Let’s take a look at bank account tips and options for your elementary school-aged child.

1. Open a Savings only  account – When you go to the bank there are a few bank account options including a joint checking account where you and your child share the same checking account.  This account allows your child to get a debit card.  A debit card is a big step up in responsibility and is not the first step. This comes after a savings account has been opened and established.  Remember, the goal of having a savings account is to SAVE, not spend.

2. No Fees – Make sure the  account you open does not have a minimum requirement (such as a monthly direct deposit) or monthly fees (for things like monthly paper statements).  Credit Unions are generally excellent places to open savings accounts because they often have low or no fees.

3. Easy accessibility – Having a bank that is close to your house or on your general everyday route will make it easy for everyone when deposits need to be made.  Ensure there is a way to log in to your account online so you can check the balance.  This will help your child stay focused on his/her savings goals.

4. Regular deposits – Work with your child to make regular deposits into the account. This might be a portion of their allowance each month. It can also include a portion of any cash gifts that they receive.

5. Keep track – Consider keeping a ledger or a goals savings sheet.  We have a super cute printable savings chart that you can print and use at your house!

There are many ways to teach your child to save money. A bank account is a necessity in adult life.  Teaching your child all about the bank, starting with  a savings account, at a young age will help them succeed financially as an adult.  Goal setting and patience, learned through saving, are important skills for adult life as well.  By learning how to save money early, your child will only purchase what is truly important to him/her because getting to that goal took a lot of work.

Both of my girls have savings accounts. They enjoy going to the bank and depositing money in to their accounts.  Signing their names on the electronic pad makes them feel so grown up and they always smile when they are done signing.  I love that we are teaching them financial responsibility at such a young age!

See also:

Kids and Finance – Teaching Kids About Money: Setting Goals

Responsibility and Chore Chart for Kids with Printable Chore Chart

What is the biggest goal your child has saved for?

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Kids and Finances – Teaching Kids About Money: Opening a Child’s Savings Account is a post by Coupons Are Great

Big Sister, who is in third grade, just got a sneak peek of these jokes.  We went to a friend’s house this afternoon and I heard her say “You know those jokes my mom tucks into my lunch??  She had MINECRAFT ones!!!”  Her friend was almost as excited as she was.  I guess that means I should print them now to put into tomorrow’s lunches, which are already made.   I tuck the girls’ lunch box notes into their lunch boxes with their EasyLunchboxes 3-compartment Bento Lunch Box Containers.  It’s always fun when they come home saying their friends…or even their teachers….loved their jokes.

Printable Minecraft Jokes

To get your very own printable Minecraft inspired lunch box notes to print and  use yourself all you need to do is click here for the pdf.  You will be able to save this PDF to your computer and can print it when you need it!  If you have any problems, please Email Me

If your family is really into funny jokes you may want to consider:

• MINECRAFT: 100+ Funny clean Minecraft jokes and memes for Children. ( memes for kids, minecraft jokes and memes, minecraft funny comics, minecraft kids short stories, minecraft jokes for kids.)
• Diary of a Wimpy Steve series: Minecraft Jokes for Kids! – Currently $2.99
• And these Minecraft Papercraft Animal Mobs Set (Over 30 Pieces) look incredibly cool!

We have created many printable lunch box jokes over the years.  You are likely to find another free set that you love as much as this one!  While you are here, be sure to subscribe to Coupons Are Great so you don’t miss out on great deals, fun freebies, crafts, and more. 

Printable Minecraft Lunchbox Jokes is a post by Coupons Are Great

When shopping online retailers often offer a small percentage of money to the site that referred you.  When you go through a cash back site you get money back in your pocket.  It takes a few strokes of the keyboard to line your pocket with a little extra money.  Ebates is my favorite cash back site. I have cashed in hundreds of dollars using Ebates since 2009.  I have saved my friends quite a bit of money by telling them to use a cash back site like Ebates too.

Using Ebates is Easy!

1. Sign Up  and you will get $10 in your account just for signing up.  * To qualify for a Welcome Bonus, you must be a new member and make minimum qualifying purchases totaling at least twenty-five dollars ($25) within ninety (90) days of becoming a Member.
2. Head to Ebates before you shop online.
3. Search Ebates for the store you are shopping at online.
4. Wait a few seconds.  A tracking tickets is issued.
5. Shop, shop, shop at the store you were directed to from Ebates.  You can still use coupon codes and other discounts at checkout to save even more money.
6. You will receive a percentage of your purchase price in to your Ebates account.  Generally you can see this credit a few days after you place your order. Sometimes the money is credited in a few hours, which is always exciting.
7. At the end of each quarter a check will be mailed to you if your account balance is $5.01 or higher!

You can shop at over 1000 stores including eBay, JCPenney, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Overstock.com, Walmart, Kohl’s and Home Depot.  Cash back typically ranges from 3 to 5 percent.  It is always neat to see high rates (up to 26%), and that does happen!  Be on the lookout for some great Black Friday stores that will offer Double Cash Back!

Ebates has a great referral program. You will earn $5 for every friend who signs up.

Get your cash back from Ebates.  Start today!

Check out these Ways I Save for more money saving tips and tricks.

 If you love saving money, and who doesn’t, check out these deals and freebies that will save you even more!  Be sure to subscribe to Coupons Are Great so you don’t miss out on great deals, fun freebies, crafts, and more. 

Save Even More Shopping Online: Ebates is a post by Coupons Are Great

Why Amazon Prime Rocks

Get unlimited FREE two-day shipping with no minimum order size.  Sometimes you need an item…and you need it now!  With free two day shipping it’s almost like instant gratification.  We have ordered parts for our washing machine, car, and birthday presents that we needed ASAP and it was perfect to have free 2 day shipping.

Ship gifts to others for free. Buying gifts for others can be so much fun, especially when you have a good idea.  There is a major buzz kill when you have to pay to ship that item though.  With Amazon Prime you get 2 day shipping to your house…..and your friends and family.  This is PERFECT during birthdays and the holidays.

Save money on gas.  With Amazon Prime you don’t need to drive from store to store looking for your desired item. Nor do you have to drive to go to the post office.  All that money saved is awesome.

Amazon Instant Video.  Instantly watch over 40,000 movies and TV episodes with titles for everyone.  With that many titles there has to be something you haven’t seen or television series that you want to start.

Kindle Library. Choose one kindle book to read for FREE every month from the Kindle Lending Library! There are many popular titles.

Sign up for a FREE 30 Day Trial of Amazon Prime.  You will receive all the benefits listed above.  Start shopping for back to school and the holidays.  If you want to use this as a trial period be sure you uncheck the auto-renewal box so you are not charged the $99 per year membership price.  If you find yourself loving Prime after your trial remember that the $8.25 a month price is quite reasonable for all that you get.

It gets better!

Get a FREE 6 Month Trial for Students with Amazon Student.  This requires a .edu email address which is issued at the college or university level.

 Do you use Amazon Prime?  Or have you never thought about getting a membership?

Check out more Amazon Deals I’ve posted for even more savings!

Disclosure: Amazon prices fluctuate quickly so it is best to order as soon as you see products listed at rock bottom prices   Please make sure you check the current price on Amazon before purchasing. This post contains affiliate links. Coupons Are Great is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that allows associates to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to their website.  Read my disclosure policy here.

Why You Need an Amazon Prime Account: Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial is a post by Coupons Are Great

In frugal dating you can be creative.  By setting a low (to no) budget you will be able to make memories that will last a lifetime without spending a fortune.

Frugal Date Night Ideas

Picnic at the Park – Get your picnic basket, prepare a sandwich, grab a bottle of water and head to your local park for a picnic dinner.

Cook Together – Dating does not have to be done away from the house. The important thing is you are together and spending time with each other. It seems like dating always consists of eating out so mix things up and cook dinner together?  If you are lucky, you may even find the needed ingredients at home. Or, even if you still need some of the missing ones, it would surely not cost you that much. Do not forget to make desserts as well! Add a few candles to your dinner to make it a little more romantic.

Plan for an Active Date – Strap on those roller blades, grab a baseball glove, put on your bathing suit, grab a golf club, or just tie your shoes and take a walk or jog.  Being active is EASY and very overlooked.

Movie Night At Home – Order a movie from Amazon or grab the latest new release from Redbox.  Snuggle on the couch while you watch a romantic comedy, thriller, or sci-fi movie.

Go Geocaching – This is not just an activity for kids – I promise.  Geocaching is a great way to explore the area that you live in.

Listen to Live Music – Whether it is at a coffee shop or an ice cream parlor call around to see if free music is available near you.  There are always budding musicians who like to play in public and you could make their day by being in the audience.

Explore the area – Drive to a nearby town or attraction and spend the afternoon taking in the sights of sounds of somewhere new.

Play Board Games – Invite friends over for a double date and play board games….or find a few board games that only require two people.  My favorite is Scrabble, but Cribbage is a close second.

Volunteer – Find a local charity that needs a few volunteers and spend time helping others together.  You could also find an elderly person who could use some company and plan frequent visits.

Dating should be simple and fun.  You do not need to spend a ton of money to impress someone or to have fun.

What are your favorite frugal dates?

If you love saving money, and who doesn’t, check out these deals and freebies that will save you even more!  Be sure to subscribe to Coupons Are Great so you don’t miss out on great deals, fun freebies, crafts, and more.

Frugal Date Night Ideas is a post by Coupons Are Great

Places to Sell Your Stuff for Extra Money

Amazon Trade In –  This is one of our favorite ways to get money for old video games, dvd’s, and books.  With Amazon’s Trade In Program you scan the items barcode and Amazon tells you how much those items are worth.  You decide if the money is enough or not.  Then you package all your items and add a prepaid label to the box.  Amazon takes care of the shipping charges.

Ebay – If you have old or collectible items at your house then Ebay may be the best tool for you to fetch the best prices.  You will lose part of your sales in both PayPal and Ebay Fees.

Consignment Sales or Consignment Stores – If you live in an area where consignment sales are a big deal then you should take advantage of those.  Generally there is a fee to join the sale (often between $7 and $10) and a portion of your sales are deducted (around 30%).  You can get rid of a lot of children’s toys, books, and clothing in one quick event with consignment sales.  Likewise, if there are consignment stores in your area you should see what they have to offer as well.

Craigslist –  You can use Craigslist to sell items you don’t want or need.  It is always advisable to meet at a public location when selling your items on Craigslist.   You can meet in the parking lot of your local sheriff’s department or police station (many welcome this and several even post on Facebook inviting people to use their parking lots).  This will often deter anyone with ill intentions.

Facebook Groups – Facebook groups are one of my favorite ways to see what is for sale in my local community.  When you join Facebook yard sale groups you will often need to be approved by an administrator.  There are rules to follow (things that are prohibited to post) and common courtesy to be used (sellers go in order of replies and do not cherry pick or offer items to sellers who private message them).

Newspaper Ads – Despite living in a world full of technology, the good ole newspaper is still a great place to list ads for items you are selling.  Some newspapers run select ads for free.  You can always ask for a discounted price on your ad before you place it.

Yard Sale – If you have a lot of stuff that you no longer need, organize a yard sale to get rid of it all at once.  If your neighbors/neighborhood is friendly, team up to hold a family/neighborhood yard sale.  Those attract more people!  These Yard Sale Tips will help your yard sale be an even bigger success (seriously, it’s all about those big balloons).

It’s always fun deciding how to spend the money you make from selling stuff.  If your budget looks sad that month, fill up some of your budget categories.  We tend to save our “sold item” cash to use as splurge money.

If you love saving money, and who doesn’t, check out these deals and freebies that will save you even more!

Save money with printable coupons from

Coupons.com | Redplum | SmartSource 

How to Sell Your Stuff for Extra Cash is a post by Coupons Are Great

Swap with friends.  Set up a Girls Night Out where everyone brings their old clothes and you can swap away.  Determine if it is adult clothing, children’s clothing, or both ahead of time.

Sell what you don’t wear.  Take an honest look in your closet and sell the clothes that you do not wear.  A great tip is to turn your hangers backwards in the closet.  Once you wear a clothing item you get to turn the hanger the right way.  Any clothes that you do not wear will be easy to spot since they will be on backwards hangers. You do not need to hang on to the clothing you do not wear.  Have a great yard sale and then go shopping for new duds.

Shop at discount stores.  TJ Maxx and Marshalls have fantastic prices on name brand items.  Many of these items are sold at higher end department sales.  Every year around my birthday I get a new purse.  I thought I found a great deal at Macy’s (using a coupon) and then found the exact same purse at TJ Maxx for $10 less a few days later.  Lesson learned!

Shop at consignment sales and consignment stores.  These Consignment Sales Tips will help you prepare before a local consignment sale.

If consignment sales are not big in your area you can use ThredUp.  Sign up for ThredUp and you will receive a free $10 credit!  I have been very happy with my ThredUp purchases in the past.  I have purchased really cute Christmas dresses for my girls for a fraction of the price of a department store.  There is a whole Women’s section on ThredUp that will help keep your wardrobe new and fresh too!  Another great online resource is Fabletics for athletic clothing.

I also really like Schoola.  Sign up today and save $20 off your first order.  I have used Schoola to purchase some really adorable and affordable essentials to wear when substitute teaching.

Get Cash Back Online.  If you shop online for clothing (or anything) you should use a cash back site like Ebates, Mr. Rebates, or TopCashback.  We just purchased a treadmill online from Sears and I have $25 in my Ebates account.  Free money for a purchase that you were already making is the best.  To use a cash back site you need to log in, search for the merchant you are shopping at, click the link, shop, and place your order.  Your account will be credited with whatever percent that was offered.  Once you reach payout you will receive a check or Paypal (depending on the site).

Join your local “Yard Sale” Facebook groups and check Craigslist for lots of clothing.  You can score some amazing deals when people are moving, changing clothing sizes, or need a little extra spending money.

Head to Thrift Stores and Garage Sales.  I am a thrift store junkie.  These Thrift Store Shopping Tricks will help you save money at your local second hand stores.  The power of bartering at a garage sale certainly gives you a shopper’s high when you get a great deal!

Check for coupons. Always, always, always do a quick search of the internet using your store name and the word coupon (“store name” + “coupon” OR “store name” + “printable coupon”).  Check the store’s Facebook page as well for coupon related information.  You may be able to find printable coupons or coupons you can use online.  Some stores have phone apps and text coupons that you can sign up for.

Buy out of season.  One of the best ways to get a great deal on your wardrobe pieces is to buy when items are on seasonal clearance.  Stock up on classic pieces that will not go out of style when you can purchase them at rock bottom prices.

Keep it Simple.  Establish a wardrobe of basics that you can accessorize.  Cute scarves, owl necklaces, and blingy watches are a few of the items you can find on Amazon that are under $6 and have free shipping.

Don’t buy it just because it’s on sale.  This contradicts buying out of season, I know.  Saving 30% on an item is not a good deal if you don’t wear it.  Sales will come around again.  Buying something solely because it is on sale does not make financial sense.

Treat clothing shopping like grocery shopping.  Make a list and stick to it.  Your wallet will thank you!

See this list of 15 Ways to Save for more budgeting goodness.

Do you have ways that you save money on clothes?  Please leave a comment with your money saving technique.

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How to Save Money on Clothes is a post by Coupons Are Great

If you are looking for a fun way to add some pizzazz to snacks, lunches, and even dinners for your little ones I have the perfect tool for you!  My girls love their hardboiled bunny eggs.  Head over to Amazon where you will find the Rabbit and Bear Egg Mold and the Fish and Car Egg Mold to use on hardboiled eggs.  Turning the egg from its original smooth hardboiled egg into a shape is easy and only adds a few minutes to your day.  After the egg has boiled and set simply rinse the egg under cold water and peel.  Don’t let the egg cool off too much though.  Then put the egg in the mold, click shut, and submerge it into ice cold water.  Wait a few minutes before taking out and opening.  You will have a super cute egg!

You don’t have to be a Super Bento Maker to still add fun to meals!  I am anything but a Super Bento Maker and my girls still really like these special little additions to their lunches.

If you love saving money, and who doesn’t, check out these deals and freebies that will save you even more!  Be sure to subscribe to Coupons Are Great so you don’t miss out on great deals, fun freebies, crafts, and more.  

Hardboiled Bunny Eggs is a post by Coupons Are Great

When you are frugal there is a set of unwritten rules that guideline your life.

New isn’t always best. When I can get something used, I do! New cars lose their value almost simultaneously with the time you sign the papers. Buying used means you can save thousands of dollars. Used clothes are perfect for growing kids who need new wardrobes practically every season (it’s so unfair! I want a new wardrobe every season). The bells and whistles are unnecessary. Sure, we always want the latest and the greatest with the best features, but all the extras come at a big expense.

Scaling down your purchase can save thousands of dollars. When we bought our van in 2006 we were intentional with our finances and did not buy one with GPS (yes, this was a big thing back then), blue tooth (which had really just started to be a thing), or a back-up camera. We bought each of those things as after market additions as the years passed and paid a fraction of the price for what we would have paid when they were brand new.

Doing it yourself saves money. If you have time to do things yourself, you will save money. This requires that you have time though. Things you can do yourself to save money include changing your oil, yard work, cleaning, manicures, pedicures, and more.  If you are handy you can even build furniture.  My husband has build several pieces of furniture in our house which has saved thousands of dollars.  It is possible to have Pottery Barn taste on a budget when you build it yourself.  Ana White is my go-to girl when it comes to finding woodworking projects to do around the house.

Children do not need the latest and the greatest toys and gadgets (nor do you).  In a world of marketing to children it is easy to get caught up in the “wants” and the “gimmes.”  It seems like schools ask for a fair share of money as well.  Instead of handing money to kids you can make a list of chores for them to complete before they receive the coveted money.  If an item is truly important, they will work for it.  Having a chore chart for kids is another way to make sure kids are buying what is truly important to them.

Coupons are great and help save money on grocery trips, eating out, clothing, and more.  You can get coupons for free.  It is always a good idea to check Redplum,  SmartSource, and  Coupons.com before heading out on a grocery store trip.  The little coupons can drop the price of your total purchase by a significant amount and it makes clipping coupons worth your time.

Frugal people research and plan ahead.  This is true for everything ranging from dinners to vacations.  Having a meal plan will help you eat out less.  Planning vacations in advance can assure that you get the best price available.  I like the meal plans included in 20 Meals from Costco for $150 and 10 Freezer Friendly Organic Meals for $102.  The best deals on hotels and travels often happen by booking early.

Your community offers many free activities and events.  Books, DVD’s, and more can be checked out for free from the library.  Holiday events including parades and tree lightings are seasonal activities.  Some communities offer movie nights, yard sales, cooking demos, and more.  Getting out and seeing what there is to do for nothing out of pocket in your community is a great way to save money and to make new friends!

Saving money in an emergency fund is a must.  Something is ALWAYS going to happen.  The car may need a major replacement, the heater may stop working, or the child may need a cast for a broken bone.  Instead of floating the money on credit cards, frugal people know they must have money in the bank for all those unfun things that happen.

Being frugal does not mean you are a total tightwad who doesn’t like to have fun.  Our family is frugal because we like to vacation and to save money for our future.  I hand over a stack of coupons at the grocery store and then come home and upload my receipts to my favorite cash back apps because I like saving money and making our budget work.

Do you lead a frugal lifestyle and have a tip to add?  If you are starting to rethink how you spend/save your money, which tip from above is your favorite?

If you love saving money, and who doesn’t, check out these deals and freebies that will save you even more!  Be sure to subscribe to Coupons Are Great so you don’t miss out on great deals, fun freebies, crafts, and more.

Tips for a Frugal Life – Habits of Frugal People is a post by Coupons Are Great

Materials Required to a Burlap Bunny Garland Banner

• Burlap.  Burlap is $3.99 per yard at JoAnn’s.  (Find current printable Craft Store Coupons here to save a little bit of money!)
• Acrylic Paint
• Pom Poms
• Scissors
• Glue Gun
• Paintbrush
• Jute
• Discarded cardboard
• Waxed paper (optional, but a very good idea)
• Template

How to Make a Burlap Bunny Banner

1. Using the template provided, trace the triangle onto the burlap using a Sharpie along the edges.
2. Once you have traced the desired amount of triangles (I used 5) then you will cut the bunny from the center of the triangle template and trace that onto each burlap triangle.
3. It’s kind of fun to place the pom pom on there just to see how cute the finished project will be.
4. Once you have the triangles cut and the bunny traced onto the burlap it is time to start painting.  I use an old, stiff paint brush when painting on burlap.  This project may take two coats of paint.
5. While the paint is drying attach the pom pom tail using a glue gun.  Once everything is dry, glue the jute to the top back of each banner piece.

Tada!  Aren’t you so impressed with how frugal and easy this craft is to complete?  My girls fell in love with this as soon as they saw it.  I can’t wait to get a few pictures of them holding it…once things outside start to bloom a little bit more!

Will you make this craft or do you have another Easter/Spring craft that you love?  We would love to hear all about it!

See Also: Peeps Burlap Banner

We love crafting!  Be sure to check out our Craft Posts for more ways to create fun, frugal crafts and projects at your house!

Burlap Bunny Garland Tutorial is a post by Coupons Are Great