3 Little-Known Tips for Saving Money on Favorite Kids' Activities

maandag 2 september 2013

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The kids are finally heading back to school, but -- little busybodies that they are -- they’re still itching for things to do between soccer practices and playdates. And since you’re sick of seeing them glued to old iCarly episodes and playing Candy Crush on your iPad, here are 3 inexpensive ways to get them off the couch.

1. Save at the movies

Sure, family night at the movies is a no-brainer, but how do you make it happen without spending a week’s pay? Here are some tips:

• Join your theater’s loyalty program. Some, like the Regal Crown Club, are free and you earn points toward free tickets, popcorn, and candy.

• Buy your tickets at Costco. When you’re stocking up on Uncrustables, paper towels, and toilet paper, grab a discounted movie ticket pack. The wholesaler offers 10-packs for Regal Entertainment Group (and AMC for $84.99, and a 4-pack for Cinamark for $34.99. If your theater charges around $11, that’s $25 in savings. Which you can then blow on popcorn.

• Sign up for your favorite movie chain’s email newsletters. Each weekly email from Cinemark, for example, includes a free concession stand coupon. Also, like your favorite chains on Facebook. Regal Cinemas offers a weekly mobile coupon on its page – like $3 off a soft drink.

2. Spend less on e-books

We just love tablets and e-readers -- they're so easy to toss in a purse, read in bed late night without disrupting the hubs, or use to order up the latest literary masterpiece (like Fifty Shades of Grey, of course). But even though e-books are less expensive than their hardbound ancestors, they ain’t cheap. But it’s easy to save.

• If you don’t already have one, get a public library card. Libraries now offer e-book loans and you can find tons of titles to borrow for, yep, free.

• There’s also the Overdrive app, which allows you to borrow from your library and read on your smartphone or tablet.

• For access to more than 42,000 free e-pub and Kindle e-books -- and to brush up on the classics -- visit Project Gutenberg to download or read books online. Popular downloads include titles like Les Miserables, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Grimm’s Fairy Tales and Peter Pan. 

3. Score free museum and zoo admissions

It’s hard to argue with adding a little culture to your little one’s life, and when you can open their eyes to art, history, and science for free? This really should be a regular thing.

Before you schedule your museum or zoo outing, check the website for free days. Many museums host offer free admission on certain days (Target is a major sponsor of these efforts), and most are recurring throughout the year. Here are a few examples ...

• The Denver Art Museum hosts free days the first Saturday of each month.

• The Chicago Children’s Museum has free admission for kids 15 and younger the first Sunday of each month, and everyone gets in free from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays.

• At the San Diego Zoo, kids 11 and younger get in free the entire month of October (unlimited visits, too), with a coupon that can be printed off the organization’s website.

Do you have any tips for saving money on kids activities?

Image via Images Money/Flickr

This post was written by Lesley Kennedy, the senior managing editor at coupon and money-saving site ShopAtHome.com.

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Joe Jonas Ranks Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, and Miley Cyrus From Favorite to Least Favorite (VIDEO)

donderdag 25 juli 2013

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by Nicole Fabian-Weber 13 hours ago

If you ever wondered who Joe Jonas likes the least out of the following former Disney Stars whom he or his brother Nick have dated -- Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, and Miley Cyrus -- you're in luck. Joe recently ranked the women from fave to least fave to Andy Cohen on What What Happens Live, and I've gotta say: I'm super surprised at his ordering.

Demi, Miley, Selena. That's Joe's order, from best to worst. Now, before you think he's a total dick and just fired off his answer without as much as a second thought, know that there was some hesitation on his behalf, and his answer was well-thought out.

"Oh man ... me and her are very cool now, so favorite is Demi," he said. "Wow. I want to say … I can’t say 'plead the fifth' yet, this is bad. … I'll go Miley and then Selena, because Selena I haven’t seen in a while. So, I saw Miley; she was very nice to me recently." 

So, it's not like he dislikes Selena, he just couldn't plead the fifth. He gave the most diplomatic answer possible -- which put Selena in last place by default. Well-played, Joe. Well-played indeed. Have you ever thought of going into politics?

In other news, Us Weekly's cover next week will read: "Selena Gomez Hates Joe Jonas! Possible Wedding Between He and Demi Lovato!!! Will Taylor Swift Be a Bridesmaid?"

Check out the vid of Joe ranking the ladies. What up with this? Why do the JoBros hate SelGo so much?

Image via Bravo

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What Your Favorite Ice Cream Flavor Says About You

vrijdag 19 juli 2013

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You think you like vanilla ice cream because you like the way it tastes. But could your love for vanilla also mean you're idealistic? Dr. Alan Hirsch, founder of Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, has been looking into the crucial question, what does our favorite ice cream flavor say about us? Just in time for national ice cream month! It's food for thought.

I have no idea what Hirsch's methodology is, or if the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation is a real thing, or just a name some blogger came up with. But what the hell. It sounds fun to find out what my favorite ice cream flavor says about me. So let's take a look!

More from The Stir: 5 Freaky Ice Cream Flavors That Will Scare You Away From Dessert (PHOTOS)

Hmm, I do not see Vietnamese Iced Coffee or Southern Banana Pudding here. But I like chocolate, too, so ...

Chocolate: dramatic, lively, charming, flirtatious, seductive, and gullible

Vanilla: impulsive, easily suggestible, and an idealist

Strawberry: tolerant, devoted, and an introvert

Mint chocolate chip: argumentative, frugal, and cautious

Rocky road: aggressive, engaging, and a good listener

Chocolate chip cookie dough: ambitious, competitive, and a visionary

Pralines and cream: loving, supportive, and prefer to avoid the spotlight

Jamoca: scrupulous, conscientious, and a moral perfectionist

Chocolate chip: generous, competent, and a go-getter

Rainbow sherbert: analytic, decisive, and a pessimistic

Okay, I kind of feel like this is the astrology chart of ice cream flavors. I mean, chocolate is kind of accurate for me except for the gullible part. (I DON'T BELIEVE YOU, DR. HIRSCH!) But some of these don't even make sense. I always thought people who prefer vanilla did so because they're boring and afraid of flavor. I kind of think a love for vanilla is antithetical to impulsive behavior.

How is an aggressive person also a good listener? And how are they getting that from a chocolate ice cream with marshmallows? Marshmallows aren't especially aggressive. Jamoca is scrupulous and moral? Ha, only if it's made from fair-trade coffee. And what's especially visionary about liking ice cream with cookie dough in it? Is that because you can imagine two desserts in one? Really?!?

I think we may be over-thinking ice cream here just a bit. Maybe my favorite ice cream flavor reveals that I'm the kind of person who likes chocolate -- and that's it. 

What's your favorite ice cream flavor -- and do you buy what that flavor supposedly says about you?

Image via Joy/Flickr

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