Monday, 10 September 2012

Making Time for Family on a Budget - Northern Cheapskate ...

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The following is a guest post by Jessica Stark.

With the end of summer comes a return to busy school schedules, making it harder for families to find time together. Staying connected takes some planning and effort, but some of the best ways to enjoy time with your family are also the most affordable. Consider the following ideas, if you?re trying to create more togetherness at home.

Game night

Does your family like to play board games or card games? Game nights can be adapted based to the interests of the people involved, giving you flexibility in how you choose to entice your family. In some cases, family members can get hooked on a game and turn it into a weekly tradition. If the whole family is big on playing games then game night could become a weekly routine. Otherwise, use game night as an every-now-and-then activity to mix things up with your family.

Movie night

Making popcorn and watching movies is a great family activity for rainy nights or when the weather makes it hard to leave the home. Choose a couple age-appropriate movies that interest the members of your family. Consider having everyone take turns choosing the movie from one night to the next, and encourage everyone to be respectful of the movie choices everyone makes. Grab some blankets and pillows, order some cheap pizza and camp-out on the floor with your kids.

Go on a family outing

Plenty of affordable activities can be found within your local community, giving you a range of options when your family is determined to get out of the house. Most zoos and museums offer family passes that can get your group in at a discounted rate, and other events like parades and festivals can often be attended for little-to-nothing. Check your local newspaper to see what upcoming events are of interest to your family, and plan a family night around one of the more popular options.

Plan a weekend vacation

Vacations don?t have to be anything elaborate. Even simple, inexpensive trips like going camping for the weekend or visiting a small town a few hours away can provide plenty of fuel for adventures and activities. Even if you?re working with a budget, there are often plenty of coupons and other travel deals that can make weekend trips affordable ? particularly if you?re willing to travel outside of peak tourism seasons. Let everyone give their input and then choose a weekend getaway that will allow your family to bond without boring them.

With any family night, the focus should be on spending time together. Fortunately for many families, that doesn?t necessarily require spending endless amounts of money to keep everyone entertained. There are plenty of affordable, entertaining activities that families can all do together ??it just takes a little resourcefulness.

Jessica Stark is a bargain shopper at heart. She loves searching for deals, saving money, and sharing her methods of doing so with others! From clipping coupons to downloading new phone apps, Jessica will try it all!


Source: http://www.northerncheapskate.com/2012/09/making-time-for-family-on-a-budget/

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