Summer brings longer days and more time for fun for many families. If you have kids, they have been home for several weeks now. Are you already tired of hearing “I’m bored!”? Finding family entertainment can be tiring and expensive. Take the Summer Challenge and get creative to have fun this week for the cost of gas money (or less)! Are you looking for family fun, an evening of laughs, or a romantic evening? Here are a few ideas to get you started:
– Get outside: Most communities have fantastic parks, and the majority of them are free to visit. Take a Frisbee, soccer ball, or bikes and have fun. Or, don’t take anything with you and go on a nature hunt. See if each family member can find a new bug or flower. If you’re ambitious, borrow a guide from the library and see how many trees and birds you can identify.
– Be artistic: Do you have a driveway or sidewalk near your house? How about some old chalk? Chalk and bubbles are an inexpensive and fun way to spend an afternoon.
– Be competitive: Dust off the board games in the closet and have a tournament. This is a great time with kids or adult friends.
– Read: When is the last time you read a good book? Take the family to the library and pick out a stack of interesting books to read together and separately.
– Have a family movie night: While you’re at the library, pick out a DVD to share. Pop some popcorn, turn out the lights and make a theater night of it.
– Build a fort: Let your inner kid loose and lead the way in constructing a fort in your backyard or living room. Recommended materials include old sheets, trees or chairs, and lots of creativity.
– Get wet: Don’t have a pool? Turn on the sprinkler and break out the squirt guns and water balloons, if you have them. Going simple? Take turns making waterfalls with a garden hose while everyone else runs through.
– Turn off the TV: Many network shows go on vacation in summer, so why don’t you too? Cancel cable or direct TV for the summer and put the savings toward your financial goals.
– Find new experiences: Free festivals and outdoor concerts are tucked into every area of the country. Look online to find ones near you.
– Be romantic: What could be better than a blanket under the stars? Romantic doesn’t have to be complicated.
Did these ideas get you thinking? Time spent with family communicates that you value them. When you chose to be creative and think of low-cost fun, you communicate that you don’t have to have money to have a good time. These are important messages for kids. The sky is the limit (how about kite flying?) when it comes to free and low-cost summer fun. So use your resources, get outside, and make the most of it. Today.
Interested in more ideas to save money on entertainment? Check out Ohio Saves.
If you’re serious about saving money, take the Saver’s Pledge and become an Ohio Saver for tons of tips, ideas, and support as you save toward your goals.
Author: Betsy DeMatteo, Family & Consumer Science Educator, Ohio State University Extension
Source: J. Hunter, “Enjoying the Summer on a Budget.” University of Kentucky’s Cooperative Extension Service
