Meaningful Family Traditions
by SherryLynn Rankin
Home
Family
Family Activities and Entertainment
Other
Meaningful Family Traditions
Don't have enough money to go to Disney World every year? Is your budget for holidays and birthdays small? How do we create meaningful and lasting childhood memories and family traditions without breaking the bank? When we look back on our childhood, we realize the little things are the big things! In other words, it's the smell of Grandma's pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, Mom's waffles every Sunday, and decorating and sleeping under the Christmas tree that we remember the most, not the video games or fancy vacations.
Here are some fun, frugal, and simple Spring traditions to create with your family:
April/May: Plant a tree or a special kind of flower every year with your family to signify new beginnings. Talk with them about new goals, or plan activities for the summer. May brings warmer weather. Start spring off with a family campout in the backyard. Build a small fire if zoning permits, and cook s'mores, mountain pies, and tell stories. If weather doesn't permit, have your campout indoors. The kids will love it!
Easter: Start a fun Easter tradition. Host an annual neighborhood egg hunt. Have everyone bring one dozen plastic eggs (usually 2 bags for $1 at the dollar store) for each child they are bringing. Ask them to fill the eggs with inexpensive candy, trinkets, stickers, or pennies. Have one large egg filled with a special prize or money. (Ask the parents to each donate a quarter or two to the big egg). You can leave it at that, or you could have Easter cupcakes and punch afterwards. Sure to bring squeals of delight to the little and big ones alike!
Mother's Day: Cut out paper roses big enough for the kids to write a "Why I Love My Mom" note on it. Have them put them on the bathroom mirror, at her breakfast plate, in her shoes, or other places she would find them. Take a few pictures every year of Mom and the kids doing something special on Mother's Day. Purchase an inexpensive Mother's Day album, adding the pictures and paper roses. What a wonderful, inexpensive keepsake for mom that's sure to bring tears to her eyes!
Family traditions can be fun, simple, and memorable without spending a lot of money!
SherryLynn Rankin is a work-at-home mom of three boys, a freelance writer, and an Independent Consultant for Once Upon A Family. You can learn more about Once Upon A Family, creating Family Traditions, making Heirloom Family Keepsakes, Recording Memories, Leaving Legacies for your children, and a great business opportunity at her website at www.onceuponafamily.com/sweetmemories
Take the Next Step: Whether you choose one of the above ideas or come up with one of your own, start a new family tradition this Spring that all will remember for years to come.
Share your thoughts about this article with the editor: Click Here
Do you need more information on this topic? Click here to ask a Dollar Stretcher Stretchpert!
Do you have a time or money saving idea that wasn't included in this article? Please send it to tips@stretcher.com. We get the best ideas from our readers!
If you liked this article, sign up for our free eNewsletter Surviving Tough Times. Just enter your email address in the box below and click Subscribe.
Follow The Dollar Stretcher on Twitter.
Dollar Stretcher Community
Forums
Blogs
Also In This Week's Issue
Money games for kids
10 hot toys for under $20
How repossession affects credit score
Marriage doesn't wipe out credit history
