With summer quickly approaching, there will be droves of children that either don’t know or care about this economy crisis, looking for something fun to do. Parents, on the other hand, will be trying with everything that they have to keep the kids entertained while not blowing the new family budget that is a result of the economy crisis. Camp can be a very expensive solution for families, especially when they have multiple children. Well, just in case you really want to send your kids to camp, and of course…they REALLY want to go, here are three ways that you may able to please everybody and still save money:

Barter! Bartering is not a new concept, but it is one that is being used and reused more as the world deals with the economy crisis. Most people have something to offer and these same people are searching for ways that their family can enjoy some money saving. Cost-conscious families may want to consider offering their services in exchange for a space in a summer camp. Camps always need people to do maintenance and repairs, so, it is a real possibility. If you have a place in your business where camps can advertise or if you work with a publication, such as a church newsletter or local paper, there may also be opportunities to trade print space for camp admissions for your kids! You won’t know if you don’t ask.

Earn a few extra dollars by selling bottles and other items to recycling companies or by having a garage sale. This is an activity that everyone in the family can get in on to help earn money for summer camp. Just make an effort, as a family to be on the look out for cans and other recyclables, and of course, save your own recyclables. Find your local recycling center and get the money for your work!

Any frugal fashionista and her family know that they have some things that others are willing to buy. Plan to have a family or even multi-family yard or garage sale. By giving people a chance to buy for cheap, your family will earn the money that you need to pay for summer camp, and you could potentially have more left over!

Don’t give the private camp your cash, make community day camp your kid’s fun haven! It may be tempting, but those expensive residential camps can cost upwards of $500 per week, per child. That’s a lot of money. Look into the resources that you have right in your community and your child could potentially go to camp for as cheap as $35 per week! That’s a perfect opportunity for your family to buy for cheap the summer camp activities that your child may want but without the extreme expense. Many community summer camps have so many different activities planned that just deciding which type of camp that your child will attend could provide a lot of excitement for him or her.

Another great priced camp alternative are those offered through organizations such as the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, or YMCA. There your child will learn wonderful skills and your family will enjoy not having to spend tons of money. Plus, with these organizations, they often have activities that are ongoing through the year and may offer additional discounts or camp scholarships if you and your child are members.

Children don’t care about economics, except when it means that their lifestyle has to change. This is usually a matter of wanting things to stay busy. During an economy crisis, it may seem nearly impossible to keep your child entertained with the high prices of toys and with all of the marketing that companies do to make your kids want to beg for the latest and greatest stuff. But, it is possible. Despite going through an economy crisis, here are 3 easy ways to satisfy your children without stretching out your budget:

Turn trash into fun “towns”! Something as basic as a cereal box or juice box can become a wild and crazy project for your kids. It’s very easy to do. Just have the kids decorate the boxes to look like buildings using old newspapers, markers or crayons, and any other stuff that you have that can make the “town” look more “livable” Then, go out and buy for cheap lots of dollar store cars, plastic men, trucks, and animals. Before you know it, your little engineer may want to expand their little town into a major metropolis!

Teach them a craft! A fabulous way to not only have a good time with your child, but also to use the time in a constructive way is to teach your child a craft or learn one together. During this economy crisis, people are looking for more ways to save on little things and by doing craft projects, your family could do just that. From sewing potholders to crocheting scarves for the cold weather and knitting slippers, you and your child could make lots of stuff that your family could use. Frugal fashionistas should make an effort to buy for cheap the materials or use stuff that you have around the house. You will all be proud of your finished products and the saving that your family will experience because of them!

Use frugal recipes to make some fun foods together! Frugal fashionistas can have a ball with their little ones with some real hands-on food activities. Using frugal recipes that can be found online like edible “play dough”, which is made from peanut butter or chocolate creme and powdered sugar. Kids will love getting their hands full of goo while making all sorts of shapes and figures. Parents will love the chance to buy for cheap these simple ingredients and the time that they get to spend being “creative” with their kids.

There is so much that families can do to keep their little ones entertained during this economy crisis without spending a lot of cash. Just look for different ways to use your existing “stuff” and let your kids try their hand at being creative. You’ll be glad that you tried these money saving, cost-conscious strategies and so will your little ones!

Every year people stress out about holiday gifts, dinner, and merriment. For some, it’s a basic factor of the season. For others, it’s something that they wish would go as quickly as it comes. During an economy crisis, the holidays can take on a whole new feeling when people have very limited funds and jobs situations are uncertain. Having less money can take a lot of the fun out of the holidays. But, the holidays don’t have to be a major source of costly headaches. In fact, follow these tips to have a holiday that costs tons less and that you may actually enjoy!

Volunteer or give a financial donation to your gift recipients favorite non-profit. You would be surprised at how valuable a little gift of time is to a struggling non-profit organization. If you decide to give a financial donation to the charity of their choice, remember that you don’t have to tell exactly how much you gave. Whether you gave $5 or $5000, consider keeping it to yourself but just let your loved one know that you supported their interest.

Check out thrift stores and consignment shops to save while giving. There are plenty of brand new items that you can find at the thrift store. You can usually buy for cheap anything that you can imagine! The reality is that the money that you spend should not be what defines the gift. It’s supposed to be the thought that you put into it. Consider the consignment shop which will pay you for your own stuff that is in good condition. Just think you could get paid to buy something for the one you love!

Garage sales, yard sales, and holiday festivals have plenty to offer! All sorts of organizations such as churches, non-profit organizations, and schools have holiday sales where you can find arts and crafts, homemade baked goods, and tons of special deals. Since people are usually discarding their old stuff to get ready for their own holiday celebration and gifts, they are very likely to advertise rock bottom prices to ensure that they get rid of everything.

Bundle baskets with dollar store items! With a little creativity, you could create fabulous gift baskets for a portion of the regular store price for a pre-made basket by simply using all items from a dollar store. From gourmet favorites, teas and coffees, to pet items, there is something for everyone. They even sell the huge basket wrap and…tons of different baskets. If you don’t want to do the “basket” thing, then just group items and secure them with pretty ribbons. Then, place the paired up items in gift bags. Make very small bags with one or two items for unexpected visitors. You will save tons of money over the normal retail cost.

Finally, take advantage of every sale and comparison shop. Some stores match published prices and some double coupons. Do it all this season and you’ll be shouting “Merry, Merry” all the way to the bank!!

Your family could partake of nature’s own savory flavors for pennies on the dollar just by starting an herb garden. Herbs are the key ingredients to many recipes, and are valued by cooks whether they are making an overpriced entree or using one of their most frugal recipes. For those that want all of the flavor without all of the expense, keep reading!

Have you ever bought herbs at a grocery or health food store? If so, then you know that the price of fresh herbs can really break a family’s budget. If you are a frugal fashionista then you probably know that the cost of fresh herbs can exceed the cost of growing your own herbs by 10 or 20 times! That’s a lot of money that your family could be saving for other things like the meat to put the herbs on. So, to curtail those expenses, here’s the best way to get started with a money saving herb garden:

Purchase cheap packets of seeds. For about 10cents per packet, you can get enough seeds to grow a plenteous herb garden. Since you are able to buy for cheap all the seeds you could possibly need, you can plan your herb garden with a variety of herbs. People that cook with herbs can attest to the wonderful flavor combinations that you can get when you mix a variety of herbs, and the way that they enhance foods.

Buy dirt. Soil will cost you, roughly, $1 per 5-lb bag. You will have more than enough right soil to get your herb garden started right. To save even more, check out your local “free paper” or online classifieds. People, quite often, will give away free soil at certain times of the year. You may be able to get more than you could ever imagine for the cost of hauling it away. It’s worth looking into. Also, if you know someone who is an avid gardener, they may have large quantities of soil on hand that they would love to share with a budding novice.

Mix the seeds in the dirt, water, and enjoy. Gardening is not very complicated, if you don’t overdo things. Don’t go crazy buying the latest gardening gadgets or the most elaborate pots. Keep your herb garden experience simple and cheap. You and your family could be spending your money on other things! Buy for cheap pots and earth-friendly gardening stuff right at your local dollar store for $1! As your herbs grow, you may consider getting larger pots or moving the seedlings to a more spacious area…but, this is not a necessity. Your garden can be as small or as grand as you want it. But, remember the purpose of the garden is to harvest herbs for your family to eat and for saving money.

In addition to the great savings that you enjoy by having your own herb garden, you will also experience some other health benefits such as getting fresh air more often, exercising as you work those tools, and eating better. All of these could cut down on another expense…doctor’s bills!! A little work, planning some frugal recipes, and making sure to buy for cheap could result in a bumper crop full of delicious herbs for you and your family.

Congratulations! A baby is on the way. Most parents experience a flurry of emotions during this time with sheer joy and anticipation being a constant, especially when it’s time to plan the space for the new addition. Any frugal fashionista can follow this basic guide for ways to buy for cheap to create a beautiful baby room:

Pick your theme, but keep color options open. Before you can start the money saving, you have to know what it is you want or need. Buy for cheap the items that you just can’t live without featuring your chosen theme, but leave the paint color open so that you can get the cheapest possible paint. Instead of spending as much as $30 on specialty paint, you can buy for cheap “oops” paint from your local home improvement store for as little as $4.

Jazz up cheapy decals and wall borders. Your local dollar store will have a whole section of wall decals and borders, in a variety of colors and styles. See if you can incorporate one or a few into your baby’s room theme. Buy for cheap the ones that you like and really get creative with them. Cut them into shapes, designs, or make a saying with words from them. For under $5 you could have a room full of gorgeous wall art.

Another way to save on wall art is to buy cheap frames from the dollar store and find high resolution pictures online that go along with your theme. Print the pictures out and put them in the cheap frames for a classy look without the expense. Any cost conscious person can work these pictures to make the walls look great. The only cost, besides the dollar store or discount store frame, is the cost to print out the pictures from online.

Plan the space layout so that you can determine which types of furnishings you will need or want. That way you will be able to buy for cheap without overbuying. Babies don’t know how “keep up with the Jones”. They don’t know whether something is new or older. Be wise with your spending like any good frugal fashionista and you could end up with more than you think!

Don’t miss opportunities to get stuff for free, to borrow, or to buy for cheap those final pieces to complete the look and feel that you want for the baby’s room. From free classifieds to parent support groups, there are plenty of places to canvass for free, or close to free stuff for baby. You won’t need to pay an arm and a leg. You may only need to pay for some gas and an extra hand to get your “new” stuff home!

Finally, buy for cheap the rest of the stuff by checking out your local thrift and consignment stores for items that you may be able to mix or match into your theme. But be creative. If it’s not the “exact” color that you would like, you could always spray paint the piece exactly as you want it for about $3, or buy or make a basic slipcover, and enjoy.

Follow these simple tips for finding deals, steals, and ways to buy for cheap to create the room that you want for your baby without breaking the bank!

Life is too short not too look and feel good about yourself. You don’t have to let yourself “go” during this economy crisis. You can look great and feel great, even if you have to change how you get your beauty services a bit so as not to lose control of your budget. Any frugal fashionista can try these three simple ways to get the beauty services that they want and can buy for cheap or get for free:

Search out beauty shop discounts and deals! Most businesses are trying to stay afloat during this economy crisis. Beauty shops are no exception. In fact, many well-known and chic beauty “boutiques” are starting to pass tremendous savings to their clientele in the form of deals and discounts. Most know that it’s best for their clients to have an opportunity to buy for cheap so that they will keep coming and filling those salon chairs!

Frugal fashionistas should search out those popular “two-for-one” discounts that many salons are offering. It’s a great chance for you and a friend to get the beauty treatment that you want for up to 50% or half off of the normal prices. Who wouldn’t love a manicure that would normally be $15 costing only $7.50? Look good and still have money left over….that’s a dream for most of us!

Get to know your local beauty supply stores. These “hair havens” and beauty product suppliers are popping up all over most cities and large towns. Any frugal fashionista could buy for cheap most of those great supplies that their stylist uses just by getting them from a beauty supply store. You won’t have to sacrifice quality for price when you can get the professional products for a lot less than a full service styling.

Often these beauty supply stores will allow customers to use coupons for products. You can get coupons that will allow you to buy for cheap by looking through your Sunday newspaper, sifting through your local circulars, contacting manufacturers for coupons, and checking for in-store coupon deals. Also, always ask friends if they have or know where you can get coupons. Maybe they are hoarding coupons of products that they don’t or can’t use, but you can!

Host a beauty bash! You and your buddies can get together and make light of the work of becoming the goddesses that you are by fixing each other up. At a beauty bash, everyone brings their own beauty supplies, and the group shares the work of making everyone look their best. From hair to nails, this frugal fashionista event is a testament to the human spirit and a great way to try out new looks for cheap. Not only will everyone experience a saving, cost conscious women will appreciate the chance to experiment and bond without having to pay any huge salon prices or tip someone for a look that they don’t even like!

Look great and still keep your budget in tact with these three money-saving strategies for chic and style-conscious frugal fashionistas! With just a little searching, sharing, and bargain shopping, this economy crisis won’t beat you out of being beautiful!

Whether it’s a first apartment or a new empty nest, furniture and decorations are keys to making a house a home. Lamps, rugs, lots of interesting pictures can give a space definition and appeal. Stylish home accents cost money and if you are not budget conscious, the cost of making your home a personal haven can quickly get out of hand. While you want your home to look the best that it can, does it require everything to be brand new off of the showroom floor? Probably not. In fact, some of the best home decor and furniture can be found right at a local second hand or consignment shop. For a mere pittance when compared to the retail price, you may be able to get some really high end pieces, or possibly antiques, for your home.

In addition to furniture, art is everywhere. When you frequent the second hand or thrift shops, they often harbor pieces of art that people have made for their own enjoyment. You may be able to find many unique works of art that enhance your decor as well, for much less than you’d find at an art gallery. Here are different ways and places that you find home furnishings even if you have a super low budget:

1. Try the thrift stores. At your local thrift store or consignment shop, you can expect to find everything from picture frames to sofas and dining room sets at rock bottom prices. Thrift stores get their wares from people that donate pre-owned furnishings. You can find some really fantastic housewares in areas that are considered more upscale because people in those areas tend to change the decor often and their donations are usually of higher quality or made by famous designers. So you could get a high-end piece for practically nothing! Always remember that even if the items are top of the line, you should still get furniture cleaned before using them. Also, try not to overlook furniture that can be “transformed” by adding to it or simply covering with a slipcover.

2. Garage and Yard Sales - People move everyday and instead of lugging everything with them, or if their new homes cannot hold all of their stuff, people will sell off their furniture and household goods for pennies on the dollar. These residential sales often start at the crack of dawn and only last for part of the day. You can find them by looking in your local newspaper or, most commonly, follow the often makeshift signs that will be posted in a neighborhood. If you frequent the library, their may be a community board where you can find postings for yard and garage sales.

3. Go online for a world of decorating deals. Websites such as Craigslist.org, EBay, and Freecycle have more home decor deals available than you could ever imagine. The best thing about websites like Craigslist.org or Freecycle is that you could actually find exceptional home decor pieces that are 100% FREE! Keep in mind that if you do find a free deal or really, really cheap deal during this economy crisis, jump on the deal and be prepared to make immediate preparations to pick-up the item. You could use a cheap truck rental service like U-Haul should you need a larger vehicle to pick up what would be a “big ticket” item in a store like a chair or sofa.

Furnishing your home doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. In fact, you may be able to get some really chic arms and legs on all of those low and no cost chairs and tables that you’ll find!

College is a time when young people are discovering who they are and who they want to be. During an economy crisis, it’s easy for someone that is just getting out on their own to let their lack of finances define them. As a parent, you can help your college student to have the style that they want so that they can feel comfortable and confident, without spending a ton of money. Teaching your college student to be a frugal fashionista can prepare them for money saving in the future. Here are 3 techniques to get started:

Shop second hand stores first. Any frugal fashionista knows that young people can find lots of hip clothes at second hand stores for a lot less than regular department store. Shopping at a second hand store is an opportunity for young people to buy for cheap while getting the brands and styles that they want.

Introduce college students to the consignment shops where they can trade their gently used clothing for credit or cash that they can use toward other stuff. It’s one of the best forms of “recycling” and it’s a fantastic way to keep their wardrobe fresh without breaking their budget or yours.

Tell them to check out websites like Ebay, Craigslist, and Freecycle where they can buy for cheap or get clothes completely free! On Craigslist and Freecycle, people will offer their clothing in lots for free. All that your college student has to do is arrange a pick up for the items that are listed. Express to them the importance of staying safe by always retrieving their free finds with at least 2 other friends. Never go alone.

Using an auction site like Ebay can also net your frugal fashionista a great buy on some of the high end stuff. At up to 90% off of the retail price, using Ebay is a definite “have to do” for a budding frugal fashionista.

Leave off the high priced boutiques and make the low-price retailers your favorite shopping spots! Your frugal fashionista will be able to get all of the top brands and mall-store clothes right at the local discount retail shops like Ross, TJ MAXX, and Marshalls. At these bargain “boutiques”, college students can expect to save as much as 75% off of the regular prices!

Being a frugal fashionista does call for some compromising. Buying items second hand or at the discount retailers may require her to do a little fixing or there may be some tiny flaws, however, the savings will justify buying it. It’s best to buy for cheap and get fantastic styles and deals than to spend every dime that you have trying to be super chic. Another small piece of advice for frugal fashionistas, do your best not to buy clothes that require dry cleaning. In the long run, they could cost you more than you saved!

Feeding our babies is one of our biggest joys, but it can also be one of our costliest family endeavors. National brand jar food can cost as much as $1 for a 1 or 2 ounce jar, which for most babies is like a little snack instead of a meal. During an economy crisis, spending like that can quickly blow a family’s budget. While it is possible to save a little by using coupons, the reality is that you will never have a much baby food per serving by buying it than you would if you spent that money making your own baby food.

Of course, parents know that food is not the only expense that comes with having along with having a baby. Consider the cost of diapers, bottles, lotion and other hygiene products, and of course baby wipes! But, while you may be able to “cut back” on some of these by making sure to buy for cheap the generic brands, the reality is that there shouldn’t be too much “cutting back” on meeting your baby’s nutritional needs…and food is the most of basic of those. Finding easy, frugal recipes can give you an opportunity to experience saving, cost-cutting, and your baby can experience great natural foods. Here’s how:

Never throw away the parenting tips and brochures that you receive from the hospital and other family organizations. These brochures often have some basic, frugal recipes that families can use to get started with making homemade baby food. Not only will these pamphlets often provide you with the frugal recipes, they may also tell you when and where to buy for cheap the things that you will need.

Search out organic parenting websites. Buying “organic” foods can be a bit expensive, but you don’t have to actually buy the “organic” stuff. These websites are usually dedicated to using all natural products, and will most likely have an abundance of recipes for making your own baby food. Take the good recipes and substitute in whatever regular veggie or fruit is on sale at your local grocery store in order to actually save!

Ask a real farmer for help. Try shopping for your produce at your local farmer’s market where you are likely to enjoy a saving. Cost-conscious parents that are frugal fashionistas know that farmer’s markets usually price their foods a lot less than the regular retailers, sometimes as much as 50% off. The added benefit is that these are real farmers that actually grow and harvest the foods. Many have raised children and know lots of frugal recipes for making homemade baby food. So, go ahead and ask them. They will most likely be glad to share these frugal recipes with you!

Ask people at parent support groups, that are experienced parents, and senior citizens that have had children. You might be surprised at how much old people remember about the “good old days” when they didn’t have manufactured baby food, and they didn’t have a choice but to make their own! Parent support groups and other experienced parents may also be great resources for frugal recipes as they are prone to have a wealth of information about how parents can stretch their dollars and still feed their babies.

Frugal fashionistas can find an abundance of frugal recipes for making baby food from scratch if they are willing to do a little research and contacting various resources. Those few moments that you spend connecting with others could end up saving you a mint, and helping you to give your baby the best possible start in life, even during this economy crisis.

Birthdays are wonderful family times that can give you years of fabulous memories. But, planning a party can take a lot of effort and money. Many families want to have a fantastic event but simply cannot afford to spend massive amounts of money to make it happen. With a little prep work and creativity you can give that special person the party of a lifetime without taking a lifetime to pay it off. Here’s how:

Look for goodies you can buy for cheap! It’s true that holidays will come and go, but along with those holidays comes tons of goodies that party planners could use to fill goodie bags for a birthday. From stickers to snack items and toys, after the holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day, and Halloween, there are plenty of deals to be gotten. You can expect to save as much as 90% off of the tag price!

Goodie bags - Buy all of your candy and party treats such as stickers and little toys after the major holidays to get the biggest savings. There is usually an abundance of candy available after Halloween, Christmas, and Easter, most of which comes individually packaged and has a shelf life of a year or more. The best part of buying these goodies after the holidays is that they are usually discounted upwards of 75-90% off of the regular retail price.

Keep the food cheap, easy, and kid-friendly! Kids like simple foods that are easy to eat. With that in mind, take advantage of that. They love many foods that you can get on sale by using coupons at your local supermarket. From frozen pizza that can sectioned for children to an all-time favorite like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that are cut into fun shapes like stars, there are plenty of party foods that you can buy for cheap by just using coupons and taking advantage of sales.

Use those coupons to save on food! Kids love the “easy” foods such as corndogs and tater tots. These are usually not only easy, but they are almost always fairly cheap, too. Use coupons to save on these items and on foods from national chains such as Domino’s or Pizza Hut. When it comes to birthday parties, kids don’t want to spend too much time eating when they could be running around and playing, so food is most likely NOT their number one priority. Consider using frozen pizzas also or even let them become their own “pizza chef” by supplying them with the makings, of which you would use coupons to purchase. Remember, some stores double or triple coupons, so you could feed a whole team of kids for practically nothing if you plan right.

Take advantage of cheap and free party places! There are tons of free places that you could use for a party, such as community centers and parks. Sometimes, you will find that the prices are different if you are a “group” with a reservation, with which you will end up paying a premium to hold your space. However, if you just show up with your group, these spaces are often FREE to use. In an economy crisis like we are in, you may want to seek out these free spaces as opposed to spending tons of money for a space.

There are so many ways to save and still have a blast. Planning, creativity, and utilizing as many free resources as possible can make your event a huge success despite the frugal price tag!