Square Pennies

Quick Tip: Marinating Meat Is Pointless

2013-08-08T23:41:00.003-04:00

Glazed Ham

Are you wasting money by marinating meat? Apparently so. The marinade does not penetrate the meat--it just stays on the surface according to an article at Taste of Food.

Think how much of the flavor on the surface of a ham gets into the slices of ham. All the pineapple juice, brown sugar, and spices stay on the surface. Inside? Nada. I'm not saying to change the way you make ham. After all it looks gorgeous and the crust is yummy. That's glazed not marinaded. But notice that many people cut into the surface of the ham to get the juices further into the ham.

I'm suggesting you might want to skip all those marinades you have for meat. Save yourself some money and all that mess. If you want to add flavor to the outside of the meat, try a glaze or add sauce near the end of cooking. Or just marinade it for about 5 minutes before cooking. Some people use a flavor injector (looks like an extra big hypodermic needle) with clear liquids. That will add some flavor to the inside of the meat.

Acids like vinegar and lemon juice do not tenderize meat. Thin pieces of meat can be pounded to be made more tender. You can use a wooden kitchen mallet or even canned food as a hammer when you put the meat between plastic wrap. On tv I saw a chef put a piece of meat between two silicone baking mats and slam it with a cast iron skillet. Very quick and effective!

Another reason to skip the marinade: meat should be dry to sear the surfaces of the meat to seal in the juices before the main cooking of it. You can do this when grilling or in a skillet or Dutch oven before baking or cooking on the top of the stove.

Should You Marinate Meat?

What do you think? Are you willing to try doing without some of them?

Click on any of the labels below for recipe ideas.

Chimichurri Grilled Chicken Sandwiches: Yummy Diet Recipe

2013-08-08T00:35:00.000-04:00

Photo Credit: Prevention

Spice up your usual grilled chicken sandwich with easy to make Chimichurri Sauce! This beautiful sandwich goes together quickly and is bursting with savory flavor.

Even if you don't make the chicken, keep the recipe for Chimichurri Sauce! It's a great way to spice up all sorts of sandwiches and recipes. It's the condiment so popular in Argentina that the rest of the world is learning to love. (It's also pretty healthy.)

This recipe makes a sandwich that is only about 300 calories with a full 32 grams of protein. That's pretty awesome for such a tasty sandwich. The original recipe calls for a large boneless chicken thigh per sandwich at 8 grams of fat, but I prefer chicken breasts which are even lower in fat. The amount of chicken you put on the sandwich also makes a difference in protein, fat, and calorie levels. Still, chicken breast is a pretty good bargain in those categories.

At least 30 minutes before you grill, make the Chimichurri Sauce.

Easy Chimichurri Sauce (adapted from this recipe at Prevention)

Microwave 1/2 cup water + 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl for 30 seconds.
Mix in:
2 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons minced garlic
pinch of red pepper flakes
Slowly add 2 Tablespoons olive oil while whisking.
Put in refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.

This sauce will last in the refrigerator for 3 days.

This sandwich is even tastier when eaten outdoors. Great with a tall glass of iced tea or your favorite cold beverage. Enjoy!

Click on any label below for more easy healthy recipes.

Best Jobs to Pay Off College Loans, Part 3: Health Care Jobs

2013-08-05T06:50:00.000-04:00

Health Care Careers Are Hot

This is Part 3 of a series on college majors that will make it much easier to pay off those college loans. These jobs pay well right after getting that first degree.

Part Three is all about health care jobs that continue to be in great demand. With the baby boomer generation getting older, these jobs should continue to be in demand for a very long time. More and more men are working in health care; this is not a field mainly for women as it was a few generations ago. If you haven't been in a hospital for a while you might be surprised at the modern very coed work place.

All salary ranges show starting salary to the median salary for those working in the field for a while. All job growth stats are for expected growth in demand for these jobs projected through 2020.
Unemployment rate is for recent grads looking for these jobs.

Respiratory Therapist, Radiation Therapist, Recreational Therapist:

$60,400-62,000 (Radiation Therapists $75,000 within a few years)

Job Growth: 33%; Unemployment: 5.4%
These therapy jobs pay well with just a Bachelor's Degree. Traditional physical therapy jobs require a PhD and are typically very difficult to even be admitted to an undergrad program to train for a physical therapists job. Yes, physical therapists make more money, but for the time, effort, and money involved, these other therapist jobs are a great deal. With such tremendous expected job growth (33%!), the future looks bright for these professionals.

Most jobs are in hospitals or nursing homes. A recreational therapist will need to be an enthusiastic person who can encourage and assist patients to perform therapeutic exercises with a cheerful attitude. All of these therapy jobs require you to study anatomy, physiology, chemistry, physics, and pharmacology. Look for opportunities to volunteer or take part-time jobs in hospitals, convalescent centers, and nursing homes to get an idea of what these jobs are like.

Nursing $46,000-60,000

Job Growth: 26%; Unemployment: 4%
Two years is all that is required for an R.N. certificate, but if you get a bachelor's degree you will be able to get a higher salary, and you'll have more opportunities to advance to even higher paid health care jobs in a hospital. With a 4-year R.N. you could later go on to become a Nurse Practioner and earn a very good salary taking the place of doctors for direct patient care for everyday kinds of illnesses in a family-oriented practice and more.

High school students can volunteer or work part-time at a hospital to see if they might like nursing or other health care jobs as a career.

Pharmacy and Pharmacology $53,200-102,000

Job Growth: 25%; Unemployment: 5.4%

What's the difference between a pharmacologist and a pharmacist? Years of education! A pharmacist has to have advanced degrees in most states, but a pharmacologist can make decent money with just a bachelor's degree. A pharmacologist can work at a lab researching drugs and drug interactions. The lab could be owned by a drug company or a government agency.

A pharmacy bachelor's degree is also a good background for going to medical school if you decide to do that. And you can always go on from a pharmacy bachelor's degree to pharmacy college to get your pharmacist's certification. Graduates of pharmacy school make salaries over $100,000 working in a drug store or a hospital.

My dad always wanted me to be a pharmacist. He said it was a job where a woman could get a good salary. He was right about that, but my math grades did not come up to requirements for pharmacy school. You better be good at math for pharmacy! And science of course.

Click here to see the entire slide show at Kiplinger about the 10 best college majors for a lucrative career. After writing this series I think I understand why they put it in a slideshow!

Click here for one of the most popular posts on Square Pennies about 10 jobs with a bright future. It includes Dental Hygenist ($68,000/year after just 1 year of training), Audiologist ($67,000/year), and Occupational Therapist ($72,000/year). So there is a variety of health care jobs that pay well. Worth looking into!

Click here for Part 1 in this series of posts here at Square Pennies discussing these 10 jobs that help pay off college loans quickly.

Best College Majors to Pay Off College Loans, Part 2: Science and Engineering

2013-07-31T17:32:00.001-04:00

Electrical Engineering

This is continuing a series on college majors that lead to high paying jobs. You can check out Part One in this series by clicking here.

The majors Part Two focuses on are science-related and engineering careers.

Medical Technologist, $45,100-58,000

job growth: 13%, unemployment rate: 5.4%

This is great for those who are interested in science especially on a practical level. To prepare for this job, you might major in chemistry or biology and include as many laboratory classes as possible. Consult college career counselors to tailor your course of studies to become a licensed medical technologist. Jobs are in hospitals, doctor's offices and diagnostic labs. Try to get internships in places like that during summer vacations to increase your experience in the field. This career takes advantage of the strong growth in health care related jobs even though you have no contact with patients. No bedside manner needed!

Caution: Nick mentioned in the comments below that he's heard there is a glut of medical technologists right now. I don't know, but be sure to check that out before committing to a course of study.

Electrical Engineering, $57,000-86,000

job growth: 6%, unemployment rate: 7.3%

If you are brilliant at math and like electricity, this could be a great choice for you. Design and test electrical components for all kinds of applications. In your spare time you can build your own motherboard and all sorts of fun items like a motorcycle jacket with turn signals built into the sleeves! (I saw that online.) $57,000 is a pretty nice starting salary too.

I've heard that some electrical engineering jobs are being offshored, but that's just what I read on internet forums. Investigate the real job prospects before studying for this career. Talk to those in the field now for their perspective.

Chemical Engineering, $64,500-86,000

job growth: 6%, unemployment rate: 7.5%

You have to be good in chemistry, physics, and math to do well in ChemE. It's one of the most difficult of the engineering degrees to get. It also pays very well with a starting salary of $64,500. For some reason it's the area of engineering where you find the most women. A woman will not find much residual sexism in this area of work as is sometimes true in other fields of engineering. Most ChemEs work in labs for a variety of companies.

Transportation and Technology, 53,1000-68,000

job growth: 5%, unemployment rate: NA

From the linked article:

"Most study engineering, mechanics and aerodynamics and work for airplane manufacturers. Depending on the program, transportation sciences can also include fields such as materials engineering and automotive-technology management."

Maggie here: airplane manufacturers used to be in what is considered a cyclical industry. Perhaps that is not true now, but be aware of the possibility. Majoring in mechanical engineering can work for the aerospace industry and gives you a broad spectrum of engineering job opportunities no matter what the economy does.

Click here for Part 3, Health Care Jobs.

Best College Majors to Pay Off College Loans, Part 1

2013-07-29T02:19:00.000-04:00

Best College Majors to Pay Off Loans?

There's an old debate about choosing a career that you love vs. choosing one that will make you the most money. In today's economy many people struggle to pay their college debt and the idea of getting an education that won't leave you broke and unemployed is newly attractive. But what are the jobs that make it easier to pay off college loans as soon as possible?

I ran across a slide show at Kiplinger that I wanted to pass along. I get a little aggravated by all the slide shows that are basically just ways to have you look at more ads, but this one has some good information. So I made a consolidation of the slide show.

All salary ranges show starting salary to the median salary for those working in the field for a while. All job growth stats are for expected growth in demand for these jobs projected through 2020.
Unemployment rate is for recent grads looking for these jobs.

Construction Services, $50,200-65,000

job growth: 17%; unemployment rate: NA

From the linked article:

"Construction-services majors study project scheduling and construction law and go on to oversee projects ranging from office buildings to power plants. . . . new construction services grads make more money than new grads in finance, general engineering and pre-law."

There is some job insecurity in a down economy, but the unemployment rate for people with experience in this field is 5.4%.

Management Information Systems, $51,000-71.000

job growth: 18%; unemployment rate: 7.4%

This major pays better than many other IT jobs. You work for a big company maintaining their network, working out bugs, and sometimes setting up their network. This can include working for hospitals which piggybacks on the demand for health care jobs. With several years experience this can translate into a salary of $85,000 and up.

Medical Assistant, $43,000-51,000

Job Growth: 31%; Unemployment rate: 5.4%

Who knew you could make that kind of salary after just 2 years of school? There should be good job security because of expected growth of the medical fields.

From the linked article:

"Medical-assisting majors study office administration and basic clinical skills, such as transcription, coding and lab procedures. They generally work in doctors’ offices, taking patient history, performing basic tests, and tracking insurance and other paperwork as needed."

Click here for Part 2 of this series on college majors that make it much easier to pay off those college loans.

Amazing "Burnt" Grilled Red Potatoes in Foil Packets

2013-07-26T17:33:00.000-04:00

Burnt Red Potatoes

How's your grilling season going? I hope you are enjoying many grilled treats this summer. I have to share an amazing recipe from my hair cutter. It's grilled potatoes like you've never had them. He says the important part is the burning of the potatoes!

These potatoes came about by chance when they were forgotten on the grill and burned. My hair cutter insisted on eating them anyway and they've made them the same way ever since. He says their guests fight over the burned pieces. What a happy accident!

Amazing "Burnt" Grilled Red Potatoes in Foil Packets

Use smaller red potatoes or those labeled "new potatoes."

Scrub potatoes and cut into pieces about an inch or so. Smaller potatoes can be cut in half. Cut slightly bigger ones into 3 pieces.

Place about a quart of cut potatoes into a heavy-duty piece of foil. Add 6 pats of real butter and a sprinkling of chopped fresh parsley. Sprinkle some garlic powder over all and close up packet.

I'm thinking of adding some black pepper and maybe some basil. Yum.

Put the foil packet on the grill making sure all the seams of the foil packet are facing up. Grill for 20 minutes, shaking the packet every so often. After 20 minutes check the potatoes for doneness. When they are done and when some of the potato pieces appear to be burnt it's a good time to remove the packet from the grill. Serve the potatoes right away.

My hair cutter says that the burnt pieces are actually the most delicious. At their house they wait until most of the potatoes are burnt because they are the ones everybody loves.

I'm going to give these a try. They sound wonderful! Happy grilling!

What are your favorite grilled foods?

Click on any of the labels below this post for more yummy recipes.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park: Great Family Hiking Trip!

2013-07-25T12:15:00.000-04:00

El Capitain, Quadalupe Mts. NP

We love this park in west Texas and have been there several times. It's close to Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, so one day in each place works well. You can camp at the park or stay at a hotel near Carlsbad. Both areas provide cooler temperatures on hot summer days.

Be sure to stop in the town of Marfa, TX on your way. It's a wonderful town. We loved eating at the pizza place housed in an old gas station. The pizza was great & you could watch traffic from the outdoor eating area. It's not exactly the kind of place where there are signs everywhere for the tourists. You have to know where to look for things & ask around a bit too. It just adds to the charm of the place.

Click here for a fun article about Marfa at the Chicago Tribune. They call Marfa quirky and artsy and I have to agree. Marfa is just a fun place. They even have the "Marfa Lights" that some people believe are from extra-terrestials. They filmed "Giant" with James Dean there. It's one of my favorite films.

Take Only Photos; Leave Only Footprints

Click here for my review of Guadalupe Mountains Nationl Park. It's a wonderful place for family hiking. There are over 80 trails in the park; we choose the easiest ones. More experienced hikers can go for tougher trails including a 6 hour ascent to the top of El Capitain. Not for me.

Click here for more details about the park at Texas Explorer.

Here is an article about the park from last year at the El Paso Times.

Take lots of photos and make some memories!

Unplug the Kids for Some Downtime This Summer!

2013-07-22T01:44:00.001-04:00

Simple Campfire

How's your summer going? If you have kids, you know how hectic summer can be. It can be difficult to carve out a little time when you are not running to this place or that. Time to just be. Even with a family you can make time for some down time. It's a choice. Just say no to some of the requests.

It seems we need to unplug from all our devices for our brains to work more efficiently and to keep being creative. Click here for an article at the New York Times about that. It makes sense to me. Being efficient and creative is what we need to handle things more easily, right?

So often we feel we must take the kids somewhere. I'm all for a childhood enriched by experiences, but you really don't have to take them to see every movie, show, exhibit, performance, amusement park, water park, concert, skating rink, bowling alley, etc. in your area. It's ok to let them hang out at the house and in the yard. I would limit the amount of time they are allowed on video games and tv and encourage them to start some kind of project for the summer. Let them choose a project they can do mainly at home so you don't end up taking them everywhere for it.

When it's not too hot, find ways to get outdoors. Nature seems to allow us to breathe more easily. It can be inspiring and is a wonderful antidote to stresses of many kinds. Take the family to a state park for a hike and picnic or go to the beach. Just the sound of waves will relax you, but spending time in the water works on your muscles like a good massage. Build a sand castle, take a nap, toss a frisbee around. Ride bikes in a city park. None of these things takes much money, but they are so valuable in teaching your kids about life beyond the flickering screen.

When we were kids our parents used to sit outside after dinner in the summer. They'd chat with the neighbors and we kids would catch lightning bugs (also called fireflies). When we got tired of that we'd sit or lie down on a blanket in the grass & just watch the constellations appear. We'd listen in to the adults' conversation and just wind down before bedtime. It sounds too simple by today's standards, but it's a fond memory I have of those days. I see something similar with the popularity of fire pits. Friends and family sit around the fire and just relax in each other's company. The conversation rises and falls in the night and something magical seems to happen as you watch the fire. A fire pit can be as simple as a campfire surrounded by rocks. With marshmallows to roast for s'mores, I guarantee the kids will love it. Making memories.

What ways do you carve out a little time to relax with your family?

Click any of the labels below this post for more ideas.

Click here for my post, 25 Things Older Kids Can Do Over Summer.

6 Fun Ways to Welcome Back Twinkies

2013-07-17T15:35:00.003-04:00

Twinkie Sushi!

Many people are happy to welcome Twinkies (no affiliation) back to the stores this summer. With tender sponge cake surrounding sweet creamy filling, what's not to love? Well, they have a lot of sugar and plenty of chemicals, but what the heck--they're Twinkies! In celebration of the return of Twinkies here are some ideas for a Welcome Back Twinkies Party.

1. Twinkie Sushi
So much fun to make. Cut twinkies into segments about an inch or so high and set them cut side up. Use green Fruit Roll-Ups on the outside as the "seaweed wrap." Add bits of fruit, nuts, peanut butter, jam, and/or syrup to resemble sushi. A piece of strawberry brushed with a bit of jam looks authentic. Red gummy Swedish fish look amazing too.

2. Twinkies Cupcakes, Truffles, or Cake Pops with No Stick?
I can't decide what to call these. Cut Twinkies into thirds and place into cupcake liners (I like the foil liners for this.) Frost all sides and add topping as best you can to all sides. How about chocolate frosting covered in coconut? Lemon frosting with sliced almonds? German chocolate frosting with melted chocolate drizzles? Dipped in melted chocolate with caramel drizzles and a bit of kosher salt? I wonder how they would be frozen. I might have to experiment with this for the sake of science.

Twinkie Tiramisu

3. Twinkie Tiramisu
This sounds really good, with sliced Twinkies in the layers of the dessert. Click here for the recipe at Confessions of a Cookbook Queen.

4. Twinkies with Fruit Sauce Topping
Cut the Twinkies at an angle and places several slices on each plate. Top with fresh fruit in a sweet sauce. Make this fruit sauce by cutting fruit and adding a little sugar. Stir and let it rest for about 30 minutes to develop its own sauce. Click here for an easy way to make a thicker fruit sauce.

5. Twinkie Minions
I love these. If you've seen the movie Despicable Me, you know these little guys as Minions. Kudos to My Litter for figuring out how to make cupcake Minions using half a Twinkie. Great for a kids party too. Click here for the tutorial at My Litter. So cute.

Twinkie Trifle

6. Twinkie Trifle
This is a natural. Cut Twinkies into 1-inch segments again (can use any leftover rounded ends from the sushi) and layer into a trifle as you would with any cake pieces. Add layers of pudding, fresh fruit, jam, and whipped topping. Click here for different ways to make a trifle. This is my son's favorite dessert!

Twinkies are not health food, but a little guilty pleasure now and then is good for the soul, right?

And we eat healthy most of the time. Right? I wonder which wine goes best with Twinkies. I've heard that beer goes well with Twinkies. Especially the chocolate covered kind.

And then there's the bacon-wrapped Twinkie Stonehenge. Yup. Classy. Maybe for a "You're As Old As Stonehenge" birthday party? Prizes for best costumes?

Twinkie Stonehenge

Charles Schwab Tells Wall Street to Shape Up

2013-07-12T12:38:00.000-04:00

Scared of the Market?

7/12/2013
Are you following the stock market? It's up to all time highs, but a lot of individual investors are still afraid to invest in it. The rate of individuals investing in the market is at a record low.

Charles Schwab, a discount stock broker for individual investors, is apparently feeling the pinch as fewer people invest in today's market. He writes in the Wall Street Journal about the reasons he sees for that and makes recommendations to the market to change that. He says the 'Flash Crash" and algorithms have made the individual investor feel they have no chance to do well in the market.

I don't give advice on the market, but we do have our retirement money in a managed fund that calms our fears. Many advisors say to invest in stocks that pay dividends especially those that focus on the necessities of life. For example, stocks for companies that make toothpaste, shampoo, and electricity will do well no matter what else is happening in the economy.

Click here for the article at the Wall Street Journal. Interesting reading.

What do you think? Is the stock market mainly for professional investors?

Money-Saving Sports Drinks that Actually Work (Low Calorie Too)

2013-07-10T13:00:00.000-04:00

Healthy Chocolate Milk!

Are you spending more on sports drinks now that you are exercising more? How about spending much less and getting more results? You can drink the most effective sports drinks and save money at the same time. Here are the most effective sports drinks that I found at Women's Health. How nice that they don't cost much and are often very low in calories!

1. Best drink before exercise: something with caffeine. Not for kids, obviously, but for the rest of us it really helps. I've read that it helps us exercise longer because it dulls any pain or strain that we might otherwise feel. Runners are able to run farther after a caffeinated drink. Black coffee and plain tea are cheap and have essentially no calories. Both contain anti-oxidants. Drink either one iced if you don't want the heat during the summer. No need to add sugar or milk to get the benefits of an energy boost.

2. Best sports drink during exercise: 100% coconut water. The goal here is to replace electrolytes. You can also use Gatorade, but that has a lot of sugar in it. You can make a clone of Gatorade using your favorite sugar substitute (Stevia is good). Click here for the easy recipe for the clone. Compare prices, but I'm thinking the clone is cheaper than coconut water. The clone uses powdered drink mix that usually contains artificial colors and flavors. Coconut water is all natural. You might be able to find an unsweetened drink mix with minimal artificial ingredients, True Lemon maybe (no affiliation). Or make lemonade with lemon juice and your sweetener of choice for the base in the Gatorade clone recipe to be all natural.

3. Best drink after a workout: chocolate skim milk. I'd be thinking of this as my goal at the end of my workout! It replaces the energy lost for a quick recovery. And chocolate is good for us! Now you know what to give your kids when they come in from playing or after sports.

Water!

4. Best drink for the rest of the day: water. Keep a pitcher of water in your refrigerator for plenty of cold water this summer. It will encourage the whole family to drink the healthiest drink of all. Buy some refillable water bottles to take when out of the house. No need to waste money on bottled water that way and it's better for the environment. Even when in the house, get the family used to keeping their own water bottle nearby. If each person has a different color it's easier too. Saves on dishes! Adults are supposed to drink at least 2 liters of water a day to stay hydrated. That does not include other kinds of drinks, so keep that drink bottle filled!

Click here for ways to check on the elderly on hot days. Dehydration can be deadly for them, so call your elderly neighbors, friends, and family to be sure they are drinking those 2 liters of water a day.

You don't need to drink water with vitamins in it. Just take your regular vitamins and drink plain water. You'll save and you can control better which vitamins you get. For extra vitamins just eat vitamin-rich foods like plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. They are at their peak of flavor now and very affordable as well.

Plug the leaks in your food budget by switching to these inexpensive, but effective "sports drinks" and reap the savings all year!

Click on any of the labels below this post for more ideas to save money and enjoy healthy inexpensive foods, and wonderful summer drink recipes.

Watermelon Fruit Cake, Watermelon Salad, and Watermelon Drinks: Fresh Summer Treats!

2013-07-09T12:40:00.005-04:00

What is the latest creative way to serve watermelon? Watermelon "cakes" are becoming very popular for birthday parties. Fruit instead of cake is healthier and so yummy.

A watermelon cake is easy to make. Just cut off the ends of the watermelon leaving a middle section the height of the cake. Then turn this middle section on one flat side and cut around the middle of the watermelon to form the cake shape. Lift the rind off and you have a cake! You can use a seedless watermelon for this or just tolerate a few seeds. Place it in a dish with sides and cover in plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight to let any excess juice drain out. Decorate the next day.

Decorate the watermelon cake with pieces of other fruit. You can frost the top of the cake at the last minute with whipped topping and arrange fruit pieces on top. I don't know how they keep the whipped topping on the sides of the cake. I have a feeling it would slide off fairly soon. You can skip the whipped topping and place the fruit directly on top if you like. Blueberries can be arranged to make a number if you want the age of the person shown. Cut and serve as you would any cake. Use toothpicks to hold fruit onto the sides of the cake for more decoration.

I like the fruit skewer wands pictured here, but you can serve them separately also. "Star fruit" would be great on these. They'd be great for a princess party or for a magic party. Just be sure no one is going to poke others or run around with these. They can eat them at the table!

Use the leftover watermelon any way you like.

Click here to make a Watermelon Slushy that really cools you off on a hot summer day!

Make Watermelon and Strawberry Lemonade!

Soak some watermelon cubes in vodka for the adults.

Top watermelon cubes with a bit of feta cheese mixed with minced mint. Very classy appetizer!

Freeze watermelon cubes to add to smoothies or make into popsicles with pieces of other fruit.

You can even make Watermelon Rind Pickles. Yum!

Simple Watermelon Salad

Watermelon is inexpensive and refreshing for salads that just say "Summer!" Here is a quick watermelon salad for the adults:

seedless watermelon cubes (can remove seeds if you like)
thin slices of red onion (use a potato peeler to get very thin slices)
Mix 3 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil with 1/2 cup of flavored vinegar (can be balsamic or red wine vinegar). Pour dressing over salad and mix.You can add a sprinkling of basil, mint, or your favorite fresh herb to the dressing also. For a little bit of bite, add some red pepper flakes or sliced jalapeno peppers. Sliced cucumbers are good in this too.

Click here for a wonderful Greek Watermelon Barley Salad that you can customize as you like.

By the way, watermelon is fairly low in calories and hydrates you nicely. It also contains lycopene which works to block some free-radicals that do sun-damage to your skin.

What are the best ways to serve watermelon? Any way you like it! Watermelon is so inexpensive and healthy. What else can you serve that is so refreshing and festive for the price?! Ah, Summer!

4th of July Reading: The Declaration of Independence

2013-07-01T16:30:00.000-04:00

Summer reading list? Include that short but powerful document, The Declaration of Independence. It's still pretty amazing after all these years.

Click here to read it at the LA Times.

I'm trying to think what music would be appropriate to go with this. The 1812 Overture comes to mind, but that's a bit later than 1776. I enjoy the patriotic music often played at the fireworks displays on 4th of July, and the 1812 Overture goes well with the grand finale of the show in my humble opinion.

P.S. I put this up every Fourth of July--I hope you don't mind.

Festive Fourth of July Recipes that Save Time and Money

2013-06-28T15:05:00.001-04:00

4th of July Jello Shots

Everybody loves a fun Fourth of July party. Here are some easy ways to celebrate in style. These are the recipes that I think give the most value for your money and time. And they are yummy! Try a few and then kick back to enjoy the day!

Serve Red, White, and Blue Treats

The most popular recipe on Square Pennies for the Fourth, by far, is the one for 4th of July Jello Shots. These are so cute with a cherry stem sticking up making them look a bit like firecrackers. Make these alcoholic or not. Click here for the directions at The Picket Fence.You could become known for these!

I love an easy to decorate Flag Cake. Just frost a sheet cake with whipped topping and add blueberries and strawberries to make the flag. Very pretty and so yummy! Serve it in the pan to keep all the berries in place. This looks nice in a clear glass pan. Click here for the tutorial at All Recipes. Bring it out of the refrigerator at the last minute to keep the topping from melting.

Easy Watermelon Stars

Make a 4th of July White Wine Spritzer for a special 4th of July drink. Make easy watermelon stars with a star cookie cutter and add them and blueberries to the drink. A spritzer is usually just wine added to carbonated water, ginger ale, seltzer water, etc. You can add the amount of wine you like. You can have more of these than straight wine and I love the bubbles! By the way, it you have a Soda Stream machine (no affiliation) you can put bubbles directly into white wine to have something very close to champagne! You might like to serve these with dessert or greet your guests with one. It sets a festive tone to your party. This is also nice in lemonade for a non-alcoholic version.

Lower Your Meat Costs

Try kebabs to use less meat while adding plenty of flavor and style. Bacon-wrapped Chicken Kebabs are a welcome addition to the menu and could become one of your new favorites. Click here for the recipe at All Recipes. Beef and veggie kebabs and 100% veggie kebabs are popular also. Yum.

Grilled Chicken for Sandwiches

If chicken is cheaper than beef this year, grill some barbequed chicken. Everyone loves barbequed chicken. Add the sauce at the last minute to prevent burning. Click here for an inexpensive barbeque sauce for chicken that is famous. If you grill chicken breasts, slice them for sandwiches. Set out sandwich toppings and buns to stretch the chicken even further. Be generous with the topping selections--remember they cost less than meat! All the sandwich options show generous hospitality that your guests will appreciate. No one will feel deprived with this opportunity to make a sandwich to their exact taste! Click here for some sandwich spread recipes you might want to try. Offering one should be enough, though some make great dips for celery, carrots, or crostini--also inexpensive. By the way, you can partially cook the chicken breasts in your microwave just before putting them on the grill to finish them. It saves time and fuel on your grill. You can grill the chicken more quickly this way if you need to put other things on the grill or even a second batch of chicken. My brother does this all the time and the chicken is always delicious.

You can serve Sloppy Joe's that you make ahead of time and just reheat. Simple and the kids love these. This can be one of the choices if you don't want to serve this as your only meat dish. Click here for my really fast version of Sloppy Joe's.

Serve Quick and Easy Side Dishes

Want a money-saving side that is totally quick to throw together? Make Lemon Apple Cole Slaw from Southern Living. It's a fresh-tasting side to any meat. Click here to link to this simple recipe.

Make super quick baked beans at the last minute with my recipe. Or make ahead and just reheat. Either way, they will have that cooked all day flavor even though it took you just a few minutes. You can even serve them in a slow cooker to complete the illusion! Click here for my recipe for "Doctored-Up" Baked Beans.

Serve Cooler Corn! This is the easiest corn on the cob ever and keeps most of the steam out of your kitchen. Click here for how to make "Cooler Corn" that frees up your grill and makes having corn on the cob so easy! Break the ears in half for easier serving and less waste.

So these are my tips for having a great Fourth of July party that save you money, time, and energy. Have fun, my friends!

Click on any of the labels below this post for more recipes and ideas.

Enjoy Summer Easy Living for Less

2013-06-25T22:23:00.000-04:00

Kick Back in Style!

Summer time and the living is easy! Just soaking up the sun relaxes us. Here are ways to make Summer more enjoyable that don't cost much. These tips might be a great place to start your staycation!

String the Christmas Lights in the Back Yard

These lights don't use much electricity and add a lot of style as well as attractive light. Add white lights to trees and/or tree trunks or just string them from tree to tree or along a fence or the side of your house. Just add a tropical drink and you can feel like you are in the Caribbean.

Create Inexpensive Eating Areas Outdoors

Eat outside as much as possible to enjoy one of the great simple pleasures of life. People who live in colder climates celebrate the warmer weather by eating outdoors almost all summer. Sandwiches become a picnic and regular meals become a feast outdoors. Whether it's a picnic table or an old table you drag outside, make an effort to eat al fresco at least once a week during good weather. It's a great way to experience Summer even if you made all the food inside the house. Click here to see 25 photos of inexpensive outdoor eating set-ups you can make at This Old House. You'll be glad you did this.

DIY Project?

Double That Recipe

Cook once; eat twice! You'll cook half as often by serving the same meal twice. You can alternate some of the meals if you don't want it two days in a row. Enjoy those nights when you don't have to cook a meal from scratch! A variation of this is to grill as much as you can fit on your grill and freeze the leftovers for quick meals later.

Put Your Slow Cooker in the Fast Lane

Easy Frozen Fruity Pops

Get some freezer zipper bags and load each one with every thing that will go into your slow cooker for a meal. Use a permanent marker to write the name of the recipe on the bag. Add the date you froze it and relax knowing you have meals ready to go on ice! To use, just put your bag of choice in the refrigerator the night before (maybe right after dinner) to start thawing. Dump the contents of the bag into the slow cooker in the morning and know that dinner will be waiting when you get home. It's a great feeling to have those meals on hand in the freezer. You can even put the slow cooker in the garage
to keep heat out of the house. Use these slow cooker meals on weekends too when you are going to be out for the day.

Taste All the Fruits of the Season.

Summer: It's the Berries!

Fruit is at its best prices of the year as they reach the peak of their season. Just by buying the cheapest fruit, you are getting fruit at the peak of its flavor also. Serve fresh whole fruit for dessert or if you family won't eat it that way, serve it cut into pieces as finger food. You also get less waste when each person takes only the pieces they will eat. Try frozen fruit as little popsicles or make fruity popsicles in paper cups, plastic cupt, or popsicle molds. You could also puree some fruits to freeze as popsicles or to surround pieces of fruit in the popsicle. Fruit salad and fruit desserts are always welcome signs of Summer. Click here for ways to add fruit to inexpensive drinks for a refreshing, beautiful treat that is great for family, entertaining, or anytime you want to feel pampered.

Teaching Kids About Money: Would You Pretend to Be Poor?

2013-06-24T12:42:00.001-04:00

I heard of a family the other day that had fooled their kids for years about their true financial situation. They had actually inherited quite a bit of wealth, but they didn't want their kids to grow up being "spoiled." The kids did not go to very expensive colleges. They wore clothes like everyone else. They did not take lavish vacations. It wasn't until the kids were grown that they found out Mom and Dad had plenty of money. It got me thinking.

John D. Rockefeller and Rose Kennedy ran their households that way. They ate beans and wore hand-me-down clothes. At some point the message was given to the grown kids: "To whom much is given, much is expected." Many charities benefited from that attitude. These families are controversial in other aspects, but this way of raising kids is interesting to me.

If you were a billionaire, would you let your kids know? I will never be in that category or even near it, but it raises an interesting question. Even at your current financial situation, would it be good to hold back on some spending? Would it be good to give your kids the idea that money was not plentiful?

With our kids we didn't have to pretend. We had a moderate income, but with four kids, it was challenging enough. For our first born, I bought used baby clothes (the horror!). I figured the baby would grow through the clothes quickly anyway and I was glad to have a good supply. It also showed me which brands hold up better than others. And when an item got stained, it was not a big deal. Later I bought baby clothes from ebay, getting brands that I knew would last well. All of these got passed down to the next baby.

When our kids were in high school I bought them new clothes, but mainly basics that would cover all their needs. If they wanted more than that, they could earn the money for them. Our boys didn't care, but our daughter made sure she had jobs to finance her "wants" beyond the "needs" we had provided. To this day she says that was an important lesson for her: that if you want something you have to work for it.

When our youngest went off to college, he bought a picture frame that cost $15. I told him to take it back and get one for about $3 instead. Later when I started to give him the talk about not spending too much money in college, he stopped me. He said the picture frame told him all he needed to know!

I don't claim to be the perfect parent, not by any means. But our kids did not go out in the world with an attitude that they would automatically become rich. They are fairly successful in several ways, not the least of which is their loving families. I feel that we did something right giving them a realistic grounding financially. They are not uber wealthy, but they do give to charity. I'm proud of them in many ways.

Think about what kind of example you are giving your kids. Are you teaching them that it's important to keep up with the Joneses? Are you running up debt? Do you require your kids to do chores? Do you give an allowance? Do you encourage your kids to save money? With the economy being uncertain, I think it's even more important to teach the kids about money. Also, if we demonstrate too lavish a lifestyle, will they feel like failures if they can't replicate that lifestyle? There are definite advantages to raising our kids with an attitude that we are careful with money. It's a gift you can give your kids that will serve them well all their lives.

Click here for how I taught our daughter about credit cards. She still tells me that it was an important lesson.

How to you talk to your kids about money? Would you give them "the gift of poverty" even if you are not poor?

10 Stay Cool Tips for Hot Days

2013-06-19T12:49:00.001-04:00

It's Summer! I do love summer, but some days are just too hot. Here are some ways I've found that really work to keep
you cool on those days. (If these don't work, you can always wear a wet t-shirt and stand in front of a fan!)

1. Run your ceiling fan the right way: counterclockwise. That's the opposite of the wintertime direction. Be sure your fireplace flue is closed and close the glass doors too if you have them.

2. Wear comfy clothes! That means loose-fitting cotton clothing for the most part. Thinner cotton keeps you cooler, but some really thin cotton knit tears easily in the washer. Try for cotton that is not tissue thin. At home you can wear t-shirts, caftans, and other loose-fitting clothing. For the office, bring a jacket or sweater if your air conditioning is set very cold. You can sometimes wear a comfy sundress to the office if you will keep the jacket on while there. Sundresses are some of the most comfortable items to wear in hot weather. Silk will keep you cool in hot weather and warm in cold weather, and is great for dressy occasions. I only buy silk tees that I can wash and iron myself. Those long sundresses in thin cotton look very cooling and very comfortable. I might have to get one.

3. Eat and drink cold things. Sno-Cones, slushies, smoothies, iced coffee, iced tea, lemonade, and plenty of ice water can replace that hot coffee or hot tea. Freeze some fruit for automatic popsicles. Have cold sandwiches and salads several nights a week. Try a new salad each week?

4. Keep some ice packs in the freezer. Grab one to put on your neck or pulse points when you want to cool down fast. You could even use a bag of frozen peas, etc., but then you'd be defrosting the peas! Those flexible blue ice packs work well. Keep enough on hand for a really hot day.

5. Take a cool shower. Don't make the water too cold or it will just rev up your circulation which makes you hotter again after the shower. A nice, lukewarm water flow will have the most long-lasting cooling effect. Lying in a cool, not cold bath works wonders as well.

6. Keep heat out of the house by grilling and/or using a slow cooker. An oven or even cooking on top of the stove just adds extra heat to the house. You can put the slow cooker in the garage to keep even more heat out of the house.

7. Go to the pool. Water cools you off faster than anything. It's physics! Bring the sunscreen and a cool drink.

8. Keep the drapes closed during the hottest part of the day. Instant shade. Buy insulated drapes for even more cooling effect. They will save you on your air conditioning bills in the summer and on your heating bills in the winter. A good deal all around. They are usually on sale in the spring, but you might be able to find some now at a good price. They are online year-round.

9. Buy a kids' wading pool that is deep enough for you so soak in. Put it in the shade and listen to the birds. Get out to sit in a chair in the shade and let the breeze dry you, cooling you all the while. Rinse and repeat. A cool drink and a little summer reading is all you need.

10. Visit a cave. They are generally about 40-50 degrees below ground and make a nice respite from the heat.

What are your favorite ways to be cool this summer?

Click any of the labels below for cooling recipes and more tips.

Deep Discount Bargain Hunting Can Save You a Bundle

2013-06-16T16:25:00.000-04:00

Bargains Make Me Happy

We all love deals and deep discounts on name brand items. What's a deep discount? I consider it to be 80%-90% off the original price. I just discovered an outlet store that handles all sorts of items that have been returned to big name online retailers (think of Amazing retailers). When the packaging has been damaged to the point that the item has obviously been returned, the retailer decides it's not in good enough shape to sell. So they sell it to re-sellers who sell it at a fraction of the original cost. It it's something you need, you can reap the savings!

Bargain Hunt Superstores (I have no connection with them) is one of these re-sellers in the southeast US with deals like this. Baby items are plentiful, but like most items, it's hit or miss in what you'll find at any one time. Since the items are not in perfect packages you probably won't be able to gift the items. However you might find things that friends and family will be happy to get if they are not put off by the damaged packaging. Or let your them know when you spot something there you think they would like or need. Bring your smart phone to check on item ratings while you're in the store if you like or buy items that you know are good. A close friend tells me she gets baby items for 80%-90% off at one of these stores.

There are large toys there too & this could come in handy for Christmas and birthday shopping for your own kids. I'm assuming items will not qualify for any warranties that usually come with the item. A way to gift smaller items to others might be to put the unwrapped items in a gift basket and wrap in plastic wrap with a pretty bow.

Here are the locations of the Bargain Hunt stores.
I hope you can find stores like this near you. If you know of other names for these type stores, please share!

Easy Light Summer Supper: Avocado Egg Salad Sandwiches with No Mayo

2013-06-12T10:00:00.000-04:00

Heart-Healthy Avocado

Our daughter made this easy quick supper for us the other night. Unbelievable. I'm not a big fan of egg salad ordinarily, but this is no ordinary egg salad. It contains absolutely no mayonnaise, so it's healthier than most egg salad. It includes a large avocado that gives it the luxurious mouth feel that contrasts well with the crusty toast. You won't find this in any of the typical sandwich restaurants, and it's an inexpensive sandwich that tastes expensive. Also quick to make when you want a light meal for dinner. What's not to like?

This light meal could have all sorts of sandwich names, but I like to call it Luxurious Avocado Egg Salad Sandwiches. Feel free to create your own name.

Luxurious Avocado Egg Salad Sandwiches (makes 3 generous sandwiches)

One large perfectly ripe avocado, cut into large chunks
8 hard-boiled eggs (boil the night before for quick assembly), chopped into medium chunks
Chopped cilantro to taste (It's even good without the cilantro.)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 Large tomato sliced into 1-inch slices
Rye bread, pumpernickel, whole wheat bread or bread of your choice toasted at the last minute (I like it fairly crusty)

Mix the eggs with the avocado using a serving spoon until it breaks down a bit into a nice consistency.
Add cilantro, salt, and pepper to taste.
Make the toast.

Spread the egg salad onto the toast, add a thick slice of fresh tomato and top with the other piece of toast. Yum. Serve with a side or dessert of fresh fruit if you like. A tall glass of iced tea is good too.

Variations
You can also use this mixture in a wrap or pita pocket with shredded lettuce. You won't have bits of the salad fall out as easily this way & is also very yummy. It will fall out of a bagel sandwich, but the combination is wonderful. Stuffing the filling into a "poor boy" bun is another option with wonderful possibilities--lettuce, piece of provolone, bacon, chopped onion?

These sandwiches could be nice on a croissant at a baby shower brunch or a sandwich buffet for a bridal shower also. You can make them into open-faced appetizers by spreading a bit on a small piece of toast and accenting with thin slice of red radish, piece of cucumber, or sprig of fresh dill. Very nice. Or spoon a dab of the mixture onto a cherry tomato half.

Keep this trick in mind to use avocado instead of mayonnaise in other salads and sandwich recipes. The avocado has heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Much healthier than mayo!

For those with egg allergies, substituting avocado for mayonnaise in egg-free salads could work well. For example, tuna salad made with avocado instead of mayo. Also, check out these sandwich spread recipes for more mayonnaise substitutes that are really yummy and healthy.

You won't find this on a sandwich shop menu, but you can easily make this for yourself and guests any time you want a luxurious sandwich that is budget-friendly.

Love it for those summer nights when you want something quick and cool! IF you have any leftovers, it makes a brown-bag lunch a treat! Just pack the egg salad separately and spread on toast when you are ready to eat.

Giving Up TV or How I Save $70 a Month the Easy Way

2013-06-11T11:38:00.000-04:00

So Many Choices; So Little Quality

We are joining the many people who have stopped getting cable/satellite tv. We will save $70 a month this way. Woo! I read about many people who have taken this step and wondered if we could do it. Now I know.

We've noticed that we don't watch much tv anymore. Isn't it amazing that with so many channels there's very little to watch? We have enjoyed some shows now and then, but mainly we've gone online for our news and entertainment. Even when we had the tv on we were mainly paying attention to our online entertainment. We joked about how we watch tv with our laptops open. (Yes, we still have laptops.)

When we spend time with extended family, few people want the tv on anyway. It's like we've rediscovered conversation! Some family members don't want the tv on when their small children are around so that keeps the tv off as well. No baby tv for them! It's much more fun to play with the kids!

We started a Netflix subscription some time ago and found that we were watching things on there more often than on "regular tv." So why not save the $70 a month?

We pay $8 a month for Netflix and are fairly happy with the selections there. We have succumbed to the habit of watching an entire tv series in large chunks of several episodes. I'm not exactly proud of being such a couch potato, but it is great when you just want to cocoon for a little while. And you can really get into the characters.

Netflix will tailor your choices according to your rating of things you've watched. I like historical drama, for example, so I get to see what else they have in that category without doing a big search. Kind of nice. There is plenty of children's programming if you want that.

So we are giving up our high tv bill, but we are never giving up our search for better ways to spend our money. This is pretty painless saving also. Now if we had to give up our wifi? Not even gonna think about it!

What will we miss on tv? Not much. We did get a few chuckles from watching Pawn Stars, but I'll just have to live without Chumley.

Giveaway: iPad Mini and Pay-Off-Debt App

2013-06-10T01:46:00.002-04:00

Entries Available

Would you like to win a free iPad Mini? How about a handy app that helps you pay off debt? This sweet giveaway comes from my fellow blogger Jackie at The Debt Myth. You get several chances to win just by using the easy Rafflecopter form at the link below:

Click here for the "It's Time for the Pay-Off-Debt App Celebration Giveaway."

Also take a look at Jackie's posts to help you get debt under control a step at a time!

I hope you win! In my opinion, anytime you pay down debt, you are winning!

11 Inexpensive Father's Day Gifts Dad Will Love

2013-06-08T15:44:00.000-04:00

Dad Day 2013

Dad Day 2013 is just around the corner. Want to have fun with Dad? Here are some of my favorite Father's Day gift ideas that don't cost much, but are special. Some are project ideas that take a little more time, but most are easy to do on Dad's Day.

1. Breakfast in bed--why should Mom get all the breakfasts in bed? With Mom coordinating in the kitchen this could be a great treat! Turn the tables again and have the kids read a bedtime story to Dad!

2. Detail Dad's car. This is a gift most Dad's will really appreciate and kids of different ages can pitch in doing parts of the job. The kids will be so proud to do this for Dad.

3. Surprise Dad with a picnic lunch in the park followed by a hike or just playing at a playground. Local parks and nearby state parks can be great places for a little adventure that doesn't cost much. Take pictures! These green ideas are fun for the whole family.

4. Give a certificate for a particular service to be redeemed when it best fits Dad's schedule. It can be anything from cleaning out the garage to watering the garden to taking him to his favorite restaurant.

5. Does Dad have a beard? Treat him to some specialty grooming products for his beard. Beard Shampoo, beard conditioner, beard oil, etc. might be really appreciated.

6. Take Dad on a family bike ride. Great exercise for all and a wonderful way to have some bonding time. It's another one of those green ideas that are enjoyable for everyone while making for a healthy family.

7. Make a book about Dad. It could be "Things I Like About Dad" or "I Like It When Dad . . . " Let the kids illustrate it for extra fun. Definitely a keepsake better than a purchased card.

8. Make up a song about Dad and record it for him. You may feel like you are just an ordinary family, but there are things that make your family special and Dad often has a lot to do with that. Celebrate those!

9. Combine #7 and #8 into a family show to present to Dad. Turn it into a video that can be enjoyed over and over again. Kids have fun being actors and movie makers too!

Flower Pot Smoker

10. Take photos of the kids holding I Love You letters or signs. Frame for a great gift and some diy wall decor.

11. Make an easy smoker with a new clay flower pot! Click here for this popular project.

You can combine any of these activities for Dad and make a card essentially saying "You Will Have Fun!" and let him know what's on the schedule. Spending time with Dad is a super way to celebrate the day.

Click on the labels below this post for more ideas for creative activities you can plan for Dad's Day 2013.

Have fun on Father's Day!

Do You Want to Be a Billionaire?

2013-06-06T09:01:00.000-04:00

Money Money Money

Some people think CEOs make salaries that are too high compared to the average worker. Some say this can lead to problems in society. Now what if you were offered such a huge salary for your work (and let's say it's honest work for the sake of this argument.) Would you take it?

Or would you ask for less? We've heard of a few, very few, CEOs who pay themselves a dollar a year. That's extreme on the other end and almost no one can afford that. What if you were offered a salary that was not astronomical, but put you in the upper 1%? Would you take it or ask for less?

I'm thinking I would take it and use the "excess" to give to charities. I'd love to give to programs that retrain workers. That seems ethical to me. Also my taxes would support a lot of government services helping a lot of people. Giving money to fight disease and/or find a cure for a disease is a very good thing also.

Being in the upper 1% is sometimes derided, but the upper .01% is way beyond my comprehension.

So would you like to get a high salary or would you ask for less?

Map to Free Fruit, Yours for the Picking at Over 600,000 Locations

2013-06-02T09:33:00.000-04:00

You can pick all kinds of fruit and enjoy the fruit for free via a great website. They map places in the

Healthy Free Fruit

US and all over the world where you can pick it yourself for free fruit. People add places all the time to increase the choices. There are over 600,000 locations listed already. Lots of free fruit!

Some of the fruit grows in public spaces like a town square. If it's on private property, you should ask permission of the fruit tree owner. Many people are happy to share and are glad to not have to take care of it all themselves. Some people never eat the fruit on their trees. Quite a few locations are urban as well. Some items are leaves of trees that can be made into tea.

Even fruit that is not perfect looking can be used to make all sorts of desserts, jams, jellies, and fruit syrup. Click on the labels below this post for ideas and recipes.

Check it out: FallingFruit.org.

11 Free Things to Do in St. Louis that Are Really Nice

2013-05-30T00:02:00.002-04:00

St. Louis, Missouri

THIS POST IS PART OF THE BUCK INSPIRE BUCKET LIST CHALLENGE to find special events and places that are closer to home. Seeing the St. Louis Arch could be on your bucket list, but there are many fun things to do and experience in St. Louis.

Looking for a fun family vacation destination? "Meet Me in St. Louis!" as the song goes. It's my childhood home that I still visit quite often. I love that you can have a great time in St. Louis while reaping the savings of all the free attractions. How about free concerts, free fireworks, a free day at the zoo, time to wander beautiful gardens, dazzling cathedrals, inspiring libraries, museums, and historical landmarks? All for free! You'll save enough on all these freebies to splurge on perhaps the best indoor playground full of art and architecture ever. Have fun, my friends!

Free Activities and Attractions

1. The world-class St. Louis Zoo; how many zoos this big are still free? The zoo is set in Forest Park, the site of the 1904 World's Fair. Admission is free, but parking is $15 per vehicle in the two zoo lots. If you arrive early enough you might be able to find free parking in Forest Park somewhat close to a zoo entrance. You can come back to your car to have lunch at a nearby picnic table if you like. Some zoo shows and attractions charge a fee--see link below for those details. The children's zoo is free for the first hour the zoo is open. Summer hours are 8 am-7 pm. Click here for more details about the zoo. The outdoor bird cage is from the 1904 World's Fair.

St. Louis Gateway Arch

2. The St. Louis Science Center has been voted the #1 free thing to do in St. Louis. It's free to explore, but some of the exhibitions charge an entrance fee. Let the kids enjoy everything while you relax in the air conditioning. It's located in Forest Park at 5050 Oakland Ave., St. Louis. Click here for their hours and latest exhibits. Free parking.

3. The St. Louis Gateway Arch is awesome when you stand at the base of one of the legs and look up. Click here for more info on the Arch.
It's a great photo op. The museum below is free and a nice orientation to the history of St. Louis being the Gateway to the West. You can go to the top of the arch for a fee, but be warned, the air conditioning is not very efficient. The view from the top is good, but it's from small windows. I'd skip the trip to the top unless you really feel a need to do it.

4. Fair Saint Louis is the 3-day 4th of July party at the Arch. Bring your beach blanket to sit on the grass. Click here for the schedule for this year's Fair Saint Louis.

Happy 4th of July!

Bring some cool drinks and sandwiches for a free show near the Arch. There is usually an air show in the afternoon and various music groups perform throughout the day into evening. The nighttime fireworks display over the Mississippi River with the arch is awesome. All is free, but you can buy refreshments if you like. This year they have Trace Atkins, the Counting Crows, and many more music groups. Not too bad having free concerts and a gorgeous free fireworks show! You will have to pay for parking ($10? for the event) in the LaClede's Landing area and walk quite a few blocks to the arch area. If you bring a cooler, make it one with w
heels or plan to have help carrying it. You will be surrounded by crowds everywhere and the traffic leaving can be extremely slow. Free parties like this are very popular.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis

5. The Old St. Louis Cathedral built in 1834 is on the riverfront near the Arch at 209 Walnut St. It's beautiful and serene inside and hosts many weddings. It's worth a peek inside on your way to or from the arch. Not air conditioned, so go early in the day if possible. The Old Cathedral has a simple elegance, but for a more grand experience, visit the new St. Louis cathedral. The newer cathedral is called the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis and sits at 4431 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis. Be prepared to be dazzled by the largest installation of mosaic in the world. Click here to see photos of this ornate cathedral that is open to the public. The basilica is ranked #2 on Trip Advisor's things to see in St. Louis, free or otherwise.

6. The St. Louis Courthouse is where the the historic Dred Scott case was first tried. You can wander around inside for free. Get an iconic photo (like the one at the top of this post) of the courthouse framed by the St. Louis Arch from Kiener Plaza park west of the courthouse. The park has a nice fountain as well as a large stepped waterfall. Streets flanking the park have gorgeous swathes of plants and flowers in the medians. The park makes a nice setting for a picnic lunch. There is a sunken amphitheater opposite the waterfall where you can sit, munch, and enjoy the scenery.

CityGarden Park

7. A block farther west is the award-winning CityGarden. Click here for good information on CityGarden. Families play in the fountains and bubblers and kids try to climb the whimsical sculptures along the path. It's a fun way to cool off in the middle of the city. Take some pictures here!

8. Shaw's Garden (Missouri Botanical Garden) has free admission and free concerts (Whitaker Music Festival) during the summer on Wednesday nights. Come after 5 pm and see as much of the gardens as you like for free. The kids will enjoy the Japanese Garden with the huge carp. There are sandwiches and drinks for sale at the concert, but most people bring their own drinks and snacks. Some people go all Gatsby with it, dressing up to have wine and a beautiful picnic repast. Bring a blanket to sit on. It's nice to sit under the stars and listen to the music. We enjoyed hearing the late great Etta James here one night. Her "At Last" is a classic. Click here for the Whitaker Music Festival schedule. They are featuring a lot of blues, jazz, and indie pop this year.

CityGarden Park

Click here for more info about the Missouri Botanical Garden.

9. The St. Louis Art Museum is in Forest Park atop Art Hill. There is a kind of cool statue of "St. Louis," the French king who gives his name to the city. He sits atop his horse and looks out over the lagoon below--perhaps remembering its glory during the World's Fair. See the wiki here on the 1904 Word's Fair. It was quite an event! The museum is not huge, but it contains a large "Waterlilies" by Monet that is worth experiencing in my opinion. Here is the wiki on it to give you some of the flavor of the exhibits there. Free parking.

10. The Missouri History Museum is located in Forest Park as well. It has a wonderful exhibit of the World's Fair and also one on Charles Lindburgh whose plane was "The Spirit of St. Louis. He trained in the St. Louis area and a replica of his plane is in the museum. Click here for more about the nuseum. I always like the antique toys on display here. Free parking.

11. The Central Public Library. Yes, a library. I've not been to this one yet, but it's on my list for my next visit. It contains some of the most amazing architecture and impressive old lighting mixed with modern renovation. You can take a free tour and/or wander around at will. Click here for the reviews at Trip Advisor. It's wonderful that something so beautiful can be a free public space.

The City Museum

One that Charges Admission

I have to list one place that charges admission. For family fun it's hard to beat The City Museum. It is ranked #8 on Trip Advisor for all attractions in St. Louis. They took architectural remnants from old St. Louis and turned it into art, whimsy, and a giant fun house for kids of all ages. Recycling at its best! It has a school bus coming out of the side of the building and a plane hovering above the building. This is one place that is worth the money and so much better than going to a regular amusement park. Click here to find what they have floor by floor. Address: 701 North 15th St. St. Louis. M-Th 9-5. Call for other days when they have shortened hours: (314) 231-2489.

I can't possibly list everything St. Louis has to offer. It's a fabulous place to have a good time that costs a lot less than in bigger cities. Come and enjoy! Click here for many more ideas including special interest itineraries.

Click any of the labels below this post for more ideas. The "frugal travel" label links to more inexpensive destinations.

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