Every Monday in 2015, I’ll be sharing a different idea to help you save money! Add all of these tips to your frugal repertoire and you’ll be able to save a lot of money this year! I hope you’ll gather a few new ideas or at least some inspiration from this series.
Maybe you can relate, but every once in a while, I find we’re spending money left right and center. Bills need to be paid, groceries need to be bought (again) or a birthday party comes up.
June is an especially spendy month for us because on top of our regular expenses, we also have our house insurance, car insurance and property tax due. Ouch!
While we do have our finances under control and carry zero debt, it’s still nice to intentionally stop spending money for a time. I like to call this a No Spend Challenge.
That brings me to today’s post on 52 Ways to Save: Have a No Spend Day/Week/Month!
In the past, we’ve done several no spend months where we don’t spend any extra money for an entire month. Groceries and bills are the exception.
You don’t have to have a No Spend Month to see savings. Even setting aside one day a week can significantly help your bank account. Especially if you find yourself making several small purchases on a daily basis. (Those small purchases can really add up!)
If the idea of having a No Spend Day/Week/Month strikes fear, I know for a fact that it’s not so bad once you’re into a groove. You may even find your mindset changing about the way you view money!
I asked the wonderful people over at the Simply Frugal Facebook page what they like to do for fun that is 100% free. Here are their answers:
Picnic in the park
Read books (from the library or free kindle ebooks from Amazon)
Sit at the Waterfront
Hike
Breathe
Weed the Garden
Take the dog for a walk to new places
Visit the Farmer’s Market (free if you don’t buy anything!)
As you can see, the options are pretty endless when it comes to having a fun day without spending any money. And if you ask me, that all sounds pretty relaxing and good for the soul. 🙂
Have you ever done a No Spend Challenge? How did it go for you?
One of the thoughts that creeps into my mind frequently is, “Why couldn’t I capture that moment in time perfectly?” That beautiful sunset witnessed on a perfect vacation. My child’s first smile. The expression of happiness on my husband’s face at his surprise party. I don’t want to forget any of it.
It’s SO important to savor it all… to relish those moments. But you know what’s equally important, if you ask me? To be able to look back and relish those moments all over again. A month from now. A year from now. Fifty years from now.
And that’s where photographs come in. These days, it’s so easy to get snap-happy at a moment’s notice: we just reach into our purses for our smartphones or tiny cameras and start clicking away at anything and everything.
The problem is… it’s so easy for those photos to come out badly! You think you’ve taken a wonderful picture of your beautiful boy standing by himself for the first time, but actually you’ve managed to capture the moment when he falls down and starts wailing! You think you’ve snapped a stunning image of a horse galloping along the beach, but actually it’s just a dark blob against an overexposed background. You think you’ve achieved the perfect shot of your wonderful parents laughing together on their anniversary, but you take a look and you’ve managed to capture… a blur.
If you can relate, I have good news for you! Ryan and Steph at Ultimate Bundles have put together an incredible product to help with your photography woes. It’s called The Ultimate Digital Photography Bundle (Beginner’s Edition), and it contains a curated collection of ebooks and video training guides to help you become a better photographer.
All the resources have been provided by professional, world-renowned photographers who are experts in teaching others – even complete beginners. You won’t need to switch up to a more expensive camera to make full use of the bundle (even if you just use your iPhone for photographs), and you don’t need to neglect your family for weeks upon weeks of training! You can learn everything in little chunks – whenever you have a spare moment.
There’s even better news! Everything in the bundle has a combined total value of $555, but for this week only, The Ultimate Bundles Team is selling the entire bundle for just $37 – a discount of more than 90%! What’s more, they’re also throwing in a FREE copy of FX Photo Studio Pro software from MacPhun (which provides stunning filters and photography effects) worth $29.99!
Head over to the Savings Made Delicious portal on Save.ca to get a coupon for a FREE product! You’ll be able to pick up a free box of Cinnamon Chex, Fibre 1 bars or Nature Valley Muesli.
The Think Geek is in the midst of their Summer Clearance sale! Save up to 75% off hundreds of items. Find a perfect gift for someone that’s hard to shop for.
Are you already fearing the summer time boredom blues? The Summer months can be a fun time, but it can also get kids in a bit of a rut. If you are looking for ways to keep kids occupied this summer without spending a lot of money, you can in fact keep them active, occupied, and keep those imaginations going! Here are 7 Frugal Ways to Keep Kids Busy This Summer:
7 Frugal Ways to Keep Kids Busy This Summer
1. Create a sidewalk chalk art show.
Get out the sidewalk chalk (a buck a box at most dollar stores) and let the kids choose a space they wish to decorate. Let them really get into it creating murals and sketches, and then host an art show. Invite neighbors to come and see the artwork, while sipping on lemonade and cookies.
2. Hold a bike wash.
Get out the buckets, rags, and soap and hold a neighborhood bike wash. You can even let kids run their bikes through the sprinklers if you wish. Give kids the chance to get those dirty bikes shining like new while working together at the same time.
3. Go on a nature themed scavenger hunt.
Create a list of random objects and have children go on a scavenger hunt for them. (I have a free printable Nature Scavenger Hunt, here.) Choose items easily found in nature such as rocks, bird feathers, a flower, a leaf, etc. This will allow them to get outdoors and get active while also enjoying some competitive fun.
4. Volunteer together.
Local animal rescues and food pantries can always use a hand. Get out and get active with one that interests you. It is a great way for kids to give back to their community while enjoying some time together as a family. You might even decide to continue volunteering after summer is over.
5. Create an indoor drive in.
Give each child a box to decorate as a car or vehicle of their choice. Then, put a movie on and provide plenty of snacks. Allow children to “park” their cars and watch the movie just like they are at a real life drive in. They will love it!
6. Host a field day.
Host a field day of outside games and activities. They don’t have to be difficult or pricey options, just try ones like hula hooping, sack races, face painting, and ball games. Kids are sure to enjoy the atmosphere, friendly competition, and fun!
7. Make your own kites.
There are so many kite tutorials online from the simple to the extravagant! Make your own kites and then take them for a spin. You can even give out awards for the most creative, highest flying, etc. How fun does that sound?
Summer doesn’t have to drag or cost big bucks either. Give these tips a try and you are sure to entertain your kids for less.
