Frugal Date Nights at Home
Date nights after marriage are really important because they help keep the marriage fresh, like when you were dating before marriage. Keeping the romance alive is all about making time for each other a priority. In the beginning of my marriage, we both had good jobs and went out on a lot of date nights. After the kids came and I quit my job to stay at home with them, date nights became few and far in-between. I had to sit down and really think about things we could do that did not cost a lot. The other problem was child care cost. This would make going on any date seem impossible. I came to realize though that after you have kids is the time you really need a date night. Just being able to talk to your spouse without being interrupted is so nice. You get to focus on each other and not worry about the kids. Since child care expenses are always a problem, we seem to do a lot of date nights at home after the kids have gone to bed. I really think that when you spend less on a date night for some reason they seem to be more meaningful and the ones I remember most. Here are a few ideas we have used for frugal date nights at home.
Frugal Weekend Fun
Since most schools are back in session, we don’t have to think about keeping our kids busy as much. We do however have weekends that we need to plan fun things for our family to do together. This can, however, put a huge dent in your budget. You can prevent this from happening by doing a little planning. Decide on a budget for your family fun weekend and stick to it. Make a list of your family’s interest and start from there to decide on what you will do. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Pamper Yourself for $5 or Less
I am a stay at home mom. If you have never had that job before, you may think that means I get to stay home and watch TV, eat, and have fun all day. In reality, I think that being a stay at home mom is one of the hardest jobs that I have ever had! I have so many responsibilities that I can’t get them all done in one day. I still love my job though, and really love that I have the opportunity to get to be with my kids and see those important moments in their lives. My job is 24 hours a day 7 days a week, so sometimes I really just need some “me time.” This can sometimes be hard because since I get to stay at home with my kids we have less money for nonessential things. I have found, though, that when I take the time to pamper myself, it makes me a better stay at home mom. So, I have found some ways to make the most of my pampering time while not going over $5. Here are a few suggestions that have helped me.
Planning a Frugal Vacation
It’s that time of year when many families take a vacation and, all too often, end up spending a fortune. Well, it does not have to be that way. With a little planning, your family can have a fun filled and relaxing vacation. Here are a few tips to help you have that vacation without having to sacrifice your life’s savings.
Frugal 4th of July Cookout
The 4th of July is right around the corner and many families like to celebrate by having cookouts. However, cookouts can get quite expensive. There are ways though that you can save money on this special, once a year event. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Frugal Summer Family Fun
It’s that time of year when again. The kids are home and, as moms, we have to find something for them to do. As you well know, some of those activities can cost a lot of money. But, with a little planning, your family can have fun this summer while spending little money. In my family, we get together and make a list of ideas the kids have that they want to do in the summer. They come up with lots of ideas that really do not cost a lot. Here are a few ideas to help you plan some fun, and frugal, summer activities.
Free Redbox Movie
Redbox wants to celebrate summer so its offering a free movie. Go to facebook and like the Redbox page and get your freebie! Here’s the facebook page. Hope you enjoy the summer and a free movie.
Family Movie Night On NBC
A great family movie night opportunity is coming up. On Friday April 16th at 8 pm, you can watch the movie, Secrets of the Mountain, on NBC. I watched the trailer and it looks like a really great movie. So, get your family together and pop some popcorn and enjoy some time with your family.
Reading: A Frugal Hobby?
I never really started to enjoy reading as a hobby until I was a young adult. I had different authors and I had to go out and buy their newest books. I also put a lot of money into my reading hobby. After I had the kids and became a stay at home mom, there really was not enough money for me to give to my reading hobby, so I had to look for other ways to enjoy reading because I was not willing to give the hobby up.
Eating Well Magazine: $5 For 1 Year
Are you trying to get fit and eat better this year. Here’s a little something to help you and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Get Eating Well Magazine for $5 a year from Amazon. You can even give it as a gift, but hurry this only last one week.
