Out of all of the games and toys Emily has, she seems to enjoy playing pretend the most. I try to encourage this as much as possible because pretend play is one of the most beneficial types of play for a child’s development. Child psychologists claim pretend play helps increase creativity, memory, fine motor skills, and […]
Frugal Last Minute Gift Idea for Kids — Doorway Puppet Theatre
December 19, 2008 by
Emily seemed to enjoy this frugal activity the most of all the gift ideas I have covered this week! Today’s project is a Doorway Puppet Theatre, and she played with it all afternoon, so I am very excited to share this with you! To make your own doorway puppet theatre, you will need: 3 […]
Frugal Last Minute Gift Idea for Kids — Bird Watching Kit
December 12, 2008 by
Every day next week I will be posting a series of projects to make last minute gift ideas for kids. You won’t want to miss any of these! These projects are frugal, and can be made with items you would already have in your house. Here is a little preview of what to expect. Today’s […]
What to do with one leftover (and overripe) banana
December 12, 2008 by
Being frugal frequently means coming up with creative ways to use leftovers to avoid throwing food away, but when I realized we had just one overripe banana I was not quite sure how to use it up. Most recipes for banana bread call for 4 or 5 bananas, and even banana muffin recipes usually call […]
Frugal Gift Idea — Chocolate Covered Pretzels
December 10, 2008 by
I am not much of a baker. Instead, Emily and I did some holiday “baking” by making chocolate covered pretzels. There is no measuring required, and they are always delicious. Wrap in cellophane bags and tie with ribbon for a great (and frugal) gift! To make chocolate covered pretzels, you will need: 1 bag of […]
Frugal Activity — Paper Dolls
December 5, 2008 by
MoneySavingMom recently featured a post on the McCall paper dolls, so I printed some out for Emily to enjoy. Here she is playing with the January 1996 Betsy with two outfits — pajamas and ice skating. She enjoyed the maze as well. Great frugal fun! You can download the entire series here.
Fabulous Frugal Gift Tags
December 4, 2008 by
Emily and I spent some time this afternoon making these great gift tags from last year’s greeting cards. To make the gift tags, you will need: Some old greeting cards — Many of the ones we received last year had no writing on the inside left, so we used those. Hole Punch Ribbon – I […]
More Fun with the Fireplace
November 23, 2008 by
We have been taking advantage of our fireplace during this cold time of year. Last night we roasted hot dogs over the fire. We had hot dogs w/buns, and baked beans for dinner. Then we read The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog. This is one of Emily’s favorite books, and we enjoy the other Pigeon […]
Frugal Family Activities — Lehigh Valley
November 22, 2008 by
If you are lucky enough to live in the Lehigh Valley, here are some frugal indoor family activities you can enjoy for $5 or less! Allentown Art Museum — On Sundays admission is free to the Allentown Art Museum, and the kids can enjoy Artventures. Lowe’s/Home Depot Workshops — The first Saturday of the month […]
Frugal Gift Idea — Jar Mix Recipes
November 22, 2008 by
Looking for some easy, inexpensive homemade gifts for the holidays this year? Try jar gift mixes! Purchase some inexpensive 1 or 2 quart mason jars to get started. Get the kids involved and you have a great frugal holiday activity the entire family can enjoy. Here are some great resources to help you add a […]
Frugal Friday Challenge
November 21, 2008 by
Today’s Frugal Friday Challenge is to stay home and have a family game night! Pick out a board game, and afterwards make a dessert together. We are planning a cherry-themed family fun night. We will play Hi-Ho-Cherry-O with Emily (4), and afterwards we will be making cherry mountain pies. To make cherry mountain pies, you […]
Easy, Homemade Holiday Food Gifts
November 18, 2008 by
Good Housekeeping is featuring a great article on homemade holiday food gifts that anyone can make. Get the kids involved and make it a family activity. They are fast, frugal, and festive!
Get Ready to Read Skill-Building Activity Cards
November 16, 2008 by
Get your FREE set of skill-building activity cards here. These are filled with great ideas to bring literacy skills into your home and daily routine. They are free and easy to print out, and all 36 activity cards are available in Spanish or English.
Free Family Activities
November 12, 2008 by
Finding free family activities for this time of year can be challenging. Here are some ideas to keep your family busy, and avoid hearing the dreaded “I’m bored” whine. Keep these ideas on hand and you won’t be tempted to spend money on activities. Free Movies — Your local library may have DVDs to […]
Frugal Ways to Introduce Your Child to a Foreign Language
November 11, 2008 by
One of the most effective ways to enhance your child’s brain development is by introducing a foreign language. The younger your child is, the easier it will be to learn a foreign language. Even if your child cannot speak in a foreign language just yet, simply exposing him or her to the sounds of a […]
My Favorite Finds — Top 5
November 10, 2008 by
Don’t have the time to find the best online frugal resources? No problem, here are a few of my favorite frugal internet finds filled with tips to save you money and time. No Time for Flashcards: If you have a preschooler at home, this is one of the best resources for keeping your child […]
Frugal Family Activities — Winter
November 7, 2008 by
Are your kids starting to suffer from cabin fever? Are you looking for some inexpensive ways to keep the kids occupied this winter? Here are some great ideas you and the kids are sure to love! Snow Painting — Go outside and let the kids build snow sculptures. Then paint them with spray bottles filled […]
