Money Saving Mom®

Guest post from Katie of Embracing a Simpler Life

As it has long been said, some of the best things in life are free. I believe toys are no different. There is an authenticity and richness in simplicity that is unrivaled by all the blinking lights and cheesy, pre-recorded music of the modern toy industry.

Whether or not you consider each of these to be “free” or “toys,” the greater point is that the essence of childhood is found not in expensive electronics or the latest trendy toy, but in fresh air and imagination. I hope this list will encourage you and your kids to go outside and be kids!

10. Rocks

Collect them. Build with them. Hide them. Decorate them. Make them pets.

9. Sticks and dirt

Make mud pies. Draw in the dirt. Pretend the sticks are pirate swords, cowboy guns, or kingly scepters.

Go on hikes around the yard, using your hiking stick to fend off imaginary lions and tigers. These are some of my favorite childhood memories. I know my kids love it when I play such games with them.

8. Trees

Climb them, swing from their branches, or create a clubhouse or hiding place underneath. Stash your rock and stick collection in a hollow place amid the branches.

7. “Junk mail” paper airplanes or origami

Here’s a use for the paper you’re constantly throwing out, and there are so many possibilities. The library has many how-to origami books with great pictures for kids.

6. Fireflies

On those warm summer nights when they’re out in droves, run among them, catch them, hold them, release them.

5. A homemade tent

Use couch cushions, a sheet, and a broom handle perhaps. Introduce flashlights or other household items to make it a real camping-like experience. Bring books to read or tell stories.

4. Puddles.

Run through them. Jump in them. Splash around. Go crazy! It’s so much fun!

This is truly one of the pure joys of childhood. While you’re at it, run around in the rain and tromp through mud barefoot.

3. A cardboard box

The bigger the better as far as I’m concerned! Decorate it into a castle, a boat, or a race car. Get in it and roll around. Go fishing in the box with sticks and string, while someone else hides inside the box and ties “prizes” on the end of your line.

2. Friends or siblings

Play hide-and-go-seek. Go exploring. Create imaginary games, secret handshakes, and fun hide-outs. Good friends are better than any toy.

1. You, the parent

Your child wants your attention and engagement. It doesn’t cost a thing, and ultimately it means more than any toy you could buy for them.

What “toys” would you add to this list?

Hi! I’m Katie. I’m a young-ish, stay-at-home mom of two adorably-fun little ones, and I live a life devoted to Jesus. I love to write, and I focus my energy on living simply and well. I’m new to the blogging world, recently launching a blog called Embracing a Simpler Life.

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Guest post from Ai of Less to More

When my husband’s job ended almost two years ago, the outlook on our future seemed bleak. I didn’t work outside the home, and we had four young children. One thing we kept asking ourselves was, “Will we make it through this season of unemployment?”

Perhaps you are facing this season right now. And even if you are happily employed, it doesn’t hurt to be ready. There are things you can do now to prepare for the unexpected event of losing your job.

Start Budgeting

If you have not been keeping a budget, it’s time to start now. With the absence of a stream of income coming in, the remaining money in your bank account, your emergency fund, and your severance pay will eventually disappear.

Be a wise steward of what you currently have. In other words, this may not be the best time to go on a tropical vacation just because you now have the time off from work.

Having a budget written down will help you stay on track and keep yourself accountable concerning your goals.

Simplify Your Life

As you are working on your budget, you may have some hard decisions. What are my needs? What are my wants?

It is obvious that during these lean times, you need to focus on needs over wants. But it may be necessary to ask yourself more than once if a need is truly a need. Discuss with your spouse, or ask a trusted friend to give you objective advice.

It’s quite freeing when you realize that many of your so-called needs are actually wants that you can live without.

Save With Coupons

One obvious way to stretch your dollar is with couponing. And if you are a regular reader of this site, I don’t think I have to convince you that couponing will allow you to get those basic necessities for less money. If you’ve been out of practice with couponing, get out your scissors, warm up your printer, and start studying those store ads.

Search for Other Sources of Income

Our period of unemployment occurred in the beginning of the holiday shopping season. This was tough for us, as parents, because we knew we wouldn’t be able to get gifts for our children. We prayed for God to provide, and we realized that He already did. There were unused gift cards in my wallet and unspent reward dollars from various stores.

In the end, not only were we able to purchase gifts for our children, but we were also able to give to friends and other family members.

Have you considered other potential sources of income? Perhaps you can collect items and bring them to the recycling center for a small profit. Or a baking hobby can turn into a small business. Or maybe it’s time to break open the piggy bank. Get creative, and think outside the box.

Have you ever been in a season of unemployment? What have you done to make ends meet?

Ai is a follower of Christ, a wife, and a homeschooling mother of 4. She loves to spend time with her family, savoring every moment that she has with them. One great lesson in life is that everything is a gift, whether money or time or food or shelter or relationships. She blogs about making the most of the gifts that we have at Less to More.

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Guest post from Kim of Protean Mom

Want to enjoy your summer while keeping those budget goals you’ve set? Here are 4 ideas that should help:

1. Be Water Conscious

No matter where you live, water is a precious commodity. Using less water is a great way to help the environment while saving some cash. Here’s how:

• Lawns also don’t need to be watered every day unless you’re watering mid-day. Try watering before dawn instead.
• Planning on using the kid’s sprinkler toy that day – but also have the sprinkler system set to run? Run the other stations, but keep that zone off. It’s going to get soaked when the kids start playing.
• Take shorter showers or use less water in the bath. Kids may prefer to bathe in the pool; I’ll let you decide whether that counts! 🙂
• Mulch your plants: a lot of the water just evaporates in this heat unless it has something, like mulch, to keep it put. You won’t have to water the plants nearly as often.

2. Get Outdoors

How does being outside save money? Well, for one, you don’t have the lights on in your house when you’re outside. It’s summer – there’s plenty of sunlight! It also means that the TV can be off, the A/C can be raised a couple of degrees, and that you could enjoy nature.

There are tons of outdoor options: hiking, camping, playing in the backyard, gardening on a budget, swimming, boating, and more. Just be sure to take proper precautions for the activity.

I grew up in Arizona and I’m a ginger, so I understand that being outside during the heat of the day isn’t always possible. That’s fine – go outdoors when you can and wear sunscreen. Mornings and evenings are cooler – even in Arizona – and are great times to enjoy being outside.

3. Change the Thermostat

Keeping a house cool in the summer is a big deal, but it doesn’t have to be a drain on the pocket book. Go look at what your thermostat is set at: ours is set to 75 degrees. Having it set at 75 degrees saves us on our power bill, but is still refreshingly cool compared to the 90+ degrees outside.

Don’t think you can handle 75 inside? Try raising it just a single degree. You should still notice savings.

4. Avoid the Oven

I wish this meant a free pass on dinner, but it means using other appliances to cook your dinner.

We do the majority of our summer baking in the toaster oven. There’s less energy (or gas) used, the house doesn’t get as hot, and my bill stays lower. It also means I can’t make – or eat – as many cookies at once.

There we have it: four easy ways to save big money this summer. Good luck!

What would you add to my list?

Kim considers herself versatile as a writer, wife, and mom because she occasionally does yoga. She’s geeky and proud of it. She lives with her husband, their children that she’s nicknamed after Transformers, and their intellectually-challenged dog. She blogs at Protean (pro-te-an) Mom.

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