Sweet Frugal Life

10 Gifts for Mom Under $10 In 2024

March 10, 2024 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Looking for some budget friendly Mothers Day Gifts? I’ve got you covered!

Mothers Day is such a special time of year to celebrate the mom in your life. I truly believe that you can celebrate your mom, without having to spend a lot of money. It’s the thought that counts, not the price tag! Here are 10 gifts for mom under $10!

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10 Gifts for Mom Under $10

I spent a few hours searching for some fun and budget friendly Mothers Day gifts, I hope you find the perfect one for your mom.

Canvas Tote

I’m ALL about the practical gifts; and these Canvas Totes are both practical and CUTE! Plus, they are only $9.99! If you are shopping for someone who is always on the go and loves the beach, then this is the perfect gift!

Mama Necklace

These MAMA necklaces are so sweet and trendy. I love their dainty look, and the chance to proudly wear my Mama status!

Initial Letter Ring

How cute is this initial letter ring??? They are so darling and easily customized to the initial of whomever you are gifting too. Plus, they are only $9.99 each!

Stacking Bracelet Set

Here’s another cute gift idea for mom, a thoughtful stacking bracelet set. They have multiple options/styles to choose from, making it a fun gift for everyone!

Bangle Keychain

These bangle keychains are not only useful, but also so cute and trendy right now. I found some really cute ones on Amazon for less than $8, and come in multiple colors and styles.

Personalized Name Necklaces

Here’s a sweet Mothers Day Gift Idea. A personalized necklace you can customize with her kids birthstones, so she can always hold her children close to her heart.

Stackable Photo Bracelets

I love these darling stackable photo bracelets. They are such a sweet gift! You can upload any picture for your loved one to wear around their wrist.

Wireless Charging Pads

We all could use an updated wireless charging station every now and then. I was excited to find this one for less than $10!

Boho Earrings

You can’t go wrong with gifting someone a pair of cute earrings. Here are some fun gold earrings all for under $10!

Face Roller

Give mom some pampering with a face roller. I found a roller under $10 with great reviews here, and there are multiple colors to choose from!

Closing Thoughts

Remember, it is the thought that counts, and not the price tag. Whatever you choose for mom should come from the heart! Don’t forget to attach a sweet note to her gift, it always feels good to be told how much you’re appreciated!

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I hope these gifts for mom under $10 help you find the perfect Mothers Day Gift!

Quick & Easy Muffin Recipes

February 20, 2024 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

These are the best simple muffin recipes perfect for breakfast, snacks, and everything in between!

Muffins are just the best…..there’s just no denying it. They are super easy to make, very frugal, and so delicious. We always have a stock of homemade muffins in our house. We eat them for quick breakfasts on busy mornings, my kids love putting them in their lunch boxes or grabbing one for an after school snack. You just can’t go wrong when it comes to muffins. I’ve scoured the internet and found the very best quick and easy muffin recipes for you to try.

So, look no further! Below is the ultimate list in the best simple muffin recipes. Happy baking my friends!

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Air Fryer Double Chocolate Chip Muffins

If you are looking for large, bakery style muffins that only take a few minutes to throw together, then you will love these Air Fryer Double Chocolate Chip Muffins. They are full of yummy chocolaty goodness and topped with sugar sprinkles for an added crunch.

Apple Crumb Muffins

This quick and easy apple muffin recipe takes only a few minutes to throw together and has a delicious crumb topping, giving it that little extra something special.

Apple Oatmeal Muffins

You can whip together these yummy apple oatmeal muffins in no time. They use fresh apples which gives it that extra boost of flavor.

Applesauce Muffins

Whip together these simple applesauce muffins in only 15 minutes of prep time. They have the perfect blend of spices for a great tasting muffin!

Banana Cinnamon Sugar Muffins

I love baking with bananas. They make baked goods so yummy and moist, plus it helps prevent waste if we can’t quite eat the bananas in time. These mini banana cinnamon sugar muffins are quick and easy to fix and make the perfect snack sized treat.

Banana Coconut Muffins

I have a personal goal to try anything and everything that has coconut in it. Coconut just happens to be my very favorite food/flavor. My mouth is watering just thinking about these banana coconut muffins and I can’t wait to try them!

Banana Crumb Muffins

If you are looking for another way to use up your ripe bananas, check out this Banana Crumb Muffin recipe. They only use basic ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry and gives a big banana flavor! Yum!

Related: Simple Banana Bread Recipe

Banana Walnut Muffins

You can never have to many banana recipes! This banana walnut recipe combines the delicious flavor or walnuts with bananas for a delicious and quick muffin.

Basic Muffin Recipe

If you are looking for a basic muffin recipe that you can adapt for whatever mood or occasion, then this muffin recipe is for you. It will take you through how to make a basic muffin, and also how to add any variations to make it exactly how you want it. This is the type of muffin recipe you will use over and over again.

Blueberry Muffins

There is just nothing better than easy to follow, straight forward recipes! And that is exactly what I love about this easy blueberry muffin recipe. The ingredients are simple and the instructions are so easy! Yay!

Blueberry Streusel Muffins

I love a good streusel topping, which is exactly why these blueberry streusel muffins caught my eye. They are the perfect quick and easy muffin recipe to throw together on busy mornings.

Brown Sugar Muffins

Brown Sugar Muffins remind me so much of my childhood, they were always a staple in my moms kitchen. Brown sugar muffins are a very simple, basic muffin recipe, but taste so so good!

Chocolate Muffins

I love this easy chocolate muffins recipe! It’s quick and easy and full of chocolatey deliciousness!

Chocolate Chip Muffins

What kid doesn’t love a chocolate chip muffin? I know that my kids will ALWAYS grab anything with chocolate chips in it, before any other option. This is the perfect chocolate chip muffin recipe.

Cinnamon Applesauce Muffins

Here’s another quick and easy muffin recipe. These cinnamon applesauce muffins take less than 45 minutes to make and have a delicious cinnamon sugar topping.

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffins

Do you want to know what’s better than chocolate and peanut butter??? DOUBLE chocolate and peanut butter!

I can’t wait to try these double chocolate peanut butter muffins! They will make the perfect after school treat for my kiddos.

Huckleberry Muffins

Every summer my family and I travel to the mountains to pick huckleberries. The days we spend together foraging for our favorite berry is some of my favorite memories. We love snacking and laughing and enjoying the quiet beauty of nature.

Our freshly picked huckleberries are used in baked goods for the next few weeks including these delicious huckleberry muffins.

Lemon Blueberry Muffins

Another flavor that I just can’t live without is lemon. It’s just so so good! These lemon blueberry muffins combine the sweet & tart flavors of lemon and blueberries for a delicious tasting muffin. It is the perfect quick and easy muffin recipe!

Lemon Poppyseed Muffins

These lemon poppyseed muffins are sweet and delicious and will keep you coming back for more.

Lemon Raspberry Muffins

Here’s another quick and easy muffin recipe, lemon raspberry muffins. They only have a ten minute prep time and are topped with a delicious lemon glaze. Basically all of my favorite things!

Related: Best Fluffy Pancake Recipe

Magdalenas (Spanish Muffins)

I just learned about Magdalenas, a Spanish muffin and now I can’t wait to try them! They have a slight lemon flavor and a sugar crusted top!

Mulberry Muffins With Brown Sugar Topping

If you happen to live in an area where you can forage for mulberries you might love trying out this quick and easy mulberry muffins recipe.

Oatmeal Muffins

My family loves when I make these oatmeal muffins for them. We always try to keep them stocked in the pantry for quick breakfasts and easy snacks.

Oatmeal and Carrot Muffins

You can whip together these oatmeal and carrot muffins in such a short time, making them the perfect quick and easy muffin recipe.

Peanut Butter Banana Oat Muffins

These peanut butter banana oat muffins are made in a mini muffin tin making them the perfect snack size. Prep time is just 5 minutes so you will be enjoying these delicious muffins in less than 30 minutes.

Pineapple Muffins

Honestly, I have never heard of pineapple muffins until I came across this easy muffin recipe. And now I can’t wait to make them! I mean…there is just nothing better than a tropical treat! The recipe is super easy to follow and budget friendly!

Pumpkin Muffins

I don’t think you could find a more quick and easy pumpkin muffin recipe than this one right here. All of the ingredients are pantry friendly, and you probably have them stocked in your cupboards. Plus, the recipe is very easy to follow, nothing fancy or out of the ordinary!

Pumpkin Cake Mix Muffins

This three ingredient pumpkin cake mix muffin recipe is just so good! It’s a great way to whip up something yummy, without needing tons of ingredients and time.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

I love a recipe that sticks to very simple ingredients. That is one of the things I like about this pumpkin chocolate chip muffin recipe. These quick to fix muffins are delicious and easy to throw together.

Pumpkin Zucchini Muffins

Pumpkin AND zucchini in one muffin?!?!? Sign me up! This yummy pumpkin zucchini muffin recipe is the perfect way to use up your garden zucchini and enjoy a delicious moist muffin at the same time.

Related: Homemade Graham Cracker Recipe

Raspberry Muffins with Crumb Topping

I love my little raspberry patch in my garden and I can’t wait to use those yummy berries in this raspberry crumble muffins recipe this summer.

Sweet Potato Muffins

Looking for a way to use up leftover mashed sweet potatoes?? Look no further, this sweet potato muffins recipe is the perfect one! Prep time takes 10 minutes and you’ll be rewarded with fluffy and delicious muffins!

Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

This whole wheat banana chocolate chip muffin recipe has been a staple in our house for years and years. The flavor is delicious and I love that it’s made with whole wheat flour!

Zucchini Muffins

This zucchini muffin recipe is yet another easy muffin recipe perfect for using up any garden zucchini. They come out moist with the perfect hint of cinnamon!

Quick & Easy Muffin Recipes

I hope that you love these quick and easy muffin recipes! the more you can bake from scratch at home, the more money you will be able to save!

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I hope you love these quick and easy muffin recipes!

Oatmeal Muffins Recipe

February 6, 2024 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

How to make these easy oatmeal muffins.

Muffins are one of my favorite things to make from scratch. They are just SO easy! My kids love to eat them for breakfasts, lunches and after school snacks. Plus, most muffin recipes are super cheap to make, and we all know that I love anything frugal friendly. I’m so excited to share my easy oatmeal muffin recipe with you. They are so delicious and made with whole wheat flour, which makes for happy kids and happy moms!

Quick Oatmeal Muffins Recipe

To start making these delicious muffins you will want to gather all of your ingredients. Don’t worry, I’m betting you have them all in your pantry already!

You will need:

1 cup Buttermilk (if you don’t have buttermilk just mix one tablespoon of vinegar with 1 cup of milk and let it sit for a few minutes)
1 cup Oatmeal
1 Egg
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1 cup Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1/4 cup Vegetable Oil

The first step to this easy oatmeal muffin recipe is to soften the oatmeal. This is super easy to do! All you have to do is put your oats in a large bowl and pour the buttermilk on top. Let this mixture sit in the bowl for 5 minutes.

After the five minutes is up add the egg and brown sugar to the bowl. Mix it all together well.

Next, stir in the flour, baking soda and baking powder, mix the batter again.

Lastly you will add the oil and mix it well for one final time.

Spoon batter into greased muffin tins. Fill them 2/3 full.

Related: Easy Huckleberry Muffin Recipe

Bake the oatmeal muffins at 400 degrees for 18 minutes or until golden brown. These taste best warm with butter and jam on top.

Related: How to Make Butter

Oatmeal Muffins

Quick and easy oatmeal whole wheat muffin recipe.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 18

Course Breakfast, Snack

Servings 12 muffins

Ingredients

1 cup oatmeal
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Grease muffin tin, or use cupcake liners.
Add oats to a large bowl.
Pour buttermilk over oats.
Let it stand for 5 minutes.
Add egg and brown sugar.
Mix batter well.
Stir in flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
Mix again.
Pour in oil.
Mix one last time.
Spoon batter into muffin tins filling them 2/3 full.
Bake for 18 minutes or until golden brown.

Keyword breakfast, muffin, oatmeal, snack

In Conclusion

Your family will love this easy oatmeal muffin recipe. It is sure to become a new household favorite for many years to come.

Make sure to check out a few of my other recipes below:

Don’t forget to pin for future reference:

I hope that you enjoy this easy oatmeal muffin recipe.

How To Play Town Council – Fun Party Game For All Ages

January 24, 2024 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Town Council Group Game Instructions

The holidays recently ended, and I love looking back and reminiscing at all of the fun we had. We were able to get together with family multiple times, played games, ate good food, and laughed a lot. I’m so grateful for anything that give us an excuse/reason to get together with the people most important to us. One of my families favorite things to do when we get together is play games. Today I want to share with you how to play one of our favorite party games for all ages called Town Council.

We love playing Town Council because it’s fun, quick to play, easy to learn, and fun for all ages. Plus, you will need very minimal prep or supplies. It is really the perfect big group game.

What is Town Council?

The premise of Town Council is simple really. Your goal will be to collect all the other players onto your council. This is done by correctly guessing their previously chosen fake name. The first person to collect all players wins the game.

It usually takes between 10-20 minutes to complete the game.

Town Council Group Game Set Up

To set up this fun party game for all ages you will need just two supplies:

Small strip of blank paper for each player (scratch paper works great!)
Pen/pencils

That’s it!

Before the game begins pass one strip of paper to each player. Ask them to write a name onto the paper. This can be any name: it could be a celebrity, a friend, a cartoon character, or a random name. There is no rule!

Once every person has written down a name ask them to fold their paper in half one time and put it into a bowl.

Related: How To Play Fish Bowl

How To Play Town Council

Now that all of the slips of paper have been put into the bowl, nominate someone to be the “Mayor”. The mayor will pull out each of the papers and read them one at a time to the group. While the names are being read the rest of the players will need to listen closely to each of the names and try to remember as many of the names as they can.

The names will only be read one time, so everyone should pay close attention.

After all of the games have been read the game can begin!

Sitting in a circle, take turns having each person guess who wrote down each name. If you guess someone’s name correctly then they will come sit by you and join your “Town Council”. You now work together as a council of two.

Play continues until one player has all of the other players on his council.

If you are able to guess someone else’s council of multiple players, then you get the entire team to join your council. It can be wise strategy to guess the large councils to help your team grow quickly.

Example Game

Here is a sample game to help you understand the process.

Let’s say there are 6 people playing Town Council: Jessica, Jordan, Claire, Kelly, Greg and Luke.

Jessica goes first and asks Claire: “Are you Bugs Bunny?” Claire did not write down Bugs Bunny so she replies, “No.”

Next it is Jordans turn, Jordan asks Jessica, “Are you George Washington?” Jessica did write down George Washington, so she replies, “Yes.” Jessica now sits by Jordan and joins his council. They can now work together to guess the rest of the group.

Now it is Claires turn. She asks Greg, “Are you Bugs Bunny?” Greg wrote down Bugs Bunny so he replies with, “Yes.” He now goes and joins Claires council.

Kelly goes next. He asks Jordan, “Are you Lebron James?” Jordan replies “No.”

Luke asks Jordan, “Are you Lizzie McGuire?” Jordan replies “Yes.” Now Jordan and Jessica goes and joins Luke’s Council.

Play continues again around the circle. This game is all about memory, make sure to pay attention while players are guessing so that you can remember who says no and yes to each of the names.

Claire asks Luke, “Are you Walt Disney?” Luke replies, “No.”

Next Kelly asks Claire, “Are you Dwight Schrute?” Claire is Dwight Schrute so says, “Yes.” Claire and Greg join Kellys Town Council.

Right now the Town Councils are:
- Kelly, Claire and Greg
- Luke, Jordan and Jessica
Kelly and Luke are the Town Council leaders and try to guess each others name. The first person to guess correctly will collect the rest of the players in the game and win the game.

Luke asks Kelly, “Are you Walt Disney?” Kelly is Walt Disney, so Luke inherits his council and wins the game. Yay!

Related: Best Family Games Under $20

Town Council Rules and Tips

Here are a few tips and rules to remember while playing this party game for all ages:

You are not allowed to ask someone if they are the name that you wrote down. It is always tempting to use this strategy to “throw them off your scent” but it is against the rules.
As your council grows you are allowed to work together as a team to remember everyone’s names, but only the leader of the council asks the questions.
When the mayor is reading the names don’t make any sounds, jokes or remarks about the names being read. Try to stay as neutral and quiet as possible. The more comments made about a name the more the group will remember that name, and you don’t want to help anyone else remember the names.

Have Fun!

Town Council is such a fun group game to play! It truly is the perfect party game for all ages. I hope that it will become a favorite game for you to play with your family and friends for years to come.

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I hope your family has fun playing town council, the perfect party game for all ages.

Cheap Staycation Ideas

January 9, 2024 By: Sweet Frugal Life2 Comments

Fun Staycation Activities For Families

I can’t wait to share my favorite cheap staycation ideas with all of you!

It’s no secret that I love to travel…..I mean my very favorite sinking fund category ( by far!) is my vacation fund. However, as we all know, traveling can get expensive….very expensive.

Once you add up the prices for flights, gas, hotels, restaurants, etc there is hardly any money left for the activities! And we all want the activities!

Which is why I am SO happy that fun staycations are becoming more normalized.

What is a staycation?

A staycation is a vacation where you don’t leave your city, and in many cases you don’t even leave your house! Instead of traveling to a new location you stay home and take a break from your regular day to day routine, no going to school or work or anything typical. Instead you will spend your time relaxing, exploring your city, and doing fun activities you never seem to have the time for.

Vacationing the staycation way gives you the opportunity to have a vacation….frugally! You won’t need to spend money on flights, hotels, and every meal. Instead you can save that money for something more important (debt payoff maybe???) and enjoy all of the many fun things to do and see right in your own hometown!

Cheap Staycation Ideas

So, without any further ado! Here is my master list of the BEST cheap staycation ideas for families! I hope you are able to find the perfect activity to help you relax, have fun and make memories!

At Home Family Staycation Ideas

Let’s start with my at home staycation ideas. Some of the best family activities can be enjoyed right in the comfort of your own home!

1. Movie Marathon

If you are looking for a relaxing and cheap staycation idea you just might love having a movie marathon. Choose one of your favorites tv or movie series and spend a few days binge watching! Of course you should add in some popcorn and your favorite movie treats.

You can find some great deals on streaming services if you know where to look! Shop around and see if you can sign up for a few new ones to enjoy over your movie weekend.

2. Play Board Games

My family loves playing board games. It’s a fun way for us to spend time together, laugh, stretch our brains and make memories. Spending a day playing board games is the perfect staycation idea for families.

Board games can be expensive to buy brand new, but don’t let that deter you! There are so many budget board games that are perfect for families check out my list of favorites here! Instead of buying new you could borrow a few games from a friend, or buy some games from the thrift store (my fave place to purchase games).

Related: How To Play Fish Bowl

3. Have A Spa Day

The entire family can join in on an at home spa day. Take some individual bubble baths, put on face masks, paint each other nails, and enjoy some R&R together as a family.

If you are looking for a cheap way for at home salon quality nails, my daughter loves this gel nails system!

Want to spend a little extra money on your spa day? Try a spa day out! Take the family to a local spa and enjoy some pampering for the day!

4. Learn A New Hobby

A staycation is the perfect time to learn a new hobby or work on perfecting one you already have!

You could use this time to take a cake decorating class, paint (my family loves to paint along with the Bob Ross YouTube Videos), learn to sew, sign up for a photography class, or anything else that sounds fun to you!

5. Yard Games

I am such a sucker for yard games! I love being outside with my family and yard games are the prefect way to make that happen.

One of my favorite things about yard games is that everyone can play. I’m not atheltic….so I always feel a little odd when I join in a game of softball, however a yard game….now that is something I can participate in confidently!

A few of my favorite yard games are:

6. Update A Room In Your House

Do you have a few house projects that you have been putting off? Use your staycation free time to get those projects done!

Maybe you are wanting to redecorate a room, update a bathroom, or organize a closet. It doesn’t matter if it’s big or small, just as long as it gets done!

7. Put Together A Puzzle

Puzzles are a great way to relax and keep your mind sharp. I love setting out a puzzle on our kitchen table for my family to work on during long weekends at home. My favorite brand of puzzles are Dowdle!

8. Get Some R&R

One of my favorite cheap staycation idea is to rest and relax! The busy hustle and bustle of every day life can wear out anyone and everyone! You might enjoy using your time off of work to get some much needed rest! Spend the day in bed catching up on your sleep, there is no harm in that!

Related: Free Self Care Ideas

9. Backyard Campout

Have a campout in your own backyard. You could lay out blankets right under the stars on your trampoline or a cot, or set up a tent with the kids.

If you happen to have a backyard firepit, try making dinner over the fire. We LOVE these tin foil dinners. Trust me, they aren’t your typical tin foil dinner…they are SO much better! Don’t forget to make the backyard campout extra special with some homemade smores!

10. Make A Craft

Use your staycation time to make a craft, or two or three!

Here are a few fun crafting ideas for the whole family:

Staycation Ideas You Can Do Around Your Town

There are so many fun activities you can do right in your own hometown! It’s easy to get use to living in the same place, becoming consumed with the day to day life and forgetting to enjoy all the fun experiences right in front of you.

One thing that has helped our family participate in more activities within our hometown is by using out Get Out Pass.

The Get Out Pass is an annual subscription that lets you visit attractions in your area for free! Last night my family went ax throwing, which is something we never would have tried without the Get Out Pass! It was so much fun to try something new right in our own city!

When buying your pass be sure to use my coupon code: SWEETFRUGALLIFE (code currently only available for Idaho, Utah, North California, North Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Washington and Colorado passes) for the best discount on your pass (promise, it’s always cheaper than the current deal).

Many of the things I will mention below are places that are included in most Get Out Passes.

1. Tour Your City

Try being a tourist in your own town! It doesn’t matter if you live in a big city or small town, there will always be something new to see or do!

You could try a new walking path, go window shopping in a different part of town, or try a new restaurant. Look at your city’s visitor website for ideas, or better yet. use the Get Out Pass to help you find new and fun things to do around town.

2. Rent Scooters To Tour Your Town

Over the past few years my city has been acquiring more and more Bird Scooters for the community to use. They are so much fun! You just download the app onto your phone, scan the scooter you want to rent and enjoy it for as long as you want! This could make for a very fun family staycation.

3. Visit Your Local Library

My family all loves to read, so a visit to the library to get new books is always a highlight in our housel! However, libraries offer SO much more than just books. Many libraries will loan national park passes, baking pans, board games, movies, and more!

Use some time during your next frugal staycation to see what all your library has to offer!

Related: 10 Free Things At The Library

4. Visit A Local Museum

Spend an afternoon at one of your local museums. I just took my kids to the Idaho Potato Museum for free using our Get Out Passes. It was small and quick, but fun to get out of the house and to learn more about our states famous potatoes.

Related: Get Out Pass: An Honest Review

6. Restaurant Tour

Are there some restaurants in your city that you’ve been wanting to try? A family staycation is the perfect time to try them! Use some of your budgeted money to take a little restaurant tour right in your town!

Spend a day or two visiting some of the top local restaurants. You could go out for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert…..or all of the above! You might just find a new family favorite!

6. Listen To Live Music

Many towns will have live music events throughout the week, especially during the summertime. We love sitting outside on a summer evening listening to free live music. Look on your city’s website to find any local live music events in your area.

7. Go To A Sporting Event

If you have a sports team in your town, a fun staycation idea would be to go to one of their home games. Sure, it might be a little pricy, depending on the league, but it’s much cheaper than a vacation out of the country!

Our Get Out Pass gives us a free pass to attend one minor league baseball game each year. It makes attending sporting events much cheaper and we look forward to it every year.

8. Have A Pool Day

My family insists that a pool must be apart of any sort of vacation….and I’m not arguing!

Consider adding a pool day to your frugal staycation plan! Spending a day at the pool makes for a great family friendly staycation! You could even pool hop, trying a different pool every day!

9. Attend A Paint Night

Check to see if your city has any paint studios. These are so fun and make planning a paint night easy. All you have to do is show up and then you’ll be taught how to paint a beautiful portrait! It’s a fun night out with friends or family.

If you are looking for something even cheaper, consider an at home paint night! We love these paint by number kits for at home paint nights.

10. Go To The Theater

Get dressed up for the evening and head to a local theater to see a new play, concert or comedian. Community theater can deliver some amazing shows and I love being able to support them whenever I can.

11. Go To The Zoo or Aquarium

Visit the animals living in your city with a trip to the zoo or aquarium…or both!

If you happen to have a Get Out Pass, there’s a good chance they include a free visit to your local zoo and or aquarium. We love using our passes each year to visit these attractions!

Don’t forget that if you purchase a Get Out Pass to use my code: SWEETFRUGALLIFE (code currently only available for Idaho, Utah, North California, North Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Washington and Colorado passes) for the cheapest price!

Fun Outdoor Staycation Activities For Families

Looking for some fun activities your family can do together in the great outdoors?? Check out some of the following ideas.

1. Go On A Picnic

Pack up a picnic lunch and go spend the day outside. You could picnic up in the mountains and take time exploring the forest. Or, maybe you would prefer a picnic at the beach playing in the waves and soaking up the sun. Another fun picnic place is a local park. Make sure to pack a few frisbees and spend time playing together as a family.

2. Go To The Beach

I do not live near a beach….but if I did it would be my first staycation activity!

Pack a beach bag full of food and sand toys and enjoy a beach day together as a family. You might enjoy exploring a few different beaches, maybe a new beach each day of your staycation….or just stick to your favorite! The joy of planning your staycation is that the choice is always yours!

3. Go On A Bike Ride

If your family owns bikes, going on a few bike rides is the perfect cheap staycation idea. Make a day out of it by packing a picnic and trying out a few new trails.

You could also rent some bikes if you don’t own any. The bike rental shop should have some recommendations of good bike trails to try! It’s always fun to try something new!

Related: 50 Fun Summer Activities For Kids

4. Take A Day Trip

I love to see new places, so a fun day trip is right up my alley. Try taking a day to explore a few nearby towns. You can try out a few restaurants and enjoy some of the activities the town has to offer.

5. Visit a U-Pick Farm

Take your family to a local U-Pick farm and enjoy the fresh grown produce. After you are done picking, bring it home and, depending on what you picked, you can can it, freeze it, or make some homemade treats!

My family loves driving up the mountains every summer and picking huckleberries. We always bring them home and make huckleberry pancakes for dinner!

Related: Easy Huckleberry Muffin Recipe

6. Have A Lake Day

Another cheap staycation idea is to enjoy a day with your family at the lake. You could rent a few kayaks, pack a picnic and enjoy relaxing in nature!

7. Go Hiking

Hiking is a great way to disconnect from life (including phones!) and spend time connecting with each other. It gives you the time to talk, share stories, and make memories. I love taking my family into nature to teach them a different way to relax and relieve stress.

8. Spend A Day At A National Park

I’ve lived within 2 hours of Yellowstone National Park for the majority of my life…..but I am embarrassed to admit that I don’t go to the park as often as I should.

If you are like me and live within driving distance of a National Park you might enjoy using your staycation time to finally go enjoy it for all it’s glory.

National Parks allow free entry to everyone about 4 days each year. They also have a pass for 4th graders to get in free. Make sure to look up details about both of these awesome opportunities to make your cheap staycation even better!

9. Play Your Favorite Sport

My family loves going outside and playing a sport together. Honestly, none of us are all that athletic, but we just enjoy being active and having fun together.

We love to play about anything! But our favorites are soccer, baseball and kickball.

Playing a sport together as a family is the perfect cheap staycation idea.

10. Go Bird Watching

Help your kids learn more about birds through a bird watching activity. Get a bird watchers book for the library, or this one from Amazon and learn all about birds!

Afterwards you could come home and play my favorite boardgame, Wingspan. It will add to the bird watching theme day!

Nothing Wrong With Cheap Staycations

I want to stress that there is nothing wrong with taking your kids on a staycation. I know that the flashy vacations you see on instagram look like the ideal family time….and those are great! But really, the most important things is spending time together as a family.

Don’t feel guilty if all you can afford is a budget friendly staycation….feel proud that you are taking the time to plan special memories for your kids.

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I hope your family enjoys these cheap staycation ideas!

Easy Pasta Bake Recipe

January 2, 2024 By: Sweet Frugal Life7 Comments

This quick 5 minute pasta dinner is the perfect cheap meal for kids.

Sometimes I love making a fancy dinner with all the fixings….and other nights…well, I just don’t feel like cooking at all! I got this easy dinner pasta recipe from my sister years and years ago and it soon became an instant hit in my house. This is the perfect recipe for the nights when you just do not want to cook dinner.

It is full of yummy noodles and cheesy goodness, it also happens to be one of the quickest and easiest dinners I make. So if you are needing a simple, budget friendly dinner idea, this is for you! It is perfect for those busy evenings you need to throw something together quick! I am pretty sure it is impossible to mess this recipe up!

The Best Easy Pasta Bake Recipe

This recipe is seriously the easiest thing you will ever make in your life! Plus, it’s a huge hit for all ages. Your kids will eat this up with huge smiles and won’t even be able to tell that it only took you 5 minutes of prep time!

The first thing you will need to do to make this easy pasta bake recipe is to gather all of your ingredients. You will need:

1 box pasta (we like rotini or penne pasta best) (16 0z.)
1 jar spaghetti sauce (24 oz.)
1 jar water (about 12 oz.)
Grated cheese ( I prefer mozzarella or parmesan) (about 1 cup)
Optional Ingredients:
- Cooked meat: chicken, sausage, meatballs
- Olives
- Spinach
- Mushrooms

To start the recipe off just grab your box of pasta and pour it into a casserole dish. I usually use rotini or penne, but occasionally I will use macaroni pasta. It just depends on what I have on hand.

The best part about this recipe is that you don’t have to boil the pasta at all, which cuts the prep time down a lot!

Next you will need to pour a jar of spaghetti sauce and 12 oz. water over the pasta. This is also the perfect time to add your optional meats and/or veggies.

Stir the pasta and add ins together, cover with a lid or tin foil and put it in the oven.

Your pasta bake will need to bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Related: Easy Homemade Pizza Crust Recipe

After the pasta bakes for 20 minutes, take it out of the oven and sprinkle cheese evenly on top. Bake for another 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Once the cheese is nice and melted take your pasta bake out of the oven and enjoy! Serve it with a nice salad and some fruit.

Easy Pasta Bake

3 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 30

Ingredients

1 box pasta rotini or penne
24 oz. spaghetti sauce
12 oz. water
veggies (optional) spinach, mushrooms or olives
1 cup mozzarella cheese parmesan works too
cooked meats (optional) meatballs, chicken, or sausage

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Stir pasta, spaghetti sauce, water and any other optional add ins together in a 9X13 casserole dish.
Bake it in the oven for 20 minutes.
Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top.
Bake for another 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Easy Pasta Bake Recipe For The Win

Not only is this recipe easy, it is a family favorite, and it is super frugal friendly! I make it every year during my January Pantry Challenge and I’m so happy to share it with all of you today!

Let me know if you make it and if you like it or not!

Want More Easy Recipes?

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Pin this recipe for future reference!

Let me know if you try this easy pasta bake recipe!

What To Do After Completing The Pantry Challenge

January 1, 2024 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

End Of Pantry Challenge Tips

Have you successfully completed the pantry challenge? Or maybe you have heard the term “pantry challenge” being thrown around, but aren’t sure what it means.

Either one is ok, you’ve come to the right place!

A pantry challenge is a challenge where you commit to focusing on eating out of your pantry/fridge/freezer/cupboards, rather than going to the store and buying a lot of food. Yes, you can buy some food….but when I take on a pantry challenge I make a goal to cut my regular grocery budget for the month in half and only buy necessities.

I recently completed a successful pantry challenge. The goal was to cut my regular monthly grocery budget ($600) in half. By doing this we would focus on eating the items I already had stocked in my freezer and pantry.

Fortunately, I had many friends on Instagram join me in this challenge. I loved watching all of the progress and having a group to encourage each other and share all our frugal ideas. Be sure to check out this article if you want to have your own pantry challenge and save money with a pantry challenge.

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What’s Next?

My most asked question about this challenge has been, “Will you spend a lot of money on groceries in February to restock the pantry?”

The answer is No. That would defeat the whole purpose of the challenge. Today’s article is going to explain how I will slowly restock my pantry while staying in budget!

How To Stock Your Pantry After Completing The Pantry Challenge

Below are my best tips for restocking your pantry after you finished a pantry challenge.

1. Budget for the Pantry

I have a weekly budget dedicated to pantry stock up. My current budgeted amount for pantry stock up is $25 per week. This pantry money is taken out of our $150 weekly grocery budget. Because it has been budgeted and planned for, restocking doesn’t require any extra money or stress, just the way I like it!

Some weeks the pantry budget is spent at local sales. Other times it’s stashed away to save for another week. It all depends on our current needs.

2. Buy Multiples

Next, get into the habit of buying multiple items at the grocery store. The way I see it, if I’m going to buy one item, and I have a few extra dollars in my budget, than I might as well grab a few more.

I do 90% of my shopping using Walmart’s Free Grocery Pick, I love this service for about 1 million reasons (really), but a huge reason is the ability to watch my grocery total as I add and subtract items to my order. Whenever I am below my budgeted $100/week, I will add on a few more pantry staples. As a result, this helps my pantry to grow and keeps me in budget.

3. Buy in Bulk

Another way to frugally stock your pantry after completing the pantry challenge is to buy grocery items in bulk. Most groceries will be priced lower if it is bought in bulk, but not always. Remember to check the price per unit to make sure you are getting the best deal.

One of the ways I shop in bulk is by shopping local grocery case lot sales. To find a case lot sale near you be sure to talk to your local grocer. In many areas these sales might be called different names or even unadvertised. So, don’t give up easily!

4. Shop Sales

One of my favorite ways to restock a pantry is by shopping the sales and deals.

My favorite app to check for deals is the Flipp app. It is completely free to download and extremely user friendly, just the way I like it!

The app is updated weekly as the new grocery ads come available. I browse it every week to find what the sales are and plan my menus/pantry stock up around those deals. Many weeks I can’t find anything worth buying, but other times I find some really great deals worth buying.

Related: 10 Quick Ways to Lower your Grocery Bill

5. Take Advantage of Cashback

Always, ALWAYS take advantage of the cashback apps available! These are not huge money savers, but every.single.little.penny adds up. For example; whenever I see my husband throwing away a receipt without scanning it for cashback I ask him, “Would you throw 25 cents in the trash???” Of course he wouldn’t. But essentially you are losing out on free money if you toss a receipt without first scanning it into the apps.

A few of my favorite cashback apps for grocery shopping are:.

Ibotta: This is my most used app. Ibotta offers cashback on hundreds of items every time you scan your grocery receipt. My favorite cashback offers are the “any brand” items. These offers include items in the dairy, produce, and other grocery departments.

Fetch Rewards: Fetch Rewards is so easy! This is by far the most user friendly app. All you do is scan your receipt and you automatically earn points. These points can be redeemed for gift cards to just about anywhere. My favorites are Target and Amazon. I really like Fetch because you can redeem your points at as low at $3.

In Conclusion

As a result of the pantry challenge last month I saved $300. I know it will take a few months to restock my pantry, but I know it’s worth it. The pantry challenge gives me more than a couple extra hundred dollars, it teaches me how to cook more at home, shop smarter and budget better. That is priceless!

15 Easy Pantry Dinner Ideas

Cheap Foods to Buy For a Well Stocked Pantry

Liked what you read? Pin it to use for your next pantry challenge!

I hope this gave you some good pantry challenge tips!

Cheap Snack Ideas For Kids

November 16, 2023 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Snack Ideas Kids Will Love

If your kids are anything like my kids, than they seem to always be hungry. My kids can eat through a pantry of snacks quicker than I can count to ten! Over the years I have started brainstorming cheap snack ideas for kids so that they can fill up their ever growing bodies, be (somewhat) nutritious, and also won’t cost me an arm and a leg.

Below you will find a few of the best frugal snack ideas for kids. These snacks are perfect for on the go, after school, or everywhere in between. Budget friendly and parent approved! Yay!

Sweet Frugal Life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Homemade Cheap Snack Ideas For Kids

These frugal snack ideas will require a little bit of preplanning and effort in the kitchen. But I promise the result is worth the extra time!

Homemade Graham Crackers

My kids love when I make these homemade graham crackers. They are easy, delicious and fun to customize the shape depending on the season!

Muffins

Muffins make for great snacks and are super quick and easy to whip up. There are so many different types of muffins, a couple of our favorites are this Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate chip muffin recipe, and this Huckleberry Muffin Recipe.

Banana Bread

Don’t throw away bananas that are overripe, instead use them to make this quick banana bread recipe. This recipe is so moist and easy. It’s been a favorite in my family for a few generations!

Homemade Popsicles

Homemade popsicles aren’t just for summer, they make a great treat for all year round! We love to make popsicles with juice, leftover smoothies, or pureed fruit, it really just depends on what we food we have in the fridge.

Smoothies are also a great way to use up any extra produce before it goes bad. We freeze our popsicles in popsicle molds bought from Amazon!

Cake Mix Cookies

Stock up on box cake mix when it goes on sale and use it to make these 3 ingredient cake mix cookies. They are easy to customize to meet your current craving, and super easy to throw together.

Partly Homemade Snacks For Kids

If you don’t have the time or energy to make homemade snacks from scratch, you might want to try some of these partly homemade snack ideas. They will require a little bit of effort to throw together, but not as much as the ideas above.

Popcorn

Popcorn is a staple at my house. It’s cheap, quick to prepare, and somewhat healthy. I like to buy popcorn kernels and pop them over the stove in a little bit of oil, or you could buy a popcorn maker from Amazon for a decent price.

You can even change up the flavor by sprinkling on some yummy seasonings. My kids especially love using parmesan cheese, salt, garlic powder or seasoning salt.

Related: 10 Quick Ways to Save Money on Groceries

Cinnamon Toast

I learned about cinnamon toast from my husbands family and I’ve loved it ever since. It’s super simple and the kids love it!

All you have to do is butter a slice of bread, sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on top and then bake it in the oven at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until toasted. It’s so good!

Cheese Quesadilla

Cheese Quesadillas are another cheap snack idea you can easily make at home. They are delicious and quick to throw together for after school or when you’re rushing out the door. Tortillas are fairly cheap to buy at the store, and even cheaper to make yourself.

Smoothies

I love stocking up on fresh fruit when it’s in season and then freezing it in bulk. The frozen fruit is perfect for making budget friendly smoothies.

Frugal bonus tip: Pour any extra smoothie into a freezer container and store it in the freezer. The frozen smoothie can be put into your kids lunchboxes for a quick and easy school lunch treat. These are a huge hit with my kids!

Ants On A Log

Ants on a log is a fun and quick snack. It’s made by spreading peanut butter on top of celery and then adding a few raisins! Easy peasy!

Yogurt Parfaits

Making a yogurt parfait is easy. Just layer yogurt with berries and then top it off with granola. You could even try making your own yogurt (something I haven’t tried yet….) for even more savings!

Cinnamon Sugar Tortillas

Another quick to fix snack for kids is cinnamon sugar tortillas. All you have to do is spread butter over the top of a flour tortilla and then sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Bake the tortilla in the oven at 350 degrees for 10-20 minutes, or until golden and crispy. Lastly, cut it into triangles using a pizza cutter and enjoy! It’s one of my kids favorite after school snacks.

Related: How To Make Flour Tortillas

Grab and Go Snack Ideas For Kids

If you are in a hurry, or just don’t feel like cooking, try a few of these grab and go cheap snacks for kids. They require little/none preparation and are tasty, but frugal!

Frozen Grapes

Have you ever tried frozen grapes? They are so so SO delicious! I love to stock up on grapes when they go on sale, and then freeze them in a freezer bag. They taste like a yummy popsicle and are the perfect cheap snack for kids.

Fresh Fruit

One of our favorite frugal snacks is fresh fruit. I like to watch sales at local grocery stores and buy whatever fruit in on sale. I’ve learned that if I set fruit out on the counter, my kids are much more likely to grab it when they are looking for a snack.

Related: Best Ways To Store Produce To Keep It Fresh Longer

Cheese & Crackers

Who doesn’t love cheese and crackers??? It’s a classic cheap snack and for good reason! Stock up on crackers when they go on sale so you can help your kids enjoy cheese and crackers for an easy and frugal afternoon snack.

Raisins

Raisins are great to grab and eat on their own, or you can mix them with some nuts and chocolate chips for a cheap trail mix snack. Make sure to buy the raisins in bulk for the best value.

Apples and Peanut Butter

We love the delicious apples and peanut butter snack at our house. You can serve the peanut butter as an apple dip, or our favorite thing to do is slice the apples with a mandolin and top each slice with peanut butter and chocolate chips! So yummy!!!

Cheerios

Ok, I know it’s basic, but cheerios is one of the best cheap snack ideas for kids because it’s not only frugal, it’s also quick, easy and loved by all! Basically a win all around! Make sure to watch grocery sales because cheerios are often marked down and available as a rebate with many cashback apps.

Cheese

Cheese is the perfect quick snack! I like to buy a large block of cheese (Costco usually has the best prices) and cut it into individual slices/cubes for even more convenient snacking.

Applesauce

I love canning jars and jars of applesauce every fall. I try to buy a couple of boxes of apples when the price drops to 50 cents/lb and turn them all into applesauce.

It’s true that not everyone loves to can, and that’s fine! You can buy applesauce and it is still a frugal snack.

Pretzels

Pretzels are another cheap snack idea for kids. They are perfect for a quick grab and go snack or as a lunchbox filler. Pretzels are consistently one of the cheaper snack options in the grocery store, and almost always kid approved! Yay!

Best Frugal Snacks

There are so many options when searching for the best frugal snacks! We can feed our kids and their love for snacks without having to hurt our grocery budget.

What To Do When Grocery Prices Rise

Easy After School Snack Ideas

Mel’s Home Cooking Recipe Book

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What are your favorite cheap snack ideas for kids?

Best Christmas Traditions For Families On A Budget

October 19, 2023 By: Sweet Frugal Life16 Comments

Frugal Christmas Activities To Do This Year.

Are you looking for the best Christmas traditions for families on a budget? I’ve got you covered in this article!

Christmas is just my very very favorite season. I love the lights, the snow, planning that perfect gift for a loved one, and the joy I feel from everyone around me. It truly is the most magical time of the year!

This fun holiday makes December the perfect month for establishing frugal family christmas traditions. My hope is that one day my little family will look back on their childhood and remember the sweet memories and traditions we made together year after year.

The best part about traditions is that you do not have to spend a lot of money to make these memories with your family. A lot of activities can be done completely FREE! Here are 20 of the best frugal Christmas traditions for families.

Frugal Christmas Activities For Families

I hope you find one, or many traditions to start with your family this year! Time passes fast, we have to enjoy every single moment while we can!

1. Decorate the Christmas Tree

Each year our family hikes through the forest to cut down our very own fresh Christmas tree. This is one of my favorite things to do all year!

After we find that “perfect” tree we bring it home, turn on some Christmas music and spend a fun evening decorating it together. Our Christmas tree is decorated with salt dough ornaments, candy canes, and all the things that bring sentimentality and love to my life. The ornaments made by the hands of my sweet children are ones I will cherish forever!

2. Read Christmas Stories By The Christmas Tree

Another frugal Christmas tradition that I love is reading a Christmas story by the Christmas tree each night. It’s such a sweet and magical time as a family.

Every night for the entire month of December we turn off the lights in our house, sit in front of the lit up Christmas tree, and read a Christmas Story. I’ve been collecting sweet holiday short stories from the internet and Christmas picture books from thrift stores. I try to buy one or two used Christmas books each year and have slowly increased my collection over the years.

3. Look At Christmas Lights

One of the best family Christmas traditions for families on a budget is to drive around looking at Christmas lights. We love during this activity each year and have found a few favorite neighborhoods that we like to visit.

I always pop some popcorn for the kids (and me!) to snack on during the drive and the kids bring a blanket and wear their pajamas. Of course, we have our favorite holiday music on in the background. It is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to enjoy the holidays together as a family.

Related: Easily Forgotten Christmas Budget Categories

4. Bake Holiday Goodies

I mean really, does it get any better than holiday baking?? I think NOT! With hundreds of different recipes and treats to choose from, we could be baking all month long!

Holiday baking is a great frugal Christmas tradition to do with kids. My kids love to help in the kitchen, ESPECIALLY if they know treats are involved! A few of our holiday favorites are gingerbread men, cinnamon candy, pretzels dipped in chocolate, Christmas tree cookies, and homemade toffee.

5. Deliver Neighbor Gifts

After all the holiday baking it’s so fun to deliver those yummy homemade goodies to friends and neighbors. This is a great activity to get the kids involved with.

Package the goodies onto a cute plate, add a homemade card and spend an evening bringing some joy to your neighborhood. I love this tradition and the way it brings a community together.

Related: Cheap Christmas Gifts for Neighbors, Teachers, and Friends

6. Christmas Countdown With An Advent Calendar

My kids love counting down for Christmas each day with our homemade advent calendar. We have one very similar to this Christmas Tree Calendar. Each day they get to put a new ornament on the tree. I love watching their faces light up as the tree fills with ornaments. When the tree is full, Christmas is here. It makes the long wait a little bit easier for the excited kids!

7. Watch A Christmas Movie

Plan an evening and have a Christmas movie night together as a family. I love snuggling up with my family and watching a feel good holiday movie together. We enjoy classics like; It’s a Wonderful Life and White Christmas; or a newer family favorite like Elf. It really is one of the best Christmas traditions for families on a budget.

Netflix has a lot of great Christmas movie options, or check out a few from your local library.

8. Make A Christmas Craft

There are hundreds of darling Christmas Craft ideas all over Pinterest. These are so fun to do with the kids during a school holiday break. Be creative and try making a new craft every year. It will be so fun to look back on crafts made over the years.

Related: Best Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas

9. Make Paper Snowflakes

Homemade paper snowflakes can add a fun and whimsical look to your home, plus they are free!. Spend an afternoon cutting out paper snowflakes with your family and hang them all around your house.

Here is an easy paper snowflake tutorial to follow. It’s such a joy to see every snowflake, each with a different unique design.

10. Host A Christmas Eve Dinner

I love hosting my families annual Christmas Eve dinner. It’s a fun way to get together with friends or family and celebrate the holiday. We always eat a big dinner (potluck to spread out the work and cost) and play a few Christmas games. It’s simple and basic, but one of my favorite traditions.

11. Write Letters To Santa

Another fun Christmas tradition for families on a budget is to write letters to Santa Clause. I am personally not a huge fan of the traditional letters to Santa, where the kids ask for all the things they want to be brought to them.

Instead, I have my kids write to tell Santa about all of the good and nice things they have done throughout the year. My hope is this will encourage them to focus more on being kind and less on materialistic things.

12. Light the World

We have been participating in Light the World for the past few years. Light the World is a campaign sponsored by my church. It encourages families to look for ways to serve within their family, community and in the world. It is absolutely open to EVERYONE! The focus is less about religion, and more on giving others service and love.

There are so many different ways to serve and love others. Bake cookies for your local fire department, participate in Operation Shoe box, volunteer at a local soup kitchen, or become “Secret Santa” for a family in need. I love having my kids participate in this and have found it really brings the true spirit of Christmas into our home.

Related: 11 Acts of Kindness This Christmas (without spending a lot of money)

13. Act out the Nativity

Every Christmas Eve my kids act out the nativity as an adult reads the story out of Luke 2. The kids dress up as Mary, Joseph, The Wise Men, etc.

I love this tradition and how it helps us focus on the reason for the season. It really is one of the best Christmas traditions for families on a budget.

14. Make a Ginger Bread House

Spend an afternoon making a ginger bread house with your family. You can usually find fairly cheap gingerbread kits at your local grocery store. One year we just used graham crackers and homemade frosting. For decorations we used items we already had in my pantry, like chocolate chips, marshmallows and almonds.

It really doesn’t matter how fancy of a house you build, all that matters is that you’re spending time with your loved ones and participating in family friendly Christmas activities.

15. Have A Christmas Cookie Exchange

Invite some friends over for an annual Christmas Cookie Exchange! It’s an easy party to throw, just ask everyone to bring a dozen cookies and enjoy socializing and taste testing all of the different holiday cookies.

You might even find a new favorite recipe! One of my favorite Christmas cookie are these Christmas Tree Cookies.

16. Send Out A Christmas Email

Instead of following the traditional tradition of sending out Christmas cards, try sending out a Christmas email instead. This is a much cheaper option (hello free!) and still a fun way to reach out to friends and family. You can include a few pictures and a short update of what your family has been up to over the past year. I have even seen some free email card services you could look into!

17. Host A White Elephant Party

Host a White Elephant Party at your home. Ask everyone to bring a wrapped gift (something they already have around their house) and then play a fun gift exchange game.

This is a fun way to exchange gifts with friends, without having to spend a lot of money on everyone. It’s also sure to bring a lot of laughs!!

Related: How To Play Fish Bowl

18. Make A Hot Chocolate Bar

Set up a hot chocolate bar on Christmas Day. Keep it simple to prevent overspending. A few peppermint sticks, some marshmallows and whipped cream are all budget friendly ideas. Try out my easy homemade hot chocolate mix recipe for something quick and delicious you can make at home.

19. Attend A Christmas Concert Or Event

Look around your community for free Christmas Concerts and Events happening around town. Does your city put on a free nativity, light parade or other special concerts? You can usually find at least a few Christmas Concerts at the local high school this time of year.

Pick one or a few of these activities you can attend as a family. Many of them will be free, or maybe just a few dollars. It’s a fun way to spend a night out of the house and support your community.

20. Cookies for Santa and Reindeer Food

My kids love setting out milk and cookies for Santa Clause on Christmas Eve. It’s such a sweet and fun Christmas tradition for families.

Consider going one step further and make some Reindeer Food. This is so easy to do by mixing oats and glitter together. Sprinkle the magic reindeer food out in your yard to help the reindeer find your house.

Spend Time Together

I hope you enjoyed these ideas for some of the best Christmas traditions for families on a budget.

The most important part of family traditions is that you focus on spending time together. It doesn’t always matter what you do, as long as you are focused on each other.

Best Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas

How to Save Money For Christmas

Easily Forgotten Christmas Budget Categories

Pin For Next Christmas:

What are some other fun Christmas traditions for families on a budget?

Best Gift Ideas For 5-7 Year Old Girls Under $25

September 13, 2023 By: Sweet Frugal Lifecomment

Budget friendly gift ideas for little girls.

Looking for some gift ideas for 5-7 year old girls under $25? I’ve got you covered!

For some reason gift shopping can be so stressful! I always want to gift something that will be loved and enjoyed, but I also have a tight budget I need to stick to. So, I end up shopping for weeks and weeks trying to find that perfect gift that won’t put me over budget.

If you are anything like me, I decided to save you a lot of time and stress! I did the browsing for you! Below you will find 25 budget friendly gift ideas for young girls! I hope these gift ideas help you find exactly what you are looking for.

Crafting Gift Ideas For 5-7 Year Old Girls

Crafting is so fun for 5-7 year old girls. They are starting to understand how to create with their own ideas and are so proud of the finished project. Here are a few budget friendly craft gift ideas!

Rainbow Scratch Paper Art Kit

Keep your young artist entertained for hours with this rainbow scratch paper art kit. It comes with over 100 pieces to use to help her create beautiful rainbow art pictures. My little ones always thought these kits were like magic! They are so fun and affordable!

Color Your Own Water Bottle

My girls both had these color your own water bottles when they were younger and loved them! It’s a fun gift idea to help girls show their creativity and then display it proudly!

Fairy Lantern Craft Kit

I was so excited to find this Fairy Lantern Craft Kit. It comes with everything you’ll need for your sweet girls to make their own fairy lantern. This is the perfect gift for girls who love fairy’s and fairy gardens.

Crayola Twistables

If you are shopping for a budding artist, you might want to buy her these fun Crayola Twistables. They have 50 different colors and are my favorite colored pencil ever!

Fun Game Gift Ideas For 5-7 Year Old Girls

I love gifting games to kids. They provide a lot of fun family togetherness time, memories and laughter. Plus, games are a great way to encourage learning and thinking skills.

Monopoly Junior Board Game

You can’t go wrong with a classic board game and one of my favorite classics is Monopoly! Try gifting the Monopoly Junior board game version, so that young kids can enjoy this fun game too!

Candyland Board Game

Candyland is another fun and classic board game for young kids! It never ever gets old! Kids (and adults) of all ages love playing this game (me included)!

Wooden Blocks Game

How adorable is this wooden blocks game?!?! I love it and our family loves playing this game! It always keeps us laughing! This version of the game is so colorful and unique, a perfect combination for kids!

Lawn Dart Yard Game

Encourage your little ones to play outside with this lawn dart yard game. It comes with 4 darts, 2 target rings, a carrying bag and instructions. This is that perfect gift that will be fun no matter what age your child is!

Related: Best Family Games Under $20

Fun Toy Gift Ideas For 5-7 Year Old Girls

Being a 5-7 year old girl means a lot of playing with toys, dressing up, and pretending. Here are a few ideas to keep your little one having fun and using her imagination!

Princess Castle Play Tent

Give your little princess her very own castle with this princess castle play tent! She will love having her own little hideout and will give her some fun opportunities for pretend play.

Toy Tea Set

Look at how adorable this toy tea set is?? It comes with everything a little girl would need to set up her own tea party, plus a carrying case to keep it all organized when not in use!

Magnetic Wooden Dress Up Dolls

My daughters had these magnetic wooden dress up dolls when they were 5 and 7 and loved them! It was so fun to mix and match the different outfits and the magnets make it so easy to put the clothes on and off. It makes for the perfect travel toy too!

Rocket Launcher

Help your kids get out their energy with the Stomp Rocket toy. It comes with 4 rockets that will launch 200 feet into the air. This is the perfect activity for outdoor or indoor play and something that will entertain the neighborhood!

Walkie Talkies

Walkie Talkies are just the most fun ever, seriously! My kids and their friends play with our walkie talkies for hours and hours. You can bring them camping, hiking, or use them for playing night games, so many possibilities! I found a great deal on kids walkie talkies and these would make the perfect gift!

LOL Surprise Dance Doll

LOL Surprise dolls were all the rage last year, so make sure to buy one before they are sold out! This LOL Surprise Dance Doll comes with 7 surprises and doll!

Polly Pocket

Polly pockets were some of my very favorite toys when I was a young girl, and I have loved seeing them make a comeback the last few years! I found the cutest polly pocket swimming set with great reviews! Check it out here!

Doctor Kit

My daughters and their friends spent hours and hours playing doctor with our toy doctor kit! I think it was the most used toy we ever owned! So, I always recommend it to parents! This is a great priced doctor kit similar to the one we owned and loved!

Gift Ideas For Her Room

I love decorating my kids rooms! It’s a great way to let their personality and interests shine! Below are some fun gift ideas perfect for a little girls room.

Star Projector Nightlight

How fun would it be to give your 5-7 year old girl the gift of falling asleep under the stars every night??? Well you can with this fun star projector nightlight! Right now it’s under $20 and has over 9,000 positive reviews! I almost want to buy it for me! 😉

Squishmallow Stuffed Animal

Squishmallows are all the rage right now for stuffed animal lovers. They are soft, and oh so squishy! This Unicorn Squishmallow is adorable and under $25!

Unicorn Musical Jewelry Box

Here’s another fun gift idea for a 5-7 year old girl, a new jewelry box! This darling unicorn music box is perfect for a little girls favorite rings, necklaces and favorite trinkets.

Mermaid Tail Blanket

What little girl doesn’t dream of being a mermaid?!?!? I think most do! Help them play mermaid for a few hours with this cozy mermaid tail blanket. It has great reviews, multiple colors to choose from and the price is right!

Learning Gifts For 5-7 Year Old Girl

Help the girl you are shopping for learn and develop with these fun and affordable learning toys!

Glow In The Dark Puzzle

The ages between 5-7 are perfect to start introducing puzzles to kids. This unicorn glow in the dark puzzle is so fun, but you can also choose from a few other puzzle themes, such as space, dinosaur and fairies. Just find the theme that suits your little girl best!

Child Microscope

How fun is this child’s microscope??? Help your young scientist explore and learn with the “kidscope” and 60 real life images to view.

Kids Baking Set

Introduce your sweet girl to baking with her very own Baking Set. This one comes with a chef hat, apron, rolling pin, and other fun baking gadgets!

Science Kit

Here is a fun beginner science kit! It comes with 11 hands on science activities to help young kids learn more about science and how things work.

Little Girl Gifts She Can Wear

I only have one item on this list, but it was worth keeping it because of how cute it is!

Knee High Animal Socks

Ok, how cute are these knee high animal socks?!?!?! They are adorable and I wish they came in my size! They would make the perfect gift for a little girl.

More Gift Guides

Have even more people on your list you are shopping for? Check out my other budget friendly gift guides below!

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I hope you find the perfect gift idea for your 5-7 year old girl!

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Looking for some budget friendly Mothers Day Gifts? I’ve got you covered!

10 Gifts for Mom Under $10

Canvas Tote

Mama Necklace

Initial Letter Ring

Stacking Bracelet Set

Bangle Keychain

Personalized Name Necklaces

Stackable Photo Bracelets

Wireless Charging Pads

Boho Earrings

Face Roller

Closing Thoughts

Related Articles:

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I hope these gifts for mom under $10 help you find the perfect Mothers Day Gift!

These are the best simple muffin recipes perfect for breakfast, snacks, and everything in between!

Air Fryer Double Chocolate Chip Muffins

Apple Crumb Muffins

Apple Oatmeal Muffins

Applesauce Muffins

Banana Cinnamon Sugar Muffins

Banana Coconut Muffins

Banana Crumb Muffins

Banana Walnut Muffins

Basic Muffin Recipe

Blueberry Muffins

Blueberry Streusel Muffins

Brown Sugar Muffins

Chocolate Muffins

Chocolate Chip Muffins

Cinnamon Applesauce Muffins

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Muffins

Huckleberry Muffins

Lemon Blueberry Muffins

Lemon Poppyseed Muffins

Lemon Raspberry Muffins

Magdalenas (Spanish Muffins)

Mulberry Muffins With Brown Sugar Topping

Oatmeal Muffins

Oatmeal and Carrot Muffins

Peanut Butter Banana Oat Muffins

Pineapple Muffins

Pumpkin Muffins

Pumpkin Cake Mix Muffins

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Pumpkin Zucchini Muffins

Raspberry Muffins with Crumb Topping

Sweet Potato Muffins

Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Zucchini Muffins

Quick & Easy Muffin Recipes

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I hope you love these quick and easy muffin recipes!

How to make these easy oatmeal muffins.

Quick Oatmeal Muffins Recipe

Oatmeal Muffins

Ingredients

Instructions

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I hope that you enjoy this easy oatmeal muffin recipe.

Town Council Group Game Instructions

What is Town Council?

Town Council Group Game Set Up

How To Play Town Council

Example Game

Town Council Rules and Tips

Have Fun!

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I hope your family has fun playing town council, the perfect party game for all ages.

Fun Staycation Activities For Families

What is a staycation?

Cheap Staycation Ideas

At Home Family Staycation Ideas

1. Movie Marathon

2. Play Board Games

3. Have A Spa Day

4. Learn A New Hobby

5. Yard Games

6. Update A Room In Your House