With the economy in its present state everyone is doing what they can to save money. Saving money, however, doesn’t mean that it has to cut into time spent with your family. Spending time with your family reinforces bonds with one another, and there are several activities that help you learn together. Sharing inside jokes, discovering things you each know (and don’t know), learning something new — all of these things are just basic rewards you and your family will receive from spending time together. But, when you spend that time together doing something that costs little or no money, you can do it more often, and sometimes begin a new family tradition.

I’ve put together ten of my favorite ways to spend time with my family. All of these activities cost very little, but the rewards are incredible.

Movie Night

My husband and I have two children (ages 9 and 11). Once a week we try to make sure to sit down and watch a movie together. We take turns picking out the movie, but we try to keep the options limited to movies that we would all have some kind of interest in. And, of course, we do everything possible to keep the movies family friendly, and appropriate for all the ages watching. Movies about animals are always a big hit at our house. Because we watch so many movies, we’ve invested into purchasing a plan with Netflix. For approximately $10.00 a month we always have an unlimited amount of movies to watch either by downloading them onto our computer or having them sent to our home. Most of the time we have dinner together as we watch our movie, but on occasion we’ll pop some microwave popcorn and chow down on that along with it. We try to make the night a little more special by having food for dinner that isn’t something we would normally eat like a new recipe or order in (pizza night!).

There are so many board games on the market today that the possibilities are almost endless. Of course, one good thing about board games is that with most of them you only have to buy the game (or pieces) one time and then you have it there to play over and over again. A lot of creative thinking has gone into making games these days, and there are some great options available. For example, our family loves to play chess, but with a traditional game only two players can play. A new game called “Tile Chess” was developed that makes it possible for several players to play at once while keeping the main idea of the game intact. Other favorites are Monopoly, Risk, Uno, Clue, Battleship, Scrabble, and typical card games like Hearts and Rummy.

Another great thing about board games is that a good number of them have an educational value to them. For example, with Uno young children get an opportunity to use colors and numbers. Monopoly allows children to figure out how to use money (on a broad level). Risk, like Chess, is a game of strategy so it allows for a different type of thinking.

Hiking and Nature Walks

When our children were very young we began hiking. It has become one of our favorite things to do now. On several occasions we have seen animals on the trail such as deer, and that has always a treat. Planning even a small hiking trip can be a great opportunity for the entire family to pitch in and help decide where to hike, what specific trails to take, etc. We bought a book that references most of the major plants and animals that live in our area, so we use it as a time to point out wildlife that is native to us. We’ve discovered several plants and animals that we hadn’t seen before and the children can tell you the names of almost all the butterflies that live in our area now. From hiking we learned what poison oak and ivy look like, and some of the plants that you can eat. There’s something truly incredible when you are all working together toward a goal that really brings you all together. Every hiking trip we have ever been on has been memorable for one reason or another, and it has given our family an opportunity to make some lasting memories together that we wouldn’t have had otherwise.

Another special treat about hiking is that it is such great exercise. It also helps to loosen you up and get you more relaxed. And, its a wonderful time to have a picnic with your loved ones by a bubbling brook. It offers a great opportunity for conversation.

Bird Watching and/or Star Gazing
Bird watching offers you and your children the opportunity to see animals that you may have missed during the busy hustle of daily life. Taking the time to quietly watch these animals gives an opportunity to see they live, how they act in different situations, how they eat, and so much more. With so many different varieties of birds, the different colors of the feathers, the different ways each bird acts gives you an opportunity to be amazed at these little creatures. Your children will be amazed as well.

Just like bird watching, star gazing opens up your eyes to endless possibilities. There are so many clusters of stars, planets, and meteor showers out there, that you may find yourself looking toward the heavens for hours. It is an incredible canvas for imaginative thinking, and there is so much to learn! You can discover where the North Star is and what the scientists call it. Can you find the Big Dipper? What about Pleiades? It is so much fun to sit and point out these constellations to your child, and hear them repeat their names. On the nights of meteor showers the atmosphere becomes almost magical.

Finding information for either pastime is easy online, and, of course, free. You can do both from the comfort of your own back yard, so there’s not even the expense of gas. Have some yummy snacks on hand, and you’ve got yourself a wonderful new hobby that’s free!

Learning a New Craft

There are so many different crafts out there that any family could find a few to do together. There’s knitting, sewing, painting, wood working, wreath making… the list is endless. Learning how to build a birdhouse takes on a whole different meaning when there’s someone beside you to help in the process. Learning how to crochet an afghan becomes a wonderful opportunity to laugh at your mistakes. Tole painting becomes mesmerizing when you see the creative ideas that pop from your child’s imagination. Homemade clay is easy and inexpensive to make (the cost of a bag of flour and some salt). You can get acrylic paint for $1.00 a bottle or less. You can purchase a skein of yarn and two crochet hooks for under $5.00. Many projects can be done with very little money.

One of the best things from working together with your family on a craft project is the different levels of creativity that you discover you and your children have. I’ve heard several people tell me that they don’t have a creative bone in their whole body, but then I’ve seen this same person sit down with their child and make some of the most creative, incredible pieces of art. It blew their minds!

Cooking
We love to cook with our children. Recipes can be found online for easy dishes and very complicated ones, depending on what you and your children want to try your hand at. A lot of recipes don’t even call for cooking.

Here’s an easy no-bake peanut butter fudge recipe: www.recipezaar.com/15-Minute-No-Bake-Chocolate-Peanut-Butter-Fudge-153028

Cooking together gives your small child an opportunity to learn about measurements and how parts make a whole. For older children its a great way to promote self esteem with eating that wonderful dish when its ready to put on the plate.

Window Shopping

Sometimes my family and I like to pile in the car and head down to the mall just to look and dream. We peruse through all the different stores and pick the items we would want in our dream home. We get ideas for future crafts there, and we get ideas for Christmas and birthdays too. We’ve used it as an opportunity to help the children learn how to stretch a dollar by comparing prices. We’ve also done this to prepare for a home remodeling or redecorating job. Many stores have put ideas together for you in their models so that you can look and see what you want to change at your home. We also use this as an way to help the children learn to save their money. If there’s something in the store that they really want, we give them ideas on ways they can earn money and save it to purchase it. It’s a great way to teach patience, perseverance, and how to teach them to avoid impulse buying. The key, however, is to go with a limited amount of money on you! Just enough to buy a treat afterwards. It’s always fun to wrap up the day with an ice cream.

Library

A lot of libraries have become savvy to the needs of their patrons. These days even the smallest of libraries have a video section, and many even have music cds to check out. Looking through the books together gives you an opportunity to help your child find new stories that will interest them. Of course, it helps promote reading, but it also helps expand your child’s imagination and interest in different things. Once your child can print his or her name, they can get a library card, and its free! Most libraries also have a lot of different group activities you can do together. One library near us has a movie day every week, a summer reading program contest, and an annual art/writing exhibit.
You can find myriads of books to help you plan that hiking trip or the new craft you’d like to do. You can get your movies for movie night here, and books on stars and birds. Most libraries are online too, so you can through the card catalog at home and find a book that you’d like to read and have it saved so that it isn’t checked out before you get it. If the book or movie you want is across town, you can also request that it be sent to your nearest library to save you time and gas.

Community Project

On occasion a community project will arise that we all take a part in. We have been part of a clean up effort in our town to pick up trash. We had an opportunity to help make a new hiking trail. My children learned how fortunate they were by helping at a food closet. It gives you and your family a great feeling to help give back to your community. Driving down the road my little girl told her grandmother, “We made this road pretty. We all picked up the garbage and now it looks beautiful! ” It gave all of us a sense of pride and belonging. Some community projects, however, aren’t appropriate for small children, so you may want to ask about that before you sign up for it. You can check your city town hall, any churches, library, or public boards at restaurants and stores to find out where there may be opportunities for you and your family to serve. It is time well spent.

Outdoor Sports

Badmitten anyone? What about a game of Frisbee? Tag football, relay races, volleyball, mini golf, croquet, basketball, baseball, woofle ball… there are so many outdoor sports to choose from! It’s a great way to get outside in the sunshine and see what you and your children are made of! It’s a great way to get that rusty pitching arm back in shape, or teach your child some hand-eye coordination. You could even take it a step further and design a treasure hunt. It may not be classified as a sport, but who cares about classification. It’s all about having fun with your kids!

Article Published December 23, 2008 by: Karen Greaves

7 ways financial reform will impact your life by Lynnette Khalfani-Cox is information you need to understand, Paul Bonnallie

Full article: http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/07/21/7-ways-financial-reform-will-change-your-financial-life/?ncid=webmail#ixzz0uQ5WRFel

Now that President Barack Obama has signed into law the biggest overhaul of the banking industry since the Great Depression, many Americans are wondering exactly how financial reform will impact them.

Officially called The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the far-reaching implications of the 2,300-page law will take many months, even years, to be fully felt. Moreover, since specific rules must still be written, observers fear that loopholes and carefully-worded fine print could muddy various elements of financial reform.

Despite these uncertainties, there are some clear ways that financial reform will impact you and your wallet. Here are seven of them:

Your Consumer Complaints

Upset with a debt-settlement agency or feeling ripped off by your mortgage lender? In as little as six months, maybe as long as a year and a half from now, you’ll have a pit bull in your corner.

One of the most important changes to be ushered in by financial reform is the creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This watchdog agency, likely to be headed by the highly-regarded consumer advocate Elizabeth Warren, will be charged with safeguarding the public from shady business practices, predatory lending and abusive financial products. The bureau will also collect consumer complaints and monitor them, providing regular reports to Congress.

Unlike some regulatory agencies, the CFPB won’t be all bark and no bite. Armed with sweeping authority and an estimated $500 million budget, this consumer advocacy powerhouse will pack a strong punch. Housed within the Federal Reserve, the CFPB will be an independent body that draws its funding from the Fed, not Congress. It will have the authority to write and enforce policies impacting virtually every area of consumer lending.

The agency will also likely reduce the mounds of paperwork and fine print contained in most financial agreements. In a recent article in theBoston Globe, Warren said the CFPB should make financial disclosures to consumers shorter and clearer. “I would like to see a world with two-page mortgage disclosures, two-page credit card agreements and two-page overdraft contracts,” she told the Globe.

Your Loans

Because the Consumer Protection bureau will have broad powers to oversee an array of financial products and services, everything from credit counseling and payday loans to mortgages and credit cards will come under its jurisdiction. Even an ombudsman for private education loans will be appointed to help borrowers resolve complaints with college lenders. (An ombudsman for federal student loans already exists within the U.S. Department of Education.)

Your Home

Even before financial reform has been implemented, it is “already becoming tougher and tougher for an average person to get a home loan,” says Ray Kuplaste, sales manager at United Capital Lenders in Southampton, Pennsylvania.

Though mortgages will become harder to get, they’ll be cheaper in many ways too. For example, the new legislation requires lenders to fully document a home buyer’s income – preferably with tax records from the IRS. That means no more “stated-income” loans or fudging about how much money you make, a common practice during the housing boom.

Read more: http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/07/21/7-ways-financial-reform-will-change-your-financial-life/?ncid=webmail#ixzz0uQ61sUbD