Friday, October 30, 2015

Frugal Friday #6

Happy day before Halloween! I'm sure your children are wound up about fall parties and Halloween celebrations at school as well.

We've been trying to keep our Halloween celebrations on the frugal end as well. Here are some of the things our family has been doing:

Our Girl Scout and classroom party admittedly featured the same activities. (Buy once, use twice, right?) We're upcycling a ton of toilet paper rolls for our $1 spooky craft and are playing the "Bag of Bones game" in the classroom today.

Halloween costumes have been homemade creations too. My son was a ninja for one party but has since decided to trick or treat as a skeleton. Both came from his closet (we bought skeleton pajamas on clearance last winter.).

My daughter went as "Night" to the scout party and may still raid her closet to be Luna Lovegood for her friend's party.

And as per tradition, we'll be greating trick or treaters tomorrow with Happy Meal toys, party bag trinkets and other items.

How are you having a frugal Halloween celebration?

Friday, October 16, 2015

Frugal Friday 5: Frugal Fall Break

Fall break is going frugal this year! Camping trips and excursions to Kansas or other adventures are out. Instead, we're seeking out local adventures to enjoy.

This week, we:

Enjoyed free passes to Holiday World from a coworker. We were able to visit my parents and take the kids out to their first time at an amusement park. And, by going on the later-starting Sunday, eating a large breakfast first and packing snacks in our car, we were able to enjoy the park without splurging on $7.99 funnel cakes or other expensive snack items.

Went to the Children's Museum Haunted House. Again, for free. Several years ago we discovered that the local public libraries offered free passes as part of their "stopping in" prizes during the summer reading program. For the last two years, we have snagged those instead of $1 off coupons elsewhere. The kids love it - and we were even able to take my daughter's Girl Scout troop last year!

Went to the apple orchard and hiking.

Fall break might not have been a wild adventure,  but it was a sea of little ones.  And that is ok.

Friday, October 9, 2015

Frugal Friday 4

This week's frugal accomplishments :

Went to Goodwill this Saturday.  I never really thought about it,  but the first Saturday is 50 percent off. So for $20, I scored:

  • Sweats for my little flag football player and his friend
  • Jeans and pants for my little guy,  since he apparently no longer wears slims.  (Oops.)
  • A work sweater
  • Four Southern Living Christmas books,  mint condition,  for my mother in law for Christmas. 
Took my daughter to Celebrate Science Indiana while boys watched football.  $5 for parking for four hours of her entertainment. 

Happily feasted on french onion soup.

Traded aforementioned slim jeans with a friend for a pack of glass wipes for my car.  We both came out ahead! 

What were your frugal accomplishments this week?

Friday, October 2, 2015

Frugal Friday 3

Sickness has been the rule in our home lately,  and it left some nasty results.
My husband was in bed for eight days with bronchitis,  the end result bring that he could not complete his prerequisites for his job retaining program.  By the grace of God they are letting him restart in the November class but this sets us back another two months.  We've delayed our internal home repairs from the flood as well,  as our insurance company has not sent us the balance.
We are moving into month four of a one income lifestyle,  and we are feeling the pinch.  We've asked our kids not to buy milk at school lunch.  We're strategically planning Christmas gifts. (Clothing or tennis shoes,  anyone?)
My Cub Scout is working extremely hard to sell popcorn to fund his next summer at day camp, and we are getting close!! Three popcorn booths at church each weekend have added up. I'm proud of him for all the effort!
What frugal victories did you celebrate this week?