While going on whirlwind getaways or out to fancy restaurants can definitely be very exciting, most of us do not live like Hollywood socialites every day. That doesn't mean our days have to be ho-hum. Sometimes we get so caught up in the responsibilities of our daily lives, whether it be our jobs, household chores, or taking care of our families, that we forget about life's simple pleasures. Here are some great tips to add a little fun to your life without much money or effort, by bringing back some of the joys of childhood.

Are you a busy parent? Even the most dedicated parents sometimes feel like fun was something they used to have before they had kids. You may not be able to pare down your family's busy schedule, but you can bring some joy into it! Sometimes it seems like family dinners are a thing of the past. If you make them special when your children are young, they may not think it's a chore to come home for dinner when they get older.

If your children or your job has kept you running all day, why not make breakfast for dinner? Pancakes and eggs are quick and easy. They even have molds nowadays to help you make all kinds of funny shapes. Your kids will think it is a holiday! Chase away the bedtime blues with a "Joke of the Day". Buy your kids a children's joke book or look up some family-friendly jokes on www.kidz.com. There is nothing sweeter than a child's giggle and you just might start giggling yourself.

Not looking forward to another chore-filled weekend at home? Start it out with a campout in your living room! Make hot dogs and smores and eat them in a tent made out of blankets. After dinner, turn out some lights and watch a movie together or tell ghost stories. These are easy ways to show your kids how much you love them and you will have a blast as well! If you don't have any children, invite your young family members over. You can be the aunt everyone loves to visit. Spending time with children forces you to think of someone other than yourself. Your worries will fly away for a few hours.

Even though we frequently think of parents as the ones who are too stressed out to have fun, us without kids have pressures too, and sometimes need to remember how to make time for good times! When you want to decompress after a stressful workweek, snuggle up on the couch and watch old horror movies and silly comedies from your high school days. I like nothing better than loafing on the cough watching an eighties movie. Instant stress relief!

Even if the budget is too tight this month for fancy dinners, you can still make it special. Eat Chinese takeout on your fanciest table linens and china. Dine by candlelight. Eat cupcakes even if it's not your birthday. Keep the romance alive; end the evening with your mate by giving each other a massage.

Just because you're a grownup, it doesn't mean you have to act like one. Invite some friends over for an evening of board games. Eat pizza and popcorn while you fight to the death to win a game that might possibly never end. If you're bored one Saturday afternoon, why not go to the zoo? You don't have to be a child to check out the petting zoo, or watch the chimpanzees swing around their habitat with glee. Follow it up with a bubble bath and a do it yourself pedicure, and your evening is complete.

There are so many little things you can do to bring some joy into your life every day. You don't have to spend a lot of money or make a big effort. Some of the activities that made us happy when we were little can do the same thing for us now. So get out there; ride your bike, eat hot dogs and ice cream and watch a silly movie. Sometimes it's okay to act like a kid!