Thrifty Thursday

It is possible to be thrifty without feeling deprived and I'm sharing ideas in this summer series. If you have an money-saving idea, consider sharing it on your blog and leaving your link at the bottom of this post. The only rule? Share what you know. If I've never personally tried an idea, I won't write about it. The same goes for you, but don't assume an idea is too simplistic. It could be new to someone or it could re-inspire someone else!

The muggy days of summer are upon us and though the children love to soak up the rays, I'm cautious about letting them stay in the sun too long in the heat of the day.  Therefore, many summer afternoons are spent sucking on popsicles and playing quietly in the house while Benjamin naps.  How do the children stay occupied day after day during the summer?  My frugal tip for this week is: Limit yourself to simple toys.  Blocks and balls are not only for babies.  Children can imagine up amazing activies with a few simple items.  On a recent afternoon, I left the three older children with instructions to play with the blocks while I settled Benjamin in for his nap.  When I returned, they had built a fantasy city that kept them occupied for the rest of the afternoon.  (And by 3:30, they were ready to toss the blocks back into the basket and line the books back on the shelf in favor of a few laps around the sidewalk on their bicycles!)