So, you like to shop, hmmm?  Many people enjoy a stroll through the stores, looking at all the pretty little trinkets, seeing what’s new and fun.  These little strolls can offer a pleasant distraction from the day-to-day life of working to make ends meet.

I rarely can afford to buy anything during these fun little excursions.  I am basically a window shopper.

However, I’ve been doing some research lately about buying things without money – in other words, bartering.  This is an ancient way of trading goods and services which has come around again with a vengeance thanks to the internet.

Scrolling around a few bartering sites has whet my appetite to shop again.  The nice thing about using bartering internet sites is you can shop to your heart’s content from the comfort of your own chair.

Here are a few sites that I’ve found.  Full disclosure – I have not actually bartered for anything yet;  it seems I am still a window shopper at heart, but maybe some day…

BarterQuest.com – You can actually find a house on this site!  But, besides the extremely unusual, there are real honest-to-goodness everyday things that you may be interested in trading for.  I found everything from a lamp made out of antlers to an antique kitchen stove to a garden tractor to a vintage bottle of wine.  If you feel like a little window shopping today, click on this bartering site and see what you can find.

BarterBee.com – This site is specifically for people who play games, watch movies, and listen to music.  If you’ve got a closet full of cd’s or dvd’s that you just don’t pay attention to anymore, this is a great way to get rid of them… and get something in return!  Take a minute to explore their site and see if you might be able to take advantage.

CraigsList.org – There has been unsavory publicity about this site, but the people in charge are very vigilant and have been aggressively cleaning things up.  Overall, this site is a great way to connect with people who are legitimately bartering goods.  If you’re interested in shopping around, just click on the site and choose your state.  You’ll be able to tour your interests in your area of the country or world.  I was discouraged somewhat to find many businesses using this site to sell their goods, so read carefully, but enjoy the window shopping.

If you like to shop, but don’t have the money to spend, you may want to try bartering, either on an internet site or in your local community.  Many communities offer local store fronts where people can come and browse and barter away.

Bartering is a great way to get what you want without a huge outlay of cash.  Be aware that bartering, the value of the goods and services traded, is under the IRS radar and is taxable income, so be sure to keep receipts for everything.

When you can shop and get fun goodies in exchange for something you didn’t want cluttering up your house anyway, that is definitely a fuzzy wuzzy feeling!  Enjoy your day!

p.s. Want to learn the Art of Bartering?  Check out this fun book that gives you the ins and outs to get you started.  Click on here or the graphic to take a peek.

You know what it’s like when the weather starts to get nice.  You just want to play outside!

It’s hard to keep up with housework, laundry, cooking, and all those little interruptions when the sun is shining and the birds are chirping.

One of the most successful tactics I’ve used for getting and keeping the house clean during the warm weather days is to do a little bit every day.  Yes, keeping up with the cleaning DOES make everything go faster.  It’s something we all know, but sometimes resist.

You will still need to take a day or two to cover the heavy cleaning, but just a quick scrub or polish each day can help get you outside faster all week long.

My challenge for you today is to design a little “tidy up” schedule for everyone in the family.  This is something that can be done very simply and tacked to the refrigerator door or a bulletin board in the kitchen or utility room.  Here’s a simple example of daily chores:

Monday

• put away games, videos, movies, etc.
• sweep and damp mop kitchen floor
• spray and wipe down bathroom counters and sinks

Tuesday

• restock bathroom paper supplies
• clean toilets
• take dirty clothes to laundry area

Wednesday

• vacuum living area
• dust living area
• wash mirrors in bathroom

Thursday

• pick up clutter in living area
• sweep and damp mop entry way
• dust and polish dining room table

Friday

• take dirty clothes to laundry area
• wipe up bathroom floor
• take dirty bath towels to laundry

Saturday

• throw towels in washer/dryer
• strip beds and take sheets to laundry
• wipe up kitchen floors

Sunday

• put laundry away
• pick up clutter in entry way
• vacuum living area

Every household has different chores, but this is just a simple example of how you could divide little chores up all week long.  Of course, you will want to divide these chores up amongst your family members, delegating perhaps one chore for each person (depending on their age.)

So, if you happen to have three members in your family who can do chores, for my example, you could get your housework done “spit-spot” and be free to go play!

The birds were chirping outside my window this morning and I was looking at the carpet that hasn’t been vacuumed in way too long.  I know it’s time to create a “spit-spot” cleaning list for my own family today before the weather gets too much nicer!  Won’t you join me in this tidy challenge?

p.s.  When it’s time to plan for a full-out house cleaning, be sure to check out all the Spring Cleaning Tips for Mom by clicking on the link.  This guide is packed with helpful information for getting your house sparkling clean with less effort and less time!

Oh dear.  I’m a little behind on this one!  Missing opportunities to take advantage of free admission to our state and national parks does not sit well with me.

Many state and national parks offer free admission days, as well as free programs throughout the year.

Most notably, there are a variety of events scheduled around Earth Day, which was observed on April 22nd this year.  However, it’s not too late to start planning your fun, frugal family outing for the next free admission days in your state or national park.

My challenge for you today is to make a list of all the frugal fun adventures offered by state and national parks in your region.  I’ve found, unfortunately, that if I don’t write down a list of  adventure goals, I’ll miss important dates, as I just did.

The following are a few links to get you going. This is by no means an all inclusive reference for websites that will give you the information you need. You can always start by simply searching by “your state park” and, of course, the US National Park Service.

I hope you’ll find at least a couple destinations to take in the splendor of our state and national park systems.

National Park Service – Find A Park By State

National Park Service

Wikipedia – National Parks By State

State Park Directory – Tourist Information Directory

LLBean Park Search

p.s.  If you’re still looking for ways to find the best state and national parks available, check out these two books for ideas and contact information so you can start planning your frugal adventures.

Just click on the images to take a peak at what these books have to offer.