Frugal Living - How I've Decorated My Home for Less; a guest post

 

As mom of two children, I don’t have much time, money, or energy to spend on decorating my home, but I do have a desire to make it comfortable and attractive for my family. Through years of experimentation, I have found some really nifty ideas to do this without filing for bankruptcy.

One big lesson I have learned is that young children can wreak havoc on the fabric of couches and chairs, and stains can quickly ruin their appearance. The best and most inexpensive way I’ve found to remedy this problem is by using slipcovers. Modern ones come in some great styles, fit well, and can be easily removed for laundering. By using then, I’m sure I’ve added several extra years to the usefulness of my furniture. Besides that, I’ve also been able to change the look of my rooms more often. Slipcovers are a little change which can make a big difference.

Other small, inexpensive changes can add up as well. The following are some ideas that have worked effectively for me when the redecorating bug has bitten:

• After working a large puzzle, glue to a mat, coat with a sealant, and place in a frame for wall art.

• Enlarge photos of family members, pets, personal vacation scenery or important moments and frame to make a wall collage to line a hallway.

• Add new mirrors or put mirrored tiles on a small area to make it look more spacious.

• Use whatever leaves, blossoms, herbs, fruits, vegetables, or flowers available during a particular season to make pretty table arrangements in old crockery or baskets.

• Distress old furniture even more by using some paint remover and a hammer and pick. Then coat with a clear polyurethane.

• Buy a few inexpensive ferns or other green plants that are easy to care for to fill empty spaces and bring the home to life.

I like to make use of old items as long as possible. This makes me feel like a more responsible citizen of Planet Earth and helps me save a few dollars. Here are some ways that I’ve found to do some eco-friendly decorating:

• Pot some herbs in chipped coffee cups and set on the windowsills in colorful groupings.

• Hang old, outdated kitchen wear on pegs on the wall or on an old coat rack.

• Cover an old trunk with a tablecloth and use as a bedside nightstand.

• Sponge paint a wall in the kids’ room using paint colors left over from other projects.

• Use cracked teapots or crockery bowls to hold fresh flowers.

After surveying my own furnishings and materials, I often ask friends and family for their unneeded castoffs, or offer to swap, when I fancy a change of look for my home. Most are glad to share because these items are just taking up precious storage room around the house, but they give me more inspiration for my own decorating efforts; they are free, and they are new me and to the eyes of my family.

I get great satisfaction from finding creative ways to make my home look nice without spending lots of money on brand new items. These are just some of my tips for moms looking for cheap ways to decorate their homes.

 

This is a guest post from Caroline Smith, who has a website where you can find more tips for using sofa covers to give your furniture a makeover. She likes the challenge of finding thrifty ways to brighten up her home for less and loves giving pre-used items a new lease of life.

 

The ideas presented in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions and beliefs of Just Our Thoughts.

How to Choose Glasses that Look Great on You

 

Glasses are personal. In the past, glasses were functional; if they helped people see then all was well. Today, glasses are trendy, part of our fashion statement, and have become synonymous with cool.
Women naturally want glasses that make them look great. They want glasses that fit their faces just right, glasses that help them stand out in a crowd, glasses that show everyone their unique personality. Many women choose to have more than one pair of glasses so that they can match several outfits yet still have some funky frames. Some people do not even need glasses but buy them anyway because they are so fashionable in today’s world.

How Do I Choose the Best Frames for Me?

But how do you choose the best pair of frames for yourself? First of all, make sure that you do the choosing; not your husband, boyfriend, significant other, or anyone else. You are the one that is going to go out in public with the chosen glasses, after all, so make sure that you love them. Moms, dads, grandmas, and second-uncles-on-our-father’s-side are probably not the best judges of glasses either. They mean well but still think of you as a seven-year-old and are going to go for the Kid’s Eyeglasses. Either go alone or take your best friend. (Make sure that your best friend thinks of you as her best friend, too.)

What Size Frame Do I Need?

If you already have glasses then all you have to do is look for three numbers on the inside of the frame. These measurements (lens diameter, bridge, and temple) will be your guide. Keep in mind that the measurements are not set in stone; as long as you stay near that number you should be good. For example, if the first number is 50, then you can look for frames with a lens diameter of 48-52. Bridge should be within 1mm and temple can be within 5mm. Glasses can also be purchased as small, medium, or large.

What Shape is My Face?

We have all read about face shapes in relation to makeup, hair styles, and earrings. These face shapes can also help you choose glasses that flatter your face. Determine whether your face is round, oval, square, oblong, heart, diamond, or triangle. If you cannot tell what your faces shape, ask that best friend (remember—absolutely no asking that second-uncle). Once you know your face shape you can get tips at a variety of sites online and recommendations on which frames are best for you.

The Yin and Yang of Frames; or Balance and Harmony in Frames.

You want to choose frames that will emphasize your best features while down-playing features you do not like. Full-rim frames will emphasize great eyes (or great eye makeup), semi-rimless frames will emphasize the top half of your face, and rimless frames give you that “barely there” look if you do not want your face emphasized either way. Remember to choose the right size as well because the wrong size can make you look like an owl, a granny (no offense to the granny’s out there), or weird (unless, of course, the weird look works for you in which case, go for it).

 Getting Down to the Nitty-Gritty (or the Fun Part of Choosing Frames).

Choosing the color and style of your frames is where your personality can really shine. Are you modern? Classic? Are you a Fall or a Summer? Bolds or pastels? Clunky or graceful? Don’t know? Give it some thought, look around at the styles and check out your wardrobe. And remember, what matters is you; get the frames that make you happy.

 

Sara Roberts is a content contributor for Just Eyewear, an online prescription glasses retailer. She does not take her second-uncle (etc., etc.) along shopping. Ever.

 

The ideas presented in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions and beliefs of Just Our Thoughts.

How To Save Money On Textbooks - guess post

The cost of getting an education keeps on going up and there’s no end in sight. Now, aside from dropping out or selling everything you own and living in the park while going to class, there are ways to save. One of the biggest money gobblers is the cost of books. Publishers haven’t played fair with students and have inflated prices beyond reason with the conviction that they have a ‘captive audience’ who must buy what they offer or risk failing a course. Well, here are a few ways to save on those obscenely priced textbooks.  

1.  Secondary School

The secondary market (used) is your easiest avenue to saving a few dollars. But you’ve got to start early if you hope to snag a deal. Because the used books market is the easiest, quickest option, everyone competing for a particular textbook will go here first. Find out what books you’ll need and get ’em before they are gone.

2. Compare and Contrast

If you’re committed to new textbooks only, don’t despair. All is not lost. Get on the internet and start comparing prices. Again, time is the key here and you’ve got to give yourself as much as you’ll need to find the best price around. Sites like bigwords.com or cheapesttextbooks.com are the perfect place to start.

3. E=$$ Saved

Okay, it’s the 21st Century, time to get with it. Most publishers offer electronic versions of their books, including a wide variety of textbooks. E-Books are cheaper and a heck of a lot easier to lug around. So, if you’ve already got a laptop or other handheld device, then you can put it to work for you by loading it up with the e-textbooks you need. Look into this option before you buy.  

4. Time Share

This option takes a bit of work but it can save you a lot! Instead of 5 or 10 students all buying copies of the same book, why not pitch in together and buy 1 copy all of you can share? However you don’t want to exchange savings for headaches so work out a fair schedule in advance so that everyone has the time they need with the text.

5. Rent A Grade

Sites like chegg.com or bookrenter.com allow you to rent textbooks as well as other books and at a fraction of the cost of buying. In some cases you’ll pay only a third of the cover price.  However, these books will often be missing supplementary materials like CD-Roms or workbooks. Also, you have to practice a little TLC with the books since you’ll be returning them for the next renter.

6. Education Should Be Free For All

Well, the textbooks at least can be! That’s right, Textbook Revolution, Freeload Press and other sites offer free textbooks on a wide variety of subjects. These can be hit and miss as far as your needs go. But if a professor has not assigned a particular book, you might steer them to one of the free books available and the whole class can save. It’s worth a shot.

Andrew Salmon is a freelance writer and author. He writes for LifeCover.ca and contributes posts on a variety of financial topics like life insurance as well as general money saving tips.

The ideas presented in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions and beliefs of Just Our Thoughts.

Choosing A Work From Home Option – a guest post

How To Choose A Work From Home Option

That Suits You, Your Family And Your Bank Manager

There’s no point stuffing envelopes and letterboxes all day, every day if it won’t make ends meet and there’s no point taking a part-time job where most of your income ends up at the local child care centre – finding the right work from home arrangement is easier than you think – if you think a little outside the square!

Ask yourself, am I a sales person?

If the answer is no, if you are not great at balancing your check book, if you’re not great at selling ideas and cultivating relationships, if you know nothing about marketing – don’t run a sales business. Lots of stay at home moms and other home workers assume that selling something is the only option they have. Selling products is tricky work and there are literally billions of dollars pumped into the industry every year, if you don’t know much about it, it might take a very long time to start making money. It will be much easier to go with your strengths.

What skills do you have?

In your life BC (before children) what did you do? Did you enjoy it? Were you good at it? Is there a stay at home mom version? If you have the right experience, there’s probably someone out there who wants the job done without actually hiring more employees. For example, many of the freelance sites post ads for virtual P.A.s and typists, Google “freelance typist” to see just how many! How about “family daycare?” Call your local council to find out what is needed to set yourself up as a day care provider for a few children in your own home. Marketing, advertising, web design and IT staff can provide those services to local businesses and via freelance recruitment sites such as Elance, with minimal set up costs. You will be surprised how many careers can be done from home!

No skills, no college education, no problem!

First, don’t be suckered in by get rich quick schemes – if it’s advertised on a piece of card or in a phone box or by photocopied flyer, there’s probably not a rich person behind it. It doesn’t matter why you missed opportunities or why you have been unable to work, it’s now time to find out what you want to do and take steps towards it. For quick money, there is always plenty of work for contract cleaners, leaflet droppers, telemarketers and appointment setters. Once you have some income coming in, it’s time to think about what you really want. What are you good at? Are you organized? Are you charismatic? Are you determined and driven? Once you decide what your skills are, you can start looking for a new career to suit them. Don’t aim to start at the top, for example, if you dream of being a tour manager for rock stars, try seeking part time work taking tickets at the door at your local band venue – everybody has to start somewhere and the more industry people you meet, the better your chances of realizing your dreams.

How’s your English?

If you fancy yourself a bit of a wordsmith, consider writing on a freelance basis. With so many businesses trying to get to the front page of Google, there’s a huge demand for well written, insightful articles. If you can write, like doing research and can handle deadlines, you can start earning in an exciting career immediately!

 

Qualify quickly in a fulfilling career

Depending on your interests, there are dozens of careers out there that can be pursued on your schedule that are quick, cheap and relatively easy to qualify for. Depending on your skills base, consider becoming an ESL Teacher, Marriage Celebrant (Commissioner), Mortgage Agent or Broker, Auctioneer, Aged Care Worker, Beauty Therapist, Tutor, Graphic Designer, SEO Marketing Guru, Avon or Tupperware Hostess, Typist, Seamstress, Nail Technician, Website Developer, Masseuse… the list is endless.

 

Don’t get suckered in to low pay, undesirable jobs just because you want to spend quality time with your young children. There are endless options out there for moms and other home workers – all you have to do is think outside the “poorly paid” square.

 

About the Author: Susan Long is a busy work at home mom who plans to never go back to working for someone else! See her next project at Rent To Buy

 

The ideas presented in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions and beliefs of Just Our Thoughts.

Road Trip Entertainment for Children – a guest post

 

This guest post is provided by Liz C. She contributes and helps run FindGasCards, a gas credit card / auto blog talking about the latest cars, repair tips, as well as more!

 

Vacations are supposed to be fun and what you’re going to find out is that when you’re ready to take a vacation, there may be some times when your kids get out of control. Trust me, I know this from first hand. It’s really hard to get your kids to stay still for more than 2 or 3 hours.

 

I have come up with some tips and tricks that have worked for me. Some are going to set you back a little bit money wise, but you will also find that the investment is going to be well worth it. Test these games and strategies out to see how your kids act.

 

Get a DVD Player – I can’t recommend this more than enough. We have a minivan and we first had it, it was nice to have each kid in their own row, but they grew old fast. We went out, spent $600 and had a DVD player installed. Yes, a lot of money but boy, you don’t even know the kids are in the car anymore!

 

Portable Games – I know that some parents don’t want their kids to stare at a screen or let their brain turn to mush, but if you limit their playing time, you’re going to find that they will love traveling around. What you want to do is only allow them to play a long time when you’re driving. This way, they are going to take advantage of it.

 

A Laptop – Yes, I know that I’m talking about high end products here but you have NO idea on how much of a hassle it can save you. If you have an Android phone or something comparable, see if you can tether it. If you can, you should be able to surf the web while driving.

 

Bingo – This is a great game that my parent’s made me play when I was little. Today, you can print off bingo boards and more. What you’re going to do is get a piece of paper, write down states in each plate and play bingo. When you’re on the road, you’re going to find that you can spot just about every license plate imaginable.

 

The Letter Game – This game has floated around but I don’t really know the “official” name for it. This is how it’s going to work. You will pick out a category. Let’s say that it is animals. You will start with “A”. The following person will go with B and so forth. You only get a certain amount of time to answer it.

 

Scavenger Hunt – Just like Bingo, you can do a scavenger hunt. Ahead of time, what you’re going to want to do is write down about 25-50 things depending on the trip. Once you spot something, you will cross it off. You can put things on there such as cows, a purple car, or a blue house. Rare things make the game last a lot longer.

 

I know a lot of my ideas cost a few extra dollars, but it’s money well spent in my eyes, since I love to travel. Be creative and think of fun games that your children can play. Be advised thought that games like this don’t last that long when it comes to entertainment.

 

 

The ideas presented in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions and beliefs of Just Our Thoughts.

6 Tips to a Healthier Pregnancy – a guest post

 

This is a guest post written by Lauren Dzuris. Lauren runs FindMyCarSeat, a website on car seats  which helps soon to be parents find the perfect car seat for their little one to come.

From the moment we find out we’re pregnant, we’re overwhelmed with emotion. We’re excited to tell our significant other, we’re wondering whether it will be a boy or a girl and we’re already thinking of names and how decorate the nursery.

When we’re pregnant we really need to start looking out for the baby right away. Our diet should change to a healthier one and a few things should be avoided. If you’re looking to have the healthiest pregnancy possible, here are some tips to consider!

OB/GYN: You will want to start this by going to the OB/GYN as soon as you find out that you’re pregnant. They will get you on the right path and answer any questions you may have. They will also tell you want to do and what to avoid during your pregnancy, while monitoring you every so often.

Diet: Make sure you eat a healthy diet. They say you should increase your amount of calories by 300-400 each day. Don’t necessarily eat for two, but instead eat better for the both of you. Your baby relies 100% on you, so make good choices!

Exercise: It is important to keep active and keep your body healthy. The more active you are, the easier your labor will be. So, go for light walks and do daily exercises for about 30 minutes each day to keep your body in shape while it’s changing.

Rest: Be sure to get plenty of rest each day. It is said that we should get 7 hours minimum each day, but for someone that is pregnant, you should get even more. The more rest you get, the better you and your baby will do throughout the day.

Avoid stress: Make sure you avoid any stress. It is hard to avoid it completely, but try to avoid situations that will stress you out. Try to have a happy and healthy pregnancy. If you are stressed out, get plenty of rest, spend time with friends and family and exercise it off!

Vitamins: Be sure to take your prenatal vitamin each day! You don’t want to miss this simply because they give your baby what they really need! These are very important and promote a healthier pregnancy by supplying you with things that are easily missed throughout the day!

There are several ways to increase your chances of having a healthy pregnancy. If you consider a few of these tips, talk with your doctor openly and avoid the dangerous substances like alcohol and drugs, you will increase your chances tremendously!

Lauren is a stay at home mom that runs FindMyCarSeat.com in her spare time. She enjoys walks around the neighborhood, being a mother and keeping busy.

The ideas presented in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions and beliefs of Just Our Thoughts.

 

40 Fun and FREE things to do before school starts! – a guest post

Even as homeschoolers, this is a great list for us.  Thanks, Meghan, for allowing me to share it with my readers!  Meghan is a mom of two who works hard to stretch the dollars her hubby brings home!  You can read more about her on this About Me page.  Her blog is called Savvy Spending.

These back to school ads I've been seeing everywhere are driving me crazy. Seriously, they've almost got me tricked into thinking that summer is over! It's still July, but here I am feeling like I have to suddenly cram in some last minute summer activities.

My girls and I are having a blast playing together this summer, but of course, we do things that are either FREE or very CHEAP! I thought I'd share some of my ideas for keeping the kiddos entertained this summer... just in case you're starting to freak out (like me) that school is starting soon (it's really not...)

1) Visit the library: Most libraries have a summer reading program that will entice your kids to keep reading while school's out. My kids already finished their requirements and are now waiting to pick out their last prize: a free book at the library in August. Aside from reading programs, libraries have fun and educational computer games for kids to play, magazines to look at, games and movies to rent, puzzles and puppets for the younger ones. We usually can easily spend 1-2 hours at our library each week.

2) Go to the Park: I am fortunate to live in a city with dozens of public parks that are fun and safe for my kids. Pack a picnic lunch or go early in the morning and have a picnic breakfast before the weather (and playground equipment) gets too hot. I have fond memories of going to a park as a child, eating Dunkin Donuts on a blanket with my mom and sisters, and making up games of tag and pirates.

3) Go on a treasure hunt: This could be one that you've pre-arranged with clues and prizes, or just go for a walk and see what you can find. My 5 year old has the sharpest eyes and will find a "treasure" no matter where we go. It may be a feather, a seed, a shell, or something that looks to you like garbage, but to a young child, it's exciting to find something! For older kids, create clues to lead them around your house, neighborhood, or back yard and have the final prize be a coupon for a ice cream cone or something fun!

4) See a movie: What child doesn't enjoy a trip to the movie theater? Many theaters offer $1 summer movies or free movies on select days. It may be a movie that has already been released on video, but it's still fun to see it in the theater and get some popcorn!

5) Put up a tent: Even if you aren't a camper, try putting a tent in your backyard and just watch your kids enjoy it! You could borrow one from a friend if you don't have one.

6) Wash the car: Kids LOVE to play with water, so why not surprise Daddy with a clean car? You wash the inside and have the kids clean the outside. If there is still time, wash the bikes, or your neighbor's car (if it's okay with them). Water+ soap bubbles + kids is always a winning combination!

7) Go to the museum: Our library has passes you can check out to get free admittance to many museums. You can also check to see if your local museums have summer rates or days you can go for free.

8) Go feed the ducks: We actually save our state bread and buns for this very reason. There are many small ponds in our area with lots of ducks and the girls love to go feed them. If your city doesn't have ponds, try looking for a local metropark.

9) Visit a local farmer's market: Make a list of things your kids have to find while there. If they are able to find all the fruits and veggies on their list, let them pick out some treat to take home!

10) Pick your own fruit: This is a great family activity! For some reason, my girls love to pick fruit and "berries" (anything small they find on a tree is a "berry"). It's great to support local farmers, learn how the fruit is grown, and take home a yummy treat. You can go here to find u-pick locations near you.

11) Visit your local police or fire station: Call ahead and see if you can take your kids to see their local "heros". Bring a plate of cookies as a thank you to these men and women who serve your community.

12) Wash outside: Do you have a small kiddy pool? Let it warm up in the sun all day and then give your kids an outdoor bath! Add bubbles and wash cloths and see who can get the soapiest before rinsing off!

13) Set up an obstacle course: You can do this inside on a rainy day or outside anytime. Get your kids moving by creating obstacles for them to hop, skip, run, jump, crawl through. You can use things like hula-hoops, small chairs, brooms, trampolines, balloons, etc. to create the course. Time the kids to see who can do it the fastest give everyone a Popsicle as a treat when they're done.

14) Do some volunteer work: Ask an elderly neighbor if they need any summer chores done- like washing windows, picking weeds, etc. They may not see this as fun, but I bet they'll feel good when they are done and you explain the importance of helping others. Give each of your kids a small award (money, extra video game time, ice cream treat) to thank them.

15) Write and act out a play: My sisters and I used to do this all the time. You can have older kids write their own, or read a childhood favorite story for kids to reenact, like Rumpelstiltskin. Make props and costumes with things you have at home. My sisters and I used to do this with friends and invite our parents to come watch our performance. We would even serve treats: little boxes of raisins!

16) Call your local Parks and Rec department: Or visit their website. Find out if they have a summer concert series, free family events, free swimming passes to use the pool, etc. Most cities offer so many fun and free family activities year round!

17) Sell some old toys and have Christmas in July: Take old toys and clothes to a thrift store or have a garage sale. Then, with the money you make, buy gifts for each other and have Christmas in July! You could even make cookies, sing Christmas carols, and read the story of Christ's birth!

18) Go to the beach: You may have a drive a little ways, but this can be a great free family activity. What kids don't enjoy the beach!?! Pack lunches and snacks and enjoy making memories!

19) Go to the Sprinkler park: We are so fortunate to have about 4 of these within 10 miles of us. They are becoming more popular, so look online and see if there is a new one near you! They are almost always free and are so much fun. If you don't have one near you, create your own! You can water your grass and flowers while your kids cool off!

20) Go to the zoo or petting farm: Look for discounted tickets in entertainment books or call and see if they have discounted rates on certain days. If you have a friend with a membership, can you go with them on certain days when they can bring a guest? We don't have a membership to the zoo, but we usually splurge for this a few times a year because the kids love it. Again, pack a lunch/dinner to avoid the high prices at the snack bars.

21) Store Freebies: Participate in some of the free weekend activities I post every Friday. Stores like Michaels, Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. offer free activities for kids all year long!

22) See a Ball Game: You can usually find discounted tickets on ebay to MLB games, or see if you have a minor league game nearby.

23) Become a photographer or make a scrapbook: With all the great photo deals available, this is a cheap way to have fun and be creative. Give kids a disposable camera and have them take pictures of their summer. Then, have a family night in August to create your scrapbooks!

24) Make a pen pal: Encourage kids to learn something about someone in another country. The website epals lets kids form pen pels with kids around the world. If you don't want your kids emailing, you can send letters to family friends or relatives who live far away.

25) Kids make dinner: Put your kids in charge of dinner (if they are old enough) or help younger ones decide whats on the menu for tonight- even if it's pancakes with macaroni and cheese, let them eat it for one night! Adding candlelight will make it extra special.

26) Family Game Night: Have kids pick out game for the whole family to play! If your kids are old enough, have them make up their own game with cardboard and notecards.

27) Try something new! Find something you've never done before and learn how to do it! It could be making your own ice cream, learning to play chess, creating a puzzle, making a bird feeder, making your own silly putty or bubble solution, tie-dying a shirt, or planting a garden. Involve your kids and watch them learn! You can find instructions how to make most of these things online!

28) Create a time capsule: I always wanted to do one of these as a child! Have every member of your family add a letter to themselves and a special memento (or make a picture collage) into a box (and then place in a large bag). Promise to open it again in X number of years. Go here for more ideas.

29) Read a book together as a family: You should be able to ask a librarian for suggestions on books that would be appropriate for your family and kids ages. Each night, read 1-2 chapters together. When the book is finished, have a themed book party where you dress/act as the characters, discuss your favorite parts, act out scenes, or watch the movie version (if there is one).

30) Learn about astronomy: Find some websites or books on stars and then find someplace to go to look at the stars some night (you may have to get out of the city). Bring a blanket and some dessert and star gaze!

31) Make up your own holiday: This could be the start of a great family tradition! There aren't too many (any?) major holidays between now and Labor Day, so have a contest to create your own holiday! Decide what day it will be, how you will celebrate and observe it every year, and maybe share it with your neighbors and make it an annual event!

32) Cook everything on the grill: Breakfast, lunch and dinner must be cooked outside. As my dad always says, "Food tastes better outdoors!" Find recipes on line for new ideas. One of our favorites is a grilled ham and cheese sandwhich made over the fire (we call them "mistokenchies" after their name in Portuguese... I think) or a fried bannanas and chocolate dessert. Use charcoal to really make it special!

33) Go to Chuck E. Cheese: We like to do this a fun treat for our kids. You can print rewards calendars at their website good for 10 free tokens. Spend a few dollars to get some more tokens, and then play all sorts of arcade games for tickets! You don't have to eat there and it doesn't cost anything to get in.

34) Go go-carting or putt-putt golfing: You can usually find B1G1 free coupons in the Entertainment book. Don't have a book? Ask a friend or trade for a coupon at AFullCup.com

35) Make your own Design: Have kids create a work of art, then take a picture of it and upload to it VistaPrint to turn it into a magnet, canvas bag, tee shirt, etc. You can get most of these for free at VistaPrint- just pay shipping!

36) Go Bowling! Join the Kids Bowl Free program and go bowling any day! You'll have to pay for shoe rental unless you have your own!

37) Pajama Day: Stay in your p.j's all day (or maybe just till lunchtime) and spend the day having a "read-in", playing games, making a fort, playing play-doh, finger painting, etc. Your kids will remember this funny day.

38) Redo your kids bedroom: Find free or cheap accessories and furniture on Craigslist.org or Freecycle.com or at thrift stores. It's amazing what a little paint and re arranging can do to a room!

39) Help the environment: Collect water containers or newspapers and visit the recycling center. Teach your kids about recycling. Then take something from home and turn it into something else. See who can be the most creative!

40) Visit an animal shelter: Using coupons, get some pet food or treats for free or cheap and go volunteer at the local animal shelter (call ahead first). Your kids may enjoy petting some cute little animals and the shelter will appreciate your help. Take this opportunity to talk about animal shelters and pet adoption.

41) YOUR TURN..... what free or cheap things do you do with your kids in the summer? Leave a comment below to share!

 

 

The ideas presented in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions and beliefs of Just Our Thoughts.

It’s Time To Change Our Shopping Habits – a GUEST POST

Karyn Climans is a Canadian blogger and entrepreneur.  Here’s what she has to say about herself on her blog:

I’m living an interesting life as a business entrepreneur and parent of 2 special needs kids. My journey has given me an insight in to the challenges of daily life that I’m happy to share. I am committed to keeping my blogs genuine and honest. Hopefully by sharing my stories, my readers will find some comfort, strength and wisdom.

What she didn’t add is that she loves her dogs so very much, she’s an optimist and she makes these really cool products that I will be reviewing a little later.

 

Please read the following post by Karyn on the topic of supporting North American (specifically Canadian) companies such as hers called Tail-Wags.  You can read my thoughts following her post.

It’s Time To Change Our Shopping Habits

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Karyn Climans

Of course items made in North America are more expensive. But are they worth the extra cost? I think so and here’s why: Cheaper goods made in China, Taiwan, India etc are literally made on the backs of women in the developing world. How does Wal-Mart, Target, H&M or any of the other big box stores sell a sundress for $12.00 or child’s winter jacket for $19.99 especially when you consider the additional shipping and import duty taxes on those items? It’s because women in sweatshops around the world “slave” to make those items. Bangladesh’s garment industry workers are the lowest paid in the world – earning an average of $25.00 a month. That income isn’t sufficient for these women to support their own families. And that’s not the only problem … these women are often subjected to horrendous working conditions. Can you imagine being “locked” in your workspace and prevented from using the washroom for extended periods? They are also often the victims of sexual harassment, violent union busting and other forms of coercion.

What can Western women do to advocate for change? We can STOP buying the ridiculously cheap products from developing countries. If we all refuse to shop at outlets that purchase from sweatshops, then these factories will be forced to change. You’re probably asking yourself if cutting off the income to these factories will lead to further economic hardship for the women we are trying to help. Yes it will BUT if this short-term pain leads to long-term gains in terms of higher wages and better working conditions would it be worth it? Absolutely!

And while you’re pressuring for change overseas, how about supporting North American made goods? Yes, they may cost slightly more but the workers are earning a fair wage and are enjoying basic employee rights. Besides, the North American economy could use the boost at the moment. Local jobs are created when demand for locally made products increases. Something for you to keep in mind the next time you’re tempted to purchase that bargain from overseas.

 

 

I agree that we need to support our Canadian companies and I am learning to search out these companies so that I can support them with my purchases.  I agree that the women who slave overseas to make our cheap products need to have better work environments and I want to support their plight in ways that make sense for me here in Canada.

However, I need to think of the balance for my family.  We have 6 children and we live on one income.  We have to be smart with our money.  It comes down to what’s going to get me the most for the least amount of money.

And then on the other hand again (how many hands do you have?) I am certainly learning about quality!  In my quest to declutter our home and get rid of the junk, I am finding that the things I am getting rid of are the items made overseas in those terrible situations.  So I am rethinking many purchases.  I am looking for quality and simplicity in our toys and our clothing and many other items.

As a homeschool mom, I purchase many items for our home.  I do not like to purchase items from the US, if I can at all help it because shipping charges are monstrous!  I am becoming better at searching for and finding Canadian companies.  I am loving tools like ebay and paypal that allow me to shop online without a credit card (one of our ways we save money); these two companies list other companies who accept their services and are specifically Canadian!

The process is slow though.  A person doesn’t change thoughts and buying habits like this over night.

If you are a Canadian blogger and / or entrepreneur I would be willing to support your business by doing a review or guest post, by purchasing products for our home, by listing you on a page of my blog that contains ONLY Canadian companies.  I also hope that you would join in Follow Me I’m Canadian, a Wednesday meme for Canadian bloggers and if you are a mom and a blogger you could join us at Canadian Moms.

Now back to our guest writer.  Please visit and connect with Karyn in the following ways:

• on her blog
• on facebook
• on twitter
• at her website – check out her great products.  They are so fun.  My kids love the one we got to review.  Review coming soon!

 

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

No Money Swap - a guest post

Are you looking to get rid of some leftovers that didn't sell at your garage sale this year? Perhaps your looking to get rid of Annie's last year's clothing that she outgrew and has no one to pass them down to?

You can organize your own no money required swap.Whether this will be amongst friends or a community type thing, you decide.It can be big or small.

• make a list of friends you feel may be interested, if you feel it will be a small friends and family thing.
• find someone who has a garage or basement they can spare the space with for one afternoon or evening.
• make invites and mail out or e-vite- with date, time and place. Either it will be an all clothing swap or perhaps just housewares- or a bit of both- you decide.
• put out a few beverages or snacks....remember, we're trying to save money here so don't go putting on a smorg-hee hee
• let all attendees know that there is no limits to what they take- just that it needs to all go..
• donate leftovers either back to their owners, a charitable thrift store, or save for the next year's garage sale...
• and by all means, make it a family affair!

by Monique at Stretching the One Income Dollar

Monique is a fellow Canadian who has written a book called: Stretching the One Income Dollar. You can purchase this book on her website. Right now, Monique is selling ebook copies of her book for $5. Some of my favorite posts of hers include such topics as how photographers can make money, ING Direct, plastic bags, and making extra money.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,