Low Cost Entertainment, Entertainment On A Budget

Free Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day

May 1, 2013 By Lisa Andree Leave a Comment

Moms are special, and they deserve a special day. Unfortunately, your wallet is empty and the special Mom in your life needs a special gift. You need to come up with a way to show her how great she is, but your lack of cash is making it difficult. Don’t worry! There are lots of great ways to celebrate Mother’s Day without putting a strain on your bank account. Here are some ideas…

1. Give Mom a day off. It won’t cost you a dime to take on the duties your mother usually handles. From cooking dinner to running errands to cleaning the house, tell Mom that today is her day and she is free to do whatever she wants – you’ve got the rest covered!

2. Take the kids to the park so Mom can get some alone time. If you’ve got little ones in the house, you’re probably aware of how hard it is to have a moment alone to yourself. Even if you just give her an hour or two, Mom will probably appreciate the gesture more than you know!

3. Breakfast in bed is always a favorite. Surprise her with her favorite breakfast and let her enjoy it in the comfort of her bed. Don’t forget to do the dishes when she’s done!

4. Go for a picnic. Spring is a great time of year to picnic in the park. Ask Mom what she’d like to eat and then make it yourself. Pack everything up and head to a nice neighborhood park. Don’t forget the camera for a few special snapshots.

5. Visit a free local attraction or go to a free community event. People always seem to forget that being a tourist in your own town can be a lot of fun. Investigate your area’s free attractions and see if there’s something that Mom would enjoy.

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Filed Under: Budgeting, Entertainment, Featured Tagged With: budgeting, entertaining, holidays

Turning your hobby into a source of income – is it worth it?

April 22, 2013 By Lisa Andree 1 Comment

For some people, a hobby is a relaxing escape. For others, it’s a fun way to spend their free time. Then there are those who have become so skilled in their favorite pastime that they decide to turn it into a source of income. From selling handmade items online to starting their own photography business to researching people’s family trees, there are numerous hobbies that can be lucrative. But to really keep up with a hobby often involves a lot of time, energy and money. So is turning a hobby into a business really worth it?

The answer depends on the hobbyist and his or her lifestyle. Things like work schedules, financial restraints and family obligations can often present challenges for a hobbyist when it comes to earning money for their goods or services. Before you decide to parlay your special skills into a source of income, ask yourself the following questions:

How much free time do you have and how much of it are you willing to sacrifice to your hobby?

If you work 40 hours a week, for example, your free time will probably be limited to nights and weekends. Would you be OK with devoting a portion of that time to your hobby for secondary income? Or would you rather reserve that precious free time for other things?

How elaborate is the hobby?

If you create custom, handmade quilts, for instance, you will probably need a lot more free time than if you did something simpler like knitting socks.

How do you intend to market yourself?

Will you create a website, give out business cards, start a blog, etc.? Or would you rather stay small and rely on word-of-mouth? On one hand, having a lower level of exposure can be beneficial for those just starting out, but on the other hand, without a broad customer base, you’re unlikely to make very much money.

Will you be able to keep up with your customers’ demand?

If you decide to turn your hobby into a source of income, be prepared to give your clients and customers what they want in a timely fashion. Since most hobbyists-turned-pro are sole-proprietors (meaning it’s only them and they do not have employees), they must provide the goods or services themselves. You most likely won’t have the option of hiring a production staff or employing a marketing assistant to help you brand yourself – at least not in the beginning. There are many success stories where people start out on their own but become so successful they are able to hire help, but this isn’t something you should count on when you first start out.

How much money are you willing to lose?

It’s a statistical probability that new businesses will lose money in their first year. You might be surprised just how much money is involved in starting your own business, even if it’s something as simple as screen printing T-shirts in your basement. From registering a business name to shipping costs to web site development and more, having your own business requires a fair amount of start-up costs. And that’s not even counting the money you’ll need to spend on materials! The truth is most people will not make enough money in the first year to earn a profit, so you’ll need to be comfortable with taking a loss. The good news is, you can usually claim this loss on your tax return.

And finally…

Would you still enjoy the hobby once it becomes an obligation?

Some people begin to lose the love of their hobby once it becomes something they “have” to do. After all, once your hobby is a business, you’ll have a lot more responsibility. A friend of mine who is really into jewelry making, decided to start selling some of her products on Etsy (an online store for hand-made and vintage items). She was fairly successful and sold a lot of her items, but after a while she began to lose interest. It wasn’t that she was losing money; she just wasn’t having fun with it anymore. So, she decided to close her Etsy store and focus on making jewelry purely for fun or for giving as gifts to people.

Are there any of you out there who have success stories (or horror stories) about turning a hobby into a business? Tell me about it in the comments!

Filed Under: Entertainment, Featured, Investing Tagged With: entertainment, hobbies, income, investing, money

Free or Cheap Ways to Feed Your Crafting Addiction

April 20, 2013 By Lisa Andree Leave a Comment

It can seem inexpensive to make things yourself but a leisurely trip to the craft or fabric store will reveal how pricey these hobbies can be! Thankfully, there are a number of ideas you can use to keep your crafting urges satisfied without having to spend a small fortune.

1. Repurpose material found around the house.

Repurposing scrap material can help you save on your crafting costs.

You can find lots of good, quality material at a regular fabric shop or craft store, but if you’re trying to be thrifty, you can actually find a great supply of materials in your own home. Do you have some tablecloths, sheets or clothing that you’re not using anymore? Perhaps you could repurpose the material to create a special, one-of-a-kind blanket, quilt or pillowcase. Here’s one example I found online: A Repurposed T-shirt Quilt.

By the way, don’t limit yourself to only using fabrics for your thrifty crafting adventures. Think outside the box and try to find other materials or objects that could be put to a new use. Here are a few more ideas:

Do you collect matchbooks or those cardboard coasters found in bars/restaurants? Why not arrange them in a decorative frame and hang it up in your kitchen or game room, if you have one?
Have an old vintage picture frame that you’re not sure what to do with? If the glass is still intact, you can easily convert it to a serving tray or a vanity tray for your bathroom. Martha Stewart has a helpful video tutorial. If the glass is missing, cracked or just not in good shape, don’t worry! There are lots of cool things you can do with an old frame even if it doesn’t have the glass or backing. From a nifty jewelry organizer to a personalized wreath, the sky’s the limit when it comes to creative uses for picture frames.

2. Take advantage of free books, magazines or online resources.

Finding inspiration has never been easier with the widespread use of the Internet. You can find a ton of free tutorials and patterns online (Instructables.com is a favorite) and don’t forget about your local library! You can ask the librarian to help you locate books on just about any subject, from sewing to carpentry to paper crafts and more.

3. Organize a craft swap.

If you have friends, neighbors, co-workers or fellow church members that are as into crafting as you are, you should consider hosting a craft swap. Invite guests to bring some materials that they are willing to trade, be it yarn, paper, glue, paint, fabric or anything else related to crafting. This can be a really fun way to get ideas for projects as well as score some cool materials for practically nothing!

What are some other ideas for free or low cost ways to craft? I’d love to
hear from you!

A Few Free Ways to Enjoy Spring

April 18, 2013 By Anna Platz Leave a Comment

With the weather getting warmer and the days getting longer, you might be feeling that urge to get out of the house and play! Even grown ups want to be out and about in the fresh Spring air, even if it means fighting a little pollen and hay fever. But for those of us who are trying to watch our pennies, the temptation to spend money when leaving the house is enough to keep us hunkered down indoors, even though we’d rather be out enjoying the sunshine. The good news is there are a number of free or low cost ways to enjoy springtime.

1. Go to the park.
Public parks are free to enter and are perfect locations for walking, jogging, picnicking and playing. Kids and adults alike can take advantage of this admission-free attraction, enjoying anything from a few games of Frisbee to snapping a few pretty spring-theme photos – after all, this is the perfect time of year to see robins, bluebirds, azaleas, daffodils and lots of other flora and fauna.

2. Check out free festivals.
A lot of cities host annual spring festivals that are free to attend. Here in Wilmington, we have the annual NC Azalea Festival, which draws thousands of people from all over the country. A wildly popular weekend extravaganza, The NC Azalea Festival involves several different events (some of which do require admission fees) from concerts to pageants to home and garden shows and more. The street fair is a free family-friendly event that has arts and craft vendors, food, music and more. Check out what’s happening in your city and you’ll most likely find one or two festivals nearby that offer free events.

3. Host a pot luck barbecue.
Spring is a great time to cook outdoors. The weather’s not too cold, not too hot and the mosquitoes and other pesky insects aren’t coming out in full force just yet (especially if you live in the South). Organize a family barbecue or invite some friends and neighbors. Make it a pot luck dinner, so that everyone can help pitch in on the expense. It’ll not only be a lot of fun, it’ll be a whole lot cheaper than dining out!

4. Start an outdoor exercise routine.
Whether you’ve got a bicycle you haven’t used in a while or you just want to rely on your own two feet, getting outside is a great way to get motivated to exercise. When you’re biking, skating, walking or jogging outdoors, there are fewer distractions and therefore a higher probability that you’ll do the exercise longer. Find out if your city has running/walking trails or simply refer back to #1 and head to your local park. Here in Wilmington, we have a beautiful Cross City Trail that is popular among walkers and joggers. It runs throughout the city, taking you past several scenic areas.

How to Save on Your Media Addictions

March 29, 2013 By Lisa Andree Leave a Comment

Are you someone who likes to keep up with the latest in music, sports, fashion, and film? Regardless of your interests, chances are that from time to time you invest in CDs, DVDs, books, and magazines that extend your enjoyment of those favorites. When it’s all said and done, it is very easy to spend a small fortune on any one of those types of items. Then for some reason we hang on to them longer than necessary, because, come on, “We paid good money for those.” In the ongoing quest to save and use “good cents,” let’s examine a few ways to cut way back on media purchases.

The Swap Shop
You can get your friends and neighbors together and swap just about anything! The idea is to bring your gently used mags, CDs, DVDs, etc. and swap them one on one. So, the more you bring, the more new to you things you can take home. And let’s face it, how many times do you really want to watch that samurai movie, or “Pretty in Pink”? It is possible to do a genre themed swap as well. For example, children’s books and DVDs, mystery paperbacks, home improvement magazines, jazz music-really, the sky is the limit.

There are community swaps in some towns and cities that take place monthly. Keep an eye out on activity calendar message boards and places like craigslist for details on these types of exchanges.

The Library
Hands down, that library card is worth its weight in diamond-encrusted platinum! Where else can you have access to thousands of books, magazines, DVDs, and CDs? Nowhere! Try burning a CD to your I-tunes account and returning it to the music store! Lots of libraries also allow patrons to check out magazines that are one month old and many now have mp3 players pre-loaded with audio books. You just supply a AAA battery and your headphones. Wonder what would Andrew Carnegie think about all of that?
Library sales are another excellent way to save hundreds and support a great institution.

Second Hand
Poking around second hand shops, used book stores, and yard sales is ideal for finding some wonderful music, gently used books and DVDs. For those vinyl collectors out there, finding the perfect used venue is equivalent to finding buried treasure. Sellers also advertise these items on eBay and craigslist for very reasonable prices.

Cyber-Space
Yes! There are sites that allow the legal download of some things for free! The Huffington Post has the list of 35 of those sites here.

There are numerous sites that allow users to download audio books for free. A quick Internet search is all you need to get started.

If you take the time to peruse the iTunes Store, you’d be surprised how many free and deeply discounted songs, movies, TV shows, and podcasts there are. Often, there are free previews to stream prior to a release, along with season passes on some premium cable network shows.

Penny Pinching Party Planning

February 16, 2012 By Anna Platz 1 Comment

Huge thanks to Marnie Pacino, author of “Cool Party, Mom!” and low cost party planner extraordinaire, for this great guest post and the awesome kids’ party ideas. I for one am taking notes for my daughter’s next birthday!

Birthday parties just aren’t what they used to be. When I was young, being invited to a friend’s birthday party was the most exciting thing I could imagine…colorful crepe paper streamers, homemade chocolate cake and vanilla (if you were very lucky, Neapolitan) ice cream served from a giant, plastic gallon-sized tub. We’d spend an entire afternoon playing simple games like Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Duck Duck Goose, and Musical chairs. At most, the entire fun-filled day set the birthday parents back a whole twenty dollars.

Things are much different today. Most parents feel some level of pressure to keep up with (or out-do) “The Jones” … “Bobby Stinkypants had his birthday at Insane Kid World! What are we doing for mine?” Fear not. With a little thrifty imagination, you can still plan The-Best-Princess-Party-Ever-For-All-Eternity without losing your mind and without breaking the bank. Here’s how:

MAKE A PLAN
Birthdays don’t just appear out of the blue, and waiting until the last minute to figure everything out will cost you money. A few months before the big day, start making a list. Use headings like, INVITATIONS, PAPER PRODUCTS, FAVORS, MENU and ACTIVITIES.

Keep the list in your purse while you’re out and about. Does your 12-yr old daughter want a luau birthday party in December? You’ll find all sorts of deeply-discounted beach themed items in August. If you wait until December, not only will you have a hard time finding things, you’ll pay a fortune for the same stuff that was gathering dust on the clearance rack just a few months before! So, use your list and plan ahead.

Now, let’s take a closer look at some of those other things on your list…

Make the Most of Dining and Restaurant Coupons

January 30, 2012 By Anna Platz 4 Comments

These days there is no shortage of dining and restaurant coupons. Books of 2 for 1 and other offers are a popular fund raiser in many communities, coupons frequently arrive in the mail (both e- and snail), and websites such as Groupon, Living Social, Half Off Depot, and the throngs of competitors offer steeply discounted deals on eating out. But in order to take advantage of the savings you need to actually have the coupon with you when you are both near the restaurant and hungry. Sounds simple enough, but how many times have you realized after eating out that you had a coupon at home? Or how many restaurant coupons have you tossed after realizing they have expired?

Before I go any further, I just want to make perfectly clear that I am not recommending that you use every restaurant coupon or offer that comes your way. Cooking and eating at home is healthier and saves money, but most of us are going to eat out every once in a while. And when you do eat out, I’d like you to save every penny that you can.

Ok, with that covered, here are a few tips for getting the most use out of those coupons:

Keep them where you’ll use them. If you generally drive to a restaurant keep them in the car. If you’re in an urban area and are more likely to be walking or taking public transportation keep a stash in your purse or wallet. Put those for places you’re most likely to order delivery from wherever you keep the take out menus – or by the computer if you tend to look them up online. Stick the ones for restaurants near the office in your desk drawer.
Make a list of new spots to try. Rather than just using the coupons for your favorite places take a look through the options and earmark a few restaurants you’ve never been to. You might find a new favorite, and if not at least you got a great deal on your meal.
Ask some friends to join you. Do you have a few friends you eat out with often? Or some you’d like to see more of? Suggest that you each purchase a coupon book from the local elementary school and try some new places together. Check the policies about redeeming multiple coupons with one party before heading to dinner.

Remember when using a coupon for eating out to always tip on the price before the discount was taken off. For example:

You order 2 $12 entrees, and get one for free, you should leave a tip based on $24 (20% = $4.80) not $12 (20% = $2.40.)

Do you have any other tips for making the most of these deals? And how do you feel about using coupons while eating out? Great way to save or too embarrassing?

Filed Under: Budgeting, Entertainment, Featured Tagged With: coupons, deals, dining out, entertaining, food savings, restaurants, save money

Low Cost Holiday Meal Ideas

December 21, 2011 By Anna Platz Leave a Comment

The family holiday meal should be a chance to gather together, enjoy time with loved ones we might not see often enough throughout the year, and indulge in some delicious food. It can also be quite an expensive undertaking for the host. There’s no need to serve a large, pricey cut of meat, roast, or turkey – here are a few low cost holiday meal ideas to help you serve food everyone will love, without sacrificing your budget.

Pasta – Serve up some delicious comfort food such as lasagna, manicotti, pasta carbonara, or stuffed shells.
Cioppino (Seafood Stew) – It feels luxurious but doesn’t have to break the bank when you select inexpensive shellfish rather than pricey crab legs or lobster.
Curry – Thai and Indian curries stretch your protein (choose from chicken, shrimp, beef, or even tofu) to serve more people with less, and will likely be a departure from your traditional holiday meal making it special.
Holiday Brunch – There’s no rule that the big family meal has to be in the afternoon or evening. Invite the group for a mid-morning brunch and offer frittata, breakfast casseroles, muffins and croissants, and granola with yogurt and fruit. For a fancier menu think brunch favorites such as eggs benedict or stuffed french toast.

One final tip for an inexpensive holiday meal – when people ask if they can bring something let them. Those who love to cook or bake might be excited to share a dish, and others can pick up drinks, bread, or cookies at the grocery store.

Filed Under: Budgeting, Entertainment, Featured Tagged With: cooking, grocery savings, holidays

Beat Holiday Stress and Slow Cook Your Way Through the Holidays!

December 5, 2011 By Anna Platz 2 Comments

Another great post from Lisa Andree. Love the timing as we can all use some help getting dinner on the table these days which are getting filled with holiday parties and events, decorating, kids’ holiday programs, shopping for gifts, and plenty of errands to run! I’m making chili in the slow cooker tomorrow and will whip up some cornbread when I get home.

If the mention of a slow cooker brings to mind heavy handed stews or chicken and roasts smothered in thick, canned soup, it’s time to take a new look at slow cooking. Whether you are flying solo or have an entire flock to feed, you should definitely consider slow cooked meals as an option. Although the basic design is much the same, today’s models also feature programmable timers complete with auto-off and keep warm settings. They range in price from under $20 to $50 and up, and come in a variety of colors and sizes.

Using a slow cooker is a snap once you get the hang of it. A little advance planning goes a long way and it’s possible to use your slow cooker for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. In addition to saving time, this type of cooking is also money saving because it can make great use of economical root vegetables and tenderize less expensive cuts of meat.

For healthy hot cereals like steel cut oats and multi grain blends, simply follow the recipes and turn it on before bedtime. Viola! A steaming bowl of cinnamon laced oatmeal is a sure crowd pleaser. If you have two crock-pots, you can also make a batch of homemade applesauce to go with it!

Hearty soups and one-pot meals like chili or beef stew are great for lunch or dinner. Did you know that you can prepare a beef roast, baking hen, or turkey breast while you’re at the office or out Christmas shopping? There are even appetizers, breads, cakes, and side dishes that work beautifully in a slow cooker. For some wonderful recipe ideas, including low-fat and vegetarian meals, check out one of these:

Slow Cooker Classics from Cooking Light

Slow Cooker Recipes from Martha Stewart (she’s even got one for brownies!)

“Slow Good” from Vegetarian Times

You also might want to check out the internet sensation Crockin’ Girls on Facebook. Click on the page’s Forum tab for about a bazillion slow cooker recipes.

Filed Under: Entertainment, Featured, Household Savings

‘Tis the season for fun, free holiday events

November 29, 2011 By Anna Platz 2 Comments

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and was able to spend some time with family and friends, relax a bit, eat too much, and remember what they are most thankful for.

With the holiday season in full swing it’s a great time to check out local event calendars for holiday events in your area. This is a chance to get out with friends and family, celebrate the fun time of year, without spending a penny.

Look for calendars on the websites for your local newspaper, chamber of commerce, and tourism or convention and visitors bureau. Events you’re likely to find include:

Tree Lighting Ceremony
Caroling
Holiday Parade
Holiday Flotilla
Fireworks
Visit Santa
Candlelight Tour

Keep the merriment truly free by bringing along your own snacks and travel mugs of hot chocolate (if permitted – check on the event website or with organizers.)

Filed Under: Entertainment, Featured, Quick Tips Tagged With: events, family friendly, free, holidays

Free Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day

Turning your hobby into a source of income – is it worth it?

Free or Cheap Ways to Feed Your Crafting Addiction

Other Posts You Might Enjoy

A Few Free Ways to Enjoy Spring

Related Topics

How to Save on Your Media Addictions

Other Posts You Might Like

Penny Pinching Party Planning

Make the Most of Dining and Restaurant Coupons

Low Cost Holiday Meal Ideas

Beat Holiday Stress and Slow Cook Your Way Through the Holidays!

‘Tis the season for fun, free holiday events

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