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How to save money without leaving the house

1. MONEY DIET - (I did this one myself in January - I discovered how wasteful I was and such a huge buyer of WANTS and not needs.) Also, discovered that I had tons of frozen leftovers that I never got around to eating. I personally don't have to buy toothpaste until November. Lotion will not be purchased again until December. Had no idea how much I was continuously buying without checking my cabinets. Only fill your car up with gas for the week...than don't spend one nickle for the week. THE CREATIVE JUICES WILL BE FLOWING.

2. EBAY - YOUR FRIENDS STUFF - Everyone is always needing a helping hand for garage, attic and overstuffed closets. Volunteer to help the friend - only if they will allow you to keep what they plan to trash. Now, place their trashed items on Ebay.

3. CASH ONLY - when grocery shopping only use cash. Select the dollar amount to be used - which means everything you place into your basket will probably not go home with you. (This really works well with me - I will only take $40.00 into Wholefoods. Of course, the cashier ALWAYS has to put many of my items back on the shelf.)

4. Teach a Self-Improving Class at your home.

5. YOUR VOICE - got a great one..........sign up with an agency to do voiceovers.

6. TUTOR - (I'm planning to spend $40.00 per week for 4 weeks for my son being tutored in Calculus).

7. SHOWERS - shorten them - save on water bill.

8. LAUNDRY - wash ONLY full loads.

9. ELECTRIC - Balance billing (I personally didn't use the alloted amount - therefore, I currently have cash being held by Reliant in the amount of $562.00.

How to entertain your family on a budget

1. Family Playdate at a local playground (some friends did this on Saturday)

2. Potluck Family Playdate at someone's home: everyone bring a dish

(coordinate the menu), including dessert (The KIDS DECIDE) - the kids get to play with

their friends in/outside, the adults can catch up, and everyone leaves

happy and full.

3. Themed scavenger hunts: Tap into your creative thinking on this one. The

idea is to come up with something(s) to look for - usually items already

owned in your home, but hidden in your yard or even in the house on rainy

days. Create clues for your littles ones, then let them go for it. It's

like hide-and-seek, but also allows them to use their problem solving and

critical thinking skills.

4. Visit a pet store - window shopping only (and petting, if allowed by the

store owners) so much learning and really a lot of fun.

5. Take nature walks: some municipally-owned parks offer self-guided walks.

6. board games( teach fair play with the little ones and gets the whole

family involved) - Oprah and Maria Shriever were discussing last week how

when visiting Maria's family GAMES were constantly played.

7. dollar movie theaters or exchange movies with friends or family and have

a movie night.

8. play the game "I Spy" - someone says find the yellow object and the kids

look for the object sort of like a waldo - both cheap and increases kids

visual and observation skills.

9. play the story game - once upon a time there was a care and - next person

continues for a sentence or two and then the next person follows and you

have this story at the end that is completely silly but fun and free and

the kids increased imagination skills and sentence structure and helps

ready so not only cheap but educational as well.

10. Be patient and wait to see new movies on video. Some communities even

offer free video rentals at local libraries and will order new movies if

library patrons request a certain title.

11. Check to see if there are any discount movie theaters in your area.

Most of these places show movies just before they’re released to video. A

family of four can go out for an evening at the movies and only spend

around $10 for a fun family outing. Keep a list of movies you want to see,

and then check the discount theater listings each week. These theaters

often keep the movies for just one or two weeks, so stay alert to what’s

playing.

12. Check your area for free days at museums, zoos, etc.

13. Rather than buying separate admissions to different educational or fun

family destinations, buy one yearly family pass to either the zoo, the

aquarium, or a theme park. Go repeatedly to that one place each time you

want a family outing. You will easily save the cost of the family

admission, plus you’ll have the benefit of not feeling pressured to see

everything in one day. You can always see what you missed the next time you

come. Next year, buy a pass somewhere else.

14. Check for free concerts, plays, and other live family entertainment in

local parks. (In NEW YORK this is BIG)

15. Call Hobby Center/Wortham -call ask can you watch rehearsals for free.

16. Call and find out if your local college stage production group, ballet

or orchestra will let you watch them rehearse for free.

17. If you want to eat at an expensive restaurant, go for lunch rather than

dinner. Order 1 meal only and share.

18. When dining out, drink water only. Ask for a lemon or lime wedge if you

want to make your drink seem special. This trick can easily cut $10 off

your family’s total dining bill, which could mean the difference between

going out for a fun meal or staying home eating frozen egg rolls again.

19. Make the most of any available student discounts. Show your child’s

school ID at museums, zoos, galleries, theaters, etc.

20. Minute Maid Park - has free tours! Kids love this...oh, so do adults.

21. Instead of an expensive day of professional sports, go to a high

school or community college game.

22. Public libraries are great! They offer so much in terms of free

activities for little ones, whether it's during the week when stay-at-home

parents can participate with their children, or on weekends for anyone .

from storytelling, to puppet shows, etc., you name it: one of our favorite

places to visit.

23. Go fly a kite. Literally!