fun

Best Money Tips: Free (and Almost Free) Spring Family Fun

Ashley Jacobs — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 10:00:30 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some fantastic articles on spring family fun, ways to spring-clean your budget, and reducing your income taxes.

Best Money Tips: Tighten Your Budget and Still Have Fun

Ashley Jacobs — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 11:00:31 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some fantastic articles on how to tighten your budget and still have fun, why hiring managers haven't called back, and borrowing money from family.

Best Money Tips: Sources of Free Entertainment

Ashley Jacobs — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 11:00:30 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some fantastic articles on sources of free entertainment, the best items to buy now, and retirement planning in your 20s.

Ask the Readers: How Do You Have Frugal Fun?

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 11:24:32 +0000

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Christie, JimnLori, and Step for winning this week's contest!

Having time to cut loose and relax is an important part of life. With all the stresses of day to day life, it is vital to be able to have time to unwind and have a little fun! But when your finances are tight, sometimes having fun without breaking the bank can be a challenge.

How do you have frugal fun? Do you go to discount movie theaters? Have game night with friends? Attend free concerts?

Tell us how you have frugal fun and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — here's how you can win!

Mandatory Entry:

Post your answer in the comments below. One commenter will win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

For extra entries:

You can tweet about our giveaway for an extra entry. Also, our Facebook fans can get an extra entry too! Use our Rafflecopter widget for your chance to win one of the other two Amazon Gift Cards:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Monday, November 26th at 11:59 pm Pacific. Winners will be announced after November 26th on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered, or associated with Facebook.
You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Also, don't miss our Best Deals giveaway! Every Sunday for the next five weeks, we will be giving away a $50 Amazon gift card, two copies of our book 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget, and a Wise Bread tote! We will also be giving away a $100 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner who fills out our Best Deals survey. For details, click here!

Good Luck!

Tell us how you have frugal fun and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Written by Ashley Jacobs and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

9 Fun Activities to Help You Tighten Up Your Work Skills

POPSUGAR Smart Living — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 10:24:41 +0000

After a few months of Summer Fridays or hitting the blacktop for weekend road trips, it can be tough to reel your brain back from the beach into office mode, so now's a great time to invest some energy in tightening up your work skills. Trust falls and "two truths and a lie" might be common workplace team building games, but these nine activities will improve your office aptitude while adding a fun and fulfilling twist to your daily routine.

Do a Puzzle

Even your train commute can be a setting for work skills improvement. Whip out the daily crossword puzzle, carry a Sudoku book in your bag, or tap the word puzzle app of your choice and flex that powerful muscle in your head. Puzzles can broaden your vocabulary as well as your ability to problem solve by forcing you to think differently about the task at hand.

Enroll in a Public Speaking Class

For some people (including myself), standing before a room full of people — or even three — can be more petrifying than skydiving or swimming with sharks. Begin to overcome those fears by joining a public speaking class or club where you'll learn to orate like a politician, improve your overall communication skills, and network with other like-minded folks.

Play a Team Sport

Get involved in your local rec league or simply gather some friends together for a regular soccer afternoon at the park. Not only will you feel the physical and emotional benefits of exercise, playing a team sport will help you hone your teamwork and leadership skills while thinking on your feet.

Hang Out With the Kids

When your sister asks you to babysit her brood, don't turn her down! Playtime not only gives your inner child the green light to imagine, but it also allows you to observe how kids work through disagreements in order to cooperate...without the burden of office politics.

Clubs and Organizations

Plan to attend the next alumni association-sponsored tailgate, Junior League event, or PTA meeting. Joining clubs and organizations that align with your hobbies or stage of life can be a great way to meet new people and network over common interests. You can volunteer to head up a committee to gain valuable leadership and project planning experience.

Take an Improv Acting Class

Enrolling in an improv acting class could lead to other thespian career paths, but it can also teach you to think on your feet and anticipate your co-worker's next move through unscripted role play.

Volunteer

Whether you donate your time to an organization or another person in need, volunteering has to be one of the most personally rewarding activities in which one can participate. It's also another great venue for learning teamwork and leadership skills, improving communication, and even picking up new abilities that could be beneficial in your office environment.

Attend a Networking Social

Many professional organizations host socials, giving people from different companies a chance to rub elbows over cocktails and ice breaking activities. Sign up for a few and master the art of small talk!

Yoga and Meditation

Great for the body and soul, yoga and meditation can improve your posture, poise, and confidence. They also allow you some private time to mull over prickly office encounters or think through tricky work dilemmas.

Want to improve your resume and general workplace awesomeness? Try taking on one of these fun (and surprisingly useful) activities.

Guest Post Blurb:

This is a guest contribution from our friends at SavvySugar. Check out more useful articles from this partner:

Written by POPSUGAR Smart Living and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Best Money Tips: Free (or Cheap) Fall Fun for Families

Ashley Jacobs — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 10:24:41 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some fantastic articles on free or cheap fall fun for families, scoring free money from airlines, and ways to make next year's taxes easier.

News & Events

So You Think You Can Finance: Online Reality Show — NerdWallet launched their first online reality show! Check out the second challenge, live now!

Be sure to check out our News & Events Calendar to see all the awesome upcoming events in the personal finance world!

Written by Ashley Jacobs and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Best Money Tips: How to Have Fun for Free

Ashley Jacobs — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 10:00:13 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some great articles on how to have fun for free, money saving tips for the average homeowner, and facing your first day like a pro.

News & Events

Money Crashers Tweetchat (#MCchat) — Don't miss Money Crashers weekly #MCchat at 1pm PST! They will be giving away prizes!

Be sure to check out our News & Events Calendar to see all the awesome upcoming events in the personal finance world!

Written by Ashley Jacobs and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Best Money Tips: Free Fun for Families This Summer

Ashley Jacobs — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 10:00:09 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some great articles on free fun for families this summer, ways to save big on rent, and splurging frugally.

News & Events

Best of Money Carnival #161: Hosted by Control Your Cash — Don't miss the Best of Money Carnival, featuring the ten best (in the opinion of the carnival host) money-related posts of the past two weeks.

Be sure to check out our News & Events Calendar to see all the awesome upcoming events in the personal finance world!

Written by Ashley Jacobs and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Best Money Tips: Free Summer Fun for Kids

Ashley Jacobs — Mon, 28 May 2012 10:00:21 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some awesome articles on free summer fun for kids, money saving tips for families, and ways to save on vacations.

News & Events

Best of Money Carnival #157: Hosted by 20's Finance — Don't miss the Best of Money Carnival, featuring the ten best money-related posts of the past two weeks.

Be sure to check out our News & Events Calendar to see all the awesome upcoming events in the personal finance world!

Written by Ashley Jacobs and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

10 Awesome Money-Making Hobbies

Linsey Knerl — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:48:07 +0000

Starting a full-time small business is a process of blood, sweat, and tears; why not choose, instead, to take your existing hobby and use it as a little side hustle? Most life-long passions are a way to unwind and sharpen your skills. These ten also happen to have the ability to pad your budget! (See also: Make Your Hobby Pay Its Way)

1. Photography

Snapping pics has become even more exciting now that digital has entered the realm. Professional photography is a demanding career, but a casual gig in stock photography, however, can be rewarding and done at your own pace. Look into sites like iStockphoto and others to hawk your digital wares. Payment ranges from a few pennies to 20 cents per photo.

2. Gardening

If your thumb is even slightly green, and you tend to do well with your garden year after year, you may be able to generate a little cash with your abundance of veggies, fruits, and flowers. While hobby gardening won’t make you much more than the price to keep a garden, selling your extras to friends, family, or in a legal roadside set up could help you with this year’s canning costs. Note that local law may require licensing to sell edibles or plants that may carry biological threats. Research carefully before making any sale.

3. Shopping

“Pay me to shop?” It sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? But if you keep your expectations low and only shop those places you’d buy from anyway, mystery shopping can pay for your gas the next time you head to the mall. With an hourly wage of $6–$14 (plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses), it pays to have the occasional lunch out.

4. Blogging

While only a small percentage of bloggers bring in the big bucks, even the most humble blog can earn between $5–$100 a month through basic ad and affiliate sales. It takes a little time to establish yourself, so be patient. If you’ve been blogging for a while, however, look into ways that writing about your passions can translate into commissions with our guide to how bloggers make money.

5. Organizing

I don’t like to do it, but if you are one of those who gets great joy from decluttering, creating spreadsheets, or hoarding plastic bins, you’ll likely do great with part-time work as a virtual assistant or organizer. In today’s consumer-driver world, people just have too much stuff and information (and not enough time or space). Spend a few hours each week offering your “help,” and you could easily score $10–$25 an hour for your skills.

6. Playing an Instrument

While hobbyists can’t usually charge as much as professional musicians, plenty of budget-minded brides and grooms will pay between $100–$200 for the joy of music. I personally got through some tough money spots in college by playing the piano at weddings and by being a sub for the local church pianist. Keep a list of references for gigs you’ve done to supply future inquiries.

7. Sewing

Your unique handicrafts can earn money on a site like Etsy, but most crafters earn cash with their more practical skills. Since no one in my family really likes to sew, for example, we happily pay for curtains to be assembled, blouses to be mended, or sheets to be shortened. If you can deal with last-minute requests and are quick with a needle, you can expect to get $14–$50 for each simple sewing project done from the comfort of your home!

8. Baking

Local laws vary, so be certain of any health regulations before you open shop. Many will require a separate kitchen or license before you advertise or even sell that first cake. For small bakers in some jurisdictions, however, it’s acceptable to bake or decorate a cake to sell to family or friends without expensive legalities. If you can whip up a delicious cupcake or make a mean crumble, you could earn $15–$75 for an afternoon of baking!

9. Gaming

While there aren’t really many legitimate jobs out there for playing your favorite online or console games, there is a demand for people to do the menial errands surrounding some RPGs, MMOGs, and MOGs, especially while they are at work or on vacation. If you spend a good chunk of your time playing highly competitive games online, it’s possible charge a fee per batch of tasks (usually a few cents per action) or even sell your well-established accounts for a profit. To find out what sells, become active on forums and online message boards where other gamers chat. The pay of task work will be very low compared to steady online work (and the market will be diluted by those in foreign countries who can charge much lower rates.) Also note that many games officially prohibit some paid activities. Do this at your own discretion.

10. Dancing

Wives have been dragging husbands to dance studios for years, often with embarrassing or expensive results. If you have some formal dance training, are patient with others, and do a mean foxtrot, you could earn some cash giving lessons in your spare time. As with any service offerings, be sure you know who your customer is before you have them over or meet them at a studio. Expect to earn $25–$85 per lesson, charging more for couple’s sessions.

In short, if you have a skill, passion, or unique ability that you love to share, your hobby could help you meet those monthly budget gaps. Be sure to research questions you have about licensing and taxes (and remember that even those small amounts of cash should be reported to the IRS.)

What hobby of yours would you like to see turned into a part-time income?

Written by Linsey Knerl and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

15 Fun Things to Buy for Under $5

Meg Favreau — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:24:18 +0000

You know what's fun? Pampering. Eating. Learning. Drinking. Socializing. Helping People. Basically — lots of things. And while there is a lot of free fun to be had out there, it's not unreasonable to buy yourself a little bit enjoyment on occasion (as long as you're spending consciously). With that in mind, here are 15 fun, (mostly) useful things that can be yours for a five spot. (See also: 25 Great Gifts for $5 or Less)

1. A Magazine Subscription

You could blow your $5 on one magazine at the newsstand, or you could take advantage of one of Amazon's frequent magazine sales and snag a full year's worth of issues for $5. Don't see something you like for $5? There are usually plenty of $7 subscriptions too.

2. The Ubiquitous Latte

If you read enough frugal living websites, you know that you're not supposed to regularly buy lattes (because, yeah, those little savings make a big difference over time). But an occasional latte — especially if you're sharing conversation with a good friend — can be a very worthwhile treat.

3. Fresh Flowers

I consider fresh flowers to be one of the ultimate indulgences — they're not practical, and they have a very limited lifespan. That said, I love the vibrancy they bring to a room. On my birthday this year, I spent $4 to buy fresh Gerbera Daisies, and it made me really happy to see them in my kitchen over the next week.

4. Exotic Fruit

Enjoy a bit of fruit you don't have regularly — lychees are my favorite. If your regular grocery store's "exotic" fruit collection is a few kiwis tucked next to the bananas, visit an Asian grocery store to find more unusual fruits like dragon fruit, mangosteens, and Asian pears.

5. An Accessory

Whether it's a scarf, new belt, or even just socks, perk up your wardrobe with a new accessory. Try scoping out discount stores like TJ Maxx, Ross, and Marshalls.

6. A Bath or Makeup Product You've Never Tried

One-time packets of bath salts, nice bars of soap, trial size shampoos, and lots of nail polishes fall well under $5. Pick one and pamper yourself.

7. A Nice Beer

I've seen stores in more and more states where you can buy beer by the single bottle. If you like a nice beer (but not the dear price of a six pack), buy a single bottle. Personally, I love sour beers, and I'd recommend Flemish red ale. The Monk's Cafe one is good.

8. New Pens

Most of my pens are freebie ballpoint ones branded with company logos, but I love the feel of writing with something a bit nicer. Consider splurging on something that will allow you to write without constantly shaking the pen to try to get more ink out.

9. A Small Toy

I'm a fidgeter, and I love things like squishy balls that I can fiddle around with. I'll also never get tired of high-bouncing super balls. This is extra fun if you're with a kid.

10. Fresh Herbs

Fresh herbs can add such a wonderful flavor to food and drinks (mojito, anyone?). Or, instead of just buying some at the grocery store, purchase a small herb plant so you can have fresh herbs all year round.

11. A Kickstarter Project Donation

Lynn wrote last year about how spending money on other people is a way that money can buy happiness. Help fund someone's dream project by donating through Kickstarter, where people raise funds for everything from making movies to recording concept albums to opening theaters and more.

12. A Cheap Show

From music to comedy to theater, there are always plenty of $5 or "donation accepted" shows going on. Check your local listings.

13. Used Books

Depending on your used book store and what you want to read, $5 could mean one book or 50 books.

14. A Nice Greeting Card

...which you can then use to write a note to someone.

15. New-to-You Thrift Store Clothes

A new shirt, new pants, or new dress could all be yours at the thrift store.

What are your favorite things to buy for under $5?

Written by Meg Favreau and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

4 Tips for Living Spontaneously on the Cheap

Tara Struyk — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:36:52 +0000

By nature, I am not a spontaneous person. I’m a worrier, a planner, and occasionally a make-sure-every-detail-is-just-so nutcase. But I have an airtight excuse for my lack of impulsivity — I don’t have enough money. A big pile of money has always seemed like the ticket to freedom for me, and while I enjoy a simple life, some days I just want the whole world — more travel, more of a social life, more stuff — basically, just the ability to say “yes” any time the mood strikes. The problem is, this brand of carefree is at odds with most people’s budgets — and certainly with mine. What to do? While you can’t have it all, I think there are some simple ways to fit spontaneity into your frugal life. Here are my suggestions. (See also: 6 Ways Money Really Can Buy Happiness)

Save Some Mad Money

If you want a chance at getting out of your rut when opportunity knocks, keeping a solid savings account is the best way to give yourself that chance. This doesn’t mean you’ll be able to jump at every upcoming concert ticket or vacation sale. But if you have some money saved just for fun, you’re more likely to have options next time something fun and exciting is on the horizon. How much you can save will depend on your circumstances, but keep in mind that a spontaneous indulgence doesn’t have be a four-week Mediterranean cruise; it might just be seeing something you really want in a store window and marching right in to buy it.

Remember, The Best Things in Life Are Free

When you’re standing in the checkout line at the grocery store in the dead of winter it can be easy to wish you were one of the celebrities lining the checkout aisle in their vacation bikinis. Sure, their money affords them the privilege to fly to St. Barts and lay on the beach, but it probably also ties them to a fleet of bodyguards — and hungry photographers angling for a shot of their tanned flesh. I think it would be foolish to say that having money doesn’t make a difference in how you live your life, but no matter how much money you have, there will always be limits on what you can do. Rather than assuming the limits to your ability to be spontaneous are greater than those faced by someone with a bigger bank account, just consider them different. Also know that spontaneous doesn’t always mean spending. There are lots of things that are free (or nearly free) that you can do on a whim. Make the effort to capitalize on each and every one them, and you’ll be less likely to feel like you’re missing out.

Practice Your Balance

As with all things in finance, balance is probably the key to breaking loose without busting your budget. Depending on what type of person you are, it’s probably either a struggle for you to spend money on something you enjoy, or you do it far too often — and to your own detriment. Find some middle ground between austere and ostentatious in all areas of your life. After all, if you don't allow yourself to get any pleasure out of your money, what are you working so hard for?

Make Every Dollar Count

For many people, being spontaneous means being able to say “yes” to something fun or out of the ordinary on a moment’s notice. That’s a tall order, but I think it’s possible as long as you understand that those thrilling moments of spontaneity won’t come often. What this means is that you have to choose the ones that will give you the biggest thrill for your dollar. If you’ve always, always wanted to do something — such as travel around the world, start your own business, or retire early — save for that. If you accept a consolation prize, you might just find yourself with a golden opportunity you’re in no position to cash in on.

Spontaneity carries a notion of freedom, of being able to do what you want when you want. And really, who doesn’t want that? The truth is, everyone faces constraints in life. If, like me, yours revolve around money, your finances might become an easy place to pin the blame when you feel like you’re stuck in a rut. But spontaneity really isn’t about getting everything you want when you want it. Almost no one has this luxury. Instead, it’s about loosening the constraints you’ve put on yourself and learning to welcome and celebrate the spontaneous moments in your life, whether they cost money or not.

Written by Tara Struyk and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Best Money Tips: Have Fun for Free

Ashley Jacobs — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 10:00:11 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some great articles on having fun without spending money, ways to start a conversation, and how to save on groceries.

Declare a Frugal Friday Fun Night

Jason White — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:04:09 +0000

Ah, Friday nights. A time when we can relax and unwind without worry of going to work the next day (or the next). You walk in the door from work ready to kick off your shoes and enjoy a quiet dinner at home when the kids meet you ready to go out and have some fun! Besides being tired from the long week at work there is this other little problem with you entertainment budget envelope--it's empty. Here are a few ways our family has fun on the cheap spending a Friday night at home.

A night with no electricity. My daughter recently received the entire collection of Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. They are a great read for a budding frugalist as they tell of a time when people had to work hard and entertain themselves without the help of televisions and computers. The books have even led to dinner-time discussions on how people lived without electricity, something my kids can barely fathom. To give them some real-world practice we have a "power's out" night ever so often on Friday nights. We turn out all the lights, and cut power to the television, the air conditioner (wait for it to cool down a bit), and computers. We then look for ways to entertain ourselves. We play board games by candle light, read stories out loud and "camp out" in the living room. As an added benefit, the kids will be much better prepared the next time a storm rolls through and knocks out the power.

Host a game night, and invite friends. We recently rediscovered Twister as a family. The box reads something like "Ages 3 and up," but it ought to read, "Ages 3 to 29," because once you hit 30 Twister can actually become a hazardous activity. For the most part I am the official spinner, and enjoy the role of spectator. We also recently invested in a Nintendo Wii, something that was against my frugal nature, until convinced by my family that we could actually save money by staying in and playing video games rather than going out to movies. We created a targeted savings account and waited a few months until we could buy it with cash. It was still a little hard for me to fork over that much money for a game, but it was hard to resist an eight year-old armed with a break-even analysis detailing how quickly our new Wii would pay for itself!

Have a backyard luau, minus the pig. We actually prefer grilled chicken, but if a roasted pig is your thing, have at it! We light tiki torches, put up a few Dollar Store decorations and even play a little Hawaiian music for ambience. I'm no good on the ukulele so we stick to a cheap CD with luau-themed music. The kids play while Mom and Dad grill the chicken and prepare our backporch table for dinner, and then we enjoy a mini feast at home. The only cost is the decorations (which if taken care of can be reused) and food, and the return of added quality time with family is priceless.

So you see, it doesn't cost a lot to have a good time. The common ingredients in all our "Frugal Friday Fun Night" activities is imagination and togetherness. I hope we are creating traditions that will carry our kids into adulthood, and that they will share these activities with their children. I also hope we are reinforcing the idea that you don't have to be rich to have a rich life.

Written by Jason White and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

Open group write - regional events and things to do for under $5

Lynn Truong — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:09:46 +0000

Open call

This will the be first in our new series of open group writes. It's a chance to showcase great bloggers in the Wise Bread community and provide more resources for our readers. To participate, write a post on the designated topic and send us your link. We'll post an article with links to all qualified submissions in a few weeks. If you don't have your own blog, post it in this forum thread, and we'll link to your forum post.

The topic

Share a list of the best events and activities to do in your city for under $5. Keep it region specific -- please don't say "go to the closest park." And keep at least most of your list relevant for an unlimited time. Try not to include too many soon-to-expire events or activities (annual events on the other hand are great to include). We want this list to still be useful and relevant long after it's been posted.

The rules

We accept articles written in the past, as long as it's still relevant.

It needs to include several activities, not just a review of one.

The article must be region specific. An article on "The top 10 things to do in the US" will not be included.

Submitting your link does not guarantee its inclusion on the final post. We will only include relevant and useful articles.

Links need to be submitted by August 29.

Submission Requirements

Name

City/State the article pertains to

Permalink to article

Submit the links to editor@wisebread.com. Please put "Group Write: $5 Fun" as the subject of the email.

Thanks to all those who particpated! Here is our ultimate list of $5 fun. Please continue to keep it relevant by sending new links!

Written by Lynn Truong and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.

fun

Best Money Tips: Free (and Almost Free) Spring Family Fun

Top 5 Articles

Other Essential Reading

Best Money Tips: Tighten Your Budget and Still Have Fun

Top 5 Articles

Other Essential Reading

Best Money Tips: Sources of Free Entertainment

Top 5 Articles

Other Essential Reading

Ask the Readers: How Do You Have Frugal Fun?

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

Mandatory Entry:

For extra entries:

Giveaway Rules:

9 Fun Activities to Help You Tighten Up Your Work Skills

Do a Puzzle

Enroll in a Public Speaking Class

Play a Team Sport

Hang Out With the Kids

Clubs and Organizations

Take an Improv Acting Class

Volunteer

Attend a Networking Social

Yoga and Meditation

Best Money Tips: Free (or Cheap) Fall Fun for Families

Top 5 Articles

Other Essential Reading

News & Events

Best Money Tips: How to Have Fun for Free

Top 5 Articles

Other Essential Reading

News & Events

Best Money Tips: Free Fun for Families This Summer

Top 5 Articles

Other Essential Reading

News & Events

Best Money Tips: Free Summer Fun for Kids

Top 5 Articles

Other Essential Reading

News & Events

10 Awesome Money-Making Hobbies

1. Photography

2. Gardening

3. Shopping

4. Blogging

5. Organizing

6. Playing an Instrument

7. Sewing

8. Baking

9. Gaming

10. Dancing

15 Fun Things to Buy for Under $5

1. A Magazine Subscription

2. The Ubiquitous Latte

3. Fresh Flowers

4. Exotic Fruit

5. An Accessory

6. A Bath or Makeup Product You've Never Tried

7. A Nice Beer

8. New Pens

9. A Small Toy

10. Fresh Herbs

11. A Kickstarter Project Donation

12. A Cheap Show

13. Used Books

14. A Nice Greeting Card

15. New-to-You Thrift Store Clothes

4 Tips for Living Spontaneously on the Cheap

Save Some Mad Money

Remember, The Best Things in Life Are Free

Practice Your Balance

Make Every Dollar Count

Best Money Tips: Have Fun for Free

Top 5 Articles

Other Essential Reading

Declare a Frugal Friday Fun Night

Open group write - regional events and things to do for under $5