We just love to experience all the family fun our city has to offer! Museums, parks, bounce houses, sporting events—we’re always looking for inexpensive activities to do with our girls.

One of our go-to favorites is bowling. You just can’t go wrong! Silly shoes, scoring computers, a turkey dance—bowling provides plenty of fun and giggles for the whole family.

Here are 5 ways to make it more affordable:

• Daily Deals: Some of my favorite daily deal sites have offered deep discounts at local bowling alleys. In fact, Eversave is currently offering a Royal Pin deal for two, here in Indianapolis. That’s 3 games of bowling each plus shoe rental for only $15!
• On-Site Specials: Check with bowling alleys in your area for regular specials. Our favorite center has a standing weekend special. From noon to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, two games and a pair of shoes is $7.99 per person. Check with locations in your area for similar deals and special events.
• Mailer Coupons: Watch that junk mail! I have found coupons for discount games or free shoe rental in the packets that regularly arrive in the mailbox.
• Kids Bowl Free: This is my favorite summer program for kids. In just a few months, the new program will begin, featuring two free games of bowling per kid every day!
• Buy Your Own Shoes: If bowling becomes a regular family activity for you, consider buying your own shoes. They aren’t very expensive and will save you $2-3 every time. I don’t know that it would be worth it for growing kids, but definitely look into adult shoes! In fact, they’ll be going on clearance soon as the end of “bowling season” arrives. Personally, I see bowling as the perfect year-round activity (keeping you out of the cold, rain and summer heat), but I’m all for a deal anyway!

These tricks can help you save money on a family favorite, but you can’t get better than free. That’s why I’m excited to work with Eversave to give away a Royal Pin voucher to one of our readers! Simply leave a comment here, and let me know your favorite frugal activity for family fun. You can earn additional entries by:

• Subscribing to our site by email or RSS
• Following Inexpensively on Twitter
• Following @EversaveIND on Twitter
• Liking Inexpensively on Facebook
• Writing about this giveaway (blog, forum, public Facebook note)
• Tweeting about this giveaway: Win a Royal Pin experience from @Inexpensively and @EversaveIND! http://bit.ly/GICvAX

Get tips for bowling with kids and another chance to win on Family Fun in the City!

For your extra entries to be counted, be sure to leave an additional comment directing us to your entry. Only one additional entry per method (i.e. While multiple tweets are appreciated it, only one will count as a drawing entry.) The contest runs until March 25th at 4:00pm est. One winner will be notified by email on March 26th and receive a Royal Pin Save voucher. Winner will have 48 hours to complete the claim form or a new winner will be chosen.

I was provided with a Royal Pin voucher from Eversave to facilitate this post, but all opinions are 100% mine.

1. Frugal Family Fun: A Night With the Indy Indians
2. Frugal Family Fun Twitter Chat Sponsored By @KidGrade
3. {The New Home Ec} Frugal Family Fun: Game Night

Last year at Blissdom, I had the opportunity to meet the delightful J$ from Budgets Are Sexy, hang out with Denise from Shopper Strategy and Kay Lynn from Bucksome Boomer, and lead some fabulous discussions on the state of frugal blogging. And, I am honored once again to have been invited to Blissdom as a Community Leader.

Which is how I happen to have an extra Blissdom ticket to giveaway this week! I’m thrilled to offer it to one of our readers. Join me at Blissdom to connect with your tribe, develop your business and have a fabulous weekend away with fellow bloggers! To enter, simply leave a comment here, and tell me what you want to see more (or less) of on frugal blogs like Inexpensively.

You can earn additional entries by:

• Subscribing to our site by email or RSS
• Following Inexpensively on Twitter
• Writing about this giveaway (blog, forum, public Facebook note)
• Tweeting about this giveaway: Win a #Blissdom ticket from @Inexpensively! http://bit.ly/y8I5kT

For your extra entries to be counted, be sure to leave an additional comment directing us to your entry. Only one additional entry per method (i.e. While multiple tweets are appreciated it, only one will count as a drawing entry.) The contest runs until January 25th at 11:59pm est. One winner will be notified by email on January 26th and receive a ticket to the Blissdom conference. Winner will have 48 hours to complete the claim form or a new winner will be chosen.

I was provided with a free Blissdom ticket as a Community Leader. The ticket I’m giving away was paid for several months ago, and all opinions are 100% mine.

1. Kelsay Farms Fall Festival Ticket Giveaway
2. Why Buy When You Can Rent for $1 (Plus Redbox DVD Rental Codes Giveaway)
3. FREE Milk at Kroger (Plus Kroger Gift Card Giveaway)

Last week, I had the opportunity to treat my girls to a night out, courtesy of American Express Serve! In between shopping, holiday parties and end of year chaos, we set aside a night for dinner & drinks. Sans whiny kids.

We usually try to make it out for Margarita Monday at the Mexican restaurant at least once a month. For $.99 drinks, I wish we could make it every week! Typically, we pay for our own drinks, while one person picks up the tab for the queso dip we share.

With Serve, we can quickly split the bill on the mobile app, then send money through a digital payment service with the safety and security of American Express. Setting up an account is quick & easy. Visit Serve from your computer and get $10 just for signing up!

Once you have an account, they’ll send a Serve debit card for your account. It can be used wherever American Express is accepted. Which, makes me wonder if other perks come along with it. Like, being able to swipe a card at Costco. Or, advance ticket purchases. I haven’t had the opportunity to try it out yet, but it’s an interesting concept.

Plus, when you invite your friends, you’ll earn up to $50 referral credit. And, I do love sharing things with my friends! Like the amazing martini flight we shared last week at Houlihan’s. The mini martinis on the menu come in sets of three—and that’s too much awesome to have alone!

I went with Adam & Eve, Blue Moon and Guavatini. Wait. Let me rephrase that. The amazing Guavatini that tastes like cotton candy! I’ve been on the hunt for this cocktail since the first time I sampled it earlier this year.

I couldn’t remember what it was called, but I never forgot the taste! I have ordered a different cocktail every time I’ve been to Houlihan’s since, in search of the elusive cotton candy cosmo. I guess I should have tried a sampler flight a long time ago.

Of course, now that we’ve tasted them all, I’m going to have to go back to a full size Guavatini. So, so yum! I’m so excited to finally find it.

I’m also excited about today’s giveway—signup for a Serve account and comment below to be entered to win a $100 account credit! What will you do with $100?

Remember to sign up for Serve and receive $10 credit towards your first use. Comment below within the next 10 days for your chance to win an extra $100 credit to your account! Official sweepstakes rules and regulations may be found by clicking here. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

1. Kelsay Farms Fall Festival Ticket Giveaway
2. FREE Milk at Kroger (Plus Kroger Gift Card Giveaway)
3. Why Buy When You Can Rent for $1 (Plus Redbox DVD Rental Codes Giveaway)

That’s when I remembered the Kroger/General Mills milk promotion! When you buy 4 participating General Mills products (like cereals, Pillsbury Ready to Bake Cookies, Nature Valley Bars and Fiber One Bars) at Kroger family stores through November 26th, you get a gallon of milk for FREE. Now, there’s a price I can live with. Of course, we needed the milk right away, and I was—gasp!—without my coupons.

Luckily, I had a few recently printed coupons in my purse. Plus, I figure if you subtract the $3 I would have had to spend on the milk anyway from the $10 for 4 boxes of cereal, that makes the hubby’s Honey Nut Cheerios around $1.50 each. That’s a little bit of Heather Coupon Math, right there.

Another General Mills cereal coupon printed out at the register, too. Now, I’m all set for another trip — there’s a limit of 2 free gallons of milk per purchase, so I’ll be well stocked on cereal for awhile. Here are a few more participating product coupons to sweeten the deal:

General Mills cereal printable coupons
Paperless coupons for Pillsbury and General Mills cereals
Pillsbury printable coupons

Plus, you have the chance to win a $25 Kroger gift card! Simply leave a comment here, and tell me your biggest grocery budget buster. You can earn additional entries by:

• Subscribing to our site by email or RSS
• Following Inexpensively and Kroger on Twitter
• Liking Inexpensively and Kroger on Facebook
• Sharing this post on your wall
• Tweeting about this giveaway: I’m getting free milk and a chance for $25 at @KrogerCo, thanks to @Inexpensively! http://bit.ly/v8Pk2F

For your extra entries to be counted, be sure to leave an additional comment directing us to your entry. Only one additional entry per method (i.e. While multiple tweets are appreciated it, only one will count as a drawing entry.) The contest runs until November 25th at 11:59pm est. One winner will be notified by email on November 26th and receive a $25 Kroger gift card. Winner will have 48 hours to complete the claim form or a new winner will be chosen.

I was provided with a $25 Kroger gift card, via My Blog Spark, to facilitate this post. All opinions are 100% mine.

1. Why Buy When You Can Rent for $1 (Plus Redbox DVD Rental Codes Giveaway)
2. #Blissdom Conference Ticket Giveaway
3. Kelsay Farms Fall Festival Ticket Giveaway

With the price of DVD rentals at only $1, I realized we would have to watch each movie at least 12 times to make the purchase truly worthwhile. Not a problem for Star Wars, particularly, but what about the hundreds of other DVDs we own? I’m totally rethinking the whole concept of a DVD collection.

With nearly 200 titles and locations in every state, Redbox may just be my new DVD shelf. It’s got me rethinking the value of a lot of things I own. I mean, the 37 different Sharpies? Totally worthwhile. But, maybe it isn’t necessary to keep buying the knickknacks & dust collectors. Or, you know, the crappy books that will end up in the next yard sale!

It will save money, space and valuable dusting time if I leave the purchasing to someone else. I’ll just be a rental girl. If you prefer to rent, you have the chance to win five Redbox DVD rental codes! Simply leave a comment here, and let me know how many DVDs you own or what you need to stop buying! You can earn additional entries by:

• Subscribing to our site by email or RSS
• Following Inexpensively on Twitter
• Following Redbox on Twitter
• Liking Inexpensively on Facebook
• Liking Redbox on Facebook
• Writing about this giveaway (blog, forum, public Facebook note)
• Tweeting about this giveaway: How many DVDs do you own? Stop buying and start renting with @Redbox rental codes from @Inexpensively! http://bit.ly/op7iA3

For your extra entries to be counted, be sure to leave an additional comment directing us to your entry. Only one additional entry per method (i.e. While multiple tweets are appreciated it, only one will count as a drawing entry.) The contest runs until October 18th at 11:59pm est. One winner will be notified by email on October 19th and receive five Redbox DVD rental codes. Winner will have 48 hours to complete the claim form or a new winner will be chosen.

I was not compensated for this post, but Redbox has contributed the DVD rental codes for this giveaway. All opinions are, as always, 100% mine.

1. Kelsay Farms Fall Festival Ticket Giveaway
2. #Blissdom Conference Ticket Giveaway
3. Bowling Deals for Frugal Family Fun (Plus Eversave Royal Pin Giveaway)

Even the teen likes apple picking

You’ll also find farm markets, festivals and haunted houses. We went apple picking earlier this month, including a hayride through a pumpkin patch. On Wednesday, I’m off to the children’s museum to preview their haunted house—the girls will go later this month with their Scout troops.

And, next week? We’re headed to Kelsay Farms for a day of family fun. It’s part of our year of awesome—one family outing each month for the entire year. I know Lorelai is going to love the Moo Choo Express. Brenia has been begging to go to a corn maze for a month. And, Stacia? She’ll be all about the ice cream.

The best part about the whole event is that everything is included at Kelsay Farms! It’s always such a disappointment to get to something fun, only to find out that there is a separate charge for each activity. Admission to Kelsay Farms is all inclusive, including live music every Saturday night and face painting each Saturday & Sunday afternoon.

Plus, the Dairy Days Fall Festival is this weekend, with extra activities—that’s where we’re headed on Saturday. Wanna join us? You have the chance to win a pair of tickets, too! Simply leave a comment here, and tell me your favorite thing about fall. You can earn additional entries by:

• Subscribing to our site by email or RSS
• Following Inexpensively on Twitter
• Following Kelsay Farms on Twitter
• Liking Kelsay Farms on Facebook
• Writing about this giveaway (blog, forum, public Facebook note)
• Tweeting about this giveaway: Fall is fun – keep it frugal with @KelsayFarms tickets from @INinexpensively! http://bit.ly/p22lx1

For your extra entries to be counted, be sure to leave an additional comment directing us to your entry. Only one additional entry per method (i.e. While multiple tweets are appreciated it, only one will count as a drawing entry.) The contest runs until October 12th at 11:59pm est. One winner will be notified by email on October 13th and receive a pair of tickets to Kelsay Farms. Winner will have 24 hours to complete the claim form or a new winner will be chosen.

I was provided with a set of tickets to Kelsay Farms to facilitate this giveaway. I have also been invited to the Vampire Vacation Haunted House as part of the Children’s Museum media tour. All opinions are, also always, 100% mine.

1. #Blissdom Conference Ticket Giveaway
2. Fall Festival Fun in Virginia
3. Why Buy When You Can Rent for $1 (Plus Redbox DVD Rental Codes Giveaway)

I think it’s important to take care of yourself. To know who you are. To take a break from being a mom, daughter, sister, wife. To step away from work now & then. And, just be. I don’t know, maybe that sounds cheesy, but I think it makes be a better mom to step away from the kids once in awhile. I enjoy a regular(ish) girls’ night and alphabet dating with the hubby, as well as a bit of pampering once in awhile.

Most nights, I take a bubble bath before settling in with the hubby for an evening. I find that washing off the mom at the end of a long exhausting day, relaxes me and helps me be a better wife. And, apparently? I’m not alone. A survey of 700 women told Eversave that most women choose to pamper themselves when faced with a little me time.

And, since the same survey says the biggest worry women have is money, here are a few tips to keep your me time pampering under budget:

1. Home Spa: Take time for a bubble bath, make your own bath salts, do your own facial from the kitchen. There are plenty of ways to pamper yourself at home.
2. Double Duty Beauty Supplies: To save a little money on supplies, focus on things that have a dual purpose. My favorite? Using baby shampoo as eye makeup remover—it’s a great way to keep using those coupons, now that my babies are all grown up!
3. Inexpensive Alternatives: If there’s anything women are brand loyal about, it’s beauty supplies! But, when I stepped out of my comfort zone and tried a few new products, I actually found a more frugal brand that I liked even better.
4. Gift Card Opportunities: Not only can you earn gift cards through reward & cash back sites, but let family know you’d like the gift of pampering, when they ask what you’d like for birthdays & Christmas.
5. Deals & Coupons: Watch the mailbox for bargains on spas & salons. Plus, the daily deal sites frequently offer discounts on manicures, facials and massages.

In fact, that’s the focus on Eversave this week, in anticipation of the release of the movie “I Don’t Know How She Does It.” (Girls’ night movie, anyone?) They’ll be featuring salon & spa Saves in all markets this week.

Plus, one of my Indy readers has the chance to win a set of Saves to pamper herself! The winner will receive a mani-pedi from Salon D’va plus $20 Save Rewards. Simply leave a comment here, and let me know your favorite way to pamper yourself. Simply leave a comment here, and let me know your favorite way to pamper yourself. You can earn additional entries by:

• Subscribing to our site by email or RSS
• Following INinexpensively on Twitter
• Liking Inexpensively on Facebook
• Writing about this giveaway (blog, forum, public Facebook note)
• Tweeting about this giveaway: Win a Salon D’va mani-pedi from @Eversave and @INinexpensively! bit.ly/nFxvW2 #BacktoBeauty

For your extra entries to be counted, be sure to leave an additional comment directing us to your entry. Only one additional entry per method (i.e. While multiple tweets are appreciated it, only one will count as a drawing entry.) The contest runs until September 20th at 11:59pm est. One winner will be notified by email on September 21st and receive a free Salon Diva Save plus an extra $20 in Save Rewards from EverSave. Winner will have 48 hours to complete the claim form or a new winner will be chosen.

I was provided with a free Salon D’va Save from EverSave to facilitate this post, but all opinions are 100% real. This post has been submitted to the Back to Beauty blog carnival, hosted by Audrey McClelland and sponsored by Eversave.

1. Bargain Beauty Quick Tip
2. Why Buy When You Can Rent for $1 (Plus Redbox DVD Rental Codes Giveaway)
3. Frugal Family Fun: A Night With the Indy Indians

We’ve primarily used Groupon & Eversave deals to score frugal outings for the 5 of us. We have been ice skating, rock climbing and miniature golfing. We’ve visited museums and been to a hockey game. We introduced the girls to our favorite 80s classics in an at-home movie marathon.

But, mostly, we’re enjoying little moments as a family. There is no vacation this year, but we’re making big memories anyway with Sokol Family Year of Awesome.

Next month? We’re taking in a baseball game with Family of Farmers. A night at Victory Field is a frugal activity for Indianapolis area families, with prices starting at just $9 and weekly specials like 2 for 1 Tuesday & Monday $1 Menu Night. (And, hello—$15 Kids’ Club season tickets!)

Plus, Family of Farmers is sponsoring Family Night at the Ball Park with the Indianapolis Indians on July 19th—including up to 8 tickets for the game and yummy picnic food! I’m excited to share a game with my girls, after a long softball season. I think they’ll be more interested now than ever before.

And, your family has the chance to join us at the game for free! Simply leave a comment here, and share your favorite frugal fun in Indy. I’d also love to hear if you’ve been to an Indians game with your kids! You can earn additional entries by:

• Subscribing to our site by email or RSS
• Following Inexpensively on Twitter
• Following Family of Farmers on Twitter
• Liking Family of Farmers on Facebook
• Liking Inexpensively on Facebook
• Writing about this giveaway (blog, forum, public Facebook note)
• Tweeting about this giveaway: Win a night with the @IndyIndians from @FamilyofFarmers and @INinexpensively! http://bit.ly/kCKraX

For your extra entries to be counted, be sure to leave an additional comment directing us to your entry. Only one additional entry per method (i.e. While multiple tweets are appreciated it, only one will count as a drawing entry.) The contest runs until July 2nd at 11:59pm est. One winner will be notified by email on July 3rd and receive up to 8 tickets & picnic wristbands for the July 19th game. Winner will have 24 hours to complete the claim form or a new winner will be chosen.

I was provided with a free family pack of tickets to the game, to facilitate this post, but the opinion is 100% real.

1. {The New Home Ec} Frugal Family Fun: Game Night
2. Frugal Family Fun Twitter Chat Sponsored By @KidGrade
3. Bowling Deals for Frugal Family Fun (Plus Eversave Royal Pin Giveaway)

I sent my favorite to my mom—actually, Tiny Prints sent it for me! At the check out, you have the option of shipping your cards to yourself to sign or having them mailed directly to the recipient. For the cost of a stamp, they’ll address & mail the card—including your return address!

We went with this option, since all of our parents live out of town. We did end up seeing my mom on Mother’s Day, and his stepmom the next day, but just in case that didn’t work out, a card was scheduled for on-time delivery.

I picked the date I wanted my card to arrive, and my mom received it on schedule. She had no idea that I didn’t mail it myself—she even commented on the cool embossed To & From labels on the envelope, which I had never even seen!

If you need to send a gift as well, you can add a gift card to your order. Through a partnership with TangoCard.com, Tiny Prints can print a gift card inside your personalized greeting card. TangoCard.com includes several popular merchants, like Amazon, Gap & Target. How cool is that?

The best part about Tiny Prints greeting cards, aside from their utter awesomeness, is they are comparable in price to anything you would find in a store. Plus, you get to personalize them! I sent the Mom, I Blame You card—with a picture of my girls on the inside. Grandparents love that kind of stuff!

I’m going to need new pictures for our dads—we need a fresh look for Father’s Day cards!

Tiny Prints arranged & paid for this amazing party and provided free cards for my guests & me, though all opinions are 100% mine. I have been compensated for this program, through the Clever Girls Collective, but I gush about Tiny Prints for free all the time!

1. {The New Home Ec} New Year Cards: Procrastinator’s Holiday Greeting
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This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of FRESCHETTA®. All opinions are 100% mine.

When we were asked to sample FRESCHETTA® By the Slice, I jumped at the chance. Our house is gluten free—but the hubby isn't! I love to provide him with some of his favorites for lunch. Pizza is a rarity around here. If only one person is eating it, an entire pizza just doesn't make sense. Freschetta is one of his favorites—a huge variety of flavors and crust just the way he likes it. He'll often bake a whole pizza, then break it up into lunch-sized portions to divvy up the rest of the week.

Of course, then, he's left with the same lunch every day until it's gone. With FRESCHETTA® By the Slice, he can eat a single slice of pizza whenever he wants it, in his choice of favorite flavors. The BBQ chicken pizza is the front runner so far.It's nice to have single servings on hand in the freezer for him to grab for lunch. He also keeps some sandwich supplies on hand in the fridge—a loaf of bread, a package of deli meat, cheese and lettuce. He's blessed with a freezer in the office kitchen. We keep it stocked with leftover dinners, individually packaged, and this new pizza.

Now, you have the chance to win free FRESCHETTA® By the Slice plus a set of storage containers! Simply leave a comment here, and let us know how you handle lunch for one. You can earn additional entries by:

• Subscribing to our site by email or RSS
• Following Inexpensively and Freschetta Pizza on Twitter
• Liking Inexpensively and Freschetta Pizza on Facebook
• Writing about this giveaway (blog, forum, public Facebook note)
• Tweeting about this giveaway: Win a @FreschettaPizza prize pack from @Inexpensively! http://bit.ly/mnz9pz

For your extra entries to be counted, be sure to leave an additional comment directing us to your entry. Only one additional entry per method (i.e. While multiple tweets are appreciated it, only one will count as a drawing entry.) The contest runs until May 17th at 11:59pm est. One winner will be notified by email on May 18th and receive a coupon for free pizza and a set of storage containers. Winner will have 48 hours to complete the claim form or a new winner will be chosen.

I was provided with a free Freschetta Pizza By the Slice coupon & storage containers from the company, through Social Spark, to try for this review, but the opinion is 100% real.

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3. How To Grill a Pizza