Since we only spent $58.91 of our $70 weekly grocery budget this past week, I surprised the kids last night and told them they got to go to the store with me and pick out $3 each of whatever they wanted to go along with our dinner and Family Game Night last night.
The kids had the BEST time at the store looking at their options, comparing prices, and deciding what to get. (And taking a detour to check out the cake decorating designs!)
I gave very little input and, instead, just had fun watching them interact, analyze, and calculate totals.
In the end, sweet tea, Jell-O (we don’t usually buy it because of the food coloring), chocolate chip cookie dough, Milk Duds, and Lindt chocolate truffles won out.
And their total was $9.55 — which they were super proud of. Silas was all, “Now THAT is how you get good deals at the store!”
We came home and then they pretended to be me doing Instagram stories about my groceries (you can swipe right on this post to see their videos!)
Family fun and memory-making doesn’t have to cost a lot of money; it just requires a little bit of creativity and learning to make the ordinary (grocery shopping) into something special.
What are some of your family’s favorite frugal fun ideas? I’d love to hear!
Melissa says
Merry Christmas, we do something like this sometimes but at Dollar Tree they each get a set dollar amount and are allowed to buy whatever food items they would like. However if they pick 5 candy bars they cannot eat them all in one evening. Also sometimes they might each get $3.00 and I say pick your dinner but whatever to pick you have to eat. It really is fun and nothing they pick will harm them if we only do this once in a blue moon. FYI on the Jello there is a very small Jello Brand that is “all natural” it’s called Simply Good Jello it’s at our Publix and I think I’ve seen at wal mart
Becky says
I love this, it made me smile 🙂 Merry Christmas.
Jules says
If you’re staying away from food coloring, all of the food coloring at Aldi is all natural, they switched a couple of years ago. The jello is a lighter color than name brand, but still tasty.
Crystal Paine says
Thanks so much for mentioning that! I didn’t know they had food-coloring-free Jell-O! My kids will be SO excited!!!
Esther Ball says
We make homemade milkshakes, put them in to-go cups, and drive around town looking at the Christmas lights. We do this every year, and the kids always look forward to it!
Esther Ball says
Also Christmas karaoke. So fun! Just look it up on YouTube.
Catt says
That sounds like so much fun!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!!
Crystal Paine says
Merry Christmas to you, too!
Julie says
My daughter’s family exchanges names and goes to Goodwill. They each get to buy a $5.00 gift for the name they picked. They call it a Pauper’s Christmas. Then they go to the grocery store and each are assigned a part of the meal (i.e. main dish or dessert) to go with this Christmas tradition and given an amount they can spend on that part of the meal. They wrap the presents and fix the meal and make a day of it.
Crystal Paine says
I LOVE that! How fun!!
Jackie says
Love it! Merry Christmas to you and your family:)
Crystal Paine says
Merry Christmas to you, too!