Low-Cost, No-Cost Entertainment Ideas for Guests & Children

With a full house of grandchildren and other out-of-town guests, my friend Rosalie discovered creative ways to entertain without spending a lot of money. Using time and creativity, she kept her visitors occupied and happy. I plan to use some of her tips during future school breaks.

Here's what she did:

• Look for promotions: Periodically, local attractions -- museums, zoos or aquariums -- will lower the price of annual membership with attractive offers. For example, a single-day entrance ticket can be upgraded to a year-long membership for a small additional fee. Rosalie recently found similar offers at Seaquarium and Parrot Jungle. With affordable membership passes, she and her grandchildren made repeat visits to those attractions with minimal costs after the initial purchase. Promotional deals are advertised online and through traditional media sources.

• Try simplicity: Rosalie took her grandchildren on long walks through the neighborhood, to the beach and to area parks. The children and the adults enjoyed the ocean waves and the sight of an iguana walking on a neighborhood sidewalk. Every neighborhood has eye candy, and an attentive resident can serve as a tour guide. Last summer, I traveled with my children to Washington, D.C. We visited museums and attractions, but a free walking tour of the city created some of the most memorable moments.

• Hit the kitchen: Whipping egg whites into foam and other supervised kitchen duties provided hours of fun for Rosalie and her young visitors. Baking provides sweet desserts and a sense of accomplishment. For ideas and recipes, visit the library and sample the wide range of cookbooks for children. My daughter recently checked out Delicious Drinks to Sip, Slurp, Gulps and Guzzle by Rose Dunnington (Lark Books, 2006). Inspired by the recipes, she invented her own smoothies.
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10 Ways to Skip New Airline Ticket Fees

During a recent trip to Washington, D.C., each of my kids (ages 10, 13 and 16) carried a small suitcase onto the plane. We saved about $15 per person by not checking our bags. I've also saved money during flights by packing DIY snacks, thereby skipping charges for airline food.

Those are two of the money-saving tips for travelers in this MSNBC piece: Top 10 ways to avoid new airline fees. The tips include this one:

"Join the club. Several airlines — including United, American, and Continental — will waive baggage fees if you are an elite member of their frequent flyer program. Remember to sign up for your carrier’s frequent flyer program before booking your flight to start accruing points, and if you are already a member of a program, keep in mind that loyalty to them might very well pay off in the long run. "

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Latest Trend: 'Staycations' -- Ideas for Stay-at-Home Summer Trips

A Do-it-Yourself, Stay-at-Home theme park? That's one alternative to soaring pump prices. The spike in gas prices has re-fueled a frugal trend, namely the stay-at-home vacation. Basically, we become tourists in our own hometown. I've taken that trip. Here's a link to one of my past hometown vacations: $600 room for $149: Vacation Part 2.


Meanwhile, this item from CCCS has a long list of stay-at-home vacation ideas:


"School is almost out, camps are ready to start, and many families are planning a different kind of vacation this year.


"Family budgets are already being stretched by skyrocketing gas prices and higher costs on just about everything," said Jessica Cecere, president of Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. To cope with these rising costs, many families are opting for a vacation close to home instead of one that includes airfare, lodging, rental cars, and dining out.



CCCS clients offered their ideas for vacations in your own backyard:


Create Your Own Theme Park: Create your very own water park in your yard! Set up a slip-n-slide, fill the inflatable pool and turn on the sprinkler. Include an art area on the driveway with chalk and watercolors, and a bubble machine nearby for extra fun. A concession stand with hot dogs, chips, popcorn, cookies, ice cream, and lemonade adds to the fun. All the fun of a theme park without spending a fortune.


Fine Dining: Plan an elegant picnic at a local beach, lake, park, or in your backyard. Get out your nice dishes and glasses, and pack a tablecloth and linen napkins. Dessert and fresh flowers are great touches. Bring some fun outdoor games, such as bocce ball or badminton and make a day of it.


Throw a Party: Plan a theme party, like a luau, beach night, or the 50's and invite friends, neighbors, and relatives. Plan the menu and ask everyone to bring an item. Visit local thrift stores and garage sales ahead of time for decorations and clothing. It not only saves you a ton of money, but we all love to rummage for a great deal! You can also have it at a local city, county or state park. After the theme party, pack up all the items you purchased and sell them as a lot on eBay so you can recoup some of your expense and pass the idea on to someone else!



Look Close to Home: Research programs available through parks and recreation departments in neighboring communities. Many have great pool facilities that are like mini water parks, complete with slides and loads of things for the kids to do. You may have a small additional fee if you are not a resident or member, but the cost pales in comparison to a day at a theme park. If the facility let's you bring in outside food and drinks, pack a cooler for even more savings.

Day Trips: Many families never enjoy the wonderful places to see right in their own communities. A "staycation" provides the perfect opportunity to plan some day trips to local theme parks, gardens, and more.




Here are ten great places to spend a day this summer. [Note many of these ideas mention Florida attractions, but the same concept can be adapted to other regions.]

1. A Museum - Spend the day enjoying arts and culture at one of the many local museums. The Boca Raton Museum of Art, the Norton Museum of Art and the Flagler Museum are all great choices. Entry fees are reasonable and most offer free admission for kids under 13.

2. A Garden Adventure - Whether you visit the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, Butterfly World, or Mounts Botanical Gardens, you will appreciate the natural beauty of our area.

3. Lunch at the Lighthouse - Pack a picnic and head to Jupiter for a tour of this local landmark.

4.Learn something new - Take part in a workshop at the Armory Art Center, Old School Square in Delray Beach, or head to your local craft store or home improvement store to build something special.


5. Explore Science - Experience the Robot Zoo at the South Florida Science Museum. Be sure to visit the McGinty Aquarium and the Marvin Dekelboum Planetarium while you are there.


6. Explore Space - A day trip to the Kennedy Space Center will have the kids dreaming of becoming astronauts. Check the schedule for shuttle launches.

7. Visit the animals - Spend the day at the Palm Beach Zoo or enjoy a drive-thru adventure at Lion Country Safari and get up close and personal with giraffes, lions, rhinos and more.


8. Stay Cool in the Pool - A leisurely day at Calypso Bay or Coconut Cove can be just the ticket on a hot summer day. For the more adventurous, try out one of the 29 water slides at the Rapids.


9.Take a ride - There are many wonderful biking paths in our area, including 6 miles at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County, 5 miles on the Island of Palm Beach, and a 2 mile trail in North Palm Beach.


10. Take a swamp buggy ride through the Everglades, pack the fishing poles and head to Lake Okeechobee, or enjoy some fun in the sun at one of the many beautiful beaches.

Whatever your "staycation" plans, there are many ways to save. Check out attraction websites for discount ticket prices, annual passes, and state resident specials. Pack snacks and lunches for extra savings."


source:CCCS



Here a related link: 10 Luxe-for- Less Vacation Tips

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Cheap Travel Guide: Month-by-Month, City-by-City Hotel Savings Rates

What's the cheapest month to book a room in Vegas or Athens or Miami? This month-by-month 2008 guide offer travelers a few clues about the cheapest times to visit different cities in the U.S. and abroad. This price projection guide can help save up to 69 percent in travel expenses according to CheapTickets.com, an online travel agency, which provided the data. Here's the info from the company:

"The second annual Value Travel Forecast Cheapometer takes a year-long look at 2007 hotel pricing in hundreds of popular tourist destinations and uses this data to project the best month to experience the highest percentage savings (compared to peak rates) in those destinations in 2008.


The report below forecasts three cities for each month where travelers can save in the New Year.

Percentage Savings* during Cheapest Travel Month Compared to Peak Rates Month

January
Athens, Greece 68%
Jackson Hole, WY 64%
Paris, France 48%

February
Napa-Sonoma, CA 47%
London, Great Britain (UK) 35%
Amsterdam, Netherlands 32%

March
Venice, Italy 55%
Montreal, Canada 40%
Hartford, CT 25%

April
Green Bay, WI 58%
Greensboro-High Point-Winston Salem, NC 32%
El Paso, TX 27%

May
Park City-Deer Valley-The Canyons, UT 64%
Vail-Beaver Creek, CO 45%
Hawaii 22%

June
Palm Springs, CA 35%
Las Vegas, NV-AZ 26%
Guadalajara, Mexico 20%

July
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ 57%
Tallahassee, FL 47%
Austin-San Marcos, TX 14%

August
New Orleans, LA 52%
Sarasota-Bradenton, FL 49%
Florida Keys 45%

September
Miami, FL 51%
Montego Bay, Jamaica 49%
Cancun, Mexico 45%

October
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic 56%
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 51%
San Antonio, TX 28%

November
Killington, VT 69%
Lake Tahoe, CA/NV 53%
Aruba 51%

December
Hilton Head, SC 62%
Rome, Italy 48%
Washington DC-MD-VA-WV 36%

*Percentage savings were calculated 11-21-07 by taking the average price of three-star hotels by travel month in the listed markets purchased on CheapTickets.com for travel December 2006 through
November 2007 and comparing the lowest monthly rate with the highest monthly rate."
Source: CheapTickets.com
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Vacation Brain Drain:We Wasted $92 Before Fixing the Shopping Cart

Going to visit my parents can be a challenge. Mom & Dad are wonderful—love you guys!--but the Super Target near their home is a problem. The store is great: It has candy, food, yoga blocks, children’s shoes, skirts, makeup and a little silk purse that looks like a takeout container of Chinese food. So cute! I love the magazines and the dollar store section. So cheap!

And that’s a problem because when we visited my folks in late August, we went to Target and spent $92 and I don’t know you what we bought.

We had a bad case of vacation brain drain. We bought a lot of candy from the serve-yourself dispensers. I think we purchased about $30 worth of candy. Here’s the math: 15 pounds @ $2 per pound = $30.

We also bought flip flops and makeup. I had forgotten the grooming products that I needed for my parents 50th wedding anniversary party. But honestly, I don’t remember what else we purchased for $92.

Even in the parking lot, we looked through the bags and scratched our heads. Where did our money go? Even with the receipt and quick mental math, we were lost in parking lot purgatory.

Here’s what we did wrong:

1) Overspent on candy bags. Bad for the diet & budget.

2) Shopped without a list or a plan. That’s always a danger during vacations. Our normal discipline went on an extended holiday.

3) Did not pack or plan properly. Not only did we spend $92 at Target on that outing, we later shopped more to replace the dress-up clothes that we had forgotten for my older son.

But we learned from that mistake. For Thanksgiving, we went back to Central Florida and Super Target. We spent far less this time. (Under $30.)

Here’s how we fixed our vacation shopping cart problem.

1) Before the trip, we decided how much we were going to spend on different items and activities. More importantly, we actually followed the travel budget.


2) We downsized the candy bags—by a lot—and if any of the kids went over budget, they had to pay the difference. With their own money, they’re more frugal.


3) We shopped with a list.


4) We packed better. My daughter helped us pack by mapping out a list for the trip. We forgot fewer items and did not have to shop for urgent replacements.


5) I sat in the car. When others went shopping on Black Friday and on Sunday, I stayed away from temptation. During one Target run—on the way home—I even sat in the parking lot. I finally broke down and purchased a $3 tall latte from Starbucks.* But it was a very cheap shopping date for me.

*Also I no longer feel guilty about an occasional Starbucks treat because I found out that the company pays its employees great benefits, including health insurance for only 20 hours of work each week. I wrote about my Starbucks health care fantasy in this post. My latte, I believe, helps pay for someone’s health care. Okay, that’s just an excuse, but it sounds good.

Here are a few excellent posts from other bloggers about controlling the shopping impulse:

From Single Ma: A Quick Fix to Control Holiday Spending
From Not Made of Money: 2007 Black Friday - Some Thoughts and Strategies

From Million Dollar Journey: How I (try to) Save Money During Christmas



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A Money-Saving Guide to Theme Parks

From New Jersey to Florida, I have been to a lot of theme parks: Here's my guide for having lots of fun while saving money:


Bring your own rain coats or ponchos. Of course, when it rains, theme park gift shops have ample supplies of rain gear, about $6 per poncho. That’s convenient, but for a family of four that’s $24, plus tax. That bill represents money that could be saved or spent on other vacation treats. In contrast, you can buy ponchos for a buck a piece at Walgreens and dollar store chains.

Pack Sweatshirts or extra clothing. When the sun goes down—especially in the winter and spring -- temperatures sometimes dip sharply in the parks. We’ve been in Orlando during the December holiday season when the thermometer has dipped into the low 30s. Brrr. I’ve watched in sympathy as tourists in shorts, halter tops and bathing suits have purchased warmer clothing at gifts shops, with prices that start at $25 for a sweatshirt. (Been there, done that). We bring our own jackets and we check the forecast before leaving our home or hotel room.

Carry your own snacks. As special treats, we occasionally buy the park-branded snacks (ice cream, soda or candy). But most of our snacks are from the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) label. Likewise, bring your own water bottles. It’s best to freeze the bottles the night before (in your hotel room) and sip the defrosting water in the hot park.

Enjoy spray-and-soak rides in the middle of the day, when you’ll dry off faster in the hot sun. Otherwise, you’ll be tempted to buy new gear at one of the conveniently located clothing stores in the park. Or bring extra clothes and store them in a park locker.

Get a room with perks: A great hotel—with lots of free activities and services—will save you hundreds of dollars during a vacation. That’s because the more perks your hotel offers, the fewer days your children will want to spend in the park, which translates into fewer admission tickets, meals and treats.

For instance, with my extended family, we have frequently stayed at a kid-centric resort in the Orlando area that offered free entertainment, crafts, games, miniature golf and sporting events for families. What’s more, the main pool—with water sprays, fountains and other fun surprises—was like a water park. Once, we even had to bribe our kids to get out of the pool in order to use the theme park tickets that we had already spent a fortune on. We didn’t make that mistake twice.

Check out free or low-cost attractions: Orlando has more to offer than Disney or Universal Studios. There are many frugal entertainment options that cost a fraction of theme park admission tickets. This logic applies to other areas of the country. Lesser known –and cheaper—local attractions often try to ride the coattails of nationally known parks. There are also municipal parks, zoos, museums and other affordable attractions.

Shop outside the park: Many of the dollars stores and gift shops on the nearby highways carry affordable souvenirs and trinkets.

Give each child a trip budget: We provide our children with a trip allowance to spend as they choose. Of course, we cover the basics, but for buy-me, buy-me trinkets, the kids are on their own and when their fun money runs out, that’s it.

Don’t overstay. Kids nine and under have about a six-hour window in the park. My husband and I have timed our kids and we have watched the temper tantrum cycles of other children. Trust me. Don’t stay in the park with irritable, tired grumpy children. You will feel as if you have wasted a ton of money.

Leave the park, get your hands marked with a re-entry stamp. Go back to your hotel for naps and consider returning to the park for evening parades, fireworks or other festivities. Mothers with younger children can also go to the nursing station in some Disney parks. This facility—with rocking chairs, microwave ovens, televisions and play areas—is an ideal “chill zone” when you, or your toddler/baby need a time-out.

Find the playgrounds. Inside amusement parks and municipal parks are real playgrounds where the kids can just play and get exercise. A constant diet of theme parks represents too much passive entertainment. Sometimes, kids and adults just need to play and run around. _____________


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Cheap but Elegant Guest Room Tips

Creating a comfortable but affordable room for guests can be a challenge. But it's possible to make your home more inviting without spending a lot of money.


• Furnish a multi-tasking room. The guest room serves many functions for Tammy, a Miami Beach homeowner. On weekday mornings, the spare bedroom with its own bathroom doubles as a home office. In the evenings, it becomes a media center for her children. But on weekends when guests visit, it turns into a bedroom. A large cabinet, which houses the media center, also has clothing hooks and extra pillows and linens. A couch converts into a bed with a festive quilt added for guests.

• Create a gift basket. From sunscreen to new toothbrushes, Tammy provides guests with a large stock of personal care products in an attractive basket. She purchases travel-size containers of shampoo, lotions and other grooming products and refills them from economy-size bottles as needed.

• Create privacy. The ideal guest room enables a visitor to retreat behind a closed door, complete with a private bathroom. (If you don't have an extra bathroom for guests, Woman's World magazine recommends placing an attractive towel stand in the guest room.) The guest area should also include space for suitcases, clothing and other personal belongings.

• Use color wisely. Walls painted in soothing colors, such as soft greens and aqua blues, can create a relaxing retreat, says Jane Heaton, owner of Designing Woman, a design firm in northern Broward County. She recommends against wild and hot colors, which can make some guests feel claustrophobic.

• Decorate with a theme. Use accents and accessories to create a vacation environment, Heaton says. She recommends tropical, nautical or fishing themes. Mounted seashells, unusual picture frames, photographs and other accessories can provide decorative accents. Potpourris, scented soaps and other aromatic treats also create a relaxing environment.

• Stock up. Supplies of festive hand paper towels, fluffy towels, appliances (reading lights, an iron and a clock) and extra pillows make guests feel pampered. In my home, we also provide visitors with a wide selection of reading materials: novels, nonfiction books and magazines.


• Be prepared: An inflatable air mattress, additional blankets, sleeping bags and cots are helpful if guests arrive with children.


This is from my latest column in the home & design section of the Miami Herald.
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