"I
just
had to
respond
with a
comment/
I
understand
controlling
costs
but be
sure
to
factor
in the
intangible
benefits
of
kids
hanging
out at
your
house.
You
may be
meeting
a need
that
you
are
not
aware
of but
God
is. I
have
had
kids
hang
out at
my
house
a lot
for
months
only
to
find
out
mom
finally
got a
restraining
order
against
her
boyfriend,
etc.
You
may be
providing
a safe
place,
love,
attention
or
something
else
that
is
needed.
The
kids
in my
neighborhood
know
they
can
stop
by and
use
the
phone
to
call
mom,
get a
drink
of
water
or
just
hang
out
and it
is
okay.
The
other
thought
was
passed
on to
me by
a wise
lady
who
always
had a
house
full
of
kids:
'If
they
are
hanging
out
here,
they
are
not
somewhere
else
and I
know
where
mine
are.'
If
I have
a
crowd
I
offer
water,
drink
mix
stuff
like
lemonade
or use
sugar
and
lemon
juice,
sun
tea,
homemade
cookies
when I
have
them,
chips
with
grated
cheese
melted
over
the
top in
the
microwave,
popcorn,
cheap
popsicles,
watermelon,
whatever
I have
found
a good
deal
on. I
have
also
fed
kids
my
dinner
leftovers.
<grin>
Also I
put
whoever
is
around
to
work
when
they
are
here.
If I
come
home
from
the
grocery
store,
I ask
everyone
who is
here
to
unload
groceries
or if
the
living
room
needs
to be
picked
up a
bit, I
ask
everyone
to
pitch
in for
5
minutes.
With
adults
don't
be
afraid
to ask
people
to
bring
drinks
or a
side
dish
or
whatever
you
are
short
on,
most
people
are
delighted
to
help."
~ Lena
"Basic
soup and
bread is
a frugal
hit when
I need
to feed
a
crowd....and
my
crockpot
is my
friend
in this
case
.
I
can make
a huge
pot of
chili
and
cornbread
that
will
feed a
dozen
for
under $5
or a
huge pot
of yeast
rolls
and
chicken
noodle
soup for
under
$5.
I
live on
a farm
and have
free-range
chickens
and a
never
ending
supply
of eggs
so
quiche-type
dishes
and
devilled
eggs are
frugal
for me
as is
anything
from the
garden
in the
summer.
Salad
bar is
frugal
if I get
the $1 a
pound
ground
turkey
chubs at
Walmart,
already
seasoned
and set
out a
taco
salad
bar.
During
the
winter I
buy a
large
bag of
potatoes
on sale
and make
it a
baked
potato
bar with
various
toppings.
My
grandchildren
like
making
their
own
pizza
(have
eight
grandchildren
which
could
get very
expensive
to feed
at the
local
pizza parlor
or from
the
local
delivery
service)
I make
the
bread
dough
and they
make
their
own up
with
various
toppings
(good
way to
sneak a
few
vegetables
in, lol)
and we
have a
fun
evening
doing
this. I
haven't
figured
the cost
but it's
under
$10 for
the
eight
grandkids,
husband
and
myself."
~ Kathy
in KY
