Father’s Day gifts: 5 things to do with Dad for under $150

Photo credit : http://www.csmonitor.com/

Father’s Day gifts are around the corner, and we’re splurging a little more on Dad this year. According to the National Retail Federation, the average person will spend $117.14 on Father’s Day gifts in 2012, up from $106.09 in 2011. The top spending category? Experiences, with people spending upwards of $2.3 billion taking Dad to restaurants, ballgames, and on vacations. This suggests that, more than anything, we want to spend time with our papas. So, in lieu of that ugly tie or NFL coffee table book, here are five suggestions for Father’s Day outings. All will cost you less than $150 per person, so you can spend the day together without breaking the bank.

1. Father's Day fishing course ($99 and up)

A Father's Day gift of the great outdoors? State-run wildlife fish and game departments across the country offer family fishing courses for under $100 a head.

Atlanta Fly Fishing School in Atlanta offers a five-hour beginners’ course for $125 per person. Clothier L.L Bean‘s Outdoor Discovery Schools in Freeport, Maine, offers an introductory fly-casting course for $99, as well as an introductory fly-fishing class for $129. (If you really want to splurge, you can book a fly-fishing cruise to the Bahamas through americanflyfishingschools.com. Rates start at $189 per night.)

An even cheaper Father's Day gift: Front the money for a pair of state fishing licenses, so you and Dad can take fishing trips together throughout the year. In Florida, for example, residents can buy combination freshwater/saltwater permits for $32.50 per year.

There are various Father's Day fishing tournaments around the country. The Port of San Diego is holding a Big Bay Father's Day Fishing Tournament from three of its ocean piers – with no charge for boys and girls under 16 who are accompanied by an adult. Marcus Hook, Pa., is holding a fishing derby on the Delaware River on June 17.

In anticipation of the big weekend, Washington State's Department of Fish and Wildlife is stocking 14 lakes with rainbow trout.

If the average Father's Day gift is less than $120, why are we touting ideas that can cost up to $150? Call it a plea for gender equality. The National Retail Federation reports the average person spent $152 on Mother’s Day this year. So why not buck projections and give Dad the same?

2. Baseball game ($7 and up)

Depending on where you live (and how well your team is doing), baseball games are a relatively cheap way to enjoy warm summer evenings. The relaxed pace of baseball makes it a pleasant outing even for nonsports fans. Furthermore, it’s early in the Major League Baseball season, so tickets won't be hard to come by in most cases. To catch a game at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, you can get single-game seats for $28 each (or less, if you don’t mind standing).

Or even less, if you don’t mind going late. According to a recent Boston Globe report, the current Red Sox season has been so lousy that the team is literally giving away tickets midgame.
Another cheap option: Hit up a minor league game. The Red Sox’ Triple A feeder team, The Pawtucket Red Sox, offers box seats to their home games for $11, and adult general admission seats for only $7.

3. Air and space/Air Force museum (Free and up)

I hate to make a sweeping generalization about dads on Father's Day, but allow me just this one, based on 20-plus years of field evidence: Dads love planes. Happily, there are air and space museums all over the country, with admission prices that range from cheap to free. The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum offers free admission, with fees for select exhibits and shows. In case you’re outside the Washington, D.C., area, military.com offers a directory of  aircraft and Air Force museums as well as other military museums and memorials around the country.

4. Race car ride ($109-$135)

If your dad’s speed is a little faster than a walk through a museum, consider a ride-along in a stock car, where he’ll ramp up to between 165 and 175 miles per hour. The cheapest rides all clock in at just over $100. The Richard Petty Driving Experience, which runs at 23 racetracks across the country, has a Father’s Day special offering ride-alongs for $59 each.

5. Straight razor shave ($10-$20)

For the pampered dad (and son), why not go back to a slower, more manly time when men got together at a barbershop to talk, get their whiskers trimmed, and have some after-shave slapped on. Here's one barbershop locator to get you started, although you'll want to call around and find out who does straight razor shaves.



Source : http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2012/0614/Father-s-Day-gifts-5-things-to-do-with-Dad-for-under-150/Father-s-Day-fishing-course-99-and-up

Eight Classic Family Movies

Movie night! Gathering the family in front of the TV with huge bowls of popcorn is a time-honored and tested family tradition. Often, though, it doesn’t take long before the squabble over what to watch begins. Surprise your kids this movie night with one of these forgotten classics!


Tiny Toons Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation (1992)
Remember this restart of the Looney Tunes family? Follow Buster and Babs Bunny and the rest of the Tiny Toons cast as they experience the joys—and hilarity—of summer break.


The Brave Little Toaster (1987)
Your youngest will treasure this gem that tells the story of a handful of out-of-date appliances seeking to find the “master,” their childhood owner. This story includes strong messages of friendship, teamwork, and perseverance.


Benji (1974)
Benji tells the charming story of a mutt who befriends two kids. When they are kidnapped, it is up to Benji to save the day. If your kids love Benji, make sure to check out the equally forgotten Benji the Hunted.


The Iron Giant (1999)
Here’s one for the boys, although it works for the whole family. A young boy named Hogarth befriends a giant robot from outer space and protects him from a government agent driven to see the robot destroyed. If your son is in to robots, space, and adventure, this is the film for him!


The Last Unicorn (1982)
And one for the girls…. The Last Unicorn is a tale of magic, fairy tales, castles, and a prince. When the unicorn discovers she is the last, she sets off on a journey to find the others and free them from the magical Red Bull. The music, by America, is great as well.


Asterix in Britain (1986)
Originally produced in France, Asterix in Britain, and the host of sequels, tells the story of a village in Gaul and their regular battles against the Romans. With their magic brew in tow, will Asterix and his over-sized companion, Obelix, be able to fight off the invading Roman army?


In Search of the Castaways (1962)
This classic Disney is fun for the whole family. With earthquakes, floods, avalanches, volcanoes, a host of man-eating beasts (and cannibals), this adventure film will keep you and the kids watching until the very end. If nothing else, it’ll spark the world-traveler in all of you.


Animalympics (1980) With London 2012 just around the corner, what better way to introduce your kids to the magic of the Olympic Games than Animalympics. From skiing to swimming to gymnastics to track and field, this film gives you and your family a crash course in the magic of the Olympic Games.

Dave is a family man, professional writer, and a hobbyist beekeeper. When he’s not chasing down the kids, he’s most often found with a book/pen/trowel in his hand or out watching the bees. daveloveless@gmail.com daveloveless.wordpress.com


Source :  http://familynews.com/eight-classic-family-movies/

Tips for a Less Stressful Family Vacation

Some of the most precious moments are made when taking summer vacations with our families.  However, let’s be honest, it can get pretty stressful at times—especially with the little ones.

“When we think about vacation, we think about all the things we can see and how we can cram it all into one day” says Lissa Poirot, editor of FamilyVacationCritic.com.  “We have to remember that we need to do what we can to be prepared, so we can avoid the stress”.

Here, Lissa provides us with some smart tips on how to have a more enjoyable, less stressful, vacation for you and your family:

1.)  Plan Ahead- Know what to pack and how much of it.  There are a lot of rules regarding airports and what or how much you are able to bring onto an airplane.  For carry-on liquids, the TSA allows 3.4 ounces.  Keep this in mind when packing bottles, as well as heavy items such as strollers and carriers.  You may also want to call your hotel to clarify what they do and do not have.  Ask them to clear out the mini bar fridge.  This way, you can use it and you won’t have to worry about your children getting into it.

2.)  Leave Yourself Plenty of Time- Do not forget that you should leave yourself lots of extra time, especially when going to the airport.  Parking, check-in, security; all of these things take a while—they take even longer when traveling with kids, husbands, and luggage in tow.

3.)  Lower the Expectations You Have for Your Kids- They are still small and chances are they are not used to being so “out-and-about”.  Your children may need to slow down, take breaks, have a snack, and possibly go back to the hotel and nap.  It may disrupt your day, but it’s better to have them refreshed than cranky when all of you are trying to have a great time.

4.)  Stick to the Normal Schedule You Have Set For Them- This advice is especially important for new parents with younger children.  Babies need their rest; sticking to the same schedule you have set for them at home is extremely important.  Regular naps and bottle feeding should all stay the same.

5.)  Pack Emergency Items in Diaper Bag- As we know, unexpected moments may happen when away on vacation.  Packing surprise snacks is a good idea to satisfy little tummies during a long wait.  In addition, you should always pack an extra change of clothes in case of potty accidents, or mealtime messes.


Source : http://www.newparent.com/news/tips-stressful-family-vacation/

Seven Lessons Learned from my Frugal Grandmother

My grandmother Esther lived through the Great Depression. She passed away a few years ago. In the past few weeks, I have been thinking about the lessons of frugality that she taught me.

Lesson 1: Make Do with as Little as Possible
While it may not seem cool in this society to go without, my grandmother made do. She lived in the country with my grandfather and made almost all her meals from scratch, using food from their garden. My grandfather hunted and brought home wild turkey and deer. She reused scraps of paper to write lists and notes, and conserved water and electricity. She did not shop for fun or accumulate knick-knacks and frivolous items. She wore her clothes until they wore out.

Lesson 2: Learn to Cook, Sew, Decorate
My grandmother was an expert seamstress, which was how she paid for her college tuition in the 1940s. She made many clothes for her children and grandchildren, knitted blankets, pieced together patchwork quilts, decorated her home, and cooked meals everyday for years. They rarely went out to eat or had pizza delivered. Someone else preparing meals was a luxury.

Lesson 3: Pick Up Frugal Hobbies and Entertainment
Some hobbies, like renting movies or shopping, can really cost a lot. Others, like stamp collecting, don’t cost as much. My grandmother loved reading books and magazines she got from the library, taking walks outside, visiting family and friends, and listening to music. She rarely watched TV.

Lesson 4: Appreciate What You Have
It can be hard to want what you have, without wanting more. My grandmother never seemed to want more than she had. She was content with her home, her belongings, and her family. She had mastered the art of contentment.

Lesson 5: Never Get in Debt and Save Up for a Rainy Day
My grandmother’s generation didn’t believe in debt, and therefore, she never got in debt or even had her own credit card. For whatever she needed, she paid cash. She saved her change and dollar bills and only bought things when she had the money. She saved her money for what was important to her.

Lesson 6: Creatively Solve Problems
Whenever a problem came up, she always had the solution. She was very practical about how to solve problems, without resorting to spending money. For example, when I was moving into my first apartment, she helped me come up with a list of stuff I’d need and meals I could make that wouldn’t cost a lot. She also gave me necessities for my new home.

Lesson 7: Focus on the Big Picture
One snowy night, my grandmother died peacefully in her sleep. The most important lesson she taught me was to focus on living a good life, loving your family and not focus on money or things.
With these lessons, she lived a wonderful life. I hope these lessons inspire you too.


Source : http://www.divinecaroline.com/35/103781-seven-lessons-learned-frugal-grandmother

Family Travel: Staring down expenses and stress

Summertime means new opportunities to take the family on an adventure.  Whether you prefer a road-trip or plan to fly, it’s not going to get less expensive anytime soon.
The US Energy Information administration has revised its outlook for this summer’s gasoline prices.  The good news is that, given current conditions, their projections are now 15 cents less than they were earlier this year.  The bad news is that they are forecasting an average price of $3.71 per gallon nationwide for the summer of 2012.  In 2013, that average is expected to drop to $3.53.  In short, gasoline is not going to get seriously less expensive anytime soon.
Airlines aren’t much better.  Airline travel is expected to be 3 percent higher than it was last year, excluding all the special fees.  The is not all because of fuel price increases, though they certainly do play a part.

First, more and more airlines are allowing passengers to pay extra to reserve certain seats. These tend to be seats with more legroom or on the aisle or by the window. That means on a crowded flight, a family might have the choice of sitting railroad style in a series of middle seats, or pay extra — in the range of $25 per seat, one way — for the luxury of sitting beside one another.  Some smaller airlines, such as Spirit, are even charging passengers extra to make an advancement seat reservation. If a passenger doesn’t want to pay the extra charge, he and his family will be assigned random seats at check-in, according to AP.  (Source: Washington Post)

So if you can’t fly and you can’t drive, then perhaps a stay-cation is in order.  However, should you be determined to try and tough out the airport this year, might we recommend a few tips?
Top Five Family Travel Tips (Source: travelwithyourkids.com):

1. Attitude is everything: expect problems, go with the flow and everything will work out great.
2. Don’t forget anything: bring medicine, wipes, and everything else your child will need.
3. Leave at the right time. If your kids nap, use their schedules to your advantage.
4. Get the most out of your flight/road-trip. Children’s airline food, pick your seats carefully (if you can), and keep the kids off the plane for as long as possible by boarding separately.  Periodic rest-stops are a good idea as well.
5. Choose your toys and books wisely.  Think less moving parts that will fly everywhere, and think things that can keep kids entertained for hours.

Source : http://familynews.com/