Backyard Hangouts On a Budget

The best part of summer is inviting friends and family over for BBQs and hangouts, but sometimes you look at your garden and wish it looked a bit nicer first. An easy and inexpensive way to get some summer furniture is to hit up Craigslist or local thrift stores. Turn a used loft bed into a stargazing platform with some weather resistant varnish or paint. Then stick a reclaimed couch with a new cover or bench underneath for shaded seating during the day. Want a lounger? Find a twin bed frame and toss a futon mattress on it whenever you're using it. Rule of the day? FREE is the BEST because you can always give something new paint or add a new cushion.

Cleaning! versus... The KIDS!

Having trouble getting the younger members of the family to contribute to daily chores? Try making them more fun! Make cleaning their room into a timed race with fun prizes for how long it took and how well they did. Keep prizes healthy and fun by offering things like a new box of outdoor chalk or bubbles, camp-out movies on the lawn, swimming/beach trips, picking apples at an orchard in the fall, or ice skating or sledding in the winter.