I just got off the phone with my Mom. If you read my hub about growing up the frugal way then you know that my Mom is a very frugal person. She was talking about some things that she heard on the news about gas prices, and how she felt about it. She heard some analists talk about how they "think" that because of gas prices people are going to be growing their own produce instead of buying it in the store, and that they will also be moving from the suburbs, and back into the city to save on gas, thus making the suburbs into slums with lots of vacant houses. She said that it made her feel like it was the end of the world or something. My Mom is a newshound, and that is one thing I am not! Thank god for the internet, I can see what the weather is going to do and that is all I need to know. I personally feel just as depressed as my Mom when I watch the news, so I choose not to watch it! I think the media is making things worse then they really are. I'm am just as frustrated as you are when it comes to gas prices, then food prices, and credit card interest rates, but I have decided to make A LOT of changes! One is we don't drive at all as much as we use to, and I'm actually loving being at home most of the week! I spend only one day going on my errands, and the kids now take the bus to and from school everyday, even thou they hate it. I predict that this summer we are going to save even more on gas by riding our bikes or walking, and by staying home and having fun in the yard or house. My husband loves this time of year because he can ride his motorcycle to work, saving about $75 a week in gas! He will ride it, rain or shine, until November!

I am also saving money on food with shopping at home first like Cindy @ cindysporch.com. This has helped so much, I just can't stress it enough! And a menu is my best friend now. I did spend more this week then I have been, but that's because I stocked up on meat that was on sale, and a months worth at that! This came to about $50 more than normal, so that brought up my weekly food bill to $100 this week. BUT, I have saved about $400 this month on food by being organized and only buying what I have on my list when I go to the store, especially Wal-Mart. If I do see something that I "think" I can't live without, I really think about it before I buy it, for example I have a list of things I run through my mind to see if I "really" need this item or not. 1. Do I have something like this at home? 2. How long will it be used for? 3. Is it a total necessity? 4. Is it something I want to spend my hard earned savings on? This last one is the key, it's really hard these days to save money, do you really want to throw that savings out the window? I was thinking the other day about when I was a kid, and how I would have a BIG item that I was always saving up for, and how you made the choices not to buy a candy bar or anything else small, so that you can get to the finish line and buy that big item that you had your heart set on. I am going back to that "kid" thinking, I was much happier then. I'm not sure why when I became an adult that I became a spender, and a spender to the point where we were living beyond our means! I don't want to be this person anymore, and frankly I can't afford to be this person anymore.

So, lets run down a list of summer fun that you can do & save money.

1. Get out that slip n slide and set it up in the yard, or make one out of an old tarp. The kids will have so much fun, even the one has the job of using the hose to get the tarp wet.

2. Set up a kick ball game with the neighborhood kids. You can always find kick balls at the thrift store or garage sales if you don't already have one.

3. Go to the beach if it's close, and make sure you take food you have a home, and beach toys you also have already. You should never buy when more than likely they won't get used.

4. Game day on a rainy day. Invite some of the kids friends over for a good old game day, playing board games is so much fun. Make sure you keep the food cheap, homemade popcorn, baby carrots and homemade ranch, hot dogs for lunch, and make sure you are using up what you have at home.

Let me know what your family does for frugal fun in the summer.

One thing we have always talked about doing, but have never done is going to the cheap seats at our music festival this year, the cheap seats meaning the park right next door. Our first cheap seats are going to be to "listen" to Smokey Robinson, with a nice picnic dinner and maybe a cheap bottle of wine. Our neighbors and friends are going with us, so it will be a fun time for sure!

So remember, it doesn't cost a lot, if any, to have a tond of fun this summer!!!