Posted by: juff on July 6, 2007 11:40AM EST My neighborhood may be unique but we have a ton of teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17. They are always hanging out in the neighborhood. They are a pretty creative group and always seem to be busy. They gather frequently at the common area of our pool and play softball, kickball or whatever. They always include kids of all ages which is really nice and a thrill for the younger kids. They organize car washes in the neighborhood. They spend a good bit of time at the pool swimming and playing cards. At least once a summer they put on a play for the neighborhood kids. I told you they were creative!! Enjoy your summer!!

Posted by: Elizabeth King on July 2, 2007 2:41PM EST I agree. I am soo tight with my own money, but if it is my parents I spend it freely. I think everyone's ideas are great. Lately I have noticed how everyone is doing things that don't cost a lot of money. I have been meeting friends at ice cream places which is a good place to hang out and if you want ice cream its cheap! Also, going to peoples houses to swim and watch movies is always fun. I like Kate's idea of having a cookout. All of us are now learning the value of money!

Posted by: Haylee Mitchell on June 28, 2007 9:29AM EST I agree with everyone's ideas here. I think Kate's idea of having a cookout sounds like so much fun! A few weeks ago one of my friends had a bunch of people to his house where his band played music and we all just hung out there. It was so much fun and I didn't have to spend a dollar! I also like the idea of everyone bringing a different kind of food so you don't feel stressed out having to provide all the food.

Posted by: Jax on June 28, 2007 9:12AM EST Combining Kate and Chandler's idea, you could make dinner at your/a friend's house and then watch a rented movie. If you split the price on everything, it will be MUCH cheaper. Also, I'm not sure how expensive they are, but you could go to the drive in theater. There you can watch 2 movies for the price of 1! You could always go to a park and hang out on the swingset and bring back old childhood memories. It is hard to find things that don't cost money. Even though it costs a lot of money (around $20), an idea would be to go to Andrettis and race go carts. It's so much fun--just save your paycheck up first!

Posted by: Chandler DeWitt on June 28, 2007 9:01AM EST This is so true. I have no problem spending my parents money, but when it is my money I become very cheap. My friends and I are always doing something that doesn't cost a lot of money because we are constantly broke. Sometimes we can't even buy a movie ticket. We have decided to hang out at each others houses instead of spending all our money.

Posted by: Kate on June 27, 2007 2:45PM EST In the beginning of the summer my friends and I spent most of our money going out for lunch and dinner. Going out so often gets expensive! A few weeks ago my friends and I decided that we would make dinner at my friend's house for ourselves instead of going out to eat. You might try having a cookout where everyone makes something or you make dinner all together, that way you can all hang out and you don't have to save your paycheck.

Posted by: BethJ007 on June 27, 2007 2:38PM EST it is funny how you are a lot more attached to the money you make then the money your parents give you, isn't it? my friends and i would go to the park, or to each other houses to swim or watch movies when we were low on cash. i know how restless you can get, but maybe if you try to find dollar theatres to see movies or go to cheaper restaurants to eat at it will ease the pain of spending money.