With the holidays over and school back in session, it’s time to get things back on track. It’s also time to save a bit of money; after all, all of that gift buying can sure place a burden on your bank account. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that getting back on track means no more fun. Quite the contrary; it’s a new year! It’s time to start fresh, get creative and start out 2015 with a bang (and a full bank account). Here are 10 simple money-saving and budget-friendly family fun tips to help get you started!
First, have some fun:
1. Make a box fort. There’s no doubt that this is the chilliest time of the year, so on those days that are too cold to venture outside, turn your little ones into grand architects for the day. What you’ll need: cardboard boxes, some masking tape and a whole lot of crayons or markers. Stack the boxes, unfold them, tape them together; create a castle or a house or an underground tunnel system (let their imaginations run wild!), and then decorate it with the crayons and markers. Setting it up will occupy them for hours, and they’ll love playing in it afterward.
2. Rainbow crayons. Have a box of broken crayons or crayon ends sitting around the house? Don’t throw them out! Instead, remove the wrappings, break them up into smaller pieces and then put them in small silicone baking moulds (if you don’t have any, you can get inexpensive ones at a bargain store). Pair up like colors, or have your child create some unique color combinations. Preheat the oven to 250˚Fahrenheit and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the crayons have melted. Let cool completely, pop them out of the moulds and enjoy!
3. Fancy up a scarf. Take a simple fleece scarf (if you don’t have one, you can just cut a piece of fleece from the fabric store to the size of a scarf) and use it to bring out your child’s wild side! Set out some feathers, pom-poms, sequins, googly eyes and felt or extra fleece, and help your child create an animal to wrap around their neck and keep warm. A snake (glue on a pair of eyes and a slithery tongue) is a simple choice, or you can get extra wild by making a feathery friend. Give your child a helpful hand by securing the items with hot glue.
4. Custom wallpaper. Tack or tape some large craft or butcher paper to the walls of your child’s bedroom and have them draw (or paint, if you’re willing to put down some paper or plastic to protect the floor!) up a storm. Patterns, scenes or simple objects expressed will turn the entire room into a gallery of your child’s imagination, and they will be thrilled about being allowed to get artsy on the walls. If you do opt to use markers or paint, double up the paper to prevent the color from soaking through to the wall.
5. Go skating at Olympic Plaza. On the next nice day that the whole family has free, sharpen up those skates and make your way to Olympic Plaza! Located at 228, 8th Avenue SE, the Plaza is the perfect destination for skaters of all levels. It’s open from 10am to 9pm daily, and is maintained solely for leisure skating (no hockey, etc.), so it is guaranteed to provide a fun, relaxing experience.
6. Have a sweet day. Valentine’s Day is about more than just chocolate and flowers, it’s about spending time with the ones you love! Make the most of this special occasion by hosting a small Valentine’s Day party with your kids and a few of their friends so they can spend some quality time with the people closest to them. Make a couple dozen heart-shaped cookies for the kids to decorate and take home to their parents, and have some card-making supplies on hand (construction paper, glue sticks, scissors, glitter, etc.) so they can give the delicious gifts with a sweet note. It won’t take too much effort or money on your part, the other parents will appreciate it and best of all: your child will have an exciting, memorable day.
7. Outdoor bowling. Take advantage of the cold weather by doing some outdoor bowling! Make some ice bowling balls by either filling water balloons and letting them freeze outside overnight, or making snowballs and spraying them repeatedly with water until they’re nearly solid. Make the pins out of snow at the far end of your yard (or a few metres away in an open area) and bowl away!
Now for the more practical, everyday money-saving tips:
8. Start saving. It’s never too soon to teach kids about money, and creating a bank account for them not only gives them a sense of responsibility, but also newfound independence. Children’s accounts are typically free, and come with a debit card and access to online banking. They also have options like parent-controlled withdrawal limits (CIBC), weekly savings or allowance transfers (TD Canada Trust) and access to financial management tools (RBC).
9. Let the sun in. If you have south-facing windows in your home, open up the curtains or blinds as soon as the sun is up and let the sun shine on in. This is considered to be ‘free heat’, and will warm up your home naturally without using your furnace. Just be sure to close the curtains or blinds as the sun goes down to keep all of that heat in your home for as long as you can.
10. Host a New Year’s swap. With the holiday season over, and a brand new year rolling in, it’s the perfect time to get a head start on some Spring cleaning. Go through old toys and clothes with your family, and then host a New Year’s Swap. Invite a few friends and family over (make sure to let them know to bring along some things they’d like to get rid of as well), and trade clothes, toys and other home goods. What one person may not need any longer might be perfect for another, so swapping can be the best way to clean up, trade up or get some good-quality hand-me-downs. Set aside a box or two for items that no one wants so they can be taken to the donation bins later on.
Stephanie is a freelance writer specializing in travel and food writing. For more information, visit www.stephaniearsenault.ca.
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