Word around the sandbox is that when people go on vacation, the family budget gets a vacation too. But, money doesn’t grow on trees (mostly because it is either metals or cotton based fabrics…but that’s not for today’s discussion).
As you know by now, we talk about money a lot in my house. With four girl children, a cat, and two grown-ups ; money is a topic of concern, education, fights, agreements and a tool for planning. Mom and Dad are in charge of making the money, and us girls think we should spend it. That also means we are in charge of making it last. As you know, I am the youngest and my sisters would gladly spend my college fund at Disneyland.
Here are ways we are suggesting to the grown ups to save money:
- The Library! Stop groaning. The library isn’t just for geeks and folks sheltering in free air conditioning.
- The library has entire seasons of television shows for rent FOR FREE! Also available are movies, books on tape, music CD’s , newspapers, magazines, and oh….yes! Books!
- Free puppet shows, movies, entertainment like story tellers, The Reptile Guy, Jugglers and more.
- Go outside! When you go outside you don’t run the air conditioner or fans.
- Camp out under the stars or in your tent
- Swim
- Go to the beach
- Play in the sprinklers when you water the lawn
- Hang up laundry to dry
- BBQ (no stove needed) or eat picnic foods.
- Make Sun Tea and fill up the re-usable coffee mugs and cups.
- Drive-In Movies.
- Sure, you still pay per person, but you are only charged for the first movie and the Drive It plays double features, and sometimes repeats the first movie so you can drive to a new screen. $9 will buy you 3 movies!
- Also, you bring in all your own snack foods and drinks so you save on concession fees (unless you want to buy food there).
Enjoy the summer, and don’t over heat about your money!
Darla's Dollars 