Are you interested in fun and inexpensive family activities? Well how about bowling?

Just sign your kids up at KidsBowlFree.com and they will get 2 free games of bowling each day this summer.

The sign-up is quick and easy:

1. Select a bowling center near you. There are 12 participating bowling alleys across Oklahoma.
2. Register directly on the bowling center page. Your registration is valid only at the bowling center where you register and cannot be used at any other bowling center unless otherwise noted. The “program start” and “program end” dates are listed on the bowling center page that you register with.
3. Once you register, you’ll have the opportunity to purchase the family pass.  The family pass was created to allow for adult family members to enjoy bowling throughout the summer as well. The family pass starts from $23.95, covers up to 4 adult family members, and includes 2 games per adult per day.

Each week you’ll receive an email with your free bowling coupons for that week. All you have to pay for is the shoe rental.

I signed my kids up and bought the family pass so my wife and I could join in too. And even though none of us had bowled in years, we’re having a great time!

Natasha Ball’s current column in the Urban Tulsa Weekly is all about family-friendly activities in Tulsa, some totally free and others quite inexpensive. For example, you may want to consider:

• Free family days at Philbrook Museum.
• Free fishing courses offered by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
• Free summertime concerts at many different venues including Utica Square and the River Parks floating amphitheatre.
• Joining a community garden and sharing in the produce.
• Hip book club meetings in some of Tulsa’s favorite bars and restaurants.
• Public star parties offered by the Astronomy Club of Tulsa.
• Classes offered at your local park or community center where you can learn a wide range of skills such as belly dancing, digital photography and wood carving.

For more ideas, read Natasha’s article in it’s entirety.

In direct contrast to my recent post regarding the out-of-control credit card spending of the fictional Rebecca Bloomwood in Confessions of a Shopaholic, I’d like to introduce you to a young Tulsa couple who have turned their back on excessive consumerism and have embraced a life of frugality.

Meet Aaron and Natasha Ball. They began living at or below their means not long ago when they received news that a baby was on the way and they adjusted to living on one income. Now that baby Sam is here, the Balls have committed to continue living frugally and to teaching Sam about spending less and saving more.

Natasha writes a column in Urban Tulsa Weekly that offers money saving tips and is becoming a manual on how to get by in Tulsa during hard times. Her article The Going Gets Tough lets us in on many of the details in her and husband Aaron’s journey to frugality.

Natasha also publishes a blog called Tasha Does Tulsa in which she writes about Tulsa’s attractions and activities, many of which are free.

Source: NewsOn6.com

Here are some tips on how to cut back on grocery spending. Be sure to check the Web sites of your favorite grocery store and the sites of your favorite products.

Some other sites to get you started include:

Better Budgeting, a broad money-saving site, includes several calculators for working out budgets or paying down debt, tips, links to coupons and more.
http://www.betterbudgeting.com

Coupon Mom provides links to coupons for all sorts of products, plus articles for savings in all areas of your budget.
http://www.couponmom.com

The Dollar Stretcher, run by a former financial planner, features tips on groceries and dozens of other ways to save.
http://www.stretcher.com

Grocery Coupon Guide offers a range of resources on where to find grocery coupons and how to use them to full advantage.
http://www.grocerycouponguide.com

Grocery Savings, run by the creator of Better Budgeting, offers more than 200 tips for saving at the store.
http://www.grocerysavingstips.com

Wesabe, a financial community, allows users to track their own finances and share thoughts, concerns and tips with other members.
http://www.wesabe.com

In this current recession, we’re all looking for ways to spend less money. Being frugal is the in thing.

While eating at home is generally the cheapest way to go, if you’re eating out, consider sharing. Splitting an appetizer, dessert or even an entree is an easy way to save a few dollars without sacrificing the indulgence of eating out.

Here’s a recent article with more information on the rise in meal sharing.

With the economy in decline, we’re all looking for some easy ways to cut back and save money. Here are six money saving tips that Oklahomans can start using today to help their budget:

1. Pack a lunch from home instead of eating out during the workday.
2. When you have to go out, take along your own drinks instead of buying coffee and soft drinks.
3. Do your own hair, nails and facials at home until your budget allows for such indulgencies.
4. Check out books, CDs and videos from your local library instead of renting or buying them.
5. Instead of going out to dinner and a movie, invite some friends over to play cards or board games.
6. Don’t hire a babysitter for a night out. Instead, trade babysitting duties with a friend, neighbor or relative who also has children.