- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- dads today articles
- dads today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Economical Family Fun
Inexpensive Ideas for Home and Travel
By Megan L. Fowler
Offer to watch their children for a weekend if they will do the same for you. Leave the cell phones and the pagers, and enjoy being in a new place. Explore your local region, or just get someone to take the kids while you vacation at home.
"A lot of times we get into passive electronic entertainment, like television and computers," Taylor says. "People work so hard all day that that kind of entertainment can get dull." Instead, start engaging in activities. "Organize a romantic evening," she says. "Create a mood. Go watch a sunset. There is something about slowing down enough to appreciate the things around us."
While it is possible to have fun with your family and not spend a large sum of money, it is important to have a stash to rely on for those bigger activities. Families should maintain a "fun fund" for family activities, says Tracy Stewart, an accountant in Bryan, Texas. "This way you can be sure to have the money to do the things you want to do," Stewart says. "But also, it'll remind you to take the time to have fun. We are so busy these days that some of us actually forget to have fun."
But remember not to go overboard on the spending. Make sure your budget and spending habits support your long-term goals, Stewart says. "If you have a goal to take a big vacation, then perhaps all your fun money should go toward the big vacation and save less for the local family activities that year," she says.
You can even include your kids in the money-saving process, says Debbie Webb, a CPA in Bryan, Texas. "That area is not usually thought of in the 'fun' category, but any learning activity can be made fun for kids," she says. "Look for ways to teach kids money skills when you are spending time with them." Here are some of her suggestions:
