• Check out the bike trails or the local public library. 
• Go for a nature walk along a nearby creek. 
• See what movies are available for free in your cabinets or that come with your cable or satellite service. 
• Go swimming in your backyard or your friends backyard.

If you look in the right places, you will find plenty of fun and free things to do in your local area.

As you can see, if you get creative, there are a number of ways you can keep your head above water during the summer months.  Go have fun!  Just be conscious about how you are spending your money.  Taking these little steps will go a long way in making a big difference. 

I am off to Dallas for a few days to attend the eWomenNetwork International Business Conference.  So, have a great week!

• Try limiting each child to one sport at a time.  This will not only help keep their sanity, but yours as well. 
• See about getting your uniforms second hand or passing them down from one child to the next. 
• You do not, necessarily, need to buy new shoes for each sport.  We bought football cleats for my oldest son last year for football…funny, they worked perfectly fine for baseball the following spring (as long as they still fit okay).  Obviously that is not always going to be the case, but keep it in mind if the budget is tight. 
• To save on gas, find out if other children in the neighborhood are on the same teams and set up a carpool. 

This may seem like very basic advice, but sometimes people are so set in their ways, they don’t seem to realize the little things they can do that will make a big difference.

Unfortunately, nowadays, things are not quite as affordable.  If you are looking to take the family to one of your nearby amusement parks, here are some tips to help with the budget. 

1. Look into a season pass.  If you plan on going more than twice in one season, it usually makes sense to buy one.  Make sure you plan it out first and commit to going at least twice during the season. 
2. Take advantage of those offers you see on television for discounts with your soda can or buy the tickets in advance at your local supermarket.  The discount is significant, plus it saves you time at the front gate. 
3. Take a picnic lunch to the park with you.  Keep it in a cooler out in the car.  You can get your hand stamped, save a bundle on food and then re-enter the park with a nice full belly and wallet. 
4. Ditch the souvenirs.  When it comes down to it, are you really going to wear the t-shirt with the name of the amusement park on it?  Probably not.  Avoid the impulse buys!

Set Your Thermostat –

When I ask my clients how cool they keep their house during the summer, they usually say the lower 70’s.  You would be amazed at how comfortable your house can be at 78 degrees. 

It can save you an enormous amount on your monthly utility bills.  Try increasing it by one degree at a time, that way you can find what is comfortable for you. 

Sometimes we get set in old patterns and it takes a little nudge to try something different to get us moving in the right direction.