Summer Activities That Won’t Break The Bank

I can’t believe we are less than 4 weeks away from summer break. I am so excited!

With that also comes the pressure of planning all the things. Keeping everyone busy, having fun and staying withing a budget. Right?

When the temperature starts rising, and the kids are out of school, how can you find fun activities that won’t break the bank?

Let me show you how.

Yard Games

These games are an investment. If you don’t already have them, you can purchase them here or ask around. I am sure your friends or neighbors don’t mind sharing. Heck, make it a game day or game night and invite them over too.

• Croquet
• Badminton
• Cornhole
• Giant Jenga
• Giant dice
• Giant checkers
• Giant chess
• Giant connect 4

Camp in your Backyard

Camp in your backyard.

There’s no need to spend money on a hotel or a campsite when you can make do with what you already have: a backyard. With some help from your parents, set up a tent and gather the necessary supplies for an unforgettable night under the stars. Make sure to bring pillows, sleeping bags, flashlights, snacks and bug spray! Then pop some scary stories into the DVD player and roast marshmallows around the fire pit. The best part: you won’t need to worry about any bears wandering into your campsite.

DIY Water Games

When you’re sitting on the beach, watching the sun set, you might marvel at how relaxing it is to sit back and watch the waves lap your feet—but we have found that a water balloon fight is just as entertaining. The best part about it? It’s a cheap and perfectly safe way of having fun with friends and family.

Otherwise a quick Google search for “FREE splash pads near me” will give you another fun water activity for all.

Neighborhood Bike Ride

Summertime is filled with so many opportunities for fun and adventure. But as a parent of two, I know that finding activities that can appeal to all ages, fit within a limited budget and don’t require hours of prep work can be challenging.

One option I’ve discovered that works for me and my family is a neighborhood bike ride. Not only does it offer the chance to get outside for some exercise and fresh air, but you also easily change up your route to incorporate different interests. Whether you want to go on a nature ride at the local park or explore an area with good historical architecture, there’s almost always something nearby worth checking out.

While we’re planning our route, we usually try to think of things everyone will enjoy—like finding playgrounds or bringing along snacks—and then look online to see if there are any interesting landmarks nearby that could be educational stops along the way. A quick Google search will often turn up some great results (along with some helpful reviews) that can help make our bike rides even more exciting.

Library Visit

Head over to your local library.

If you haven’t visited your local library in years, now is the time. Some libraries have more offerings than just books. You can borrow movies and music from many libraries as well. In addition, you may find free events like game nights or science fairs for kids during the summer months. Local libraries can often host free book sales and lectures from historians and authors on topics ranging from the past to the present to the future. The best part is that all of these things are FREE!

Also don’t forget that many libraries offer free Wi-Fi and access to computers with Internet access if you need them. Comes in handy when you need to get some work done and entertain the kids too.

Local Events

To turn up the fun factor without turning up your budget, look for local events. Some can be as simple as a big sale at a local store or restaurant, while others involve bigger activities like movie nights and concerts. Many towns have particularly affordable entertainment options in the summertime: outdoor movie screenings, arts and crafts festivals, community picnics.

If you want to get a jump on your summer plans, it’s good to know where to find all this information—and luckily there are many great resources out there. Start with a search engine like Google and enter “local events” + your town or city name into the search bar, it will show you event listings in your area. But if you are local, hop on over to www.stayandplaylocal.com and you will find a boat load of events and guides to fun.

You You can also check out websites like Eventbrite and Facebook Events that track popular happenings in different regions around the world; they’re great ways to keep tabs on what’s happening near you from afar! If all else fails, try calling some nearby attractions: they’ll likely be able to tell which days hold special happenings—or give advice about how best keep track of upcoming events.”

Outdoor Movie Night

While it might seem like an expensive or complicated endeavor, you can host a great outdoor screening for under $50. All you need is to assemble a projector and screen and make sure you have a power source close by. If you don’t have the means to set up your own projector, there are some places that rent them out.

You can also get creative with your screen. Try using a white curtain, bed sheet or even piece of wood painted white. With the right projection surface in place, you’re ready to start inviting movie-lovers! You can easily find some cheap chairs at yard sales or borrow some camping chairs from friends and family. Finally, don’t forget the popcorn! Make it an event people will remember by serving other classic snacks like candy and soda as well.

It’s important to note that this activity is best done on a dry night; nobody wants to be sitting in wet grass with nothing but a towel between them and their soaked rear end! It also goes without saying that if the weather takes a turn for the worse mid-movie, you should make sure everyone has shelter available nearby so they aren’t stranded outside waiting for lightning bolts to strike them down where they sit!

Park Day

Going to the park is a great way to get out of the house, get some fresh air, and enjoy nature. You can take a walk and soak up some vitamin D while you enjoy the fresh air. Bring along some snack (we love snacks) or even have a picnic with your family and friends. You can play games like tag, hide-and-seek, or just play catch with your kids. Going to the park doesn’t have to cost much or anything at all for that matter. Most parks have walking trails and playground equipment for your children to use.

As long as it’s not raining, you can go out in any weather! If it’s hot outside but not too hot where you live, take advantage of going outdoors without having to pay anything extra!

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With summer quickly approaching, you may be looking for other fun activities to do that won’t break the bank. While I’m always down to suggest a hike or two, here are some other ideas that don’t involve standing on a mountain:

• Plant something: Whether it’s flowers or food, gardening is a great way to get outside and stay active while enjoying nature.
• Play catch: Bring out the baseballs, footballs, and frisbees! A good old-fashioned game of catch will have everyone feeling like kids again.
• Visit your local farmers’ market: Fresh produce, live entertainment–what better way to spend the weekend?
• Go for a walk around your neighborhood or along an unfamiliar trail: It doesn’t cost anything but time and will help you get some exercise in on nice days!

Until next time, count your blessings and hop on over to my last post about summer activities here.

x, Dijana

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