Christmas in July for Needy Children

I never understood the idea behind the commercial slogan "Christmas in July."  I do know, however, that if you participate in programs such a Samaritan's Purse or fill stockings for local children's groups, this is a great time to start shopping. When I see clearance sales with toys and kid-friendly items at very low prices, I pick up a few. Back To School sales are a great time to stock up on crayons, pencils, and erasers [+]

Using Plastic Containers for Frugal Summer Fun

This past winter, I wrote a post suggesting you save your plastic containers for the children to use this summer. If you have a collection of these plastic necessities, hand them over to your children and watch their imagination soar. My children helped me compile this list of ideas on how they like to use plastic containers in the summer. Grow your own mini garden. Make giant ice cubes for the pool. Use the bowls to hold paint and [+]

Frugal Summer Fun for Kids – Art and Science in a Spray Bottle

Occasionally on Fridays through the summer, I will be posting Frugal Summer Fun for Kids. I hope you like the ideas and feel free to chime in with your own as well. Do you remember these spray bottles from the snow paint post this past winter? Here's a new summer use for those bottles. Fill them with water and let the kids go to town creating water pictures on your driveway or patio. Evaporation is easily taught [+]

WFMW – I’m Bored Edition

The first Wednesday of each month, Kristen at We are THAT Family hosts a themed edition of the Works for Me Wednesday blog carnival. This month's theme is  "Mom, I'm Bored." Thankfully, my children have rarely said this to me, though I have a pile of rock waiting to moved, lest I hear the dreaded phrase this year. I do have a few summer secrets that I have tried in years past that I will [+]

Plan Ahead for Some Frugal Summer Fun

Believe it or not, summer is just around the corner. Now is the time to start saving plastic bowls from butter, yogurt, whipped topping and anything else that you can envision as a fun outdoor tool or toy. I'm sure your children can find many uses for the plastic dishes, but some ideas are the sand box, at the beach, for mud pies, and chalk paint. OK, so chalk paint might be new to you. [+]