As a kid, my friends and I were constantly outside. The winters in the midwest are harsh, but the summers are mild. This meant the day school got out, the weather was perfect for some quality time outdoors. With the technology boom, kids are able to play video games, watch television or do a number of other activities within the confines of their homes. This not only led to a generation of less active children, but it also led to a lot of wasted time in perfect weather. There remains a number of activities that kids can do outdoors in lieu of sitting inside on a sunny day. Here are a few you should consider for your kids:
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Planning for your child’s financial future can be complicated, particularly if your child has special needs. While some children with special needs will grow up to become adults who can look after themselves and make their own financial decisions, many will need a legal guardian and a financial plan to protect them.
It may be difficult to think about the time when you and your spouse may no longer be able to care for your special needs child, but it’s imperative that you put legal and financial protections in place to ensure your child’s happy and financially secure future. Here are the tools you will need to protect your child’s finances for years to come:
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Recycling just makes sense. Making the effort may not be simple in a world of consumerism where most items are built to be replaced instead of repaired, but you too can recycle some common items into profitable pieces with a little ingenuity. Try these 6 ideas out at home to get started.
1. Skids. Recycling skids has become one of the favorite pastimes here on the farm. We have used plastic skids to make shelters for chickens, stray cats, and dogs. The sturdy construction means these houses hold up terrifically. We’ve also found that many skids are made from hardwoods. We took these hardwood skids apart, had the local Amish lumber mill plane them down, and made a nice floor for our storage room – all for the price of the planing service and a little varnish and sealer.
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With the rising cost of fresh produce, many consumers are looking for a cheaper way to eat healthy. But is growing your own food and canning really a frugal choice or is it a budget buster? Let’s take a look at a couple examples below (Prices current as of June 2012).
Organic Green Beans
Requirements to Can Your Own
- Organic Green Bean Seeds= $5.90 for 1 packet
- Fertilizer (Miracle Gro Quart Organic Choice All-Purpose Plant Food Concentrate) = $9.97
- Canning Jars (12 count, 16 ounces)= $9.38
- Replacement bands and lids= $4.29
- Pressure Canner (Presto 01781 23-Quart Pressure Canner and Cooker from Amazon) = $79.59 plus shipping
Initial Can Your Own Investment= $105.20 plus tax and shipping for 192 ounces ($0.55 per ounce)
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