We are heading into the Summer months. Childhood memories often return to blissful days of Summer. Our focus in the dunes is to stay cool and hydrated. Cool drinks and icy desserts can be high in calories and price.
For less than a gallon of premium ice cream, I can create:
24 ginger "soda" using a ginger bug
64 ounces of kombucha
Herbal iced teas made with stevia
24 popsicles
1 gallon of ice cream made of fresh, healthy ingredients.
8 frozen bananas
We appreciate the high country. So, we camp for free. The boys fish, while we paint or read. We visit museums, water parks, and other events on low-cost and no-cost days.
I despise food struggles with children. I do not mind snacking, however, I know that children need to be taught everything in balance, We used a chart for snacks"
sweet snack
nut snack
fruit snack
vegetable snack
dairy snack
This keeps your food budget in balance and teaches your children to look at food as fuel. I used to make pops from green juices. We had company when summer who looked at me puzzled when our children claimed a vegetable serving with green pops and smoothies. We prepared these every week together.
Controlling your spending habits is the way to handle your budget. Your stage of life will make it easier or more difficult if you are not willing or able to make needed changes. Avoid being house-poor, if more than 30 % of your income is going toward rent/ mortgage, you may not be able to meet other financial goals.
Switch to reusable items. Paper towels, sandwich bags, and plastic wrap to name a few.
The weekly newspaper may be cheaper than a digital subscription.
Use less water. This is a big one on the Western Slope. We often have droughts. We fill our pool in April when prices are lower.
Make your own things around the house. Cleaners, beauty products.
Feel the need to shop? Switch things up around the house. Move furnishing around, change up the artwork, or redo your furniture.
Put the word out that you are looking for an end table. a table set for the porch, etc
Entertainment
Enjoy the outdoors.
Make creative dates with your spouse.
Download library apps for audiobooks, ebooks, and videos. This will save on fines if you are horrible about getting things back on time.
Order your groceries online.
Eat leftovers
Use coupons and watch for BOGO in your weekly ads
make your own coffee and syrups.
Hold companies accountable. Our son's mp3 failed 2 months after he received it. I held Amazon accountable. It has a 1 year warranty.
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