratch, or maybe it was the excitement of a new recipe-- I was hooked! My husband and his brother thoroughly enjoyed it, so I plan on adding it to the rotation of meals from now on. Although it took longer to prepare than most meals I usually make, it was well worth it for the fun!

This Friday, consider trying out a new recipe this week. We all get stuck in a rut with our meals sometimes, and trying out new versions or takes on old staples are a great way to break out of it. To search for recipes by ingredients, visit Super Cook. Or try All Recipes.

*Photo by Becky Luigart-Stayner

Friday Fun: The Library isn't just for Nerds

I love libraries, and anyone who knows me can ascertain the fact that I consider it quite a fun trip to visit one. Before you stop and label me a nerd (even though it may be partially true), here's why libraries are so great in my book!

1. They are FREE. When you are living on a budget, you have to remind yourself sometimes that no, you cannot buy everything you heart desires. That's where the library comes in. As long as you return your items when they are due, you can check out zillions of books, movies (and yes, there are some good ones there!), magazines and even paintings! (The latter part is definitely true- I once checked out a lovely painting for my bedroom for 3 months)

2. They are CLOSE. Just about every city has a local library nearby, or at least a branch. If not, there is probably something known as the book-mobile that comes by once a week. I grew up in the country suburbs, so visiting the local branch was quite a drive. However, the book mobile came once a week and parked right in front of our grocery, which allowed me access to books. You can reserve a book online to come through to you on your bookmobile just like you can request a book from another branch to be sent to your local one.

3. Activities and Groups. Libraries are great places to visit for their many scheduled activities and reading groups. For kids and teens, there are usually quite a bit of programs going on (especially in the summer months) that are free. I remember attending a craft event at my local library while I was in high school, and we learned how to make personalized stationary and envelopes, which I thought was pretty cool in those days (ok, I still do!). For adults, believe it or not, I have seen a free belly-dance class offered at my library. It was pretty awesome to peek in and see so many ages of ladies shaking their hips to upbeat music.

4. A Wealth of Knowledge. I have to admit, I get quite obsessive about things sometimes. When there is something that I am interested in, such as the writing syndicate that created Nancy Drew, I research the brains out of it. From backpacking and camping to cooking and housekeeping, the library is the perfect place to fill up with more knowledge. Because sometimes, the good old internet doesn't quite cut it and you need a book or two to show you the how or why.

All this talk about libraries is certainly making me want to get some books! I hope this post finds you well this, um, Saturday (I do seem to be getting behind on my days of the week posts!), and that you and your family found a new way to have fun this week without breaking the bank!

To find a local library near you, visit www.publiclibraries.com!

Friday Fun: Camping

How many of you own a tent? A sleeping bag? When was the last time you dug them out? If its been a while, now, more than ever, is the time to shake out the dust and get camping again!

Right now, my husband and I are busy planning a road trip to the Grand Canyon. To save money as well as get the most of the experience, we will be camping each night at a National Park. Many other Americans seem to be thinking the same thing. A recent CNN article explored this issue:

"With the economy in a slump, camping seems to be grabbing a new foothold in the travel industry. Once considered by many to be an activity for nerdy families, nature geeks and Boy Scouts, sleeping outside in a tent has become chic -- likely because it is so much cheaper than paying for a hotel room. The activity also strikes a new chord with Americans who want to get back to basics after an era of excess and overspending...(click here to read the rest of the article)"

Campgrounds usually run around 10-25 dollars a night, with State Parks being the cheapest at around 10 dollars a day. What a great way to save money while going on vacation! Since my husband and I love to travel, a tiny budget isn't going to stop us, and it shouldn't stop you either. Sleeping and experiencing the outdoors together as a family or group of friends is a great way to build and strengthen bonds with loved ones.

If you plan on taking a camping vacation this year, be sure to try and reserve a spot at reserveusa.com or recreation.gov. Popular National Parks fill up quick, so don't wait til the last minute or they might all be gone. I just recently reserved three nights at the Grand Canyon for the month of June and discovered over 2/3rds of the campground was already filled up! Less popular national parks might be less of a problem, but it never hurts! To find a national or state park near you, click here!

Friday Fun: Get to Know Your Community

How many of you can list off the names and vocations of at least 3 of your neighbors? What do you mean you don't know who they are?! Don't you see them everyday?

Unfortunately living in the city does this to many well meaning people- walls are built around strangers and impersonalization becomes a way of life. Thankfully, we can make a choice to combat that!

This Friday, I encourage you to get to know your neighbors. You can do this by either knocking on their door and saying hello, or you can start volunteering in your community!

Volunteering is a great way to meet your neighbors while simultaneously doing a greater good. It not only helps you give back to others but it also fosters greater community development. Before you know it, your network of friends will expand beyond the workplace or classroom and into the streets you live on. What a great way to make a positive impact in your life and those around you!

Don't know where to start? Food pantries, hospitals and schools are always looking for volunteers in a variety of areas. Another good place to look is volunteermatch.com where you can search for volunteer opportunities by location and interest. I guarantee once you start giving back your life will change for the better! And, best of all? Its completely free!

*Photo from volunteermatch.com

Friday Fun: Paying less for Dinner Out

My husband and I love going out to eat on the weekends, but we can't afford the high prices most of the time. Many other people across America are also cutting back on eating out as the recession wears on. So what's a person to do when they get a craving to eat out?

Visit Restaurant.com! You search for the restaurants near you and purchase a gift certificate for $10 worth $25! That's 15 dollars in FREE MONEY- no strings attached. What a way to combat the recession!

Friday Fun: Grow your Garden

With the arrival of spring, flower buds are sprouting up everywhere. This is a great time of the year to start planning your own garden. If you've never considered growing your own veggies or herbs, this would make a great project that you and your loved ones can work on together! Don't have a large space? That's ok, a pot on the porch will do just fine! The price of potting soil, pots and seeds will reap plenty of profit as you spend time tending and watching your garden take shape. Not only can gardening be a great way to save on produce, but it has therapeutic benefits as well!

If you're new to gardening or only have a small space to work with, tomatoes are a great veggie to start with. They are easy to grow and require minimal care. I remember the first tomato plant I grew and how juicy and sweet it was to eat right off the vine. I have heard that cucumbers and zucchini are supposed to be another easy veggie to tend as well, not to mention the wide variety of herbs out there.

Wal-mart is a great place to go for gardening supplies and plants. Although I do not normally like to visit Walmart, their gardening section is somewhat sepereate from the main aisles and they always have knowledgeable staff on hand waiting to help!

Click here for more information on starting your own kitchen garden.

Friday Fun: The Great Outdoors

My husband and I love being outside. We have visited just about every park and hiking trail within a 1 hour drive. Its a way for us to connect with each other and with nature. Going on a hike is one of our favorite dates, and we are quite pumped about the warmer weather that will allow us more opportunities to go. With spring's arrival, perhaps you have an itching to get outdoors too. The great thing about parks, trails and nature is that no one can charge you for it (except for perhaps a one-time parking pass, which is usually less than 5$ for a year)! Have you discovered the parks around where you live? What about the best hiking trails in the area? I encourage all of you to get outside with a loved one sometime and let nature heal your soul. This is also a great time of the year to watch life begin anew in the woods- flowers peek out, trees sprout buds and streams rush with fresh spring rains.

For more information on finding parks near you, click here.

*Photo by Rachel Campbell

Friday Fun: Rediscovering Your Local Museums

What do you think of when you hear the word 'museum'? When was the last time you spent a day in one? Museums come in all shapes and sizes, and if art is the only thing that crosses your mind, you definitely need to check out your free local ones.

Since we live in the Greater Cincinnati area, my husband I enjoy visiting the Cincinnati Art Museum. The best part about it-- its free! We love to look at art and talk about what it interesting to us in the pictures, as well as check out new exhibits in different galleries. In the past year, we've been more or less than 5 times, and I can honestly say that I have yet to see everything! Going to the museum together is not only fun (discovering new galleries, getting lost!), but it is a free date.

If you're not into art, check out the other free museums in your area. Many cities have historical museums with free admission (and suggested donation). If not, then often times there will be a certain day of the week that they offer free admission, so be sure to ask. What a great way to be kind to your budget while still having fun!

Friday Fun: The New Dinner and Movie

For my first post of Friday Fun, I decided to blog about something my husband and I do quite regularly. Pizza and a movie has long been the traditional date night in our American culture, but as costs continue to rise in theaters, it has become a luxury for many of us. Fortunately, there are some really great alternatives!

One option is to start going to the dollar theater in your area. These theatres will often has specials on certain days of the week, making the tickets even cheaper! Another option is to rent your own movie and watch it at home. With the advent of Redbox and MovieCube, you can rent a new release for only 1$ per day. For those of us who usually rent and only watch the movie once, this is a good deal! Redbox occasionally comes out with coupon codes, making the rental free the first day-- if it is your first time using it, type this code to get it free: REDBOX

My husband and I have also discovered that we enjoy frozen pizzas and homemade pizzas better than delivery. And with the cost of delivery pizza being so high, it really makes sense to buy them yourself. We enjoy Tombstone pizzas-- regular price is only $3.89 at Kroger!

So, if you decide to stay in for your date night tonight, you could get a new movie and a pizza for two for less than four dollars!