Family

  • happy child in Santa hat opening Christmas gift box

    40 Hot Toys Kids Really Want This Year

    It’s holiday shopping season, and major retailers including Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Toys R Us have released their lists of 2016’s hottest toys. The 40 toys rounded up here have popped up on multiple lists and cater to a variety…

  • family wearing winter clothes in snowy landscape

    20 Puffer Coats for $100 or Less

    Puffer coats are a trendy and time-tested way to ward off winter’s chill. They’re filled with down (the voluminous feathers of a goose or duck) or synthetic materials that trap body heat and insulate the core. When looking for the…

  • sale at toy store

    Is Black Friday the Best Time to Buy the Year’s Most Coveted Toys?

    Prices for this year’s top toys — including classic brands and new dolls, electronics, and Star Wars merchandise — seem clustered in the $35 to $70 range, and the cost of filling up stockings and wrapping gifts for kids, grandkids,…

  • family in costumes for Halloween

    27 Cheap and Clever DIY Costumes for Adults and Kids

    Some enthusiasts spend a good chunk of the year planning the perfect Halloween costume that expertly straddles the line between clever and spooky. Others desperately search for something they can throw together 20 minutes before a Halloween party. Those who…

  • group of boys and girls

    10 Habits of Families With Healthy Kids

    Staying healthy is a goal that especially important to families with children. The cost of medical bills and prescriptions can dig huge holes in the household budget. Kids are most vulnerable at school, where germs and bacteria run riot in…

  • colorful ski glasses with skier on snow

    20 Money-Saving Ski Passes for More Fun at More Places

    Skiing and snowboarding are notoriously expensive pastimes. Last season, the average price of an adult weekend lift ticket at the nation’s resorts was $109. Frequent skiers and riders, however, can cut the cost significantly by purchasing a season pass to…

  • 11 Peanut-Free Snacks That Are Safe for Kids’ Events

    Kellogg’s announced plans earlier this year to add peanut flour to some previously peanut-free snacks, leaving fewer options for parents scrambling for quick and cheap snacks safe to bring along…

  • New York Aquarium, Brooklyn

    11 Amazing and Affordable Aquariums

    Aquarium ticket prices can be scarier than great white sharks, but as a way to see exotic marine life, an aquarium visit is a bargain compared with the cost of…

  • 10 Free Educational Sites to Try Before Hiring a Tutor

    In a landscape of rising tuition costs and long school supply lists, online tutoring is one area where an investment in a child’s education doesn’t have to cost a cent.…

  • 10 Ways to Cut Costs on a Kid’s Birthday Party

    If you’ve ever seen the MTV show My Super Sweet 16, then you know about the parents who spare no expense to indulge their child’s every desire for one birthday…

  • 10 Ways to Cloth Diaper Your Baby on a Budget

    Many parents worry about the financial and environmental impact of disposable diapers and toy with the idea of using cloth diapers instead. But the hassle and mess put many people…

  • 10 Baby Essentials You Can Make Yourself to Save Money

    Buying gear for a baby — necessities and occasional splurges — swallows up cash in a hurry. New parents can make baby essentials at home to lighten the budgetary load.…

  • Spending Diary: How I’m Saving Hundreds on Baby No. 3

    It’s funny how spending priorities change from the first child to the second or, gasp, the third. With my first son, I registered for all the newest, brightest, and most…

  • 10 Awesomely Cheap Games for Family Game Night

    Homework, extracurricular activities, electronics, and other distractions take away so much family togetherness that many parents feel like they need to spring for a group getaway just to spend some…

  • 50 Tips for Raising Children on a Budget

    Part of being a parent is setting boundaries and rules, and among the most important is the family budget. There are an endless number of expenses to factor in —…

  • 10 Kid-Friendly Party Games and Snacks for Halloween

    With fun costumes, spooky haunted houses, and creepy games, it’s no wonder Halloween scares up so much excitement among kids of all ages. If you’re planning festivities but don’t have…

  • 11 Ways to Save on School Lunches

    By now many parents are facing the school lunch dilemma: Go to the trouble of packing lunch every day? Or give in to the easy and possibly less nutritious option…

  • 10 Easy Conservation Tips to Teach Your Kids

    There are a number of small, simple ways a family can reduce their carbon footprint and live a more eco-friendly lifestyle — even saving money in the process. These easy-to-incorporate…