Summer vacation is here and it’s a great time to start planning different activities for your kids. Summer reading programs hosted by local public libraries and businesses are a fantastic way to encourage your children to read (or be read to) and earn prizes for doing it! Jen from Thrifty NW Mom, Karrie from Happy Money Saver and I have teamed up to bring you the most comprehensive list of summer reading programs in the Pacific Northwest. In this post, I have listed national summer reading programs as well as local programs in Western Oregon and SW Washington. Head to Thrifty NW Mom for a list of Puget Sound programs and Happy Money Saver for a Keep Reading

Earlier this week, I posted a ton of frugal and fun things to do in and around the Portland Metro area as part of the nationwide Year of the Staycation series. Today we are pleased to bring you links to Year of the Staycation posts from around the United States. Each post is organized by geographical region. Be sure to check out your summer travel destination as well as your local area for fun and frugal ways to make the most of your upcoming summer fun! Pacific Portland, Oregon :: Frugal Living NW Seattle, Washington :: Thrifty NW Mom Fresno, California (Central Valley) :: NerdFamily Blog Los Angeles, California :: Savings.com San Diego, Keep Reading

If this is your first visit at Frugal Living NW, welcome! Our goal is to help you save money so you can reach your family's financial goals. We focus on deals in and around the Pacific Northwest, with a special focus on Oregon and Southwest Washington. To stay up to date on the deals, subscribe to the daily email (it's FREE!) and "like" Frugal Living NW on Facebook. ******************************* Looking for ways to enjoy Portland without breaking the bank? The following is a list of fun and frugal activities, events, and attractions to get your imagination started! This list can be enjoyed by vacationers, newly transplanted Portlanders, and those Keep Reading