Blue jeans, or any kind of denim pants, are useable long after your teen grows out of them. Besides being a strong soft cloth that makes excellent car washing rags - guess what my oldest teen is doing today - jeans can be made into a variety of teen crafts. Here are few with step-by-step directions:

• Personalized Blue Jean Neck Pillow
• Fringed Pocket Purse Made with Jeans
• All Blue Jean Crafts

Follow the About.com Parenting & Family's Thrifty Thursday:

• Cheap Birthday Gifts That Promote Fitness
• Cheaper Reading: Save by Swapping
• Getting Out of Debt and Staying Out of Debt
• Affordable Infant Car Seats
• Saving for College at the Grocery Store
• Plan a Fun Tween Sleepover Party
• How Does 50% Off Your Hotel Stay Sound to You?

While your teen may want to be wild and free for a week or so more, leaving for college is right around the corner and preparing for it should also be a priority. One way that will help with motivation and give your teen an edge this year is the book How to Become a Straight-A Student. Now, do not turn away from this book if you feel there is no way your child will ever see an A in college. While the book helps students strive for that goal, it’s teachings on organization and time management will aid every student. I recommend this one highly and feel the author, Cal Newport, has done an excellent job.

More: The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College

These summer activities for teens can be done individually, with friends or with the whole family. Each week has four different types of teen summer activities: Make This (Recipe), Craft This, Learn How and Get Out and Go! Each activity idea is fun for your teen. Check out week seven's summer activities for teens now.

From a mom on the forum: "How do people deal with teenagers who can't stand having you enter their rooms? Specifically, how does your family handle teenagers' dirty clothes? Do they manage to take care of doing their own laundry and washing it themselves, or do you have conflicts with them over this?"

Some advice given on the forum: "Our kids all started doing their own laundry around the age of 10 -12 ish. If they run out of clothes they know to wash them sooner. That doesn't mean that someone won't switch a load of laundry if asked and they are around." and "I don't mind including my kids' laundry when I do mine. It is hard to determine what is clean and what is dirty in DS's room so I usually don't do his. If I let him know that I am doing a particular type of load and he would like me to add his, he will gather his together. DD, on the other hand, prefers to not do her own. She is pretty good about getting her clothes into the hamper so I know what is dirty. Both are pretty good about switching loads when needed."

Asking our community of parents: How is your teen's laundry handled in your home? Please share any advice or experiences in the comments area.

Related Resources:

• Teach Teens Responsiblity by Setting Expectations
• How To Delegate a Responsibility to Your Teen
• What Can Effective Communication Do for You and Your Teen?