Extended family vacations aren't always the answer. Try this: plan a driving trip every Saturday. Select destinations like parks & museums within 2-3 hours from home. You can plan to visit 2 or 3 locations in a day, but 4 would be pushing it. Pack lunchmeat & chips for picnics wherever you go. When the kids get tired or bored, just move along. They can sleep between destinations & be ready to go again. You'll discover lots of new resources close to home, no one will get overloaded or over tired (including the driver or drivers), and unlike on a long trip, you'll save on travel time, gas, and hotels! Plus your kids will get lots more parent time!!

By Terri from Illinois

Before tossing your socks into the dirty clothes hamper, safety pin the pair together! That way when you wash them, one doesn't disappear!

By Cheryl from Illinois

When making hot cereal for kids, use a little less water, and after cooking, add an ice cube. Stir the cereal to melt the ice and the cereal will be cool enough to eat right away!

By Sharon from Michigan

Add one cup of apple cider vinegar to your bath water and use a mild soap to bathe with to eliminate dry, itchy or chapped skin!

By Catherine from Iowa

Open bars of hand soap as soon as you bring them home. Set them in a basket so they dry out. Drying the bars out prior to use makes them last a lot longer so you spend less! As a bonus, it is great for deodorizing a room!

By MariJane from Michigan

Use old or unmated socks for rags! They slip right on your hands saving you time!

By Laurel from Florida

To store ginger for a long time, keep it in the freezer rather than the refrigerator. It will remain fresh much longer!

By Saritha from Virginia

To keep things organized and to recruit volunteers for class parties and field trips, use the FREE online invitations and sign up forms found on http://www.signupgenius.com/backtoschool. It keeps the parents informed and is a great time and stress saver!

By Helena from North Carolina

If you have young children and can't find alone time to exercise, let them work out with you! The Just Dance game for Wii really works up a sweat for you, and the kids love it! Do it before nap time, they will fall asleep faster!

By Porsche from California

Use alcohol wipes to wipe down bathroom and kitchen faucets. They will look brand new.

By Kari from Florida

Never use bleach or chlorine based cleansers near or on jewelry. The chemical can break down the metals used in gold to make it strong enough for jewelery which can damage it beyond repair.

By Caroline from South Carolina

Use a half cup of baking soda in your whites and/or other heavily soiled laundry! Baking soda is a natural way to increase the cleaning power of your detergent and helps to reduce odors! Great for socks!

By Charlotte from Michigan

To remove carpet stains, spray or soak the stain with Ammonia. Place a white cloth over the stain and steam iron over it. After the cloth has cooled, it will have lifted the stain! You may have to do this several times for deeper or darker stains, but it works!

By Theresa from Michigan

Instead of buying expensive brands of glass cleaner, use distilled vinegar! It cleans as good or better and is much cheaper!

By Jane from Texas

Try using hair mousse for removing chewing gum from hair. It works like a charm without the mess of using peanut butter!!

By Kary from South Carolina

To remove microwave odors, mix a half a cup of lemon juice and a half cup of water in a microwavable bowl. Cook on high for 5-7 minutes then wipe microwave out with a soft cloth.

By Mar from Georgia

About every 6 months or so, clean the lint trap from your dryer with soap and water. This prevents chemical chemical build up from dryer sheets that clog the holes in it (which is a potential fire hazard!).

By Karla from Iowa

To keep drains clear and fresh, pour 3/4 cup baking soda followed by 1 cup white vinegar down the drains. Let sit for 10 - 20 minutes, then follow with hot water!

By Meta from Missouri

Easily clean latex paint from paint brushes by mixing about a cup of water and a half cup liquid fabric softener. Stir the brush in the mixture and watch the paint come off! It also softens the brush bristles!

By Irene from Texas

When changing your laundry, use the used dryer sheet from the previous load to clean the lint from the dryer lint mesh. It quickly removes all the lint, and your hands never have to touch the lint.

By Katrina from Connecticut

If you break an egg, pour salt all around it. This makes it easier to wipe up

By Alice from Indiana

Reduce the amount of meat in recipes by substituting beans instead. Black beans are great in tacos and nachos and they help reduce the cost of the meal. If using refried beans, be sure to look at the ingredients first! Most of them contain lard! Use vegetarian varieties for a healthier Mexican meal choice.

By Terri from Illinois

Use vinegar to remove mold and grime from your sinks and tubs.

By Krista from Ohio