Free Admission

The Tracy Aviary is doing a Free Admission every Wednesday November-February. Take advantage of this if you can.

School Shopping

School shopping can be expensive. Have a goals in mind when doing this. Budget in other words. First clean kids clothes and sort. Hand me downs are good if in good condition. Some kids like clothes that their sibling never wore. After words find out what clothes the child needs. Take notes, this helps for those of us who forget. Then look at sales, give kids a budget if their teenagers. And if you have wonderful parents like mine, they take your kids shopping for you. Thank you Dad (Von) and Mom (Carolyn).

Camping

This post is for my sister. We camped a lot while I was younger. There are many memories camping many places. I've been to over 25-30 States by the time I was 18 years old. You don't have to have a lot of money to camp. Make it simple, easy, and do it your way. Roy and I get to stay every year at 5 star hotels. The kids love it, and they love camping as well. We try and make it fun for the kids. It's the things I do with kids is what I want them to remember, not the price of everything. Memories are made by things you do with them. You don't have to have a expensive R.V., Hotel room or go far away from home. Make it your own, and even start traditions. This will utimatly bring you closer to your kids, and have a healthy relationship with them.

Free Parade Float Show

For all those who love to go to parades to see floats, but don't like the heat. This is perfect. Every year the Day's of '47 floats are on display before the actually parade. I've been going for 7 years now. Usually it's held at the South Town Expo Center for two days all day (11:00-9:00 p.m) and there is no admission. There's about 28-35 floats I would say. Free admission all ages, free entertainment, balloon artists (clowns), face painters, both who love tips, but it is free. My kids enjoy this. This was held the 20th and 21st this year of 2011.

Candy Tour

Sweets Candy does a factory tour for free. You just go online to sweetcandy.com and tell them the date and time, and size of party. It's that easy, and they give you samples along the tour. There's also a little store to buy candy if you so chose to after.

Coupons and Discounts

I love to save money. Coupons and discounts are a great way to do it.  There is always new coupons coming out, and there is always more then one way to save. The Entertainment book is a great way to get a lot of things half off. Especially for date night. Before I go grocery shopping I look at this website http://grocerysmarts.com/utah/lists/splashabc4.php and see what the deals are that week. Newspaper coupons from Sundays paper are a great source, and if you don't get the paper and your neighbor does, ask them if you can have their coupons if they don't use them. There's also pinchingyourpennies website. When doing shopping for food and with kids they always want treats. I try to teach them they can have a treat and only one, if they want another one they have to trade it for the one they have. This was they get a treat, and you don't have to buy 5 or 10 while shopping. It all adds up. And if you can teach them to buy things with coupons or if they are on sale, that's even better. They will develop smart shopping before college and learn the easy way verses the hard way.

Netting skirt

This is a easy cheap idea for girls this Fourth. This is netting strips tied around a elastic. My sweet mother cut the elastic to her waist size and cut strips alternating the the colors and tying them to the elastic. Thanks for doing this mom!