how do you make your daily life special

You certainly inspire me to make more of an effort.

Hi, I have lost my job, and recently seperated from my husband. I have 2 small children and we are doing as you do, we go to art galleries when its cold, parks when its warm, and friends/relatives anytime.
The money I do have left over does scouts and swimming lessons. We also have many great free summer activities for the kids.
My best thing yet has been to move all the board games and jigsaws(charity shops) into a prominent place in the living room, and this has generated lots of fun. This is also the way I was brought up. No tv, no washing machine,hand me downs, chores, family togetherness, walking the neighbours dogs (they worked)and ours, nature, and playing games ever night with the family with the radio on.

I add popcorn and ice lollies to the mix, but my oldest is 6 so still impressed! Strong family bonds and good friends, the intrest and love of your parents and education make your world, everything else is icing. Good in small quantities, but causes decay if taken in great quantities.

Our kids are grown and my husband is gone during the day to work. Am on my own and can pretty much do whatever I need to do or want to do. What makes my day is being able to spend time with our youngest grandbaby. She will be one next week. This is my idea of a special day that feels productive. Am no longer working since I retired over the summer. I do like to frequent one local casino and also love to work on crafts. Try to keep busy as much as possible during the day. My husband and I usually relax at home watching television in the evening since he's usually tired after a long day at work.

Keep smiling,keep a clean tidy comfy home.Talk to my son.It sounds like your girls know they are loved and cared for and basically what more could they possibly need.I have a saying "love comes from the heart,not from the wallet"Kids love to go to the park or play games with mum and dad.Some of the best times we have had as a family grandchildren,my old Dad,grown kids is over the park with a football .cost nothing .They will remember that more than some expensive treat.We have also spent hours just walking and talking,playing on the beach,a real treat is a picnic for my lot.Like you I make home made cakes and do most of the cooking from scratch .Making the effort just goes to show,you think they are worth it.

We have games nights with our friends - someone brings a board game and everyone brings small snacks like popcorn.

We do free activities that are put on by our city or the community centres - this summer there were a lot of those free outdoor movies where the movie is on a giant blow-up screen.

I think you are doing a good job so far. I love crafts and sewing, and now that I am an adult, my sister does craft shows, and the whole family participates. So even trying to make money (like having a garage sale) when done with the right spirit can be a fun family event.

For kids like yours, I would try and get them interested in museums. Buying a family pass for the year can lead to many memorable events and programs, and once you have a pass, you can go anytime of the year you like. Most have free days too.

Another thing is to get them involved in charity work, like helping at the food bank. Not only is it good for the soul, but they can see how truly fortunate they are.

Finally, I would try and cultivate their interests. Do they love the stars? Invest in a telescope and study up together. You can follow changes in the sky all year round. Do they like fashion? Help them learn to sew, knit, crochet so they can make their own clothes. Do they like cooking? Make it an adventure. Grow your own garden, then cook dishes from it. Learn how to decorate cakes, and enter them in the county fair. Whatever topic it is, it can be turned into a family project.

With love and togetherness, money becomes secondary.

Sounds like you have all down pat as to what to do to keep a family going. That's all one can do is to find things that are free or close to it to do and to survive.

Instead of spending gas on going to the library (+ potentail replacement fees & fines) we watch movies on HULU, YouTube, Crackle ect.... it's free and we consider our DSL our "entertainment" as I think the internet is more costeffective for us. Or we sometimes rent a movie via redbox. Have you tried to go to the movies in the actual theater? It's $12 a person here, so you figure if it was just a date night it would be $24 before we even got any snacks ect then you add all 3 kids in it will be about $50 before we even get to the snacks. No thanks, can't afford that.