Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Frugal Mama: Inexpensive meal ideas
Frugal Mama: Inexpensive meal ideas: "We all like to save money anywhere that we can, and since we eat about 3 meals a day, it only makes sense to do a blog about meals. I, ..."
Inexpensive meal ideas
We all like to save money anywhere that we can, and since we eat about 3 meals a day, it only makes sense to do a blog about meals. I, personally, love my meat. Nothing in this world could convince me to cut it out of my diet. SO, most, if not all, of these meal ideas will have meat in them. Some of them you can omit the meat. Others you can replace it. Some of them just won't work if you don't like or can't eat meat.
My all time favorite meal is stir fry. (Total Cost: around $10) Stir fry is one of those wonderful meals that can be personalized.
Me? This is how I like mine:
4 Carrots, chopped
1 Green Pepper, sliced
1 Red Pepper, sliced
1 Head of Broccoli, split into smaller pieces
1/2 Bag of Sprouts
1/2 Bag of Snow Peas (fresh is WONDERFUL, if available)
(Sometimes if I'm in a pinch I just dump in a full bag of Zen Garden Frozen Veggies)
1 Chicken Breast or 1 Small-Medium Steak
Sweet & Sour Sauce OR Teriyaki Sauce (or similar, those are my personal favorites)
Stir fry those together and cook until veggies are cooked.
Boil Stir fry noodles or Rice and serve with veggies on top! YUM
Another all time favorite in our house is Lasagna. It's delicious. I don't quite know how to do lasagna without meat sauce, but then again, I've never tried. Lasagna is a bit more expensive to make, and should cost you around $15 to do 2 pans. 2 pans can easily feed a family of 4 with leftovers for another day. A tip I have is to NOT spend the extra money on already cooked noodles. They don't taste nearly as good as noodles that you cook before hand. I personally don't mind spending the extra 5 mins cooking the noodles to get a much better taste quality. Another tip is to buy the ground beef on the day that you plan to make the lasagna. Most grocery stores have sales on meat that is soon to expire. There is generally nothing wrong with buying this meat, and it costs MUCH less. Also, a lot of stores have sales on meat that they've frozen in order to keep it from spoiling. You can generally find a package of ground beef for about 50 cents in one of those bins, if your store has them!
Here's how we do our lasagna:
1-2 boxes of lasagna noodles (depending on size of group eating)
2 or 3 Jars (or cans) of your favorite pasta sauce. (we use whatever is on sale)
1 Package (small) of ground beef
1 Can of Mushrooms (or fresh bulk mushrooms, washed & peeled)
1 Medium Tub of Cottage Cheese
A Brick Of Cheese (personally we use marble)
Cook noodles.
While cooking noodles, also cook ground beef.
When ground beef is cooked, add pasta sauce & mushrooms
Layer the bottom of a cake pan with noodles
Add sauce, and some cottage cheese, spread evenly over noodles
Layer noodles on top of this
Add sauce and cottage cheese on top of noodles
Next, you can either do another layer, or just put sliced cheese on top.
Once you've put the cheese on top, you're going to bake it at 350°F for about an hour. (you want the cheese gooey and melted, but not burnt). Cut into pieces and serve. YUM.
Another thing that we like to make in our house is chili. Since everyone makes theirs differently, I'm not going to include how I make it, as it's very much a personal preference type of meal. What I will say is that no matter how you make it, you should be able to make it for around $10. Especially if you buy your meat on sale.
Another cheap meal is hamburger helper. They boast that their meals average less than $4 a person. I'd believe it.
Also, if you go organic, maybe rethink that. There is proof that certain organic foods are no better for you than the regular foods, as long as you wash them good. Foods that I know are better for you organic than "regular" are apples and grapes. No matter how well you wash them, they have been SOAKED in pesticides and it's nearly impossible to get them off. Bananas and Asparagus though? Switch to normal and save a bundle. You'll want to research this and decide what is best for you and your family, but that's what we've done!
A wonderful meal that can be cooked for a FRACTION of the price that it can be purchased for is Steak Neptune! It's a classic, but its SO EXPENSIVE if you're eating out. If you want a fancy meal but don't want the fancy price let me suggest this meal idea to you:
Steak Neptune with veggies and stuffed potatoes
Prep:
Wash imitation crab meat
Wash Asparagus *minimum 2 pieces per person*
Wash Potatoes
Since potatoes take a long time to cook, you're going to probably want to do the potatoes first.
Take your thoroughly washed potatoes and place them in the oven at 350°F for 45 mins or until soft and cooked all the way through.
When your potatoes are done, take them out of the oven and cut them in half, lengthwise. Scoop out the potato part and put it in a bowl. You're going to mash it. Beat in 2-4 Tbsp of softened butter or margarine, about 1/2 a cup of sour cream, a pinch of salt, and a pinch of pepper, and bacon bits (about 2 tbsps, but to taste). Scoop this mixture back into the potato skins. Sprinkle them with shredded cheese and put in the oven at 425°F for about 10 to 15 mins more (until cheese is melted)
Now you should be cooking the steaks & steaming the Asparagus. You should also be making the Bearnaise sauce, and cooking the veggies. (My favorite way to do this, since there is so much going on at once, is to cook the veggies in a microwave steamer, or microwave steam bag. They only take about 5 mins to cook even frozen veggies)
Since the Bearnaise sauce needs constant stirring, you're going to want the steak close at hand. Provided you're using a double boiler to steam the asparagus, it should be totally fine left to steam on its own until you are done, thus leaving one hand for stirring, and one hand for flipping steak. (even better yet, if you have someone who will BBQ them for you, this is a great help and tastes a million times better)
Once your steak is cooked, place it on the plate and top it with imitation crab, a couple of pieces of Asparagus, and cover with Bearnaise sauce. Add the stuffed potato to the plate and the veggies, and you've got a beautiful and delicious meal, for a fraction of the price you would have paid to go out.
If you're wanting to make it a more romantic meal and spring for wine with it, the cheapest wine that I have found that goes wonderfully with it is Boones Sangria. It is about $5 a bottle.
The entire cost for that meal shouldn't exceed $20, but it may depending on the size of steak that you've gone with. One meal of that alone would cost you about $30 if eating out, and add money on top of that for the wine, if you're having it... this cost is for two people, not one person!
Another wonderful meal that we love to have is stew. It is so good, and so healthy. Again, however, stew is a very personal taste type of meal, so I won't write how we make ours as everyone likes theirs a bit differently. I will add, however, that there is nothing like fresh homemade bread/buns to go with a pot of stew.
You will save a bundle and it's better for you, if you bake your own bread. It's a simple process, especially with a bread maker. I used to think that bread makers were just fancy machines that I would never want... how wrong i was. I can pop the ingredients in the maker either in the morning before the busy day, or sometime through the day and set it to start baking 2 or 3 hours before our dinner, and we will have fresh baked bread for dinner. I also like to make a batch of fresh bread for breakfast sometimes. Again, just pop in the stuff to make it, set it for a few hours before you wake up, and you'll have steaming hot bread for breakfast, without having to wake up hours earlier to bake it! I picked up our bread maker at a garage sale a few years ago, and I paid $5 for it. Best $5 I've spent!
These are just a few ideas to help you get started with inexpensive yet delicious meals at home. I'd like to add as a conclusion, if you make double what you will eat, you can freeze most of your meals either for lunches or for days when you're strapped for time, so that you don't end up eating out!
If anyone has any other meal ideas, or would like more meal ideas, please let me know! I'd be more than happy to post more ideas, and more than happy to have more ideas to add to my meal lists!
My all time favorite meal is stir fry. (Total Cost: around $10) Stir fry is one of those wonderful meals that can be personalized.
Me? This is how I like mine:
4 Carrots, chopped
1 Green Pepper, sliced
1 Red Pepper, sliced
1 Head of Broccoli, split into smaller pieces
1/2 Bag of Sprouts
1/2 Bag of Snow Peas (fresh is WONDERFUL, if available)
(Sometimes if I'm in a pinch I just dump in a full bag of Zen Garden Frozen Veggies)
1 Chicken Breast or 1 Small-Medium Steak
Sweet & Sour Sauce OR Teriyaki Sauce (or similar, those are my personal favorites)
Stir fry those together and cook until veggies are cooked.
Boil Stir fry noodles or Rice and serve with veggies on top! YUM
Another all time favorite in our house is Lasagna. It's delicious. I don't quite know how to do lasagna without meat sauce, but then again, I've never tried. Lasagna is a bit more expensive to make, and should cost you around $15 to do 2 pans. 2 pans can easily feed a family of 4 with leftovers for another day. A tip I have is to NOT spend the extra money on already cooked noodles. They don't taste nearly as good as noodles that you cook before hand. I personally don't mind spending the extra 5 mins cooking the noodles to get a much better taste quality. Another tip is to buy the ground beef on the day that you plan to make the lasagna. Most grocery stores have sales on meat that is soon to expire. There is generally nothing wrong with buying this meat, and it costs MUCH less. Also, a lot of stores have sales on meat that they've frozen in order to keep it from spoiling. You can generally find a package of ground beef for about 50 cents in one of those bins, if your store has them!
Here's how we do our lasagna:
1-2 boxes of lasagna noodles (depending on size of group eating)
2 or 3 Jars (or cans) of your favorite pasta sauce. (we use whatever is on sale)
1 Package (small) of ground beef
1 Can of Mushrooms (or fresh bulk mushrooms, washed & peeled)
1 Medium Tub of Cottage Cheese
A Brick Of Cheese (personally we use marble)
Cook noodles.
While cooking noodles, also cook ground beef.
When ground beef is cooked, add pasta sauce & mushrooms
Layer the bottom of a cake pan with noodles
Add sauce, and some cottage cheese, spread evenly over noodles
Layer noodles on top of this
Add sauce and cottage cheese on top of noodles
Next, you can either do another layer, or just put sliced cheese on top.
Once you've put the cheese on top, you're going to bake it at 350°F for about an hour. (you want the cheese gooey and melted, but not burnt). Cut into pieces and serve. YUM.
Another thing that we like to make in our house is chili. Since everyone makes theirs differently, I'm not going to include how I make it, as it's very much a personal preference type of meal. What I will say is that no matter how you make it, you should be able to make it for around $10. Especially if you buy your meat on sale.
Another cheap meal is hamburger helper. They boast that their meals average less than $4 a person. I'd believe it.
Also, if you go organic, maybe rethink that. There is proof that certain organic foods are no better for you than the regular foods, as long as you wash them good. Foods that I know are better for you organic than "regular" are apples and grapes. No matter how well you wash them, they have been SOAKED in pesticides and it's nearly impossible to get them off. Bananas and Asparagus though? Switch to normal and save a bundle. You'll want to research this and decide what is best for you and your family, but that's what we've done!
A wonderful meal that can be cooked for a FRACTION of the price that it can be purchased for is Steak Neptune! It's a classic, but its SO EXPENSIVE if you're eating out. If you want a fancy meal but don't want the fancy price let me suggest this meal idea to you:
Steak Neptune with veggies and stuffed potatoes
Prep:
Wash imitation crab meat
Wash Asparagus *minimum 2 pieces per person*
Wash Potatoes
Since potatoes take a long time to cook, you're going to probably want to do the potatoes first.
Take your thoroughly washed potatoes and place them in the oven at 350°F for 45 mins or until soft and cooked all the way through.
When your potatoes are done, take them out of the oven and cut them in half, lengthwise. Scoop out the potato part and put it in a bowl. You're going to mash it. Beat in 2-4 Tbsp of softened butter or margarine, about 1/2 a cup of sour cream, a pinch of salt, and a pinch of pepper, and bacon bits (about 2 tbsps, but to taste). Scoop this mixture back into the potato skins. Sprinkle them with shredded cheese and put in the oven at 425°F for about 10 to 15 mins more (until cheese is melted)
Now you should be cooking the steaks & steaming the Asparagus. You should also be making the Bearnaise sauce, and cooking the veggies. (My favorite way to do this, since there is so much going on at once, is to cook the veggies in a microwave steamer, or microwave steam bag. They only take about 5 mins to cook even frozen veggies)
Since the Bearnaise sauce needs constant stirring, you're going to want the steak close at hand. Provided you're using a double boiler to steam the asparagus, it should be totally fine left to steam on its own until you are done, thus leaving one hand for stirring, and one hand for flipping steak. (even better yet, if you have someone who will BBQ them for you, this is a great help and tastes a million times better)
Once your steak is cooked, place it on the plate and top it with imitation crab, a couple of pieces of Asparagus, and cover with Bearnaise sauce. Add the stuffed potato to the plate and the veggies, and you've got a beautiful and delicious meal, for a fraction of the price you would have paid to go out.
If you're wanting to make it a more romantic meal and spring for wine with it, the cheapest wine that I have found that goes wonderfully with it is Boones Sangria. It is about $5 a bottle.
The entire cost for that meal shouldn't exceed $20, but it may depending on the size of steak that you've gone with. One meal of that alone would cost you about $30 if eating out, and add money on top of that for the wine, if you're having it... this cost is for two people, not one person!
Another wonderful meal that we love to have is stew. It is so good, and so healthy. Again, however, stew is a very personal taste type of meal, so I won't write how we make ours as everyone likes theirs a bit differently. I will add, however, that there is nothing like fresh homemade bread/buns to go with a pot of stew.
You will save a bundle and it's better for you, if you bake your own bread. It's a simple process, especially with a bread maker. I used to think that bread makers were just fancy machines that I would never want... how wrong i was. I can pop the ingredients in the maker either in the morning before the busy day, or sometime through the day and set it to start baking 2 or 3 hours before our dinner, and we will have fresh baked bread for dinner. I also like to make a batch of fresh bread for breakfast sometimes. Again, just pop in the stuff to make it, set it for a few hours before you wake up, and you'll have steaming hot bread for breakfast, without having to wake up hours earlier to bake it! I picked up our bread maker at a garage sale a few years ago, and I paid $5 for it. Best $5 I've spent!
These are just a few ideas to help you get started with inexpensive yet delicious meals at home. I'd like to add as a conclusion, if you make double what you will eat, you can freeze most of your meals either for lunches or for days when you're strapped for time, so that you don't end up eating out!
If anyone has any other meal ideas, or would like more meal ideas, please let me know! I'd be more than happy to post more ideas, and more than happy to have more ideas to add to my meal lists!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Frugal Mama: FREE BABYSITTER!
Frugal Mama: FREE BABYSITTER!: "Okay so maybe free is a strong word. However, all it would cost you is time. In my area, we have babysitting co-ops. These are extremely e..."
FREE BABYSITTER!
Okay so maybe free is a strong word. However, all it would cost you is time.
In my area, we have babysitting co-ops. These are extremely easy to set up, and work out very well if they are well organized and well run. A babysitting co-op is basically trading babysitting hours. For example, I have a child. If I call/email the manager of my co-op to inform them that I need a sitter for tomorrow, they will send out an email immediately, or call everyone on the call list to find me a sitter. I would need to tell the manager of my co-op the following:
1. How many kids do I need a sitter for
2. How long I need a sitter for
3. What days do I need the sitter for
In my example I said I needed a sitter for my child. So I would call my co-op manager or email them saying "This is (your name) and I need a sitter TOMORROW for my ONE child. I will be going to a show with my husband, and dinner after. We would need a sitter for THREE hours."
The call or email would then go out, and whomever was able to babysit for me would contact me, or the manager of the co-op. Which ever my co-op has it set up to be. Then, I would drop my child off at their house, and they would watch my child for me while I was out. When I got back, they would email the manager of the co-op and tell them how many hours they watched my child for. I would also email the manager just to confirm. The person who watched my child is given 1 point for every hour my child was there for. It is 1 point per hour, per child. They could then exchange these points for babysitting services within the co-op.
I'm going to explain the steps you should take to setting up a babysitting co-op in your area, step by step. That explanation was probably very confusing.
1. You will need to find a group of people with children. Perhaps it's friends, perhaps its people who live in your town or city, or your area of the city. Anyone who has kids can be asked to participate.
2. Organize a meeting for the parents. In this meeting, discuss what a babysitting co-op is, and how it works. You all need to be on the same page as to how the co-op you form will work, as each one has its own unique quirks. Each one also has its own rules. For example, will you allow families in with large dogs? If so, are there any rules to follow when other children are there? Will you allow families in who smoke in the house? Will you allow families in with severe allergies or medical problems? Will you allow families in that have guns in the home? These are all serious issues that need to be discussed amongst your group.
3. Typically members of a co-op agree upon 1 point per child per hour. The co-op manager is the one who keeps track of this. He or she will send out an "invoice" every month via email to each member of the co-op letting them know how many points they owe the co-op or how many points they are ahead.
4. This system ONLY works if it is well managed. For this to work out you can't have any family get more than 20 or so points owing against them. Otherwise you end up with families who abuse the co-op. (This is a guideline only... Circumstances may make it so that a family who is normally sitting either with a credit, or minimal points against them, suddenly have 35 points owing. Perhaps a family emergency such as someone admitted to ICU and children are not allowed in... these situations all need to be looked at individually. Just if someone is constantly racking up a "debt" and never repaying it, it's time to cut them off)
5. The co-ops work out best if you can have a "mixer" party every few months (or every time a new family joins the co-op) just so that the kids are familiar with the families and the other kids. It will also ease the parents mind if they know the family who is looking after their child(ren) while they are out.
The steps which you would take to obtain a sitter, broken down are:
1. Email the manager with the information about when you will need a sitter... date, time, how many kids, and how long you will be gone.
2. Manager will then either email or call all members of the co-op until they find someone to babysit for you. (I should mention, if there is a family in the co-op who you DO NOT get along with, DO NOT want your child or children there, you need to bring this to the attention of the manager, and they will not be called or emailed to watch your children)
3. Once a sitter has been found, you confirm with the sitter the day before, then drop your child or children off as you normally would.
4. When you pick up your child(ren), the family who babysat for you will email the manager with the appropriate amount of points owed to them. You will also email the manager with the amount of points you owe. The manager will compare these emails, and sort out any discrepancies, if there are any, and then add the points to the "invoice" for the end of the month.
A sample invoice would look like this:
JONES FAMILY:
January 1st - 2 points owed
January 15th - 1 point owed
January 16th - 3 points owed
January 19th - 4 points rewarded
January 23rd - 2 points rewarded
January 26th - 3 points owed
January Total: 3 points owed.
It's very easy, and the cheapest way that I know of to obtain quality child care with someone you know or trust. In my experience, it works out best if you have friends & friends of friends do it. That way you know that you can trust the people who are looking after your child or children.
If you are having people you do not know in the co-op, for everyones peace of mind and safety, I HIGHLY suggest that you require absolutely everyone involved in the co-op to obtain criminal record checks.
In my area, we have babysitting co-ops. These are extremely easy to set up, and work out very well if they are well organized and well run. A babysitting co-op is basically trading babysitting hours. For example, I have a child. If I call/email the manager of my co-op to inform them that I need a sitter for tomorrow, they will send out an email immediately, or call everyone on the call list to find me a sitter. I would need to tell the manager of my co-op the following:
1. How many kids do I need a sitter for
2. How long I need a sitter for
3. What days do I need the sitter for
In my example I said I needed a sitter for my child. So I would call my co-op manager or email them saying "This is (your name) and I need a sitter TOMORROW for my ONE child. I will be going to a show with my husband, and dinner after. We would need a sitter for THREE hours."
The call or email would then go out, and whomever was able to babysit for me would contact me, or the manager of the co-op. Which ever my co-op has it set up to be. Then, I would drop my child off at their house, and they would watch my child for me while I was out. When I got back, they would email the manager of the co-op and tell them how many hours they watched my child for. I would also email the manager just to confirm. The person who watched my child is given 1 point for every hour my child was there for. It is 1 point per hour, per child. They could then exchange these points for babysitting services within the co-op.
I'm going to explain the steps you should take to setting up a babysitting co-op in your area, step by step. That explanation was probably very confusing.
1. You will need to find a group of people with children. Perhaps it's friends, perhaps its people who live in your town or city, or your area of the city. Anyone who has kids can be asked to participate.
2. Organize a meeting for the parents. In this meeting, discuss what a babysitting co-op is, and how it works. You all need to be on the same page as to how the co-op you form will work, as each one has its own unique quirks. Each one also has its own rules. For example, will you allow families in with large dogs? If so, are there any rules to follow when other children are there? Will you allow families in who smoke in the house? Will you allow families in with severe allergies or medical problems? Will you allow families in that have guns in the home? These are all serious issues that need to be discussed amongst your group.
3. Typically members of a co-op agree upon 1 point per child per hour. The co-op manager is the one who keeps track of this. He or she will send out an "invoice" every month via email to each member of the co-op letting them know how many points they owe the co-op or how many points they are ahead.
4. This system ONLY works if it is well managed. For this to work out you can't have any family get more than 20 or so points owing against them. Otherwise you end up with families who abuse the co-op. (This is a guideline only... Circumstances may make it so that a family who is normally sitting either with a credit, or minimal points against them, suddenly have 35 points owing. Perhaps a family emergency such as someone admitted to ICU and children are not allowed in... these situations all need to be looked at individually. Just if someone is constantly racking up a "debt" and never repaying it, it's time to cut them off)
5. The co-ops work out best if you can have a "mixer" party every few months (or every time a new family joins the co-op) just so that the kids are familiar with the families and the other kids. It will also ease the parents mind if they know the family who is looking after their child(ren) while they are out.
The steps which you would take to obtain a sitter, broken down are:
1. Email the manager with the information about when you will need a sitter... date, time, how many kids, and how long you will be gone.
2. Manager will then either email or call all members of the co-op until they find someone to babysit for you. (I should mention, if there is a family in the co-op who you DO NOT get along with, DO NOT want your child or children there, you need to bring this to the attention of the manager, and they will not be called or emailed to watch your children)
3. Once a sitter has been found, you confirm with the sitter the day before, then drop your child or children off as you normally would.
4. When you pick up your child(ren), the family who babysat for you will email the manager with the appropriate amount of points owed to them. You will also email the manager with the amount of points you owe. The manager will compare these emails, and sort out any discrepancies, if there are any, and then add the points to the "invoice" for the end of the month.
A sample invoice would look like this:
JONES FAMILY:
January 1st - 2 points owed
January 15th - 1 point owed
January 16th - 3 points owed
January 19th - 4 points rewarded
January 23rd - 2 points rewarded
January 26th - 3 points owed
January Total: 3 points owed.
It's very easy, and the cheapest way that I know of to obtain quality child care with someone you know or trust. In my experience, it works out best if you have friends & friends of friends do it. That way you know that you can trust the people who are looking after your child or children.
If you are having people you do not know in the co-op, for everyones peace of mind and safety, I HIGHLY suggest that you require absolutely everyone involved in the co-op to obtain criminal record checks.
Inexpensive Ideas for Kids/Family: Date Night? What's That?
Inexpensive Ideas for Kids/Family: Date Night? What's That?: "Sometimes life gets crazy and date night becomes less of a priority and more trouble than it seems worth. Funds may be low, or time may be t..."
Date Night? What's That?
Sometimes life gets crazy and date night becomes less of a priority and more trouble than it seems worth. Funds may be low, or time may be the issue! Either way I have some inexpensive ideas for a date that can be quick and memorable, or last all day!
Take a camera out and head to a nice park and walk around and take pictures of the things you see in your adventure. If you happen to see someone on your travels, stop and ask them if they would mind taking a picture or two of you and your significant other. ***digital works best but if you don't have one, get one of those one time use ones, you can pick them up at the dollar store usually*** If you're looking to extend your date, pack a nice picnic lunch or dinner and eat in the park. (this can be especially romantic in the winter, just bring extra blankets and snuggle up with a thermos of hot chocolate. If the park you go to allows it, have a nice little fire to warm yourselves by)
Find a nice outdoor lake or recreation park and bring your swim suits (weather permitting) and a lunch and just relax at the beach. If you happen to have winter where you are (we have it here for what seems like half the year) bring a pair of ice skates. What's more romantic than taking the one you love out ice skating? This can be especially romantic if they don't know how to skate. Just take it slowly and hold their hand (or if they are extremely uncomfortable, skate backwards in front of them holding both hands and cheering them on! Make sure you gaze into their eyes and let them know that it's all about them... that they have your undivided attention. That will mean more than any other part of the date, you can bet on that!)
If it's summer, rent a canoe and go out on a lake where it's just the two of you and you can relax and just enjoy one anothers company. This may sound expensive, but most places a canoe rental is about $20 for an hour or two. Even better yet, if you know someone with a canoe, ask to borrow it for a few hours. Again, if you're looking to extend the date, the middle of a nice, calm, serene lake can be a perfect place for a little surprise lunch.
If your significant other likes to go fishing, why not go with them? No one says you actually have to fish in order to be there, but if you've never tried it, why not? Perhaps you could spend a lovely Saturday afternoon out by the river fishing and talking. There's not much more to do than to talk to one another while you're waiting on a nibble! A fishing license may be a bit expensive to begin with (around $40 a person) but it lasts all year long. Even through the winter. So if you enjoy it enough, why not go out ice fishing with them (if your area is cold enough that you can do so) it's a pretty neat thing to watch the fish (you can do this if you are in a hut, which I highly recommend. It keeps the cold wind off of you, and traps your body heat in the hut. Huts, however, are expensive. You would want to either make sure that you thoroughly enjoy ice fishing before you spring for a hut, and even then, I suggest trying to find one on kijiji or through another source. Or, if you're really creative, you can make one. Ideally, borrow one the first few times you go out, to make sure that you like them) Also, make sure to check local fishing regulations to make sure that fishing is "open" where you want to go!
Pack up the tent (or buy a used one, you can find them quite cheap second hand) and head out camping! It doesn't have to be far that you go, and there ARE places that have completely FREE camping. If you don't need power, you can find lake sites that are around $10 a night if you look around and don't go on "peak" dates (ie. Canada Day, May Long Weekend... if you're in Canada. If you're not, avoid major local holidays) Camping can be a fun way to spend the weekend, especially if you are an outdoors type of person!
Plan a surprise dinner for your significant other. If your significant other works during the day, plan and prepare a nice dinner for them. Candle lit dinners with nice soft music in the background are WONDERFUL surprises. If you have children, ask a friend or family member to watch them for a few hours so that you can plan and prepare a nice romantic meal, and have a few hours of ALONE time with your significant other. If your significant other does not work, ask them if they'd like to go shopping or out with the guys for a few hours so that you can do the planning and prep work for the meal. Ideally you could get them to take your children with them, if you have children.
Find a "cheap theatre" in your area. Almost all areas have at least one. Some towns do drive in movies every month, which generally costs about $5 for a car. If you want to go super cheap, take another couple with you, split the cost, that's $2.50 a couple. Pretty cheap! Plus you can bring your own snacks and drinks, so the cost is cut down even more so. If you're going the traditional theatre route, bring an over sized purse and bring your snacks and drinks in it! I don't know of ANY theatre that checks bags. You can usually do a date night for around $10 doing it that way!
Rent a movie (or go to the store and buy an old one... a lot of stores have discount bins for older movies, selling them for between $2.50 and $5 for a DVD) then go to the store and buy either pop or champagne, get some snacks (or if you would normally go for dinner and a movie, get something for dinner too) then head home and start your date. This whole date night (depending on if you get pop or champagne... and how expensive the champagne is should you go that route) should only cost you around $20.
Start up a games night with friends. While this may not be a typical "date night" it certainly should get you out of the house and have some fun with your significant other. If you get a few couples involved, you can rotate houses so that you only have to host once a month, or twice a month maximum. That way you cut down on snack expenses, drink expenses, and game expenses. If you don't have friends who like to do games nights, place an ad on a free ad site, such as kijiji, and say that you're looking to form a couples games night. You'll likely be flooded with replies. This also works out extremely well if one or more of the couples have older children. You can have one of the older children responsible for "babysitting" in another room, or upstairs or downstairs, provide the kids with juice/pop and snacks, and movies or games, and typically this childcare is the least expensive, or free. If each set of parents kicked in a couple of dollars, the older child would have the peace of mind knowing that help was only a room away, plus make a few dollars for doing what they would have been doing anyways... watching tv or playing games.
Try out a new activity. They say that nothing is a better relationship booster than a cooking class. Why not sign up for a cooking class offered locally (generally the colleges or schools offer them. However if you live in a more rural area, or a small town, you may have to do a bit more work to find one. I've found in the past that if you approach Town Hall with a question as to if they offer a class or not, they often have the right places to go to find one. If not, I've found it works out favorably a lot of the time if you ask how you would go about getting one to your area. Typically what will happen is they will find out if the interest is there from others, and if it is, they will often times bring in someone to teach the classes.)
Try your hand at an activity you normally would NOT do. For example, if your significant other loves to play poker, host a poker night at your house. If your significant other likes yoga, ask them to teach you some of the easier poses. Perhaps your significant other loves to bake. Ask them to show you how to bake their favorite thing. The point here is doing something TOGETHER. Who knows? Maybe you'll love it. Then again, maybe you'll hate it... but no matter what, you'll have done it together, and I'm confident that you'll enjoy the time you spend together.
The important point here is that you and your significant other are spending time together. I know a couple who would have 10 minute dates every single morning. No matter what was going on around them, they tuned it out and for those 10 minutes their attention was only on one another. That worked for them. I also know a couple who spends an hour a day (or at bare minimum, every other day) talking to one another. For that hour, kids are a taboo subject. Whatever you do, try to make the time just about one another. There is all day every other day to talk about finances, kids, work, life, stress... whatever... but this time should be special and should be free of any of those topics. You should focus on ENJOYING one another.
I hope you have a great date, and if you have any other date ideas, toss them my way. We're always looking for inexpensive, fun dates!
Take a camera out and head to a nice park and walk around and take pictures of the things you see in your adventure. If you happen to see someone on your travels, stop and ask them if they would mind taking a picture or two of you and your significant other. ***digital works best but if you don't have one, get one of those one time use ones, you can pick them up at the dollar store usually*** If you're looking to extend your date, pack a nice picnic lunch or dinner and eat in the park. (this can be especially romantic in the winter, just bring extra blankets and snuggle up with a thermos of hot chocolate. If the park you go to allows it, have a nice little fire to warm yourselves by)
Find a nice outdoor lake or recreation park and bring your swim suits (weather permitting) and a lunch and just relax at the beach. If you happen to have winter where you are (we have it here for what seems like half the year) bring a pair of ice skates. What's more romantic than taking the one you love out ice skating? This can be especially romantic if they don't know how to skate. Just take it slowly and hold their hand (or if they are extremely uncomfortable, skate backwards in front of them holding both hands and cheering them on! Make sure you gaze into their eyes and let them know that it's all about them... that they have your undivided attention. That will mean more than any other part of the date, you can bet on that!)
If it's summer, rent a canoe and go out on a lake where it's just the two of you and you can relax and just enjoy one anothers company. This may sound expensive, but most places a canoe rental is about $20 for an hour or two. Even better yet, if you know someone with a canoe, ask to borrow it for a few hours. Again, if you're looking to extend the date, the middle of a nice, calm, serene lake can be a perfect place for a little surprise lunch.
If your significant other likes to go fishing, why not go with them? No one says you actually have to fish in order to be there, but if you've never tried it, why not? Perhaps you could spend a lovely Saturday afternoon out by the river fishing and talking. There's not much more to do than to talk to one another while you're waiting on a nibble! A fishing license may be a bit expensive to begin with (around $40 a person) but it lasts all year long. Even through the winter. So if you enjoy it enough, why not go out ice fishing with them (if your area is cold enough that you can do so) it's a pretty neat thing to watch the fish (you can do this if you are in a hut, which I highly recommend. It keeps the cold wind off of you, and traps your body heat in the hut. Huts, however, are expensive. You would want to either make sure that you thoroughly enjoy ice fishing before you spring for a hut, and even then, I suggest trying to find one on kijiji or through another source. Or, if you're really creative, you can make one. Ideally, borrow one the first few times you go out, to make sure that you like them) Also, make sure to check local fishing regulations to make sure that fishing is "open" where you want to go!
Pack up the tent (or buy a used one, you can find them quite cheap second hand) and head out camping! It doesn't have to be far that you go, and there ARE places that have completely FREE camping. If you don't need power, you can find lake sites that are around $10 a night if you look around and don't go on "peak" dates (ie. Canada Day, May Long Weekend... if you're in Canada. If you're not, avoid major local holidays) Camping can be a fun way to spend the weekend, especially if you are an outdoors type of person!
Plan a surprise dinner for your significant other. If your significant other works during the day, plan and prepare a nice dinner for them. Candle lit dinners with nice soft music in the background are WONDERFUL surprises. If you have children, ask a friend or family member to watch them for a few hours so that you can plan and prepare a nice romantic meal, and have a few hours of ALONE time with your significant other. If your significant other does not work, ask them if they'd like to go shopping or out with the guys for a few hours so that you can do the planning and prep work for the meal. Ideally you could get them to take your children with them, if you have children.
Find a "cheap theatre" in your area. Almost all areas have at least one. Some towns do drive in movies every month, which generally costs about $5 for a car. If you want to go super cheap, take another couple with you, split the cost, that's $2.50 a couple. Pretty cheap! Plus you can bring your own snacks and drinks, so the cost is cut down even more so. If you're going the traditional theatre route, bring an over sized purse and bring your snacks and drinks in it! I don't know of ANY theatre that checks bags. You can usually do a date night for around $10 doing it that way!
Rent a movie (or go to the store and buy an old one... a lot of stores have discount bins for older movies, selling them for between $2.50 and $5 for a DVD) then go to the store and buy either pop or champagne, get some snacks (or if you would normally go for dinner and a movie, get something for dinner too) then head home and start your date. This whole date night (depending on if you get pop or champagne... and how expensive the champagne is should you go that route) should only cost you around $20.
Start up a games night with friends. While this may not be a typical "date night" it certainly should get you out of the house and have some fun with your significant other. If you get a few couples involved, you can rotate houses so that you only have to host once a month, or twice a month maximum. That way you cut down on snack expenses, drink expenses, and game expenses. If you don't have friends who like to do games nights, place an ad on a free ad site, such as kijiji, and say that you're looking to form a couples games night. You'll likely be flooded with replies. This also works out extremely well if one or more of the couples have older children. You can have one of the older children responsible for "babysitting" in another room, or upstairs or downstairs, provide the kids with juice/pop and snacks, and movies or games, and typically this childcare is the least expensive, or free. If each set of parents kicked in a couple of dollars, the older child would have the peace of mind knowing that help was only a room away, plus make a few dollars for doing what they would have been doing anyways... watching tv or playing games.
Try out a new activity. They say that nothing is a better relationship booster than a cooking class. Why not sign up for a cooking class offered locally (generally the colleges or schools offer them. However if you live in a more rural area, or a small town, you may have to do a bit more work to find one. I've found in the past that if you approach Town Hall with a question as to if they offer a class or not, they often have the right places to go to find one. If not, I've found it works out favorably a lot of the time if you ask how you would go about getting one to your area. Typically what will happen is they will find out if the interest is there from others, and if it is, they will often times bring in someone to teach the classes.)
Try your hand at an activity you normally would NOT do. For example, if your significant other loves to play poker, host a poker night at your house. If your significant other likes yoga, ask them to teach you some of the easier poses. Perhaps your significant other loves to bake. Ask them to show you how to bake their favorite thing. The point here is doing something TOGETHER. Who knows? Maybe you'll love it. Then again, maybe you'll hate it... but no matter what, you'll have done it together, and I'm confident that you'll enjoy the time you spend together.
The important point here is that you and your significant other are spending time together. I know a couple who would have 10 minute dates every single morning. No matter what was going on around them, they tuned it out and for those 10 minutes their attention was only on one another. That worked for them. I also know a couple who spends an hour a day (or at bare minimum, every other day) talking to one another. For that hour, kids are a taboo subject. Whatever you do, try to make the time just about one another. There is all day every other day to talk about finances, kids, work, life, stress... whatever... but this time should be special and should be free of any of those topics. You should focus on ENJOYING one another.
I hope you have a great date, and if you have any other date ideas, toss them my way. We're always looking for inexpensive, fun dates!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Inexpensive Ideas for Kids/Family: Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful
Inexpensive Ideas for Kids/Family: Oh The Weather Outside Is Frightful: "Even with the frightful weather outside, there are a lot of things that you can find to do with your kids in the comfort of your home. While..."
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