One of the many ways in which we can spend - and waste - money is in the area of entertainment. There are new movies to see, dinner out, and a host of other lovely things to do. Children especially seem to want to go to theme parks and fairs where it seems that you have your wallet in your hand all the time because it's hardly worthwhile putting it back into your pocket before the next thing needs to be paid for.

So what are some budget friendly entertainment ideas for the family?

If you live near a beach, younger children are usually delighted and content to spend all their summer holidays playing in the sand. If you don't live near a beach, there will often be a free swimming pool that they can access. Even a paid pool may end up being cheaper (and healthier) in the long run than paying for an afternoon at the movies.

A small sandpit in the backyard will keep children entertained for hours at a time, while an above ground swimming pool -even if it is tiny - will contribute to the fun. Having a friend over is a simple means of entertainment. Encourage craft activities and play-acting - all these will stimulate their creative side.

For family outings, choose things that are free or have a minimal cost. Visits to museums are often free and can be fascinating as well as informative. Just be sure to keep the children away from any kiosk or shop. These are usually priced much higher than your normal shop or ice-cream parlor.

If you have a car, a drive into the mountains with a homemade picnic will be a cheap day out. You can see the tourist sites and take photos, then let the children create fun scrapbooks of their day. The only cost will be for gas.

When thinking in terms of movies, videos or DVDs are cheaper than going to the cinema. Video rental outlets often have specials where you rent several movies for a week rather than just one more expensive one overnight. This is good for holiday watching, but not for school times as it could interfere with homework.

If the children are desperate to go to a theme park, you can get them to help you save up first. If the children are at the age where they can go on all the rides, choose the kind where you pay an entrance fee and then have free access to the rides. Go early in the day to make it worthwhile. If the children are too little to go on most of the rides, it would be cheaper to take them to a fair where there are more rides for smaller children. Before you go, set a limit on the number of rides they can go on and be sure you keep to it. Make sure you don't take any extra money with you, then you won't be tempted to spend it. In this way you can all have fun without breaking the budget.

Family vacations can be a major way to spend money, as anyone on a tight budget will know. Here are some ideas for budget friendly vacations.

* Stay at home! Yes, you can still have a holiday; just don't pay for boarding somewhere else. Instead, spend some of that money you have saved on buying frozen dinners and go out to visit all the tourist spots in your area. Many people live in an area for years without visiting the local tourist spots. Forget the housework for a week or two, or do just minimal amounts.

* Go camping. There are many wonderful camping spots in national parks or at the beach. Camping is much cheaper than paying for accommodation at a resort or a motel. Unless you can borrow them, you will have the initial cost of tents and sleeping bags, but they will last for many years. Camping ground fees are usually quite reasonable and if you are prepared to rough it with no facilities, you may be able to go to a free one.

* If that sounds too rough for you, go the next step up and hire a caravan or campervan. At least you'll have a comfy bed and somewhere to sit if it should rain for the week you go away. You can enjoy travelling about to different locations also. In fact, you could drive out of the rain if it's not too widespread. Caravanning is a popular way to holiday and see the countryside. In some cases, you can even pull into a quiet spot along the road and camp there without paying any fees. It is safer to go to a designated camping area though. Some of these may be free, while others charge a fee. They often have good facilities.

* Swap houses with a friend. It has to be someone you can trust not to trash the place. There are some house-swapping agencies that will put you in touch with others who do this sort of thing. The idea is to go and live in someone else's house while they do the same. This way each one knows the house is protected from would-be thieves, pets are looked after without the cost of boarding them and plants are watered so they don't die while you are away. You can often choose the location you like best, or you can take potluck and go somewhere you hadn't thought of before. You might find it's terrific.

* Go in a large group. Many motels rent out rooms that sleep 10 or more. They are often cheaper than a twin-share and by the time everyone adds their share to the kitty, the cost is really reasonable.

There are many ways in which you can take that holiday without it having to break the budget. Whatever way you choose, the main idea is to have fun with the family.

Whether or not you decide to seek professional financial help depends to a large extent on your skills, personality and what you want to achieve with your finances. If you are just starting out on your own and don't have much money, it would be easier for you to organize your own finances. It's not that hard to keep a record of your income and expenses.  You can add each up at the end of the week or month and find out how much you have left over to spend.

Even when you have been working for some years and need to pay off larger amounts - say, for a car, you can still work out how much you can afford to repay, because you know what you have coming in. But sometimes life gets a little more complicated. Maybe you overspent quite a bit, decided to get something with your credit card and now find the payments very hard to meet, let alone still pay the expenses that are coming in all the time.

Or it may be that you have been working for years and never seem to get ahead financially, or you have quite a bit of savings that you want to invest, but you don't know how to go about it. Then the advice of a professional financial expert may be just what you need.

A professional will help you to get sorted out financially and put you on the road to financial independence, but you have to be willing and disciplined enough to follow their advice. This advice will cost you money, so it's not much use paying for something that you don't use. There are many financial advisors out there, so you need to make sure that the one you choose is a true professional and trustworthy. You don't want to risk losing your hard-earned cash. So go for someone whose reputation is flawless and who doesn't charge an arm and a leg for their advice and service.

A financial advisor will be able to give you investment advice that you might not know about yourself. Many people invest in stocks, shares and bonds and there is a lot to learn about them. You can't be expected to know the sorts of things that a professional will know for wise investing. But if you find you can never seem to make ends meet, then it is professional budgeting help that you require. Even though you will have to pay for this, it could be a good investment. Then, once you learn to do it yourself, you will be able to save the cost of their fee.

When creating a budget it is a wise decision to take note of the percentages cited by experts in the budgeting field. If you know what your allowed percentage of expenditure on clothing or food is, it becomes easier not to go over your budget when you are shopping.  Financial budgeting experts have calculated percentage amounts to use with a family budget. These percentages may or may not suit you; there is no need to feel they must be used, but they will give you a general idea of what to allow yourself for various expenditures.

Some experts believe that 20 percent of your income should be the absolute limit to be paying off credit card debt. If you can only pay the minimum amount off on a card, you'll end up in trouble. Try and do without a credit card. With a credit card, you have to pay for you past while still trying to afford your present. Many items bought with a credit card are luxuries that we can do without. If you are paying for groceries with a card you are adding to the total cost due to the interest rate - unless you can pay it all back within the month.

Back to percentages. Even if you know down to the last red cent how much you have to pay each month on housing or car payments, do you know what percentage of your income these payments constitute? Even if you do know, on what are you basing your figures; your gross income or net income? If you base it on your gross, you will get a figure that doesn't reflect reality. You should use only your net, or take home, pay amount.

A manageable budget is one in which your rent and mortgages (including tax and insurance) will be about 27 percent of your take-home pay, or net income. It need not be exactly 27 percent. The range can fall between 20 and 35 percent and still be manageable.

Transportation cost, which includes, gas, insurances and maintenance should be about 8 percent, while food should be in the 15 to 30 percent range. Utilities should be around 7 percent; clothing can range from 4 to 10 percent while personal care comes in at around 2 to 4 percent.

Health care depends on the individual and can range from 2 to 8 percent. Some people are really healthy, while others need prescriptions, dental work, eye care and other things. Insurances like life, disability and health can go up to 6 percent. Miscellaneous, which includes entertainment, childcare, travel and gifts can be anything up to 4 percent.

Having percentages such as these will give you a base line from which to work out your budget and will help you to keep it on track.

One of the fastest ways we spend money is in purchasing the weekly foods and products we use for grooming and cleaning. Often we think if we didn't have to eat, what a lot of money we could save! But we do have to eat and keep our homes and ourselves clean; yet the cost of this doesn't have to be excessive. There is a wonderfully easy and perfectly legal way to reduce your spending in this area. Coupons!

What are they? Coupons are really advertisements put out by companies to try and persuade you to buy their product. In doing this they have created a marvelous opportunity for the average shopper to make consistent savings almost every week. They can often be found in the supplement section of the Sunday newspaper. They are the glossy pullout section devoted to advertising products. You clip out the coupons which - when offered for that product at the checkout - will give you significant savings.

These coupons are often worth 50 cents or a dollar off the retail price of the product. But here's the good news. Sometimes, stores will have a double or triple coupon day where the value increases to - you guessed it, double or triple. Now if the store also has a sale on that product, you may even get it for free! Now you might not be all that enthusiastic about a saving of two or three dollars on a product, but wait, there's more!

Ask your friends to clip out the coupons in their papers and keep them for you, if they don't use them. In this way you can get a real stash of coupons. You could also ask your paperboy to give you all the leftover supplements so that you can have the coupons. Go to company websites and join up for their newsletters. Often they will have downloadable coupons that you will be able to use. Some websites that have coupons are: -

http://www.smartsource.com

http://www.valupage.com 

http://www.customcoupon.com

To organize your coupons and reduce time spent at the checkout, keep them in a large folder or one of those snap-loc clear plastic bags. Sort them in order of either expiration date or type of item or even rooms of your house. For instance the one labeled 'bathroom' could have soap, shampoo, conditioners, shaving gear and many more products that you would use in your bathroom. In this way you will be able to produce them at the checkout without too much delay.

There may even be a coupon club in your area. Many people have coupons for products they don't use, and so can swap them for the ones others don't want. An older person won't need diaper coupons, while childless couples may not be into some of the cereals that children love. If there is no coupon club, why not start one up yourself. You'll end up with heaps more coupons and make new friends as well.

One thing that can destroy all your careful budgeting is the necessity of buying family gifts. Children have birthdays and it's a disappointed child who doesn't get what they want for their birthday. Christmas comes every year and gifts must be bought for the family. And in many cases, the children will want to give their own friends birthday and Christmas gifts. So how do we get everyone what they want without breaking the bank?

For a start, instigate the practice of years gone by, early on in your family life. No one was allowed to demand a certain item for a gift. Gifts should be a surprise to the recipient. If they know what they are getting, much of the fun is taken out of gift giving and receiving. In this way, you'll be able to choose something that you can afford. It's no use going into debt to buy a big item for a gift; children will expect just as much or more the next time round.

Set a limit on what you can spend on gifts. It can be great fun and a real challenge to find just the right kind of gift for the occasion without spending more than say, $10.00. After Christmas sales can be a great time to purchase gifts for the year.

If you know what your children want for a gift - and most parents do - then there are ways of purchasing them that can save you money. For starters, sometimes you can get wonderful bargains on eBay and similar websites. From bicycles to books, clothing to DVDs, you can get almost anything on the Internet.

Keep a watch on the newspaper or community notice board for used toys, swing sets, bikes and other things that are for sale. Many times these things are in really good condition or can be made to look new with another coat of paint. Garage sales are also another source of bargains. People often move from the district and don't want to take a lot of stuff with them. The item you require may be almost new. Even though the gift may not be due for a few months, it doesn't hurt to go hunting early if you have a particular item in mind.

Word of mouth is another good way to find a bargain. If you let a few of your friends know what you are on the look-out for, they can then ask their own friends and before you know it you have the opportunity to buy what you need. Opportunity and re-cycling shops are great places to find gifts. Toys and books abound in such places, so you'll be sure to get something that is just right for the occasion.

One of the best ways to change bad spending habits is to cut up all your credit cards.

Money that you spend using a credit card is money that doesn't belong to you. You have to pay it back - along with interest, which makes the purchase price of your item that much more expensive.  A debit card is much more preferable. That way you can't spend more than you have in the bank, but even that can be dangerous if you are prone to impulse buying of luxury items.

Another way to change your bad spending habits is to sit down and really look at the things you have spent money on in the last few months. Ask yourself if they were really needs or wants. A want can be classified as something that you can get by without and still live in reasonable comfort. That expensive pair of shoes could be a want - unless you don't have any! Even some food can be considered a want, rather than a need. Dining out is not a need unless it is part of your job description. Salesmen for instance often close a deal over a meal. In this case their meal is a need. Taking the kids out every evening is not.

Once you have defined what your needs are against your wants, the next step is to look at your future. Do you have a big need coming up in the near or distant future? Maybe you need to start saving for the children's education or your retirement. Maybe you have decided to save for something that isn't really a need, but will help you to learn to save, so it is good in itself - something like a trip overseas or a cruise.

This can be classed as setting long-term goals and will help you to change your bad spending habits. You will be motivated by what you want (or need) in the future. Taking charge of the finances by keeping a record of all the incoming and outgoing finances can also help you. By seeing exactly where your money is going, you may be more motivated to save it instead of spending. Just sitting down and keeping a record of where all that small change went to can make you more aware of spending habits that are unnecessary.

For instance, buying your morning coffee on the way to work can add up to a sizeable amount by the end of the month, especially when there is good coffee to be had at home. The same goes for buying your lunch. The cost of one bought lunch will keep you in lunches for a week if you make them at home. Most work places provide a fridge to keep food in; otherwise, you can take yours in an insulated bag.

Changing bad spending habits can only help you in the long run. Why not give it a go? You'll be glad you did.

One of the main expenses of the family is food. Every week we go to the supermarket and watch our cash resources drain away on food. We may sometimes wonder why we can't eat less! There are a few ways to save on the food bills without having to starve ourselves.

One way to save on food is to buy in bulk. The supermarket prices for meat especially are often cheaper for the bulk packs of meat. Sometimes you can find a butcher who will supply bulk meat at a reduced price. Certain cuts of meat may appear to be cheaper, but if they have a lot of bone or fat in them, this makes them a poor bargain.

Growers markets often have fresh fruit and vegetables for a good deal less than the shops, but don't be caught. The watchword is know your prices. Another simple way to buy at discount prices is to go at the end of the week, late in the day. Very often there will be specials to be had in cakes, salads, breads and even cooked chicken.

Another trick is to never shop for food when you are hungry. Then you'll be less likely to splurge on impulse buys simply because they look good enough to eat. Learn to take advantage of the cheaper cuts of meat and fruit and veggies because there is a glut of them. Learn also to make your own cakes and biscuits, jam, chutney and relish. You'll be astonished at how much you can save and how much tastier it is than the supermarket produce. Teaching older children to cook will take the burden of the extra work from your shoulders.

When you sit down to work out a menu for the week, take into account everyone's likes and dislikes to some extent. If you dish up food that the kids hate they won't eat it without a fight, making mealtime a misery. It's wise to teach them good eating habits right from when they are little to avoid this. Alternate 'cheap' meals such as rice and pasta dishes with those that have a high percentage of meat and vegetables that might cost a bit more.  Remember that the family's health is important, so don't cut back on fresh fruit and veggies.

Make sure you eat all the leftovers the next day. For instance, if you have a baked leg of lamb one day, use up the rest of the meat on a salad the next day - unless you can use it in work or school lunches. If there is salad left over after dinner, use it for lunch the next day. This will cut out waste and save you money. If food doesn't get used up within a few days, throw it out rather than risk food poisoning.

It is a good idea to look out for 'cheaper' recipes in family magazines. If you don't buy them yourself, ask friends and family about their favorites. Stews, soups, spaghetti and pasta dishes are often the cheapest meals. If you have a small backyard, it may be possible to grow some of your own salad vegetables, thus saving a considerable amount.

Creating a yearly estimate of expenses and income isn't a hard thing to do. It will only be hard if you don't keep records of anything. But even if your record keeping consists of receipts piled into a shoebox; that is better than nothing. If you use a debit card or checkbook to pay your bills, then it will be easier.

First, gather up all your records. This will include the receipts you have for every bill you had to pay over the last 12 months. Some bills you only have to pay on an annual basis. This is mostly insurances and the like. Other bills may be monthly, or every three or six months. Make sure you have them all. Add them up, then divide the number by 12. This will give you an average of what you spend every month.

Now you need to add up the records of your income. Pay stubs should be of help here. There are two amounts to your income. The first is your gross income. That is what you earned before anything has been taken out. The second is your net income. This is sometimes referred to as your take-home pay. Your take-home pay is the amount you have left once tax and other withholdings have been taken out of it. They are usually deducted automatically, so you don't really see that money you earned except as a figure on paper.

Your net income is the amount you will add up to compute your yearly estimate of income. Once you have both figures - that is, your expenses and your income, double check to make sure you haven't forgotten something, then subtract the expenses from the income. What you have left over is what you decide to save or spend. It's a good idea to do a bit of both. The discipline of saving is a good habit to get into and you'll thank yourself for it in the future. Until you learn to save a little each week or month, you'll never have enough money and you'll always feel that your money is controlling you, instead of vice-versa.

You could of course, add up your gross income instead, but if you do that don't forget to also add up those automatically deducted bills like state and federal taxes when you are doing your expenses. Adding up your gross income might make you feel really good, because it will be so much more than your take-home pay. Don't you wish you didn't have to pay taxes?

We usually work out a budget so that we know how much we can spend without breaking our bank account. So once you've worked out a good budget, does this mean that impulse spending is a big no-no from now on?  Not completely. The thing to remember when doing a budget is to make it realistic to your needs - and your wants, to a certain extent. Then again, no one can foresee exactly what they will need to buy in the future. There may well be unexpected expenses. Little Johnny might get hit in the face with a cricket ball and need some dental work. There are lots of things that might happen to cause you unexpected expenses, not necessarily in the area of health. So what can we do about these hidden expenses if we want to have a budget and stick to it?

For starters, if a budget is too strict with no impulse spending allowed, you probably won't stick to it, especially if you are the type of person who enjoys spending money on impulse. Where does that leave you? Worse off than before. You do need to budget for some fun things. What you need to do is set aside a certain percentage of your income to cover both impulse spending and occasional expenses.

Make sure that you have enough income to pay your expenses, though. If you find it hard to make ends meet with what you have, look for extra ways of making money, or ways to cut your expenses. You may be able to shave extra from your electric bill by turning off lights, or even switching to the type of light bulbs that save on power. Make sure your hot water system - if it is power-based - heats up only at night when the power is cheapest. Even installing draft-stoppers at each door could save you money on heating.

So when creating a budget, set aside a small percentage of your net income for what is important to you. If you like to eat out, budget for a couple of nights a month of eating out. If you like to feel you can spend money on whim, decide what percentage of your income you have to spare after paying your expenses. Go ahead and spend it, enjoy yourself, but once this allowance is spent for the week or month, stop. Don't spend any more until the next pay day. In this way, you won't feel so deprived that you can't keep to your budget.