Comments on: Getting Back on the Frugal Wagon, One Foot at a Time http://educatingthewheelers.com/2007/01/24/getting-back-on-the-frugal-wagon-one-foot-at-a-time/ Chronicling the Experience of Educating our Children and Managing our Family Sat, 22 Nov 2008 02:21:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Amy http://educatingthewheelers.com/2007/01/24/getting-back-on-the-frugal-wagon-one-foot-at-a-time/#comment-4936 Wed, 07 Feb 2007 18:41:21 +0000 http://educatingthewheelers.com/2007/01/24/getting-back-on-the-frugal-wagon-one-foot-at-a-time/#comment-4936 We have a play area in our mall too and I can actually walk in and out of there without spending a dime. We park closest to the play area, where I pass the least amount of stores, and park ourselves in the play area. I pack a lunch for the kids and we take our lunch over to the benches or I tell them that we will go to the food court on the condition that everyone understands that we will NOT be buying any food. They are so happy to get out that they don't even care :) Do you have a Mothers & More in your area? I am not sure where you are located, but when we moved to the Midwest, I found a great local chapter that has made all the difference for me! I do all of the playgroups that don't require money (home playgroups or public meeting locations). It works out well!! We have a play area in our mall too and I can actually walk in and out of there without spending a dime. We park closest to the play area, where I pass the least amount of stores, and park ourselves in the play area. I pack a lunch for the kids and we take our lunch over to the benches or I tell them that we will go to the food court on the condition that everyone understands that we will NOT be buying any food. They are so happy to get out that they don’t even care :)

Do you have a Mothers & More in your area? I am not sure where you are located, but when we moved to the Midwest, I found a great local chapter that has made all the difference for me! I do all of the playgroups that don’t require money (home playgroups or public meeting locations). It works out well!!

]]> by: Jenn @ Frugal Upstate http://educatingthewheelers.com/2007/01/24/getting-back-on-the-frugal-wagon-one-foot-at-a-time/#comment-4549 Sun, 28 Jan 2007 12:58:26 +0000 http://educatingthewheelers.com/2007/01/24/getting-back-on-the-frugal-wagon-one-foot-at-a-time/#comment-4549 Well, we don't have a mall with a playground, which may be a good thing :) What I do sometimes in the winter (even though it is a 30 min drive away) is go to the McDonalds that has a playground in it-you know, one of those big ones with the gerbil tubes for the kiddos to climb through. What I do is feed the kids lunch at home, then head into town to hit the playground at about 130 or 2pm. Then I either just buy a cup of coffee for me, or just buy some cookies for the kids (approx $1) I consider that my "table fee" for using the playground, and it is way cheaper than shelling out for a "happy meal " for the kiddos etc. It's too bad that your MOPs is so late. You've done a full internet search in your area? I don't know exactly where you are, but have you thought about going to the MOPS site and doing a search in a slightly larger area? if you don't mind driving a bit farther you might find a daytime group a few more towns away. Just an idea. Glad to have you back. Well, we don’t have a mall with a playground, which may be a good thing :) What I do sometimes in the winter (even though it is a 30 min drive away) is go to the McDonalds that has a playground in it-you know, one of those big ones with the gerbil tubes for the kiddos to climb through. What I do is feed the kids lunch at home, then head into town to hit the playground at about 130 or 2pm. Then I either just buy a cup of coffee for me, or just buy some cookies for the kids (approx $1) I consider that my “table fee” for using the playground, and it is way cheaper than shelling out for a “happy meal ” for the kiddos etc.

It’s too bad that your MOPs is so late. You’ve done a full internet search in your area? I don’t know exactly where you are, but have you thought about going to the MOPS site and doing a search in a slightly larger area? if you don’t mind driving a bit farther you might find a daytime group a few more towns away. Just an idea.

Glad to have you back.

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