Book Worm

Though I love and use my library frequently, there still is nothing like owning your own literary classic.  So, how do you save dough when acquiring books?

• Buy at garage sales.  These are a great way to buy books, especially children's books.  Often they are only 25 cents to a $1.
• Swap with friends.
• Buy from your library.  Many libraries offer a book sale once a year offering fabulous deals.  For example, this year I scored for $10 at my library:  2 hardback Harry Potter books to finish my collection, 1 hardback Tales of Beetle the Bard, 1paper airplane book, the first three paperback books of Anne of Green Gables, box set of The Boxcar Children, hardback Oh The Places You'll Go, paperback Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (ours has gotten worn out), and several board books in like new condition.  If I had bought these new, it would have cost me well over $60.
• Check out websites like Craigslist and Amazon.
• Occassionally you can find a great deal through Scholastic school book orders, although often they're overpriced (but at least part of the money goes toward the school).

What do you do?

Inexpensive Vacation Ideas

Summer is upon us and so is vacation season.  Here are some ideas for a thrifty vacation:

• Go camping!  Once you have the gear, this is a very inexpensive vacation.  Some campsites are $7-20 per night.  Activities are free, you bring your own food, the kids enjoy playing in the dirt, and great memories are made.
• Have a "stay-cation."  Lodging is free, you provide your own food, and you know the deals in the area.  Take time to explore your city.  Some activity ideas:  hiking, biking, swimming, museums, tour factories, visit geological points of interest.  Just be sure to act like it's a vacation, rather than getting caught up in the day-to-day life of cleaning, phone calls, tv shows, etc.
• Arrange a house swap with someone you know (or meet through reliable house swap websites).
• Visit family.  Just be a good guest and help provide and prepare meals.
• If you want to vacation somewhere more grand...consider going in the off-season.  Deals are much better and your dollar stretches farther.

What are your ideas?

SCFD free days

Planning your summer?  Check out this link.  Thanks to the Science & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) (and our tax dollars) many organizations in the Denver area offer free days.  It's a great way to experience Denver's attractions without paying for them! 

**Note:  Because of their popularity, these days can sometimes be quite crowded.  I once went to the zoo on a free day...and it WAS a zoo!  We actually turned around and went home.  The zoo is one place for me that it's worth paying.

Love Your Library

Our city library is one of my most favorite (and economical) excursions for my family.  Not only can you borrow books, but you can also borrow cds, movies, Leap Pad games, storytime kits, reading group kits, etc.  They offer free internet (something to look into if you are considering cutting monthly expenses... rather than pay for a connection at home) as well as informative classes.  The library offers storytimes for all ages, parent information classes, and a fantastic summer reading program.  They occasionally offer family-friendly concerts as well.  And they do this all for FREE!  What a bargain!!