Summer Savings  

The weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer, and millions of kids everywhere are anticipating the most exciting time of the year- SUMMER VACATION!!!. Here are a few suggestions to keep you and your family active without destroying your budget.  

Activities  

• Be a tourist in your own town. Is there a famous attraction you've never seen? What about the museum or the zoo? Botanical gardens are a nice change of pace for those of us with hectic lives. Even a factory tour can provide you with a glimpse of your home town that you've never seen before.
  
• Just because school is out doesn't mean you and your family should stop learning. Pick a theme for the month and incorporate different aspects into your routines. Maybe you have always wanted to learn how to speak a foreign language, but never got around to it. It's never to late to learn anything. For example, if you've always wanted to learn Japanese, find some language tapes, cook up some examples of Japanese cuisine, and look for references that will illustrate the daily lives of the people whose culture you are studying.
  
• Interested in crafts? Spend one day of the first week looking for projects in magazines or books and other resources. The next week, take your list of supplies and go shopping together. The third week, start your craft. On the fourth week, finish-up your project.
  
• The library usually offers more than books. Your local library might offer story times and activities, reading circles for different ages, movies, CDs, puzzles, games, and Internet access for multiple users.
  
• Work on a do-it-yourself project together. Don't do anything too extreme, hazardous, or difficult. Instead, maybe you can work on rearranging a room. Maybe you all are getting tired of the way the family room looks. Jot down ideas for easy refits, including making new throw pillows, updating the lighting in the room, de-cluttering the place, and picking colors for new slipcovers and drapes. Or maybe you can make a simple piece of furniture together, like a shelving unit. Allow your family to pick out the colors and design while you put it together and paint it.
  
• Pick one day of each month to be "Give Back Day." On that day, try to do an activity that appeals to you and enhances your community. Find things to recycle, like newspaper, glass, and plastic. Take donations of gently used clothing, household items, and toys to the thrift shop or family shelter. Help an elderly neighbor or relative run their errands. Pick up trash at the park. Volunteer somewhere.
  
• Designate a movie night. Do a double feature and let your crew pick out two movies or be ambitious and run a whole marathon. Pop up a lot of popcorn, offer a variety of snacks and drinks, and let your family invite some friends over. As an alternative, try out some board or card games instead of movies.
  
• Additional activity ideas can be found at: www.kidsource.com

Meals

• If you have a favorite frozen treat, figure out how to make it at home. Dig out that old ice cream maker and enjoy a wonderful indulgence. Instead of buying expensive store-bought popsicles, make your own. Place plastic cups of Kool-aide or other inexpensive fruit juice in the freezer for an instant treat.
  
• Encourage your family to whip up recipes that will keep you satisfied without heating up the whole house. Try a melon and cheese plate with some cold cuts, along with bread sticks or crackers. Find a new chicken salad recipe or try your hands at gazpacho. There are plenty of salad dishes that can be featured as the main meal. Use your cookie cutters and make funny looking peanut butter and jelly sandwiches along with some carrot sticks and yogurt.
  
• Grab a basket or even a takeout bag and go on a picnic. The park down the street might be a grand venue, or you can try a spot at the lake or beach. Cruise on over to the next town and try out a spot that's new to you. Take along some flying disks, balls, and a blanket.
  
• When a hot meal is necessary, use the BBQ. Take advantage of the great weather and cook outside. It will keep your home cooler while providing a mouth-watering meal. Don’t just stick to hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill, branch out and try to cook different types of meats. You can even cook your veggies on the grill too.
  
• Additional summer meal ideas are available at: http://www.frugalhomemaker.com/summermeals.htm
  

If you any questions or comments about this or any other newsletter, please send an e-mail to jason@debtwave.com