With all of our expenses we incur trying to get ourselves through college and still pay our bills, money can get tight. I have two children and feel guilty sometimes because I do not have a lot of extra money to take them to do fun things. They are pretty understanding but wish I could figure out some more good inexpensive ideas. There are times I would like to go and do something fun by myself but do not want to spend a lot of money. I am always trying to think of fun things to do for myself or with my children, that does not cost an arm and a leg. I really think this blog can benefit so many of us with the comments that are received. Life can still be fun without money but I have a hard time figuring out good ideas sometimes. I know we are toward the end of our winter months and that can sometimes have a big affect on what we do outside. But Spring is approaching us and the weather is going to be getting nicer to be outside more often. Please list your suggestion because it may give one of us a new idea for fun without spending too much money. Do you have a fun idea that you can share for this blog?
Fun things to do when you don't have a lot of money.
By edie111 - Posted on March 15th, 2008
But a lot of it depends on where you live and how old your kids are.
One idea is to look up curricula online. Teachers don't want to spend much money in their classrooms, either (not because they're stingy, but because budgets are tight and teacher salaries suck for the amount of work involved), so look up lesson plans to find fun activities that are also educational.
Also, get creative with recyclables. Kids love to make "sculpture" out of the strangest stuff, so save toilet paper tubes (make bowling pins, toy soldiers, attach an airplane and run it back and forth really fast on a string, etc.), egg cartons (caterpillars and butterflies), oatmeal containers (drums, piggy banks), plastic bottles (boats, snow globes, those weird shaker things with oil an colored water). Al you'll have to buy is a bunch of glue and maybe some cheap acrylic paints. There are tons of kid craft websites.
Look into Shakespeare in the Park (don't know if your area has it) or free concerts. Libraries host story times and craft events. Check the museums in your area...many have free first Saturdays or some kind of free family night. Go to every school event you can with them. It's not the WOW factor that kids really crave...it's just time doing things with you!
I don't have kids, but I've been a nanny for over 15 years, and I've raised 30 kids. Some are in graduate school now! The thing they all wanted most, even in rich families, was just to be with their parents more.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
Thank You so much! You have given me some wonderful idea's and they are very appreciated!!!!
Congratulations on making a difference in the 30 kids lives by being a wonderful Nanny to them. Wish there were more people like you in our World!