Cristine is the owner of More 4 Mom’s Buck and is a stay-at-home mom of two children. Leaving behind a legal career, she decided to shift her focus to raising her children. Writing a blog became a great way to keep her herself active in between volunteering, carpools and sporting events.

In addition to More 4 Mom’s Buck, Cristine writes three columns for Examiner.com in the Chicago area. These columns are Naperville Children’s Toys Examiner, Naperville Frugal Family Examiner, and Naperville Family Entertainment Examiner.

More 4 Mom’s Buck started with a simple statement, because saving a few dollars makes sense. Many of my friends and family would marvel on the great deals and freebies that I found. Instead of emailing these finds to just family, I thought that I would share them with everyone. From that idea, the little blog that could has grown into product reviews, giveaways, family entertainment, and of course, some great deals.

Cristine’s Top 3 Family-Friendly Chicago Destinations

• Check out reciprocal museums:  Many families have memberships to their local museums or zoos. Did you know that your local membership can get you discounted or free admission to museums and zoos across the country?  For example, the Museum of Science and Industry provides discounts to ASTC members. Check out for Association of Science and Technology Centers, Association of Children’s Museums, and Association of Zoos and Aquariums for a complete list of participating museums. Your family can have a day of fun without a huge cost investment.
• Try minor league teams for a day of sports fun: Many families love going to sports events. Unfortunately, taking a family to a professional game can be costly. Check out minor league teams. In the Chicago area we are lucky to have minor league teams like the Kane County Cougars, Chicago Wolves and Chicago Slaughter. Tickets are often much less expensive for a family outing. Also, minor league teams generally cater to families. For example, in Chicago, the Kane County Cougars offer Stars Wars night, Half-way to Halloween and several other theme nights during their season. From special promotional nights to extra activities during the games, kids definitely won’t be bored.
• Find local parks and other free activities: When planning your trip check out the local community pages for festivals, events and parks that are free. In the Chicago area, a trip to Cloud Gate (aka the Bean) can entertain kids for a long time. Plus, it’s completely free to see yourself reflected in the sculpture. During the summer months, there are numerous festivals that have free admission from Geneva’s Swedish Days festival to Grant Park Music Festival. A family can spend a whole day experiencing a new city and keep some money in their pocket.

Cristine’s Family Travel Tip Many of us know the trick of dressing your family in a single coordinated color when at an amusement park, but what if your husband hates that idea. When our family travels or even goes on a day event, I take a picture of my children that morning on my smart phone. I have a record of what they are wearing that day in case he becomes separated from the family. If you don’t have a smart phone with picture capability, you can purchase temporary tattoos with your cell phone number. Place the tattoo on your child’s upper arm, under their sleeve. If they get separated from you, the child can show the park attendant or officer the phone number for them to call you.
LIKE More 4 Moms Buck on Facebook and Follow Cristine on Twitter @more4momsbuck.