Top 10 Websites for Frugal, Free Entertainment is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

The internet brings the world to our fingertips and makes enjoying life while saving money easier than ever. It provides instant access to a slew of free entertainment options that cost … nothing. OK, nothing except for the high-speed internet service needed to truly maximize your enjoyment potential.

Below you will find some of my personal favorites for frugal, free entertainment and fun:

Free Music

Pandora – Intelligent internet radio that only plays songs that you like. Simply create your own station and select an artist and Pandora will begin playing songs by that artist. It will then gradually songs by other similar artists. You can give each song a “thumbs up” (like it) or a “thumbs down” (don’t like it) and it will keep playing the ones you like and it will never again play the songs that you don’t like. There’s now a 40 hour monthly limit for the free music. You can pay a small fee for unlimited access, but why do that where there are other free music options that you can enjoy.

Last.fm – While similar to Pandora in terms of tracking what you like, this site is truly global and available in 12 languages. It also adds a social networking and peer-to-peer community component as it’s all powered by the community of listeners.

Grooveshark – Another free internet radio service with no limits on the number of hours you can listen to for free. This is great if you only want to listen to a certain artist or album. Based on what you search for it will return all the songs available by that artist and then you simply hit play. You can create playlists and favorite certain songs.

Free Television

Hulu – Just an amazing free entertainment destination. You can watch last nights shows from many popular channels, you can get caught up on an entire season in one sitting, and even watch great movies. All for free, all from your computer.

Free Books

Scribd – A reading social community where you can see what others are reading, and download from a ton of selections –free books, magazines, newspapers, how-to guides and more.  You can also upload your own ebooks, and documents for instant publishing.

Check out 17 Best Websites to Download Free eBooks for more great sites for free reading.

Free Photography

Snapfish – Lets you share pictures with friends and family members for free. When you register you receive 20 free photo prints, and if you want more they are very affordable. You can also create lots of great homemade gifts with your pictures. While not free, the sentimental value far outweighs the costs when you give gifts from the heart.

Free E-cards

Someecards – While I do love receiving cards in the mail, with the rising postage costs and the ridiculous price of greeting cards, ecards are a super way to save money. Someecards is not your run-of-the-mill ecard site. These are hilarious and yes, sometimes off-color. But, if you want a good laugh and are looking for something a bit off-beat when balloons and puppy dogs just won’t do … then this ecard site is for you.

Wrongcards – The name says it all — funny, free ecards that are wrong for every occasion. Again, if you don’t have a sense of humor … don’t bother.

Free Games

Yahoo Games – A favorite for online versions of popular board games like Monopoly, Scrabble and Chess, to brain games,  video games and more. Lots of free games and free trial versions of games to play without needing to purchase.

When All Else Fails

Bored.com – The place to go when you are bored silly — games, videos, humor, quizzes and blogs. It’s a mecca of silly stuff to pass the day away.

Tips for Planning the Best Staycation Ever is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

Believe it or not Spring Break vacation season is officially in full swing. It’s hard to believe given the cold temperatures everywhere. Regardless of the weather it seemed fitting to talk about planning a “vacation” and the latest trend is actually a “staycation”. We are actually planning a staycation ourselves for next month and are super excited about it. They are very on trend now given the current hard economic times and a number of different trend reports that I subscribe to are all talking about it with the upcoming Spring Break vacations and then peak Summer vacation time quickly approaching.

For those not in the loop, a staycation is basically a vacation where you stay at home and relax or take day trips from your home to area attractions. Common activities of a staycation include use backyard activities, neighboring parks, beaches, museums, festivals and the like. There are all sorts of benefits and great ideas about how to vacation at home so I thought that I’d share just a few:

Benefits of a Staycation

• Less expensive than a travel vacation — no lodging and minimal travel, dining and attraction prices. “The American Automobile Association said the average North American vacation will cost $244 per day for two people for lodging and meals… add some kids and airfare, and a 10-day vacation could top $10,000″.

• Less stressful — preparing to get away for a vacation can be stressful, so can traveling with young children, packing, and airport delays.

• Better nights sleep — you can sleep in your own bed versus a hotel bed if you take day trips.

• Decompression is possible — You can truly decompress with less stress and a good night sleep for 7 days. This is wonderful, as we’ve all had the vacations where we feel like we need another vacation just to rest after we return.

• Boosts your local economy — by staying close to home and spending money on attraction, dining and shopping, you benefit your local area.

Planning the Best Staycation Ever

• Schedule a beginning and end date. Make it feel like a real vacation with departing and arrival dates.

• Declare a “choratorium.” I love this idea. No chores. You’re on vacation. (I’ll have to see if I can talk my husband into this one).

• Unplug. Try going the week without the cellphone, texting, emailing and all the other forms of hyper-connection.

• Shake it up and live “freestyle” for the week. Get rid of the schedule. During a typical week we are so structured and our lives are so scheduled to get it all done, but on vacation we let go of that (a little or a lot depending on the person) and do different things. Sleep in late if you’re normally up at the crack of dawn, eat brunch instead breakfast, tick of an item on your bucket list.

• Create an at home/hotel experience. Do all those little things you do in a hotel — have breakfast in bed, take a hot bath, turn down your bed and set chocolates on the pillow for your spouse or kids, curl up in a cozy rob, set little luxurious lotions on the bathroom counter, watch TV in bed … I think you get the point. This is very important to set the mood and atmosphere and capture the true vacation feeling.

• Set aside souvenir money. We are talking a modest amount here of course, but set aside some fun-money for staycation souvenirs or little day excursions. Remember, this site is about living (not deprivation).

• Plan things to do. Make a list of activities and plan something fun daily to get you out of the house. Check out 50 Frugal Fun Ideas for a Bored-Silly Saturday to get the fun-juices flowing. Or 14 Ways to Pass the Day Trapped Inside for even more stay-at-home fun ideas.

• Capture your experiences. Take videos and pictures just like you would do if you were on vacation somewhere far away. Then, post them on Facebook for all to see. Or keep a vacation journal of everything you did through the week.

In this hurried, crazed world that we live in, vacations are critically important times for us to decompress, get back in touch with ourselves and our friends and family, and recharge our physical and emotional batteries that keep us going. Embrace the time because it flies right by, and make the most of every minute. Remember that it’s not where you are … it’s what you are doing.

Live your life. It’s invigorating!

How to Have a Memorable Date on a Frugal Budget is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Priscilla Solomon, a finance blogger with Oak View Law Group. Priscilla, in her personal life, tried to overcome debt by consolidating it but failed. She was on the verge of filing bankruptcy when she finally took charge of her finances and came back on track. In the process she has learned how to manage money and now she helps people to walk out of debt.

Money can’t buy love as the Beatles would say. We can’t put a price on love because it is not for sale. Yet we all tend to spend a lot of money when it comes to finding love or dating. In reality, most people who are waiting for true love prefer gestures of affection rather than lavish gifts. Here are some inexpensive and memorable activities you and your beloved can share together to have a memorable date on a frugal budget.

Share your thoughts over a cup of coffee

Come out of the conventional dinner on a date routine. Dating in a coffee house is a lovely idea as the atmosphere there is very relaxed and you can sit for hours without interruption. This will give you more time to focus on a conversation rather than getting busy with food. Continue sharing your thoughts while sipping a cup of coffee or sharing a dessert, thus making your date very warm and casual.

Enjoy the view from an open-top bus.

Spending some time traveling on an open-top bus could be very enjoyable, especially if the weather is bright. Take your camera and make a day of taking photos together. Click photos with different views in the background, or request someone to take your couple picture during the ride. At the end of the splendid day, get the photos processed and create a memory album for both of you for the day that will live on forever.

Go for an evening walk.

A casual stroll is a great way to get to know someone, so suggest heading out into the hills and warming up with a beer at a country pub. The beauty of nature is all around us and it doesn’t cost a penny. So, hold hands and set out on a lazy walk savoring the warmth of nature around you. A long road with beautiful views on both sides can refresh your minds and help you open up sooner. Be candid and disclose everything about your life, including your finances. If you had any past relationships or even debt problems, let your love know about it. Talking is very essential to the beginning of a good relationship as it makes your lives transparent to each other. If the other person likes you the way you are, you can be assured that you have sowed the seed of a compassionate and lifelong relationship. A bond based on false impressions and promises can never last for long.

Enjoy a picnic day.

Picnic on a date can be a great idea because it can be a lot of fun and cost you a fraction of going out for a meal. Spending a day together in a park underneath a shade tree, you can gauge your chemistry together. Find out if you two can hold a conversation. Feel if your silences are comfortable, or whether you steal glances at each other with a smile. Make your picnic casual or as romantic as you want. Take a casual picnic meal, add on some cheese and wine, along with a flower and the picnic instantly takes on a romantic demeanor.

Cook a delicious meal for your date.

Prepare a yummy meal at home. Try some easy cooking with the help of cookbooks or your known recipes. It adds a personal touch to your togetherness and at the same time shows that you’re prepared to make an effort. Light a few candles, adorn your table with some red roses and home brewed wine. A romantic dinner is ready for you. After dinner, you can even cuddle up for a movie together and make your love feel comfortable with you. You can also sit on your house roof, on in the backyard and watch the stars, talk about your wishes and aspirations. This can turn out to be a very romantic and fervent date.

Virtually every simple moment of your life can be turned into an inexpensive but enjoyable date. All it takes is a bit of imagination and affection, because love is all that you need to give, in order to get back true love. So, do not let the credit crunch hinder your search for a perfect partner. Just step out with a jovial smile and give your love a splendid date.

Always make it memorable!

50 Frugal Fun Ideas for a Bored-Silly Saturday is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

Entertainment costs typically tend to be where a lot of money is spent … almost unknowingly. Movies, dinners and more … all add up quickly. Being resourceful becomes an art form when it comes to frugal living and you’ve got to be creative in terms of finding ways to save and have fun. So, to help you out when you are bored-silly on a Saturday, or any other day for that matter, here are some Living Frugal Tips for frugal fun:

Act like a tourist.

1  Go to your local Chamber of Commerce or Visitor’s Center and find out about all the free stuff to do in your town. Most cities have complete brochures on fun, free things to do.
2.  Or, go online and check out the same Chamber or Visitor Center resources.
3.  Go to a local museum.
4.  Check out your city-center or downtown area.
5.  Visit the historical sites in your town. Most people know very little about the history of the town they live in.
6.  Take a ride on public transportation. You see things differently when you are not driving.
7.  Visit a state park.

Get out and play.

8.  Start a neighborhood game of kickball (it’s making a huge comeback).
9.  Take a walk.
10.  Walk your dog.
11.  Go to a local park.
12.  Find one of the local rails-to-trails areas in your town and explore your area by bike.
13.  Go roller-skating.
14.  Go ice skating.
15.  Go fishing either for the sport of it (catch and release)e or heck, catch your dinner.
16.  Go for a bike ride in your neighborhood.
17.  Have a picnic.
18.  Go bird watching.
19.  Hike through the woods.
20.  Go nature-watching.
21.  Go to the beach.
22.  Watch a sunset.

Volunteer!

23.  Whether it’s Habitat for Humanity or the Humane Society (two of my personal favorites), find a non-profit that you are passionate about and get involved. There are all sorts of local charities in need, especially given the current economic state with reduced donations. It’s a great family thing to do together. It teaches responsibility and allows you to embrace the feeling that doing good … feels good.

Nest inside your home.

24.  Play “Design on a Dime” and change up a room in your home – swap out towels, placemats, flower vases, etc. and recreate a room with stuff you already have.
25.  Bake something – cookies, a cake or a pie.
26.  Make crafts that can later be given as holiday gifts.
27.  Make a home movie.
28.  Make sock puppets.
29.  Have your kids put on a play.
30.  Write a letter to a friend or family member (preserve the lost art of hand-written notes).
31.  Plant an indoor herb garden.
32.  Plan an indoor picnic if the weather is lousy – complete with the blanket on the floor.
33.  Scrapbook.
34.  Play board games.
35.  Put a puzzle together.
36.  Make a pine cone and peanut butter bird feeder.

Chill out.

37.  Listen to music.
38.  Plan an at-home spa day.
39.  Rent a $1.00 movie at BlockBuster Express or Redbox.
40.  Read a book or magazine.
41.  Take a nap.

Play on the Computer.

42.  Find free games to play online.
43.  Connect with friends on Facebook.
44.  Reconnect with an old friend and send them an email.
45.  Catch up on your favorite TV shows online.

Other frugal fun.

46.  Find a $1.00 movie theater.
47.  Pile up in the car and go for a ride in the country
48.  Go to a drive-in movie theater (yes, they do still exist).
49.  Go to the library.
50.  Power walk through the mall if it’s cold outside (leave your wallet in the car).

My hope is that one of these Living Frugal Tips and frugal fun ideas will help make it a great day for you. Please continue to add to the list via the comment field and let’s see how many frugal fun ideas we can come up with.

Enjoy you day!

14 Fun Ways to Pass the Day Trapped Inside is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

Photo by DigitalRedEye

If you find yourself trapped at home and on the brink of going stir-crazy due to inclement weather caused by rain, sleet, snow and ice — here are 14 things to do when trapped inside.

These Living Frugal Tips are low-cost or no-cost ways to have fun.

1. Have a movie marathon – curl up with pillows, blankets and popcorn and watch your favorite movies on TV or DVD.

2. Recycle garbage into art - grab the contents of your recycle bin, scissors, glue, construction paper, glitter and whatever else you have on hand and lay it all out on the kitchen table and get creative with your kids. They have amazing imaginations and can truly turn trash into treasures.

3. Clean out your clothes closets – The upside to this drudgery task is that you can then plan a clothes swap with your friends where you all bring in your discarded clothing items and trade them. Great saving money tips to update your wardrobe without spending a dime.

4. Break out the board games – Monopoly, Twister, Yahtzee, and good old fashion card games are making a huge comeback and bring families together.

5. Plan a treasure hunt – I did this for my nephews and it was a hug hit. Make up clues on individual sheets of paper, each leading to the next clue and then hide them. A sample clue might be: “Push a button and I run, you’ll hear a bell when your food is done.” This would lead kids to the microwave where they would find the next clue. You can vary the difficulty level by age. Of course there is a treasure that they find in the end. This can be a little box of spare change or a piece of candy or a little hand-made coupon entitling them to a special privilege like staying up one hour later.

6. Turn old cards into gift tags – If you saved your Christmas cards or old birthday cards, you can take your pinking shears, hole punch and ribbon and turn them into gift tags for future use. See my post on Creating Gift Tags from Old Cards.

7. Cook make-ahead meals – Another Living Frugal Tip is to go to your pantry and see what you have on hand that you can use to whip up some make-ahead meals for the coming week. Crockpot soups, pulled pork, meatloaf, lasagna, and baked spaghetti are all great options. Simply make, bake and store in the refrigerator or freezer for quick meals later.

8. Get out and play – Depending on the weather conditions, you can certainly still get out and play in the snow. I have fond memories of sledding, skating, and making snow forts. But the best part of all was coming back inside to a warm fire and homemade hot chocolate!

9. Creative snowman contest – Each family member can make a snowman and then use different household items to dress and decorate it. Take pictures and share on Facebook or via email with friends and family.

10. Take a trip down memory lane – Watch old home movies or go through old photo albums and reminisce.

11. Make a fort – We all remember the fun we had making forts as kids. A cozy, creative place where we could hideout and play. Do it again, with or without your kids.

12. Read a good book – You can curl up and read your favorite novel or if you have kids you can create a reading circle where you read together from your favorite book, each taking turns to read a page or chapter out loud.

13. Make gifts from the heart – Get creative and make a gift for an upcoming holiday.

14. Have an at home spa day – Perform a series of “at-home spa treatments” with your little girls or girl friends. Style each others hair, do a facial mask, paint your fingers and toes, take a bubble bath. Have fun with it and relax.

Please add to these fun Living Frugal Tips and saving money tips and share other fun things to do when trapped inside. Regardless of what you do, have fun and make it a great day no matter what you do!

Photo Credit: DigitalRedEye (License)

Get a Free Video Rental at Blockbuster Express is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

Blockbuster Express is worth checking out if you have not already done so. Automated kiosks are in major retailers and rental rates are just $1.00!

COUPON CODE: POPCORN

For a limited time thru 2/3/10 you can rent a DVD at any Blockbuster Express kiosk and get a FREE DVD by using coupon code POPCORN.

That’s two DVD’s for $1.00 plus tax. You can’t beat that for a cheap date night or family movie night.

You can go online and find a location near you and review available movie titles before you get to the store. Once you rent one DVD you will receive email coupon codes and even store couOrvilpons. With the DVD coupon code I also received a $1.00 coupon for Orville Redenbacher’s Popcorn — another way to save you money. Enjoy the show!

Related post: Affordable Fun for Rainy Days

Affordable Fun for Rainy Days is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

We had a rainy day Sunday, but made the most of it with a movie-marathon day — affordable fun at its best. If you’ve not yet discovered Blockbuster Express or Red Box then you are missing out on cheap entertainment. These are the new craze of movie rental kiosks that are located in various retailers at the front of the stores. Red Box is found in most Walmart stores and Blockbuster Express is found inside Publix, my neighborhood grocery store. For $1.00 you can rent movies including new releases!

I personally use Blockbuster Express and once you rent your first movie, you’ll receive email confirmations on rentals, returns, new releases and get great coupons too — and they are only $1.00 to start. Coupons include a free night, free movie and more. I’ll never pay $4.00 – $5.00 to rent a movie ever again.

After doing a few chores we shut the blinds to make it dark and cozy, got out the blankets and each landed on a couch with a dog. Maggie laid at my side and slept, and slept as the movies rolled on …

First up was Quantum of Solace, the latest James Bond flick. If Daniel Craig wasn’t in such good shape I’d have napped with Maggie. No one beats Sean Connary so I’d give it 2 of 5 stars.

Next we moved on to Body of Lies with Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crow. Worth the watch for a CIA/Middle East spy thriller. It gets a worthy 4 of 5 big ones.

The final wrap-up to the movie-marathon was The Day the Earth Stood Still with Keanu Reeves. Awesome. Love those whole aliens come to earth to teach us a lesson kind of flicks. Definitely worth the watch. 5 big ones baby!

With some yummy microwave popcorn we enjoyed the day for about $4.00. Admittedly, I enjoyed the day doing nothing. It’s been forever since I’ve done that. I always have the need to be productive and if I’m not doing something I get antsy. It’s a self-professed problem of mine — not being able to just chill out and relax.

Enjoy a movie marathon day yourself and save money doing it.

Mindless, affordable fun and relaxation.

How to Save Money at Spas is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

While we all love a little pampering now and then, all that soaking, scrubbing, massaging and more can get a little pricey. Here are a few great tips for saving money at spas that I put to the test during a recent girls getaway of sun, fun and spa/salon pampering at Tierra Verde Salon & Spa. You’re probably thinking … I thought this was a site about frugal living. Well it is. But it’s Living Frugal Tips with the emphasis on living done in a wise way of course. A girl can’t deprive herself of everything … but we can make smart choices and save whenever possible.

Tips to Save Money at Spas:

Shop Around – Search the internet to determine spas within your desired location and call several different spas to see what they are offering in terms of spa packages and specials.I called three different spas all within a few miles of one another and found a variety of offerings.

Summer Specials – A lot of spas have specials and discounts especially in the Summer which tends to be a slower season in a lot of warm/hot weather places. When planning our little getaway there were quite a few great money-saving packages available, but the best ones with the greatest value book up quickly so plan ahead.

Get on a Mailing List – Be the first to learn about specials by signing up for the mailing list at area spas.

Ask About Discounts – Find out if your local spa has any discounts, such as lower rates by new estheticians, massage therapists, or stylists that you can take advantage of. Typically they charge less as they are still trying to build up their clientele and need something to attract customers — and what better way than saving money.

Go with a Group – Saving money at spas can be easy with a group. basically, the more girls you have the more you save. It’s simple math.

Call for Cancellations – A lot of times there are cancellations and you can get these last minute bookings at a reduced rate. Definitely ask for a discount.

Enjoy at Home Services – If you can’t afford a full day at the spa then book those services that you can’t do for yourself, such as a massage and haircut, and then continue your spa day at home. You can purchase facials at most stores. These come in many different textures such as the chemical peels or a “mud pack.” You can also find nail treatments, such as pedicures and manicures in stores. Most retailers carry as many different nail colors and decorations as the local manicurist. You can also find cuticle treatments to make your toes ready for summer sandals. There are also great body scrubs available at all the bath and body stores as well.

Relax and enjoy your day!