How to Throw a Kids' Birthday Party Without Spending a Fortune

Children's birthday parties often require a good deal of planning. Some parents get carried away and can spend thousands of dollars on their son or daughter's party. But it doesn't have to be that way.

If you're scaling back budgets for everyday expenses, it makes sense to also save money on frivolous purchases, inlcuding those associated with birthday parties. But such scaling back doesn't have to equal a bad party. Here are some tips for having a birthday party that's both a hit and a bargain.
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How to Keep Cool Without A/C

The thought of spending the summer without air conditioning is enough to make many people cringe. Air conditioning is a relatively modern convenience. Before its invention, people survived summer temperatures without the cooling breeze of an A/C unit -- and you can, too.
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Cool Down With a Summertime Drink

Fun in the sun is often intertwined with entertaining. Backyard parties, barbecues, seaside picnics, and other events are made even more memorable with the backdrop of beautiful, warm weather.
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Simple, No-Bake Summertime Dessert

Few people want to use the oven to cook a meal when it's hot outside, especially when preparing desserts. Fortunately, you can create delicious desserts that require little fuss and no cooking.
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How to Make Marshmallow Fondant

Television shows and culinary demonstrations dedicated to professionally decorating cakes have grown in popularity. Many home bakers want to try to recreate the looks of elaborate cakes, complete with materials professional bakers use, including fondant.
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Making the Move to Independent Retirement Living

When 72-year-old Army veteran Ted Eickhoff was at his local VA hospital for an appointment recently, he struck up a conversation with another patient about selling his home and downsizing. As luck would have it, Eickhoff's fellow patient lived in a local independent retirement community owned by Holiday Retirement, and raved about the benefits. Eickhoff was sold.
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Dos and Don'ts of a Successful Staycation

Today's homes are more luxurious than ever before. Thanks to advancements in home theater technology, many people find it hard to leave the comforts of home, even when it's time to go on vacation.

That reality is one reason for the growing popularity of "staycations," in which people forgo traveling during their time off from work, choosing instead to spend their vacations at home. Staycations can prove more relaxing than typical vacations, as long as staycationers consider the following dos and don'ts.
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Easy Baking

The ultimate easy baking experience was brought to life in 1963 when the Easy Bake Oven was introduced as a children's toy. Back then it sported the turquoise coloring common to 1960s stoves.
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