GUEST CONTRIBUTOR: KATHY RIGGS, USU EXTENSION PROFESSOR

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR: CHRISTINA PAY, USU EXTENSION ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

“Summertime and the livin is easy” or so say the words of an old song.  The living might be easy but not necessarily cheap.  That said, summertime is full of long sunny days filled with plenty of opportunities for getting outside to make memories with our loved ones.  Looking back on the years I spent raising my children, it went incredibly fast.  However, I’m grateful for the memory making moments we spent together, especially during the summer months.

Summertime can certainly be stressful for families. Day trips and adventures can be expensive. However, there are ways to keep the kids busy and have fun, too, without it costing too much.  

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR: ANDREA SCHMUTZ, USU EXTENSION ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

​June is a fabulous month with several great reasons to celebrate. June 14, designated as Flag Day, commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States of America. June 20, 2020, marks the official start of summer with the summer solstice and the longest day of the year. This year, falling right on the heels of the summer solstice, we celebrate Father’s Day on June 21. I almost feel like the timing this year is a gift for those of us who procrastinate - my mind is saying, “Sweet, I have the longest day of the year to wrap up my preparations for Father’s Day.” Faulty reasoning, I know, because I still have the same amount of hours in the day as any other regular day, even if the sun is shining longer. So, that means just one thing...I should start thinking now about what the kids and I can do for the men in our lives on Father’s Day.
 
I love finding simple but meaningful gift ideas, especially when they are easy on my budget and fun for the kids to do. Here are 5 frugal gift ideas for the father figure(s) in your life:

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR: MAREN WRIGHT VOSS, USU EXTENSION ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

As much as we love family, being cooped up at home and nowhere to go for the past two and a half months can make anyone a little stir crazy! Fortunately, even with some travel plans cancelled because of safety concerns, you can still get away and have an incredible adventure.  This is an opportunity to save money and build family memories.  You can do a road trip with your family for almost nothing—and you can do it right here in Utah.

GUEST BLOGGER: CALLIE WARD, USU EXTENSION ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

When was the last time you wrote a letter? Or Thank You? Even a nice Post it? I remember the excitement of a pen pal letter coming to our mailbox or seeing the colorful envelop with Grandma’s handwriting on it, and I am not that old! Have we truly lost the art of the handwritten note? With May comes graduations, end of year teacher gifts, Mother’s Day, the final arrival of Spring for most of us in Utah, it is a time of new life and sometimes the never-ending gift list. So why can’t we go back and save this valuable custom of a handwritten card?
 
I turned 33 in April, and birthdays stopped being cool after 16, (anyone else?) but every year I receive two things. A card from my mom - this one usually has a sheep or cowboy of some sort on it and one from my little sister. This year specifically, it was the one from my sister that made my day and was one of the best gifts I have every received. She took the time to write something special and included some great memories. She spent less then $5 and had me rolling for the whole day, adding more joy for my birthday.
 
How can something so cheap be so impactful? Especially in our busy world, taking the time to send a handwritten card means more than a dollar store gift or that random gift card. An article I read from Forbes magazine shared three benefits of a handwritten thank you note that can easily be benefits of a handwritten card: