It’s that time of the year again - time to rehash those good ol’ New Year’s resolutions. Why not try to start saving money? In today’s economic climate, it’s an especially useful one to make. Don’t make empty promises: go ahead and get that resolution off to a jump start. If you find the art of frugality particularly painful, you might find some of these money-saving online resources particularly helpful.

Frugal Dad

You made the money-saving resolution to yourself. But don’t quite like the idea of anyone else berating you about it? Well, Frugal Dad’s blog isn’t all about that. Papa don’t preach! In fact, any “average family” seeking “conservative financial advice” may just find this blog useful. Why? Because Frugal Dad has been there, done that - gone into debt, managed his finances, and forever resolved to keep a tight string around his purse. Whether Frugal Dad is philosophizing about the semantics of “frugal” and “cheap” (and exactly where candy-sneaking practices in movie theaters fall into) or offering tips on how to get out of credit card debt, money-saving souls will find this blog a blessing. If you want to interact with other “frugal folks”, a forum is provided to discuss topics from kids and money or deals, coupons and rebates. So, go ahead and check this site out!

Get Rich Slowly

This blog just won the “most inspiring money blog” award by Money magazine. With thousands of daily readers, it dispenses all kinds of personal finance information, from advice to stories to book reviews. The writer, who sees himself as the average Joe who dug himself out of debt hell, has turned his life around to living in the green (dollars, that is). Inspiring, indeed. He offers his 12 “key beliefs” to getting rich slowly. Feels like 12-step self-help program? Not exactly. Although, there is a very active forum that allows people to discuss the finer points of personal finance. Those who think saving money means getting rich slowly, this online resource might just be for you.

Shopping Notes

Are you an online shopper? Wondering when the sticker price for that Maclaren stroller on Amazon.com is coming down? Well, shoppingnotes.com offers pretty helpful email alerts for its cost-conscious consumers. Copy and paste the product page link into the shoppingnotes box and type in your email at the bottom box and, voila!, you’ll be able to monitor the price of your chosen product in no time. A very simple, very useful service, if you ask me.

Simple Mom's Money Management Section

There really are so many mommy blogs out there! But this one is pretty interesting. It offers you a unique perspective on money management with a touch of spiritualism. This isn’t about saving (or God), but about stepping aside and thinking about just how many needs and wants we have. Give it a read – her personal stories might just influence you and your money-spending habits.

Slick Deals

Don’t leave online shopping to chance! Be a savvy consumer and check out this site. It gathers all kinds of “slick deals” for users to share with each other. It’s a free service and community-driven. Have you ever heard of a 12-day cruise that cost you $450? Do you want to find out the latest coupons for that widescreen HD TV? Take a look at this site and it may answer those questions for you. Additionally, there is a very active forum that can attest to the hot-ness of this site. Deal or no deal?

Smart Spending Blog

Has reading all those blogs given you blog-fatigue? Well, this site may be the cure. Sure, it’s still another blog, but at Smart Spending, the blog hosts have thankfully gathered all kinds of personal finance articles on the Web in one place. So, you won’t have to read a hundred blogs anymore. Just trust two veterans from the journalism world to provide you with some of the best online articles about saving your money.

Savings Tip: Expedia's Kids Go Free Discount to LEGOLAND Discovery Center until March 31

Wanna see how plastic blocks come together to create life-sized monsters and superheroes? While this isn’t exactly a real-life version of Toy Story, spending a day at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago might just get your kids to start believing that toys really do come to life. Go on a dragon ride, an adventure trail, or watch a 4-D movie, all of which feature the colorful plastic blocks. If those theme park-like activities don’t amaze you, you and your kids can even quietly spend quality time building construction challenges. Who said playing and learning don’t go hand in hand? A visit to this indoor hands-on toy land might be just the thing to spark your little one’s imagination.

Discounts on admission tickets are being offered at Expedia.com until March 31, 2009. Go to their website, type LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago in the search box, and when you buy one $20 adult admission ticket, you get to bring one kid under 13 for free. Your online purchase will even save you the hassle of lining up outdoors for admission. Sweet.

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Savings Tip: PhillyFunGuide FunSavers' 50% Discount to Hairspray on December 31

Before you dance the night away this New Year’s Eve, take your kids to another time and place –1962, when poofy hair and curly up-dos were still in-style – and bring the whole family to the Walnut Street Theatre and watch Hairspray, the musical! Tracy Turnblad, a chubby teenager, is bent on a dream: to earn a spot dancing on “The Corny Collins Show”. Watch as she sings and dances her way into your hearts, and into the arms of her teenage crush. It’s every girl’s dream come true, and just as festive as watching the Times Square ball drop on TV. There’s plenty of time after the show to return to real time and ring in the New Year at midnight.

Regularly priced $60 to $70 matinee tickets for the 2:00 P.M. performance on December 31, 2008 are being offered from $30 to $35. Tickets for the 8:00 P.M. show on the same night, regularly priced at $60 to $75, are being sold from $30 to $40. Click on this link to purchase tickets and type the promotional code: BIGHIT.

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If your kids just didn’t quite catch mama kissing Santa Claus and you’re left with a dearth of activities this Christmas weekend, here are a few small activities you can share with your loved ones this holiday season.

If you have only...3 minutes 2 seconds: Listen to “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” by Gayle Peevey. Growing up, did you have warm memories of listening to that one favorite Christmas carol? Gayle Peevey’s classic hit, sung when she was just 10 years old back in the day, will put the likes of child stars like Britney Spears to tears. Cheerful and quirky, this Christmas tune may just be the perfect jingle to perk up that family holiday blahs. Who knows, it may even just stick to your holiday repertoire and become family tradition.

If you have only...4 minutes and 29 seconds: Watch “Where the Hell is Matt’s 2008 Dance?” Fancy taking a few minutes of your time and watch a silly nerd dance on youtube? This may not be Dance Dance Revolution - though it may just as well be more fun. Watch Matt Harding, a 30something unemployed traveler, strut his silly nerd stuff, against the background of many breathtaking views around the world. He got people around the world to shake their thing on videotape, so why not you and your kids? Join his youtube revolution and go ahead and shake that thing!

If you have only...8 minutes: Read Dr. Suess’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas. If ever there was one small moment in time in which you could create a family memory, it would be this 8-minute read of Dr. Seuss’s classic Christmas tale, How The Grinch Stole Christmas. The story has captivated kids for over half a century. So why not take a little time out and cozy up to a fireplace or a warm blanket by the couch, and read about Mr. Grinch and the Who family. Want to have that extra Christmas church sermon, right? Well, take this simple story about kindness towards others and respect for mankind and entertain your kids. You can borrow the book from your local library or invest in buying one to read for Christmases to come

Savings Tip: 2-for-1 Discount to James and the Giant Peach at the Arden Theatre

Care to spend an evening cultivating your inner child? The rendering of Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach may just be the treat for you and your kids. This timeless and age-less children’s classic is being performed at the Arden Theatre through February 8, 2009. How can you not be moved by a tale that involves a gigantic fruit and a little boy? The February 6, 2009 Target 2 for 1 Family Series Friday evening performance, with two tickets selling for the price of one, may really move you off the TV couch and propel you to go to the theater. Discounted tickets may be purchased at this site.

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Savings Tip: Gocitykids' 40% Off Tickets to Galli's Fairytale Theater

If there is one habit you would want to start your kids early on, it’s the habit of theater-going. They’ll see grown-ups play pretend, don costumes, put on make-up, and act like they’re someone else to tell a story. There’s nothing more exciting for children than seeing stories come to life this holiday season. So, why not treat them to a show? Galli’s Fairytale Theater is performing The Little Mermaid from December 26 to 31. The theater works to bring the magic of fairytales to live theater to teach children to express their feelings. Tickets are 40% off from the regular price of $15 for kids and $20 for adults, with the code gokids.

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