Without extra money, what do you do?

[mellowmama]

Since deciding to be a SAHM, money is understandably tighter these days. We don't even have the extra money to go to the movies once in awhile. Also, we can't afford to take dd to a lot of the fun places we would like to(zoo, aquarium, etc.), unless we plan far ahead, and save up for it. We plan to take her to the Enchanted Forest(a really cool nursery rhyme theme park) next weekend, and want to do the zoo this summer, too.

My question #1 is, what do you do for fun with your dh to get some "us" time? and #2, is, what do you do to break up the monotony of everyday at home life with your child(ren)?

[saffronne]

For question #1:
When money is tight, as it has been for the last few months, we will:

-go to a bookstore and split a coffee. Much talking and drinking
-drop the kids off with my folks and have sex at home alone
-rent a movie, or get one from the library to watch after the kids go to bed
-cook dinner together
-snuggle in the bed together and read

For question #2:
How old is your dd? If she's old enough, she'll probably enjoy:

-touring a local ice cream or cookie factory (usually free, and they give out samples)
-volunteering at a local animal shelter to help socialize the animals (puppies and cats, usually)
-a membership at a local science center or play center. Ask for one for a birthday gift. We have one for $80 per year, and we get free admission to the center and its indoor play area, all the science exhibits, and the aquarioum level. Endless fun.
-any local free exhibits, like a botanical garden or an art museum
-check your local community paper for events that are child friendly. We have a Family Times newspaper specific for our city that lists everything a child could do, and it's quite a lot for the size of our town
-start your own playgroup. Put some fliers up at local libraries looking for other moms. I did this and now run one playgroup and help lead another one.
-take advantage of library story times. You could probably go to one every day, between different branches and that bookstores offer. Call around.
-visit a pet shop or aquarium store- look at all the lovely fish.

There's a lot to do in most cities that is free or very low cost. It's a question of knowing where to look. If you have a city paper (not the news variety), that would be a good place to start.

[Pretzel Twister]

saffronne has excellent suggestions. Find a local community calendar on-line so you will know when festivals and free concerts in the park, car shows and that sort of thing are scheduled. If your area has a chamber of commerce or visitors bureau, call them, they love to give out information and know when the fun stuff will be in town.

[Dogzilla]

Don't forget the library. Great programs, almost always free of charge.

[Box of Rain]

Library and more library here!

We do have a yearly membership to the zoo, aquarium, and a children's museum. Those are worth it if you go often (we do every weekend).

Definitely check your city/town website or paper for stuff. We can almost always find free art festivals and things to do on the weekends.

This weekend we are going to a police motorcycle contest and a dog show. :D

[Ima Freak]

I :heart the library! Recently our public libraries had a series of music programs for kids. Totally free and lots of fun. We go to the beach, parks. The local community centers have toddler play rooms full of toys and stuff. Also, we're in a couple different playgroups - get connected with some other mamas in your area (if you can find some you like). Makes a big difference.

[Jessa]

Well, for alone time with DH...
I second the dropping off the kid and having sex idea. That one is great!
make dinner together
make some mixed drinks, rent a movie, snuggle together on the couch

For fun stuff for kids...
You live in OR, there are plenty of fun things to do depending on what city you live in. Find out what things are going on in your comminity.
Take DD to the beach for a day. You could pack your own lunch, and the only thing it will cost is gas. That is if you don't already live at the on the coast, and if you don't live too far away that it would be too much $$ or too long a trip.
Take your DD to the neighborhood park for a picnic.
The Enchanted Forrest is awsome! I went there as a kid and I can't wait to take my DD when she's older.

[mellowmama]

Thanks for all the ideas, they are great! I live in an extremely small hick town, only 4,000 people, so we only have one library, and not much else. In order to get to the aquariums, zoos, and museums, we have to drive a MINIMUM of an hour and a half. I absolutely love the idea of asking for a zoo or aquarium membership for dd's birthday--she turns 2 next month, so this is perfect timing. :) We do live about 10 minutes from the beach, but she's only been there once, because I actually don't like the beach much. I'm not sure why, I think the Atlantic beaches are much nicer than the Pacific, and most of the time, the weather isn't nice enough to get wet. I will definitely check into storytime at the library, though. She would love it, I think. I wish I could drop her off at the grandparents for a night alone with df, but my mom is the only grandparent nearby, and she has watched her a total of 3 times in 2 years. :( It's always a huge ordeal, so I try not to ask her for anything.

[3under2]

We live in Hawaii, and fortunately, there are MANY things that we can do that are free or VERY cheap.

Ideas:

1. Find a playgroup. The ones around here rotate among the member's houses. There is one non-profit organization that sets up playgroups and you pay a flat fee (based on your income and tax ded.) when you join.

2. Pack a picnic lunch and go to the park.

3. Fill a wading pool with a few inches of water and let the kids splash around. I can read for an hour while my girls are playing. They LOVE it!

4. Check into local libraries. Most have a weekly story hour for free.

5. One of the malls here has a weekly activity. Sometimes it's a clown, sometimes it's a magic show, singing, story time, etc. This is free too.

6. See if you can find someone to switch kids with. You could take your kids to another mom's house one week for a few hours and she could bring hers to you the next week. You get some time away from the kids for free, the kids get to play togehter, and if you choose a like-minded parent, you know your kids are safe and well cared for.

7. Try the switching thing for a monthly date night too. You could leave your kids with your DH and go keep your friends' children while they go out. Then your friend could come keep your kids (her DH stays with their kids) while you have a date night. Free childcare, and if you are creative, you could do something either free or really cheap for your date. Heck, just get away! Go to the mall and walk around. Pack a picnic for the park. Go for a drive. Go to the bookstore and browse, etc.

8. Look into yearly memberships to the zoo, aquarium, etc. Here, a family pass to the zoo is $25. You can't beat that! You could take the kids once a month or every other month, whatever, all for $25 a year.

9. Check into the YMCA if you have one in your area. Ours have tons of playgroups every week that are very similar to how Gymboree and Kindermusik are without the cost. This is also a way to meet other moms with similar aged children.

10. Have a date night once a month at home. Put the kids down, dim the lights, make a special dinner, watch a movie or record a favorite show during the week that you don't have time to watch. Libraries also have movies that you can check out (ours does anyway).

11. Make a weekly trip to the library. This is one of my fondest memories of childhood and I can't wait til my kids are old enough to do this! I had a special tote bag for my books. I remember the smell of the library like it was yesterday. It was so much fun.

If I think of more, I'll add to the list. :)

[Butter]

My kiddos love picnics. even if we just pack peanut butter crackers and go out in the yard.

we separate the "pay recycling" (the ones with deposits) and use the money for a family activity (rent a movie, eat out)

hubby bought me a bike and a babyseat....the kids think a bike ride is great! (especially when they invite a friend)

[jenandrob102701]

well when dh snd i have just us time we are usually so tired we fall asleep unless we make plans adhead of time for other stuff ;)

as for the kidswe take walks in the neighborhood and look at different trees and flowers and we take walks to the park and feed the ducks and we go swimming in the pool in our backyard and just spend time together

[Pretzel Twister]

The pay recycling suggestion is a good one, especially if you are a soda drinker. That could add up to a nice amount for activities.

When we were little my brother and I used to collect aluminum from a few taverns and resorts in our area and sell it to the salvage yard. They'd save cans for us and we'd go pick them up with our parents. We were little entrepreneurs.