Summer is right around the corner. And while that means vacation for the kids, it can mean a whole lot of work for parents. In the current economic climate, summer camp can be too costly for many families. That means it's up to you to find an affordable alternative to camp. Whether you are a stay-at-home mom or a working mother, the goal is the same - keep the children supervised and entertained on a shoestring budget. Here are a few helpful hints to make it happen. Find a group of women and form a babysitting group. Take turns watching each other's kids. If you find four other women to participate, that leaves you with four days to work or catch up on housework, while you babysit on the fifth day. Recruit an au pair. While a nanny might cost a fortune, seek out someone from another country who would be interested in taking care of the kids and doing housework in exchange for a place to stay.

Still think you don't have a prayer when it comes to finding cost-effective childcare? Look into your place of worship and find out if it hosts Vacation Bible School. Some churches offer a week of VBS for as little as $25. It's hard to beat that. If you just want an extra set of hands, consider recruiting a high school or college student to keep the kids occupied a few hours a day. You'll likely spend much less than you would if your kids were in camp. When you start to feel overwhelmed by the excess of extra time, use the resources available to you. Take your kids to the library for book time or any other kid-friendly activities. Contact the local chamber of commerce to see what other programs or events there are for children. Also look into what local or state parks have to offer. This summer exhaust your resources, not yourself.