WFMW: Inexpensive Kids’ Birthday Party Ideas
I know why parents have parties outside their home. I’ve had a few myself. You just can’t beat the convenience of making one phone call to the evil rat (ie Chuck E. Cheese) or Bouncy Gym from Hell place and have them take over everything. Trust me, I get it.
There is only one problem. Like many other things in life, convenience comes at a price. These types of shindigs tend to cost a small fortune. Since I’m not in the possession of any sized fortune, I have opted to have many of my kids’ parties at home. It may take a bit more effort and planning, but overall home parties can be just as fun.
One easy way to save some money is to bake your own cake. I was shocked at how much it would cost to purchase a sheetcake from the bakery. There was NO WAY that I was going to spend that much on something that would just be eaten up or thrown away.
There are so many ideas online and most don’t really need any special skills or supplies. I usually ask my kids what kind of cake they want and then hunt the internet for an easy variation.
Have I mentioned how obsessed my daughter is with pandas? I wasn’t surprised when she asked me for a panda cake. Specifically, she wanted a pink cake with a panda on top. I stepped up to the challenge and came up with this masterpiece.
(By masterpiece I mean pathetic attempt at cake decorating. Can you even tell those creatures are pandas?)
Even though I was disappointed with the way the cake turned out, the bottom line is that the cake was for 7 year old kids. Luckily, I have found that kids are pretty much forgiving and will be impressed with anything you do.
I made a controversial decision for this party. I decided to forego the handing out of goody bags. Shocking, I know. How on earth would the kids ever be able to go on living without all those quality crappy toys and nutritious teeth rotting treats?
Don’t worry-the girls didn’t leave empty handed. I had them each make their own party favor. I picked up $1 frames at the craft store and each girl got to paint them the color of their choice. After letting them dry a few minutes, we decorated them with sparkle foamy stickers. I then took a picture of everyone and printed it out on my home printer. Before the girls left, I inserted the picture in the frame. They were thrilled with this favor. The best part is that I’m sure they will treasure it for way longer than a junky plastic toy.
Here are the finished favors:
What are some of your best frugal party tips? How do you feel about goody bags? Do you bake your own cakes? Tell me your philosophy on kids’ parties.
To see more Works For Me Wednesday Tips, visit Rocks in My Dryer
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WFMW: FREE Movie Passes
Anyone who knows me or reads this blog knows that I love movies. I just don’t like to spend what seems like our entire life savings on a ticket. And don’t even get me started on the snacks. They are so out of control with their prices.
This is why I have mastered the art of scoring free passes. It is actually easier than you may think. I’ll share some of my secrets with you.
First, check out the following local (to you) websites:
- Radio Stations
- Newspapers (large and small publications)
- Local TV stations
This is how I get most of my passes. These sites are the best resource because for whatever reason, they are constantly giving them away.
Next it is time to check out some other more national websites:
In addition to the above sites, there are a couple of blogs and forums with great info on screenings:
Of course if you live near a big city (especially NY or LA) you’re more likely to have more screening opportunities. You really don’t have to check the sites daily. I have them bookmarked in a folder and I look to see if there are any interesting screenings that I might want to see about once a week or so.
Good luck! If you score any free passes, let me know. You could maybe even review the movie you saw for my Movie Madness Carnival on July 1st. Click here to learn more about this and leave me a comment on this post to let me know if you will be participating.
For more Works for Me Wednesday, visit Rocks in My Dryer.
Beware of Redbox Credit Card Theft
I love to rent movies and I’ve found the cheapest way to do this is through Redbox. They are located in grocery stores and McDonald’s in our area. It is only a $1 a night to rent a movie and a lot of times you can find codes to rent the movies for free!
Free Movies?? Sounds too good to be true?
Well, it may be. I just found out today that my friend may have had her credit card information stolen from using a redbox machine. She believes that her credit card information has been taken through a skimmer . According to this article in the Washington Post:
The company said several RedBox machines had been fitted with “skimmers” — magnetic stripe reading and storage devices that can be installed over the top of existing card readers. RedBox said it found an illegal skimming device attached to one machine in Tempe, Ariz., and that it had discovered evidence of skimming at two other locations in Las Cruces, N.M.
Take a look at these pictures of Redbox machines to see what to be on the lookout for:
So just be on the look-out for these devices and be extra vigilant with your bank accounts.
My Perfect Mother’s Day
I wrote a week ago with inexpensive Mother’s Day gift ideas. My goal was to keep them under $20. Obviously, I’m cheap because I just opened up my email to find a newsletter from Oprah with her suggestions. Here are a few of them:
Barbara Barry Candles–$48
$48 Candles??!!! Who buys candles that nearly cost fifty bucks? They better sing and dance, or better yet, clean my house for that much.
Stationary Set by Elum Designs –$150
Are you kidding me?!! It’s paper. Why would anyone spend that much on paper when we have email now? I’m all about the simplicity and fine art of writing a letter, but if it is going to cost me that much I think I’ll keep my thoughts to myself.
Claus Porto Soaps (set of 3)–$42 Available at Macy’s
Seriously??!!! How dirty do you have to be to need $42 soap? I just picked up some a few days ago–Dial Soap (set of 2)–$1 Available at Dollar Tree.
Oprah, I think you’ve completely lost your mind, but I’ll forgive you because you do try to bring good to the world. In her defense, there are some handmade, less expensive gift ideas on the website.
It’s not just Oprah. Mother’s Day is being over-hyped everywhere. I rarely watch commercials anymore (God Bless TIVO!), but I happened to catch one last night that angered and upset me like you wouldn’t believe.
It was a jewelry commercial for Mother’s Day. You may have seen it. The mom is taken to a “spa” in her backyard where her children paint her nails and curl her hair. Then they say “And here is your diamond necklace.” and the mom just kind of laughs and opens it expecting it to be a piece of costume jewelry. Imagine her surprise to see an actual diamond necklace with her loving husband standing off to the side smiling. The perfect family. The perfect Mother’s Day.
At first I started to get all teary eyed (It is that time of the month where I cry at the drop of a hat) and feel all warm and fuzzy over this sweet family. Then (bring on the mood swings) the more I thought about it, the more I started to feel a little resentful that my family sucks so bad that they don’t make me an outdoor spa with diamonds. Before I got myself too worked up at my family, I snapped out of it and began to feel rage at the media (let me tell you this PMS is in full force).
It’s commercials like these that ruin Mother’s Day for real moms. I’m not talking about the diamond necklace so much. I’m sure there are plenty of people that like to give and receive jewelry on Mother’s Day. It is more the whole hype of having your family plan a big surprise for you. In my experience this is just building yourself up for a let down.
When I first became a mom, I ruined my first couple of Mother’s Days pouting and sulking because my husband didn’t do the “right” thing. Basically all I got was a store bought card and a hug. I don’t know what I expected, but because of commercials like the one I saw last night, I thought it had to be more than that. I know that I should have been grateful that I even had a family, because there are plenty of women who aren’t able to have children.
After about three years of disappointment (I’m a slow learner), I decided that I would plan my own day and let everyone know exactly what I expected. I knew we didn’t have a big budget, so it was more about the experience than the gift. Plus, now that my kids were in school, thanks to their teachers, they made the most precious gifts that would mean way more than a diamond necklace ever could.
The day usually consists of breakfast in bed (pancakes made by husband and kids), then spending the rest of the morning reading a gossip magazine that my husband picked up for me the night before. I also delegate a few chores to be done while I sit in bed like a queen. All issues must be handled by dad because I am officially off duty. Later we go and visit our moms and that is about it. Nothing expensive, nothing too elaborate, but a perfect day for me.
So, how do you spend Mother’s Day? What do you think of all commercialism of the day? I’d love to hear about it in the comments.
I’m adding this post to Frugal Fridays at Biblical Womanhood. Head on over to get more inspiration for ways to spend less but still live a full life. Oprah, if you are reading this, I really think you should stop by. You are out of control.
3 New Ways I Found To Save Money This Week
I’m far from being the most frugal person I know, but I do try my best to find ways to save a little here and there. There are many reasons as to why I try to cut costs when I can, but the biggest reason is so that I can spend more time with my family by being a part-time work-at-home mom (wow, that was a lot of hyphens).
Of course, we do try to save for important things like college and pay off debts, one of our biggest motivators is being able to take a nice vacation every couple of years.
With food, healthcare, gas and home energy costs at an all time high, we have really had to tighten the belt now more than ever before. Sometimes its annoying, but other times it is fun to see what kinds of deals I can find. I find some of my best tips online and I thought I would share a few that I found this week.
No More Library Fines–Rosie over at Thinking Chair is talking about a website called Library Elf. I had never heard of this and I wish that I had. The idea is that when you sign up for their service they will send you an email to remind you when your books are due. In my case I chose the option for them to email me everyday for like three days before the due date. If I had only signed up for this a few weeks ago, it may have saved me $25 in overdue fines (I’m ashamed to admit).
Make Your Own Laundry Detergent–I’ve read numerous times about how easy it is to make, but it always seemed so complicated and time consuming. Then I saw these easy directions (with photos!!) on The Simple Dollar and I’m really leaning toward finally giving it a try. I guess that makes me a visual learner.
Getting Money Back From Gas Purchases–With gas prices on the rise and showing absolutely no signs of slowing down, we are really considering applying for a rewards credit card that earns extra on gas purchases. We are leaning toward the Discover Open Road card, but there are quite a few others mentioned in this article at Money Smart Life. I’m a little hesitant about getting another credit card, but if we paid it off each month I think it could be a smart move for us.
To see more frugal living tips, head on over to Biblical Womanhood.
Hot Mamas Know–Adult Acne Skin Care Regimen
Three posts in one day! I promise this will be the last one (unless of course there is a surprise announcement of a Gosling/McAdams wedding-that would be the only thing that would make me post again today. I swear.) I just wanted to participate in this fun carnival at Absolutely Bananas. Basically the idea is to post a beauty secret that you have that helps you to look and feel your finest. Here is mine:
All my life I’ve struggled with acne. My mom would always tell me that when I become an adult it would go away. Then after I technically became an adult (still not sure if I am one) it actually seemed to get worse. So she told me that after I had kids it would probably pass. Well, two kids later and you guessed it?? No better and I actually think it may have gotten worse. I’m beginning to think that mom may be trying to curse me with her prophecies.
I have tried what seems like every product on the market (and even a few prescribed by a dermatologist). While some work for a short time period, eventually the zits come raging back. (Usually at that time of the month, because the joys of being a woman are plentiful and neverending.)
I had just about given up hope on ever having clear skin when I happened to stumble upon a regimen that is working pretty well. (Basically I was just trying to use up some old products that I had bought because I didn’t feel like spending any more money on new stuff.) I don’t know if it is just the combination or what but my skin has really cleared up a lot. I don’t want to jinx myself by posting this, but this is what I’ve been using:
First step is to cleanse with Clean and Clear Oil Free Foaming Facial Cleanser. At first I noticed that this made my lips sting. I’m thinking that is probably not a good thing, but it doesn’t seem to break me out so I can get past this.
After drying off, I apply Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 hydrating treatment. If I had to guess I would say that this is the key ingredient to what is causing the improvement in my skin.
Next, I have been using Olay Complete all day moisture lotion with SPF 15 during the day. I really don’t use a moisturizer at night, but I know I probably should. I’ve always come back to this moisturizer because it is light and works well with makeup.
Lastly, I have also been trying to do this Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque once a week. I love the way this makes my skin feel after I wash it off. It really does help to minimize pores.
My skin isn’t Rachel McAdams smooth and clear but there has been a dramatic decrease in the appearance of those giant pimples from Hell that pop up on my chin. I actually went through one whole month without one, so that is really saying something for me. Another bonus is that the products are cheap. If you are on a budget, like me, this is a good thing. I wish I could afford more fancy products, but right now food and shelter is a higher priority.
Now I have a favor for anyone who happens to read this. If you have a favorite mascara, I’d love it if you left me a comment telling me the brand you recommend. Mine is pretty much a big clumpy black mess and I need to get a new one but have no idea what to buy. Help a girl out and leave a comment. Thanks!
Works for Me Wednesday: 5 Inexpensive Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
With Mother’s Day quickly approaching I’ve been trying to come up with some unique gift ideas for my mom and mother in law. The main qualifications for the gift is that it must be inexpensive and shows them how much we love and appreciate them. Any homemade gifts have to be simple and not too time-consuming because the big day is only a few weeks away.
Here are few ideas I found online and thought I’d share to help others:
Price: $19.99 ($3 Shipping)
For an additional cost, it can be engraved.
2. Photo Storybook There are two ways to go about doing this. You could scrapbook with actual paper, photos and embellishments or you could upload your pictures to a website and create one online. Photo websites such as Kodak, Shutterfly, or even Walmart do this.
Sample prices: Walmart has soft cover books starting at $3.88 and hard cover books starting at $17.96
3. Flower Pot Pens–My mom doesn’t like a lot of clutter in her kitchen, but does a lot of writing there, so I thought this might be a fun way to disguise her pens. This looks like an easy enough craft.
To personalize this even further, you could give her a gratitude journal to go along with it and start it by writing out a few pages on why you are grateful for her.
You can find the materials necessary and directions to make them here.
4. Make her a mix cd–Head on over to iTunes and download 10-20 of your mom’s favorite songs. Then you could put them on a cd.
If she is a hip mom and has an iPod, you could get her an iTunes gift card, but that isn’t as thoughtful. She’d probably appreciate the cd more.
5. Hobby Themed Gift Basket–The possibilities are endless here. Think about what your mom is most passionate about and put together a few things in a basket that goes along with her special hobby. This one could get expensive, so it is important to hunt down the good deals and try to add some homemade items. For example, if your mom enjoys cooking as mine does, you could put together a basket with a cookbook, some pre-made mixes, and a couple of new kitchen gadgets. You could even get a personalized apron from the craft store and personalize it in some way for your mom. Other ideas for gift basket themes include wine, scrapbooking, chocolate, relaxation, and so many more.
If you have any other suggestions, please leave me a comment. I’d love to hear what other ideas you may have!
Don’t forget to head on over to Rocks in My Dryer for some more great Works for Me Wednesday tips. Btw, Shannon is giving away an awesome dvd box set of Pride and Prejudice (with sexy Colin Firth’s Mr. Darcy) and Jane Eyre.
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