It's coming....March Break!! Children are cheering and parents are groaning but with a little planning it doesn't have to be a week filled with expensive outings to keep the kids entertained. Here's our plan for the March Break (note that this is in addition to our regular grocery and gas budget for the week). Be sure to check in the actual week of to see how we are doing! In no particular order here are our activities for the week. Some days may involve more than one activity.
1. Visit the public library. COST: FREE
Most libraries will have a special selection of events during March Break, everything from story time to crafts, to Lego building and cyber camp. Even just a change of scenery and some new books and puzzles can help to break up the week and there is something for every age group from babies to teens. Our local library already has their schedule of events up (my kids are interested in quite a few so looks like we will be there a fair amount!)
2. Play Time at McD's. COST: $2
My kids love to play in the PlayPlace at McDonalds. We normally go early (pre 10am) when it is far less crowded and get a coffee and muffin combo (we eat a full breakfast at home first). The kids share the muffin as a treat and mom gets to enjoy the coffee while they play. If your budget allows by all means you can spend more then the $2 I have listed here but it is possible to visit without spending a fortune. Our rule is that when the coffee is empty it's time to go and the boys have usually had enough sliding and climbing and are ready for a new activity.
3. The Bulk Food Store: COST: $2
Ever since they were toddlers my boys have LOVED to go to the Bulk Food store. It always amazes me how they hang onto their loonie with pride and take their time walking the lines of bins to decide. Sometimes they choose to spend it all on one treat, other times they split it up into many little bags of treats. Its a great way to break up the day with an outing, learn about money and weights and enjoy the rewards afterwards!
4. The OEYC: COST: FREE
Our local Early Years Centre is a great opportunity for kids of all ages to learn through play both with parents and peers. If you have never visited there are a ton of activities to keep little hands busy from arts and crafts, playdough, lego, toys, music, and circle time.
5. Have a picnic: COST: included in grocery budget
We usually incorporate a mini "cooking class" into picnic day. We begin by decorating "chef hats" and then the kids help me to create their picnic. It's a wonderful opportunity to have them help in the kitchen and also practice some fine motor skills. We cut fruit and cheese into bite sized pieces, use cookie cutters on our sandwiches and of course there is usually something special for dessert! Then we lay out a blanket in the living room and set up our picnic. While they eat I read them a story :)
6. Visit someone special: COST: FREE
Take the time to visit someone special over March Break. Grandma and Grandpa, nana or a favourite aunt or friend.
7. Have a theme day: COST: FREE
We haven't picked our theme yet but some ideas include tropical, superheros, wild animals, dinosaurs, etc. We spend some time learning about our theme, dressing up and pretending!
8. Go for an ice cream: COST: $4 Even if its a blizzard outside going somewhere for an ice cream date is sure to bring some smiles. I suggest following this special outing with some time at the park or outside building snowmen/forts to help burn off that steam!
9. Craft Day: COST:$2
We have a fairly large supply of craft supplies on hand but I know that my boys always love to pick a wooden item to paint and decorate from the Dollar Store. They also add various decorations such as beads and buttons, pom poms and ribbon. In addition to their painting activity we will also do some spring Easter crafts such as toilet paper roll bunnies and tulips from empty egg cartons.
10. One or more of the following ideas: Depending on the weather additional activities might include a visit to the park, head to the Peterborough Zoo, baking, visit indigo/chapters for one of their free events, March break program at the legislative assembly go Ontario, the Durham region astronomical association: event at opg, Free March Break Fun at Lansdowne Place.
Be sure to check in to see how our week went! I would love to hear your ideas for free or cheap family fun for the March Break holiday! Share them on the Kawartha Bargains Facebook Page here.
Showing posts with label city of kawartha lakes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label city of kawartha lakes. Show all posts
Gosh It's Been Quiet Around Here!
I apologize for all of the crickets that you have been hearing around here lately! Quite frankly at the end of 2013 I wasn't sure where I was headed with Kawartha Bargains. There are so many great sites and groups out there that offer weekly deals and coupon matchups, amazing hauls, etc. I knew that I really wanted to focus on Kawartha Beads and with two little kids I just wasn't able to keep up to date with all those amazing specials like I knew readers would want. Several times I almost shut down Kawartha Bargains but a little voice just wouldn't let me.
So if you are looking for weekly coupon matchups, sales, etc. there are a number of great sites to choose from. Two of my fav's are a local Facebook Group (if you are in the City of Kawartha Lakes, ON) called The Savy Spending Money Savers and one of my favourite blogs Simply Frugal.
As for Kawartha Bargains I am going to focus more on how we save money and the number one thing we like to do with those savings....travel! So stay tuned for lots of new and exciting posts to come. In the meantime stop by the Kawartha Bargains Facebook Page where I will spend this week reposting the Top 10 most popular posts up til now!
So if you are looking for weekly coupon matchups, sales, etc. there are a number of great sites to choose from. Two of my fav's are a local Facebook Group (if you are in the City of Kawartha Lakes, ON) called The Savy Spending Money Savers and one of my favourite blogs Simply Frugal.
As for Kawartha Bargains I am going to focus more on how we save money and the number one thing we like to do with those savings....travel! So stay tuned for lots of new and exciting posts to come. In the meantime stop by the Kawartha Bargains Facebook Page where I will spend this week reposting the Top 10 most popular posts up til now!
Grocery trip to go with Menu Plan
Giant Tiger
*cheddar perogies- sale $1.00
*coffee cream- sale $1.00- 75cent coupon
*crispers- sale $1.00
*alymers diced tomatos- sale $1.00
*red kidney beans- sale $1.00
*banana muffins- sale $1.00
Total with taxes $5.35
Food Basics
*2x eggs- sale $3.00
*bread- $2.19
*lettuce- sale 88cents
*grapes- sale $2.09
*plastic wrap- sale $1.00
*2x nutrigrain bars- sale $1.88 each (with cash for gas promo on them)
*coffee- $3.99 (this was on the list for somewhere else but as the kids went into meltdown mode I knew to grab and go!l
Total with taxes $17.02
Menu Plan for this week (sort of)
So I broke two of the cardinal rules of grocery shopping today...I went hungry AND with grumpy kids. As a result even with a list we didn't get as much as I had originally intended. That's why this is a sort of menu plan! You will notice that I have quite a bit on hand and as I get back onto the swing I will stock up on certain items when they are on sale to work into future menu plans. So with what I had on hand and todays little shop (for under $25) I have 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners and snacks!
Breakfast:
*muffins and bananas
*cereal
*egg salad sandwiches
*scrambled eggs and toast
Lunch:
*perogies and veggies
*salad and grilled cheese
*nuggets and fries
Dinner:
*chili
* chili bake (recipe to come)
*sausage on a bun and salad
Snacks and desserts:
*grapes
*crispers
*nutrigrain bars
*veggies and dip
*oatmeal cookies (recipe to come)
Grocery trips to follow in another post. Stay tuned!
Formula Clearout at Shoppers Drugmart in Lindsay
We were in Shoppers Drugmart in Lindsay this evening (the one beside McDonalds) and saw this endcap display. A selection of canned formulas are on Clearout for $1.00 each!
Does it Really Work? Newspaper to Clean Your Mirrors
I had heard somewhere that you could use newpapers instead of paper towels to clean your mirrors and since newspapers arrive for FREE twice a week and paper towels...well even on sale we seem to go through a ton...so I thought I'd give it a try. Now I was sure that they would scratch so I picked a mirror that we will eventually be getting rid of and got out my newspaper and windex (although you could use vinegar as well) and got to it.
Lindsay Mom 2 Mom Sale Vendor Call: Mom and Business Tables
Year in Review 2012 Roundup!
Wow where does the time go? 2012 was certainly a very busy year seeing my youngest celebrate his first birthday, my oldest heading to kindergarten, my Kawartha Beads business continue to grow and a million things in between!
I tried my very best to keep track of how much I saved with the use of coupons, rewards programs like Swagbucks, menu planning and more and when all is said and done we figure it was almost $4000 versus our old spending ways! This year my goal is even higher $5000 and with my hubby fully on board now (yes he took some extra prodding to change some of his old habits) I don't see this being a problem at all. Trying to figure out how to get yourself started? Be sure to visit my Save $1000 This Year blog series for some useful tips and tricks!
I wanted to thank ALL of my loyal readers for following along in 2012. That being said I must admit that I am running short on time these days (the hazards of having two active little boys). I want to continue to enjoy every moment with them so I will continue to post weekly articles but new coupons, daily deals, etc. will now be only posted on my Facebook Page so be sure to follow along so you don't miss out!
What are your goals for 2013? Anything you are looking forward to in particular? Stop by Kawartha Bargains Facebook page and let us know!
I tried my very best to keep track of how much I saved with the use of coupons, rewards programs like Swagbucks, menu planning and more and when all is said and done we figure it was almost $4000 versus our old spending ways! This year my goal is even higher $5000 and with my hubby fully on board now (yes he took some extra prodding to change some of his old habits) I don't see this being a problem at all. Trying to figure out how to get yourself started? Be sure to visit my Save $1000 This Year blog series for some useful tips and tricks!
I wanted to thank ALL of my loyal readers for following along in 2012. That being said I must admit that I am running short on time these days (the hazards of having two active little boys). I want to continue to enjoy every moment with them so I will continue to post weekly articles but new coupons, daily deals, etc. will now be only posted on my Facebook Page so be sure to follow along so you don't miss out!
What are your goals for 2013? Anything you are looking forward to in particular? Stop by Kawartha Bargains Facebook page and let us know!
Over $15 in Kraft Coupon Savings!
Click here to orders yours today!
Canadian Coupon Alert: Save $1 WUB2 Maple Leaf Buns
Black Friday Deals at Well.ca
Save on Gillette Men's Grooming Value Pack, Braun BodyCruzer, L'Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray - Very Volume, Method Holiday Soaps, Quinny Buzz and Zapp strollers, Bummis, Hatley pajamas, select Board Games, select Puzzles AND MORE! Click here to view all of the sales!
Start Date: November 23, 2012 12:01am EST
End Date: November 26, 2012 11:59pm EST
Canadian Coupon Alert: Save $2 on any Royale Product
There's a FABULOUS new hidden coupon from Gocoupons.ca for a Save $2 on any Royale Product coupon.
Click here to order yours today!
Swagbucks Collectors Bills
The start of the holiday season is near and Swagbucks can't contain their excitement. Swagbucks.com, the largest loyalty & rewards site, is launching Collector's Bills. From midnight on Tuesday, Nov. 20th to the end of Cyber Monday on Nov 26th, you search for all your online and holiday needs via Swagbucks search to earn Collector's Bills. Collect all 5 bills and win bonus Swag Bucks automatically.
New to Swagbucks? Try it out for free and redeem Swag Bucks for great holiday gifts like Kindle Fire tablets, iPads, and gift cards for major retailers like Amazon, Paypal, Walmart and more.
Canadian Coupon Alert: Save 50cents on any Hersheys Kisses Holiday Packaged Candy.
Available today on websaver.ca. Save .50 on the purchase of on any Hershey's Kisses Holiday Packaged Candy 200g - 368g. Click here to order yours!
Canadian Coupon Alert: BOGO coupon for Olivieri Fresh Cooking Sauces
Stop by Olivieri's Facebook page to grab yourself a new Buy One Get One Free coupon for new Fresh Cooking Sauces. Some delicious flavours to try out!
Canadian Coupon Alert: New B1G1 Free Peek Freans
A new buy one get one free Peek Freans Lifestyle Selections Cookies is available for order through their Facebook page. Allow 4-6 weeks for your coupon to be delivered by mail. My favourite flavour is Blueberry Brown Sugar...YUM!
Click here to order yours!
Kraft First Taste Points Program
There's a new points program from Kraft called First Taste. You earn points through newsletters, adding recipes, posts etc and can redeem them for totes, coupons, MIRs and more. Sign up now and earn 2500 points. I just signed up today myself so I'll share more as I learn about the program
Canadian Coupon Alert: New Brandsaver Coupons Available
Canadian Coupon Alert: Oasis Leaflet
Be sure to stop by Gocoupons.ca to order your $3.00 Oasis Leaflet. I'm not sure the exact coupons included but we ♥ Oasis so I know we will use them. It also let me order multiples of the booklet (woo-hoo)! Click here to snag yours today.
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