Summertime Fun Without Spending a Lot
The great thing about summer is that you and your family can have fun without spending a lot of money. All you need is a backyard, a park, or a sidewalk to stroll along. Check out your local parks and recreation departments, as well as any nearby state and national parks. Many parks are free or charge a small fee, have great swimming, and are beautiful for a picnic.
Make the most of free events like outdoor concerts, movie-on-the-lawn nights, and free days at museums. Borrow DVDs from the public library or free streaming services instead of going to the movies. Get out the grill instead of eating out. Try looking for plays, free outdoor concerts, street fairs, and movies under the stars. Let everyone in the family choose some activities.
Fresh produce is cheaper, healthier, and with so much variety, there’s no easier time to purchase better food products. If you’ve never been to a pick-your-own farm or farmer’s market, you’re missing out on a great summer activity. Of course, summer is also a great time to grow your own food. Start with something easy like lettuce and herbs. Instead of buying cut herbs, buy live seedlings and plants for the same price, and soon you’ll be growing your own.
Go through your closets and take all those clothes you haven’t worn in years and plan for a garage sale, or take to a consignment shop, or sell them from the comfort of your own home through an online marketplace. Another summer saving tip is to skip the car wash. It could easily save you close to $100. Gather the kids, get the soap and bucket, and clean your vehicle on your own. Every week you skip a car wash, transfer $15 into your summer savings account.
Check to see if your state (or one near you) offers a tax-free weekend for back-to-school buys. It’s surprising how quickly sales taxes can add to your total purchase price. When fall begins, look back at the different ways you saved money over the summer. Use that as a guide to set new savings goals for the next year and challenge yourself to save even more.
