If you're looking for day trip ideas which will get your kids into the holiday spirit, you should give geocaching a try. In case you are unfamiliar, geocaching is the process of using GPS devices to find caches of hidden treasure, and there are over a million geocaches in America. After a geocache is found, the person who finds it takes its contents and leaves more treasure behind.

Since Christmas is about giving and receiving and geocaching is about discovering treasure and leaving treasure for others to find, the winter holidays are the right time to go geocaching with your brood. When you find an affordable GPS device, choose holiday-themed trinkets and make sure you have the right supplies for your kids, you will boost the chances of enjoying a wonderful day trip.

Find an affordable GPS device

In terms of supplies, you will need a GPS device, but you may have one of these already. It is possible to use smart phone GPS systems, but smart phones do lose signals sometimes in more remote areas. Handheld GPS devices are what most dedicated geocache fans prefer.

Once you have a GPS device, you will be ready to sign up for a free basic membership. When you Google, how to get started with geocaching, you will find the official website at the top of the search engine results. Visit it to sign up. Once you are registered, you will be able to punch in your postal code and search for geocaches in your locality. Once you select one, you will be able to enter its coordinates into your GPS device.

Choose holiday-themed trinkets

To get your kids in the holiday spirit, consider choosing holiday-themed trinkets from dollar stores or other very affordable stores. Popular trinkets for geocaches include pencils, pens, keychains and stickers, all of which are available in holiday versions.

Your kids will feel like Santa while they put holiday-themed goodies into empty geocaches. They will also enjoy the thrill of unearthing hidden treasure, which might just have a holiday theme.

Bundle the kids up and bring food and drink

This outdoor activity is educational and healthy. Kids learn new skills as they breathe in fresh air and exercise. Make sure your children are dressed right for the weather.

Wear a knapsack packed with bottles of water, nutritious snacks (trail mix, energy bars, fruit leathers) and other essentials, such as a first-aid kit and trinkets for geocaches. Keep the trip very local, so kids get to experience their community in a whole new way during the Christmas season.

Plan a geocaching trip this Christmas

Now that you know how to get started with geocaching, from finding a GPS device to choosing holiday-themed trinkets to bundling your kids up warm and bringing the right supplies for them, you will be ready to plan a fun day trip during the winter holiday season.

Geocaching is all about the thrill of the hunt. It is a fun adventure which costs very little money. Since it is also about giving and receiving, it will get your kids in the holiday spirit.

Article by Jocasta Collie

Track Santa for Free as he delivers Christmas gifts

All the preparations for this year are in place! Come back each day to receive updates from the North Pole and to discover new surprises in Santa's Secret Village.

Santa's elves have been busier than usual this year preparing. Visit Santa's Village to see what is been going on, and join in on the fun!

See Santa on your mobile phone:

This Christmas eve, join NORAD to track Santa's flight from your phone. On December 24th, open Google Maps for mobile and do a search for Santa to see his latest location.

Or use the Google Santa Tracker to follow Santa Claus on Google Maps as he makes his journey around the world.

Click for free Santa tracker
(Worldwide)

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The most magical day of the year is fast approaching.

If you already came up with Christmas gift ideas for your close ones, you have nothing to worry about.



But, if you are still in search for the perfect surprise for those dear to your heart, free and editable Christmas printables may come in handy.

Christmas printables can be used for creating Christmas cards, making DIY presents (candles, coasters, gift jars), making cute ornaments, and decorating the Christmas table.



It’s about time you started feeling the holiday spirit.

Download these joyful printables, and start planning your activities and crafts for the merriest time of the year!

Click for free printables

Who doesn't love a good party game?

As the holiday party season quickly approaches, you may want to add a few to your itinerary.

Whether you're hosting a party for kids, adults, or at the office these Christmas party printables and ideas have something for everyone.

Engage younger kids with Pin the Face to the Elf, get older kids off of their phones will a real-life version of Guess the Carol: Emoji Edition, and start the competition between adults with Holiday Jeopardy.

'Tis the season for quality time and festive activities!

Click for free party game printables

I have a fun way for you to get in the Holiday spirit and earn some gift cards!

Swagbucks is holding a Holiday Cookies Team Challenge and they're a lot of fun!

For those of you who don't know what Swagbucks is, it's a website where you can earn cash back on everyday tasks you do online like shopping, answering surveys, discovering deals, and watching videos.

You can even earn for searching the web!

If you've never tried Swagbucks before because you didn't know where to begin, their Team Challenges are a great way to learn the ropes and earn points towards free gift cards and PayPal cash!

The challenge runs from Monday, Deceber 10th to Friday, December 14th.

Here's how you can join the challenge and the site:

1. Click here to join the challenge and be assigned to a team.

2. In addition to earning SB, you'll contribute to your team's total as you complete different activities on Swagbucks.

3. Check back on the page often to see the scores and what you've contribute so far.

All members who participate and contribute at least 600 points to their team’s total will receive a SB bonus in the form of a SB Swag Up Shop Bonus on their next gift card!

Not only that, but if you sign up under me this month and earn 500 SB before January 1st, you'll get a 500 SB bonus!

Members of the 1st place team will receive a 100 SB Swag Up Rebate, members of the 2nd place team will receive a 50 SB Swag Up Rebate!

Which cookie team will you be on?

Why is Adopting a Pet for Christmas a Smart (and Frugal) Option?

It is probably best to be clear from the start: pets aren't really an item you can scrimp and save on if you want to provide them with the very best care possible. If you are on a tight budget, it is important to crunch numbers and take note of official lists such as the ASCPA's pet costs list - which indicates the average expenditure you can expect to outlay for each type of pet. If you are confident money won't be an issue, then a good place to find your furry soul mate and make big savings compared to buying a pooch, is by adopting rather than shopping.

How Much will a Dog, Cat or Rabbit Set You Back?

The ASPCA estimates the annual costs for a dog vary between $737 and $1,040 per year. Cats are slightly cheaper, costing their human parents an average of $809 per year. On the cheapest end of the scale are fish (with an annual total of $27) followed by guinea pigs ($304).

Smaller animals may cost less, but dogs and cats continue to be the most popular pet choices for Americans, some 44% of which own a dog and 29% of which own a cat. The relationship between dogs and their four-pawed companions goes way back, and many would say the affection dogs and cats give us is unbeatable.

Pets are not a Seasonal Accessory

You may have heard giving a pet on Christmas is a bad idea, since unwanted pets can end up at the shelter a few weeks after the Christmas tree has been stored away in many homes across America (some call it the Christmas dumpathon). According to Inga Fricke (director of Pet Retention Programs for the US Humane Society) research shows animals given as presents are actually more likely to stay in their new forever home. A good rule of thumb is to only give a pet as a Christmas gift to yourself/your family, or someone you know is trustworthy, has owned a pet before, and has the funds to keep the pet in good condition.

Cutting Back on Costs

There are many ways to significantly lower your monthly expenditure on pets. One is to bulk buy food, toys, and snacks for pets online or to have food and kitty litter delivered regularly, so you aim to use a specific number of bags of litter per month. Sometimes it is worthy paying a little more for a product which will last longer. Quality kitty litter will enable you to scoop out dirty parts daily but change the entire tray only once every three days or so.

Pet insurance is another important investment. Something as small as an eye abrasion (an injury pets can easily sustain when playing outside) can cost thousands to mend, especially if the eye is slow to heal and requires surgery. By insuring your pet as early as possible, you can rest assured no sneaky costs will put a major dent on your savings.

Finally, go DYI as much as you can - your pets won't notice! Why not start out by making your own dog toys? Dogs can go through a toy a day so you can keep him happy and entertained by using old Tshirts bearing your scent - your dog will go ga-ga!

Why is Adoption Ideal?

If you buy a puppy from a breeder, you will need to be prepared to spend up to $800 to have it neutered or spayed. Tack on a price of around $1,000 for a breed puppy and you can see how shopping for a pet can be incompatible with a frugal lifestyle. The total cost of adoption ranges between $200 and $450, and considering this includes microchipping, it's a great way to start off as a responsible but budget-conscious pet owner.

Nothing brings more joy at Christmas time than a living present - the friend, companion, and playmate that is a pet. Before heading for a shelter, pull out your calculator and be realistic about whether or not you can afford a furry addition to your home. If you decide to go full steam ahead, save by taking out pet insurance early in your pet's life and buy in advance, taking advantage of the many online deals and bulk offers appearing throughout the year.

Article By Jocasta Collie

No matter where you stand financially, it's a good idea to begin teaching your children about money.

The younger you instill basic concepts like saving and the value of work, the more likely they are to lead financially stable and successful lives.

While young kids may shy away from school-like explanations, incorporating valuable concepts about money doesn't have to be tedious.

Whether you use play-money in your games together or give your children scorecards for the chores they complete, helping your children learn about money can be fun and easy.

These printable money games like the coin game will make it simple to teach your children about coin denominations and making purchases.

And with their adorable savings-tracker, your child will love keeping track of how much money they are putting away!

Plus, these printables from Self Lender include nifty savings jar labels to convert your old jam jars into a DIY piggy bank, which helps you both save money!

These games are a great way teach your children about the importance of money management and have fun while doing it.

Check out the free printables they created here.