Save Money

The are quite a few restaurants around town that will give your child a free meal if he or she is accompanied by a paying adult. In this listing, I'll tell you which restaurants, which days of the week they offer the special, and any other restrictions they might have.

Mall playgrounds, splash pads, free crafts, library programs -- check here for some ideas for free fun that you can have with the kids.

Not everything in Scottsdale, Arizona is accessible to only the wealthy! While Scottsdale might have a reputation of being where the rich and famous live and play, you might be surprised that you can plan entire itineraries around free and cheap activities here.

These deep discount stores are all over the place. You can buy food, furniture, housewares, cleaning supplies, toys and more. Be careful to assess the quality of what you are buying. A great bargain on scratchy sheets or plastic toys that fall apart after 5 minutes of playtime may not really be a bargain at all. Still, if you think it through, you can save quite a bit of money on some everyday items.

Thrift stores generally sell items that have been donated to them. Be patient and visit often, because the inventory typically changes dramatically during any given week. Clothing, household goods and gift items are most common. You can also find some vintage items as well as great ideas for costumes.

Various organizations including the State of Arizona offer clinics where you can get free immunizations that are required before your child can go to school.

One of the best bargains of the summer is that there is sure to be a community pool not far from you. Typically a buck or two per person can provide an entire day of cool, wet fun. Pack some frozen drinks in a cooler, grab the towels and head out to one of more than 60 pools in Greater Phoenix. Pools typically open on Memorial Day weekend and close in early August when schools are back in session.

This is my monthly calendar of annually recurring festivals and events. Not all of them are free, but there are many activities listed there where there is no admission, including concerts, art festivals, holiday events and more.

The library systems in Phoenix area cities and towns do much more than just lend books. You might be surprised at how many services they offer for free! Here are five ways you can save money by using the library.

Everyone likes to look nice for school or work. If pricey haircuts aren't in your budget, there are barber schools around town where you can let a student cut your hair for a reasonable price.