Money Saving Tips | Snackpicks-Ideas to Snack on

Money Saving Tips

Savvy Spring Break
"Staycation" Ideas

It's almost time for "Spring Break" and if you are planning on a "staycation" to save money, you are probably wondering how to keep everyone entertained.

Here are some tips and ideas to try for your family:

1. Get Crafty

Plan a kid's craft day. Spend the morning getting all of the kid's craft supplies ready and the afternoon completing the craft. Keep in mind the age of your children when choosing the craft to complete. Little ones can engage on coloring pages while the older ones can concentrate on slightly more difficult kid's crafts. See our food crafts page for some fun ideas.

2. Get Cooking

Have a pizza-making cooking class at home. Kids will love kneading the dough and personalizing their own pizza. Let them add toppings of their choice, and get dinner ready at the same time.

3. Hold a board game marathon!

Make game time fun by planning ahead and choosing inexpensive prizes for the board game winners. Be sure to have games that appeal to every age and include games that anyone can win. But if you don't have a lot of board games on hand, visit your local thrift store. I have always found a healthy supply of board games at my local store.

4. Family Picnic Fun!

My children love putting together a picnic basket to meet daddy during his lunch break. If the weather is nice, we go to the park right next to his office or we and have a family picnic in his work lunch room. We spend the morning packing the picnic basket with tuna salad sandwiches and bring snacks like single serve bags of Cheez-It crackers to snack on and Rice Krispies Treats Squares for dessert.

5. Be a Local Tourist

Visit a local museum, zoo or gallery for less. Most of these venues offer discounted rates on certain days of the week or after a designated time. Find out in advance what your local museum or zoo offers and plan for a visit during that time. Contact your local tourism board to get brochures and information about local area attractions. Make sure to involve the whole family in the planning.

6. Take a Hike

After spending so much time inside during the colder months, a hike at a nearby park is a fun way for the whole family to exercise. Weather permitting; go for a walk at a local hiking trail. Don't forget to bring water and Kellogg’s Kellogg's Nutri-Grain cereal bars to snack on while you are there.

The whole family can have a fun Spring Break without spending a lot of money. All that you need are some board games, kids crafts, and a picnic basket, along with a small dose of imagination and careful planning and you can keep everyone entertained while staying close to home.

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Savvy Alternatives to expensive Valentine's Day traditions

Posted by Mercedes: Savvy Spender and Snack Mom

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays because it's the holiday to celebrate love. But it's disappointing to see how it has become so commercialized. Suddenly, spending a lot of money on flowers, greeting cards, dinner and chocolate has become the norm. Here are some budget-conscious alternatives to celebrate this special day with those you truly love.

1. Write a Love Letter

Instead of buying a greeting card, write a love letter. And if you lack the poetic gene, start your letter with a borrowed poem and then just state your feelings. It will be much more meaningful to your loved one than a signed greeting card.

2. Get a Potted Flowering Plant

This year ditch the $60 per dozen imported red roses and go with a beautiful potted flowering plant. For a fraction of the price, the recipient will continue enjoying the beauty of these flowers for longer than a cut flower.

3. Substitute a Box of Chocolates

Save money and cut a few calories by substituting a box of whole chocolates for chocolate-dipped strawberries or make Rice Krispies Treats Valentine Hearts.

4. Dine In

If you enjoy cooking, how about dining in instead of dining out? Your local grocery store will probably have a nice cut of meat and lobster deeply discounted around Valentine's Day. Splurge on a fancy meal at home for a fraction of the cost, and avoid the crowds at a restaurant.

5. Dining Out Tips

If you do feel like going out for a romantic dinner, remember, you don't need to pay full price. Here are actually a few ways you can save on a nice dinner out:

	Don't go out on actual Valentine's Day! Avoid the crowds and higher prices by celebrating a few days early or maybe even considering having an early meal.
	Take advantage of the fixed-price menus that restaurants may be offering. These fixed-price menus usually provide a better value than ordering a la carte.
	Purchase a gift certificate at a discounted price. Restaurant.com provides $25 gift certificates to restaurants for only $10. Make sure to read the fine print as some restaurants may exclude certificate use on holidays.

6. Entertainment

Finally, take advantage of free or cheap entertainment. Visit art galleries, book stores or local coffee shops that offer live entertainment. Enjoy a quiet night at home and rent a movie from your local Redbox for only $1 per night.

Last Thought: Remember, that in the end, it is the thought that matters. With some imagination and creativity, you can end up wowing that special someone without breaking the bank.

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3 easy ways to save money in 2010

A new year brings hopes of new and better things for everyone. Here are three financial resolutions to keep that promise to benefit you all year long:

1. Be a Savvy Spender by using Grocery Store Coupons

As moms, we can make a big impact on how much we spend at the grocery store. Before you head out for the grocery store, get online and search for printable coupons for the items on your list. Make a habit of visiting the web sites that offer hundreds of printable grocery coupons: Snackpicks' coupons page, Coupons.com, Smartsource and Redplum. There are also hundreds of other moms out there working to help you save money, too. Start reading money-savings blogs like mine. I match those printable coupons with any current sales available to help you maximize your savings.

2. Save Smart with a Savings Account

Saving money on your everyday expenses is a great resolution. But it's even better when you translate those savings into money in your bank account. Create a savings account today. It's really easy. Starting with $25 automatically deducted from your paycheck every pay period. Putting your savings on auto-pilot helps you stick to this resolution. Use this strategy to start funding an emergency fund, vacation fund or your chilld's college fund. Periodically revise the amount of money you are saving and consider increasing it as you can afford.

3. Ways to Make Money Online

Making more money can be as easy as getting rid of stuff you no longer need or use. If you have a lot of clothes your family has outgrown, you can easily turn that into money by selling it on Ebay, Craigslist, or through a consignment shop. Holding a garage sale is a great way to get rid of any extra stuff cluttering your home or that's been in storage for too long. Other ways for earning some extra cash include: monetize a hobby, give classes on a subject where you are the expert, mystery shop, babysit or petsit for friends.

Being creative and learning new skills- like such as using coupons while you shop- can go a long way in helping you achieve the financial goals you set for your family throughout the year, and for many years to come.

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