Babies Tale

Nearing the age of thirty and enjoying successful careers, my husband and I decided that having a family would just be another milestone in our lives that we could successfully approach and conquer.

Why not fulfill our lackadaisical off-time with the pitter-patter of little feet? How hard could it be? We had a house, cars, a 401K, some spending money, and bachelors degrees. What more does one need? Lots of extra cash and a storehouse of creative ideas is what one needs. Ironically, we had four kids in five years before realizing the latter.

Suddenly, our four darlings discovered there was life outside of the backyard. These wee ones needed to be constantly entertained! We suddenly had a mission: educate, entertain, and most importantly, wear out the kids as often as possible on a budget that wouldn’t cause us to drain our retirement fund.

We think we have finally master the art of having big fun for little money. We’ve discovered how to tire our children and get them into bed with time to spare for ourselves. Our creative ideas provide us with occasional moments of sanity and many wonderful memories. Here are four ways we do it.

• One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Yes, you must become humble to accomplish this one. Recently I whipped my SUV over to the curb and acquired 3 great yard toys from a heap of old kids’ toys piled next to a garbage can for disposal. Once home, a scrubbing with Lysol, some paint touch ups, and one missing screw replaced created a whirlwind of excitement for the kids. Until the pubescent years, kids don’t care if the toy comes in a package or from the curb. The upscale version of this great “shopping” trip is, of course, the yard sale. Oh, the things you can find there to entertainment kids for only ten bucks.
• Membership is grand. Most local zoos, museums, and amusement parks offer family memberships. The prices are generally not much higher than the cost of general admission for one trip to an attraction for a large family. Use your memberships as often as possible. Even if you just run to the zoo at the end of the day, the kids will get some exercise and burn off some energy.
• National parks aren’t just for bears anymore. Local playgrounds and parks are free and some offer great amenities. For a truckload price of $6.00 our family can go to the local National Park and use the Olympic size pool, playground, and picnic facilities. The “no alcohol” policy at parks assures that you only have to deal with the wild ones in your own family.
• Plan well and be organized. When traveling, take as many things as you can to avoid making spontaneous purchases. Drink boxes, non-sugar snacks and a change of clothes for each child cut costs significantly. Leave right after lunch for a planned destination to avoid buying a fast food meal in route. Plan your return trip in time to cook dinner on the grill at home rather than eating out at a restaurant. If you must eat out, look for the “kids eat free” signs or eat early before dinner prices go into affect.

Hopefully, these few tips will help you to nurture and enjoy your family, yet protect your future nest egg.

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