6 steps to Plan a Family Staycation that everyone is sure to remember for years to come.
Are you lacking the funds or time this year for a family vacation? If that's the case, don’t worry. A family staycation is a great way to spend time together and “get away” while still keeping some cash in your pocket. If you have never planned a family staycation before, take a peek below at these helpful tips for how to plan a family staycation that everyone will enjoy!
1. Choose a theme.
One of the best ways to start is to decide the theme of your staycation. Do you want tropical? Exotic? A camping theme? A destination? Whatever the case may be, choose the theme and “destination” as a family. This will help you best plan the activities of your staycation.
2. Set up the location.
You now want to set up your location based on the theme you chose. For example if you picked tropical, decorate the backyard with a kiddie pool, sand spot, umbrella, colorful plants, etc. If you picked a Paris theme, a bistro set, candles, a small Eiffel tower centerpiece, etc. can all be fun. Think of ways to bring the feeling of the theme to your space and start decorating.
3. Plan your menu.
Create a fun menu based on the theme of your staycation. A tropical staycation might include pineapple, smoothies, and lots of grilling out. A camping theme could include campfire food, while a Parisian theme could include cheese and small appetizers. Plan a menu as a family and get creative with your food.
4. Choose your activities.
Once your theme, location, and menu are in place, choose some simple activities. This could include local sight seeing that goes with the theme or activities and games you can enjoy at home. Pick games and activities that are family friendly and easy! Some suggestions could include a water balloon fight for the tropical theme or a trip to a local art museum for the Paris theme.
5. UNPLUG.
One of the best parts of a staycation is unplugging! Turn off the phones and computers and enjoy your time together as a family. Let family and friends know of your staycation so they can give you space during this time as well.
6. Don’t forget to document your trip!
Don’t forget to take lots of pics so you can always remember your staycation together and all the fun you had. If you wish you can even create a scrapbook when done!
See how simple it can be to plan a family staycation? It is a great way to enjoy some family fun without ever leaving your home. Give these planning trips a try and you can plan a staycation with your family that they will always remember!
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.
My sincere apologies for not having last week’s 52 Ways to Save post up! You’ll see my excuse in this post. I’ll be sure to have 2 in one week to get caught up 😉
One great way to save money on your grocery bill is to eat less meat. I’m not saying to get rid of it completely if you don’t want to, but by simply putting less on your plate, you will be saving a lot in the long run. Here are some ideas to help you get started eating less meat:
Don’t make it the focal point
Limit making meat the focal point of your meal. Instead, use it as a topping for pizza or salads, or put some into stir fries or soups. You’ll be amazed at how far meat will stretch when it’s added to something!
Have a meatless night
I’m sure you’ve heard of Meatless Monday, one day a week that many people have decided to eat a meatless meal. It’s actually a whole global movement that you can read all about here. The website also features a ton of great recipes that may interest you! While Meatless Monday is a “thing” you can do your meatless night on any night of the week 😉
If you family is having a hard time with the idea of having meatless meals, why not make it enticing by setting some fun goals? For example, you could put the money you’re saving by not buying meat for that meal into a vacation fund or even the local fair fund. Or perhaps you could use that money to go out for ice cream! Talk it over with everyone so you can come up with an exciting way to use your savings.
Stretch it with beans and lentils
If your family is really opposed to going meatless, it’s always possible to make meat stretch by adding beans or lentils. Mexican dishes, chili, and soups are meals that you can easily add in extra beans to replace some of the meat.
Lentils hide especially well in taco meat. Just add in cooked lentils to your ground beef along with your usual seasonings and there’s a good chance your family won’t even notice!
How do you save money on meat? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!
7 Frugal Ways to Attract Butterflies to Your Garden
Attracting butterflies to your garden is not only ideal because of their beauty, but because they can help pollinate your flowers and plants as well! Butterflies are an excellent asset to your garden, which is why attracting them should be on your to do list. Attracting butterflies doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult; in fact, you can get them to come flocking for just pennies! Take a look below at 7 frugal ways to attract butterflies to your garden so you can enjoy them and the benefits they bring all season long.
1. Place out “sweet spots.”
Give butterflies sweet spots to feed on when you place out shallow lids with sugar water in them. The lids of Pringles cans or butter containers are perfect for this task. Then, watch the butterflies come and take a sip.
2. Try sponges.
Cut up sponges into cubes and soak them in sugar water. You can then place the sponges out in your garden and wait for butterflies to find then. They will love perching on the soft sponges and drinking the sweet water.
3. Give them watering stations.
You can do both of the suggestions above using plain water instead of sugar water so the butterflies have a place to get a cold drink. They get thirsty just like we do, and will flock to spots where water is available for them.
4. Plant ground cover.
Plant some low laying plants and ground cover that butterflies can find shade in. They will appreciate a retreat from the sun and enjoy a shady place to lounge in.
5. Plant butterfly friendly blooms.
Butterflies love Rose of Sharon, Butterfly Bush, and many other flowering bush varieties. Add some of these plants to your flower beds and landscaping and the butterflies will return year after year.
6. Forget the pesticides.
If you use pesticides in your yard, they will scare and/or kill butterflies off. Instead, avoid using chemicals in your yard and by all means avoid pesticides. Try natural pesticide options instead such as lady bug releasing or a simple spray of Dawn dish soap and water.
7. Let them eat fruit.
Butterflies love fruit rinds and peels. Place these items in shallow dishes and place them out for butterflies so they always have a snack on hand!
See how simple it can be to bring beautiful butterflies flocking to your yard? Give these tips a try and in no time you will be enjoying beautiful butterflies in your garden, even on the tightest of budgets!
The following post is a guest post by Hilary of CallMePower.ca. Enjoy!
Don’t let your utility bills soar high along with the rising temperatures this summer! Here are some handy tips for keeping your utility bills low as temperatures rise.
Fire the Dryer
Did you know that after refrigerators, clothes dryers are the biggest energy-consuming household appliance? Reducing (or stopping altogether) your use of the clothes dryer can have a big impact on your utility bills. Take advantage of hot, sunny weather by drying your clothes outside. Not only will air-drying your clothes save you money on your utility bills, it is also gentler on your clothes and will help them last longer.
To maximise energy-saving on laundry, wash your clothes in cold water. As about 90% of the energy used by a washing machine goes towards heating water, washing your clothes in cold water can have a big impact on your utility bills, and has the added benefit of keeping your clothes bright for longer! You can also find detergent that has been specially formulated for cold water to ensure your clothes are getting cleaned as well as they would be in hotter water.
Go with the Flow
Ensuring good air circulation throughout your home can make a big difference in terms of your comfort indoors and can help you avoid using (expensive) air conditioning. There are several easy things that you can do to improve airflow in your home. First, if you have any ceiling fans, make sure that they are set to rotate counter-clockwise in the summer; this will push hot air upwards and outwards create a cooling effect in the room. Also make sure to keep the heating/air-conditioning vents in your home open and clear of anything that might be blocking air flow in your home.
Fill up the Fridge
Keeping your fridge full will also keep it from warming up every you open it, and it won’t have to work as hard to stay cool. Fill any extra space in your fridge with bottles of water, juice, or iced tea (which you can make yourself!) – they will help the fridge maintain its temperature and are refreshing! On particularly hot days, try to limit the number of times you open your fridge so that it doesn’t work harder than it has to.
Stop Cooking
Spending hours in the kitchen over a hot stove or in front of a hot oven during the summer is both unpleasant and unnecessary. Instead, make the most of fresh, bountiful summer produce to make salads and room-temperature dishes. Summer is a great time to get reacquainted with your blender, if you already have one – whipping up fresh smoothies for breakfast and cold soups for lunches or dinner are quick and energy-efficient meal options that are cool and refreshing. Consider using your microwave or a grill for heating food, both of which are more energy efficient cooking options than using an oven or a stove.
Be Appliance Smart
While summer is the perfect time to be lazy in the kitchen, keep on the lookout for any wasted energy use in the rest of your home. You can eliminate wasted, vampire energy by making sure to unplug electronics and chargers when they’re not in use, or by plugging them to power strips that you can switch off.
Stay in the Dark
Chances are in the summer the sun is bright enough that you can turn off some of the lights in your home. It’s a good idea to try to keep the lights off as much as possible during the summer, as any light gives off heat (which is generally unwanted during the summer). If you haven’t already, think about switching any incandescent lightbulbs in your home to LED or CFL. While they may cost slightly more to buy, they use considerably less energy than traditional bulbs, and generate much less heat. If you are thinking of making the switch, keep an eye out for any coupons or sales happening at your local hardware store for extra savings. Also try to keep your curtains or blinds drawn during the day in rooms that receive a lot of sunlight to keep them from getting too hot and stuffy.
Hilary is the author of CallMePower.ca, a website that provides information about energy prices in Canada to help Canadians find the best prices for their electricity and gas supply. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, DIY projects, and scoring deals at thrift stores.
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.
Ever since my husband and I were married almost 8 years ago, I’ve been planning our weekly menu. Even if I didn’t take the time to write things down, I still had a few meals in mind that would get us through the week. It’s in my nature to be a planner so planning a menu was obvious for my own sanity. But, even if you’re more of an impromptu cook, today I’d like to touch on the importance of menu planning. Especially if you’re looking to save money and some sanity. We’re all busy people so the power of a plan can help each of us tremendously!
Menu Planning Keeps the budget in check
Groceries cost a lot. Save yourself some financial stress by planning your meals and your shopping list based on what’s on sale and what you already have in your pantry. With a menu plan in place, you only have to purchase the ingredients you need create the meals you’ve picked. That’s how I spend less than $50 some weeks on groceries.
Your Time and Sanity are Important Too
Whether you work outside the home or you’re a stay-at-home parent, we’re all juggling a ton of activities on a daily basis. While planning a menu in the first place takes a bit of time, it will definitely save you time and restore sanity in the end. You will always have the ingredients you need to create a meal from your planned menu. No running to the store for a last minute item or opening the fridge and cupboards 500 times to figure out what to make for dinner. Or realizing it’s 5pm and you just spent an hour trying to find a great recipe when dinner could have already been on the table. With a plan in place, all you have to do is pick a meal from the list and make it!
Menu Planning Reduces Waste
Have you ever bought food from the grocery store thinking you’ll use it for something, but end up throwing it out instead? If you stick to the grocery list that you created based on your planned meals, you won’t be purchasing anything that you won’t use. In turn, creating less waste, both in the food sense and financial sense!
I believe that having a menu plan to save money and your sanity cannot be stressed enough. Menu planning has made my life so much easier and I’ve heard the same from many others. Sometimes, the menu plan is the only thing in the day that goes as planned!
Are your trips to the salon starting to add up? While I do cut my husband's hair at home, I'm not quite willing to try cutting my own hair yet (or ever?). Like me, cutting your own hair may not be an option, so take a look at these 7 ways to save money at the salon that you can try. With just a little creativity and effort, you can save money on your salon visits and keep a little extra cash in your pocket. Here is how you can get started saving today!
1. Stretch out your colorings.
Do you go every 4 weeks for a color touch up? If so, see if you can stretch out your coloring schedule by an additional week. This can help you eliminate a few colorings a year and save you some serious cash. Chances are, you won’t even be bothered by waiting an additional week.
2. Skip the blow dry and style.
Most stylists charge you extra to dry your hair and style it. If you are just heading home after your appointment anyway, skip the blow dry and style. You can easily shave $20 or more off your visit and just dry your own hair when you get home.
3. Check out loyalty offers.
Many salons value your loyalty and are willing to reward you for it. Check with your salon to see if they offer any type of loyalty program. If so, take advantage of it! If they don’t and you are still in search of a good deal, don’t be afraid to shop around for the best price. The salon I've been frequenting offers a free hair cut after I purchase 10 cuts.
4. Don’t be tempted by sales pitches.
Many times the stylist will want to sell you the products they use in your hair. Don’t fall for the sales pitch. Kindly decline and resist the urge to make your final bill any higher. So many drugstore products are just as good as professional products these days, so save a little cash and opt for those brands instead.
5. Avoid bells and whistles.
A salon that offers complimentary beverages, robes, snacks, and other perks will come at a higher price. Skip these bells and whistles if you can and instead go with what you came for…a great cut and color! Salons that offer all of those extra perks usually add the cost into the service.
6. Ask about coupons.
Many salons offer coupons for savings on their services. Check the local paper for such deals or simply ask your stylist if he/she knows of any savings that are available. You might also find savings on their Facebook page.
7. Follow the salon on social media.
Be sure you are following your salon on social media so you can be the first to know about sales and savings that may be available to you. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are all great places to follow your favorite salon.
Are you ready to save money on your next salon visit? If so, give these 7 tips for saving money at the salon a try!
