May
30
2008
These days, parents are under a lot of pressure to hold lavish birthday parties for their children. Some parents are spending $5,000-10,000 on a birthday party for a small child! While this is hard for me to believe, it is happening (and not just for children of celebrities; these are ordinary families we’re talking about.
Where is the pressure coming from? Mostly from other parents, and then from kids who have been desensitized and think it’s completely normal to have a limo or a band at their birthday party.
Are you facing that kind of pressure? If so, check out the site Birthdays Without Pressure . It’s a great resource for parents who want their children to feel special on their birthdays, but don’t necessarily think that it should cost a lot of money. The site gives examples of the kinds of out of control parties that are happening, and also gives tips and ideas for keeping your children’s parties simple .
Check it out.
May
26
2008
Oh my goodness! I have found one of the BEST resources for parents of infants or young children who are looking to save money by making their own products. Make Baby Stuff . If you are hoping to save money by making baby food, baby wipes, cleaning products, or a variety of other things - this is the site for you!
Make Baby Stuff shares tons of simple projects you can do to save money. I want a baby wrap for my baby, but they can cost from $25-$60. Guess what? Turns out you can make your own with a few yards of fabric. You don’t even have to know how to sew.
That’s just one project that will save you money. Check out Make Baby Stuff for tons of other money-saving baby projects.
May
11
2008
Happy Mother’s Day! If you’re a mom, enjoy your day. And if you’re blessed to have your mom still around, give her a call today.
Because it’s Mother’s Day, I decided to focus on a family focussed post - family togetherness. In my family growing up, my parents made an effort to spend at least one evening a week together as a family. Sort of a ‘family date.’
Our family day didn’t always happen, but it was a great way for us to grow together as a family and enjoy time together. We usually played games, shared a treat, and sometimes our parents taught us an object lesson or discussed chores and other family concerns.
A ‘Family Activity Day’ once a week is a good idea for several reasons. It builds togetherness, it gives parents a chance to talk with their children and teach them things, it’s fun to spend time together, and it’s also quite inexpensive.
What are some things you can do for Family Activity Day? Here are a few ideas:
- Play board games together
- Pop some popcorn and watch a movie together
- Plant a garden together
- Make a fun craft together
- Visit the library
- Have a picnic at the park or even in the backyard
- Attend a local concert or theatre production together
- Plan a service project - do something good as a family
These are just some of the things you can plan to do together as a family. If you don’t plan a regular ‘Family Activity Day,’ try it out this week. Do you have some favorite family activities you like to do?
May
05
2008
Welcome to the Frugal Parenting blog. I am planning this blog to be THE resource when it comes to parenting on a budget. Whether you have one child or five, kids can be expensive! I plan to share resources for finding the best bargains, the giveaways, and all kinds of tips for saving money as you parent.
I invite you to join me here! This blog will only become better as the readers share their ideas, tips, thoughts, and experiences. So feel free to comment with your thoughts and suggestions.
Just a little about me - my husband and I are expecting our first baby in August. I am already seeing just how expensive everything is. That’s why I created this blog, as a place to share the tips and ideas I learn - I’d like to pass them along to you. I’m a parent-to-be who loves bargains and saving money.
Anyway, I hope you stick around. I’m working on assembling links and other useful things for you, so stay tuned.
