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As many of you know I have written a book call Frugal Seeds Summer Edition: 101 Ways to Enjoy Summer with Your Kids for Little Money.
This is can be read FREE at Amazon with KindleUnlimited or you can purchase the e-book for 99 cents.
From my family to yours……….wishing you a summer filled with blessed memories.
“Summer time is the best of what might be.” ~ Charles Bowden
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If you would like to be encouraged in your frugal endeavors and receive money saving tips, please follow us on Instagram @thefrugalsource
~ I am the author, under the pen name Charlie Lee Austin, of Frugal Seeds 501 Ways to Make, Save or Stretch a Dollar
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The title of my blog gives away the fact that I live with at least one chronic illness. Now, I don’t want to brag, but I actually live with several, and as interesting as it sounds, it is not a whole lot of fun. Unfortunately I am not the only one in my family who lives with such a burden. Every person in my immediate family lives with at least one chronic illness.
As a result of all of our medical bills, we have learned to live on a tight budget. Over the years I have had to learn to be frugal and about 6 months ago I decided to put some of my frugal ways into a book, Frugal Seeds: 501 Ways to Make, Save or Stretch a Dollar. It is now available in both paperback and e-book on Amazon. The entire book can be read for FREE with an Amazon Kindle Unlimited membership.
You will notice it is written under a pen name. This has been done as I working on additional books and I am determined to keep the lives of my children private. Thank you for understanding.
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Now that it is summer (and I am way late posting this), there are so many free activities taking place around the country. Just in my small mid-west town we have a free concert series, library summer reading programs, free movies once a week and free lunches every weekday for anyone who is hungry. So check out what is available in your location………you might be amazed how many free activities are available to you and your family and the free choices can be just as fun as the ones that cost money – without the guilt.
Below is a list of some free activities for adults:
Free admission into National Parks
https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm
Free admission into museums with Bank of America credit card or
Free classes for adults at home depot………yes, they offer free kid classes too
https://www.homedepot.com/workshops/#change_store
Free fishing days
https://www.takemefishing.org/how-to-fish/how-to-catch-fish/free-fishing-days-2018/
Geocaching
Places you can volunteer
https://www.volunteermatch.org/
Free music app………..makes doing something not-so-fun, more fun with a personalized playlist
Whole foods offers free classes in some locations
https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/events
Some Williams Sonoma stores offer free classes
https://www.williams-sonoma.com/pages/store-events/store-events.html
I have written a book, Frugal Seeds 101 Ways to Make, Save or Stretch a Dollar. I would be thankful if you would take a moment to check it out. Thank you.
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Here is a list of FREE things currently available from my Midwest small town library. I have wanted to do a post on all the free stuff that is available to you at your local library as I believe it is an underutilized community resource, especially for those of us living on a limited budget. Although I knew my small library had a lot to offer, doing research for this blog, I discovered even more resources……….so I encourage you to check out what your local library has to offer you!
FREE resources:
Museum passes
Books
DVDs
CDs
Audiobooks
Magazines
Newspapers
Free rooms that you can reserve for studying or meetings (has computer, white board, and markers)
WiFi
Charging stations for electronics
Links to two local newspapers through their website
E-books
Hoopla – movie, documentaries, TV shows, audiobooks, comic books and ebooks
Play-a-ways
Xbox & Wii games
Portable internet tablets that can checked out and used inside library
Faxing
Notary Public
Cynoculars – can be checked out for home use
Portable recharger – can be checked out for home use
WiFi hotspot – to check out for home use
Computer Lab
Monthly book club – adults
Monthly book club – homeschool grade school
Needle art group
Knitting group
Crocheting group
Ukulele classes
Paws to read – kids read to therapy dogs to increase reading skills
Story time for babies
Story time for toddlers
Saturday crafternoons – drop in crafts for school aged kids
Weekly teen classes
OverDrive – audiobook and book downloads
My library rewards – receive points for checking out items and earn free food, classes and museum passes from the surrounding communities
RB digital – free e-magazines
Tumble book of the day – animated audio kids’ books
eSebco database – digital nonfiction childrens’ books
MyON books – digital childrens’ books
Exam proctoring
Genealogy room – Librarian to assist with your research needs
Childrens’ area – w/books, tables, computers and lego play area
Teen area – booths, tables, books, board games, coloring sheets
Inter-library loans
Bookmarks
Community events information
Paper recycling
Please take some time to see what your library has to offer you……..
~ wendi, under the pen name Charlie, is the author of The Frugal Seeds: 501 Ways to Save, Stretch or Make a Dollar.
Until next time….
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It is hard to believe, but summer is just around the corner and with the warmer months brings more time with the kiddos. It can get very expensive trying to find ways to entertain children/grandchildren/nieces/newphews without losing your mind or physically exhausting yourself. Below is a list of free activities your kids can participate in and some require minimal outings on your part.
These activities may not be available in all locations.
Free summer reading program for kids grades 1-6
Free summer reading program for kids to 14 years old
https://www.halfpricebooks.com/fyb/pdfs/FYBReadingLog.pdf
Kids to 14 years old can bowl 2 games/day free all summer.
Regal movie theaters are offering $1.00 movie tickets through the summer two days/week. One of the movies is Max and is something that is not a predominately a kids movie so adults may enjoy it too!
https://www.regmovies.com/movies/summer-movie-express
Free movie/game rentals in JUNE for each A on a child’s report card at Family Video
https://www.familyvideo.com/community-involvement/
Every 4th grade student and their family gets a free National Parks pass to be used as much as wanted by August 31, 2018
https://www.everykidinapark.gov/game/adventure/start
Free family summer camps
https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/family-summer-camp
Free camp at apple store ages 8-12
https://www.apple.com/retail/camp/notify.html
Free workshops for kids ages 5-12
https://www.homedepot.com/workshops/#change_store
Free month Lego mini-build ages 6-14
https://shop.lego.com/en-US/minibuild-registration
While your at it, sign your kiddos up for a free lego magazine
https://www.lego.com/en-us/life/magazine
Free fishing – nationwide schedule
https://www.takemefishing.org/how-to-fish/how-to-catch-fish/free-fishing-days-2018/
Free classes for kids
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/locations/events-for-students
Free summer audiobook program for kids 13+
Another book program for kids
http://www.bookadventure.com/Home.aspx
Pottery Barn kids book club
https://www.potterybarnkids.com/customer-service/store-events.html
Free tokens from Chuck E Cheese for completely logs such as reading
https://www.chuckecheese.com/deals-offers/rewards-calendars
If you live in the Boston area, here is what I found for free
https://bostonlivingonthecheap.com/always-free-cheap/free-museum-days/
If you live in the Chicago area here is a link to free days at their museums
http://www.chicagoparent.com/learn/museums/museum-free-days/
If you live in the Houston area, here is a link to free dates/time for free museum entry
http://houmuse.org/free-admission-times/
If you live in the Indianapolis area, here is a link to free and discounted museums
https://indywithkids.com/free-indiana-museum-days-2017/
If you live in the NYC area, here is a link to free or pass as you wish museums
https://www.nyc-arts.org/collections/35/free-museum-days-or-pay-what-you-wish
If you live in Oregon, below is a link to free admissions
http://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/12/get_free_admission_to_12_orego.html
If you are in southern California, below is a link to free museums
http://www.socalmuseums.org/free/
In the St. Louis area, here is a link to free admissions
http://www.familyattractionscard.com/single-post/2015/04/07/15-Free-Things-to-Do-in-St-Louis
If you are in the Washington DC area, here is a link to free activities and museums
https://freetoursbyfoot.com/free-things-to-do-in-dc/
Don’t forget that many libraries nationwide have free summer reading programs! This has always been a favorite of my kids.
Free summer lunches, and in some places breakfasts, are available nationwide for kids through 18 years of age. These are available in select public schools and parks. Below is a link but you may have better information googling your state and free summer lunch program.
https://www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks
Until next time…………………..YOU are a superhero!
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Being chronically ill I spend a lot of time in bed or resting on the sofa. If you are anything like me you have also accomplished two things through rest: One, found the end of the internet, and two, watched more Netflix then you ever thought possible.
There are moments during my day when I feel as if I am wasting my time just watching tv. Granted, there are days that I am doing my best just to focus on a show, but other days I know I could push myself to do a bit more. So, I started brain storming ways I could use this time to expand my horizons beyond the four walls of my home. So I started researching things I could reasonably do from home on a (very small) budget.
I first compiled a list of sites that offer free books so I could spend more time reading with no extra cost to me, unless I needed to print the book out for easier viewing. Still a huge bargain on my part (and no late fees from the library).
I then thought about taking a class as I have always loved to learn. But, at this time in my life I am not able to consistently attend a class in a college setting. So, I started searching for on-line classes and found that there are TONS of free college and continuing education classes available at our fingertips. Below is a list of places that offer free classes to anyone willing to sign-up.
Happy learning!
http://www.openculture.com/freeonlinecourses
https://www.class-central.com/university/stanford
https://www.edx.org/school/harvardx
https://www.class-central.com/university/berkeley
http://oli.cmu.edu/learn-with-oli/see-all-oli-courses
https://mises.org/mises-academy
https://courses.fee.org/collections
https://christianuniversity.org/courses/api/grid/post_type/courses/sort%5Bcourse_number%5D/ASC/
http://www.bolc.co.uk/free-online-courses-with-certificate
Wendi, under the pen name Charlie, is the author of Frugal Seeds: 101 Ways to Make, Save or Stretch a Dollar. I would greatly appreciate it if you would take a moment to check it out. Thank you.
Simply Chronically Ill 