If you’re like me and are on a tight spending budget, summer may not be the most fun time of year because you cannot afford to go on luxurious vacations or spend hundreds of dollars on concert tickets to see your favorite band. If you can’t afford these things, that doesn’t mean your summer has to be spent cooped up inside your house all day. There are plenty of opportunities for you to have fun in the sun this summer at little to no cost to you.
Instead of spending loads of money at a high end restaurant, pack a picnic for you and your family instead.
Read this article for eight frugal ways to enjoy the great outdoors this summer.
1. Settle in for summer movies at the park
Instead of eating popcorn and watching movies at home, why not try watching a movie outdoors. Some parks host movies nights every now and then all throughout summer. You can pack up all your favorite movie snacks and head out to watch a movie on the big screen with your family and friends. Some admission is free and if not, it’s very cheap so you can have fun and not jeopardize your budget. (Read this article to learn how to stick to your budget)
2. Take yoga and fitness classes
If you enjoy fitness and exercise, you’re probably never wanting to stay still so being cooped up in a house all summer just isn’t going to work for you. Many fitness centers and fitness instructors offer free or inexpensive yoga classes. Yoga is a great way to relax and free your mind if you are feeling stressed out. Do a little research and find a yoga class in your area that you could take. This is one of many frugal ways to enjoy yourselves and have fun and stay fit this summer. You might even build some new friendships.
3. Pack a picnic
Rather than going out to eat or cooking something up at the house, why not enjoy a lovely picnic with family and friends at a local park or lake. If you choose a lake for your desired destination, make sure to bring a swim suite and plenty of refreshments so you can stay cool while outside. If you’d rather go out at night, pack up all the necessities you’d need to build a small bonfire and enjoy the company of your closest friends while roasting marshmallows or eating hotdogs.
4. Go on a ranger-led tour at a national park
If you love the outdoors and love adventure, set a ranger-led tour at a national park near you. This is a great way to connect with nature and see all the beautiful scenery you miss when you’re inside all day. Ranger-led tours are offered at almost any national park across the United States. Book a tour and you can experience canoeing, bird watching, hikes and whatever else your national may offer.
5. Host a potluck barbecue
If you like to plan parties and have guests over, you could host a potluck in your own backyard. Ask each guest to bring a dish of their choice and enjoy everyone’s food while chatting around the pool about how each other’s summers are going. If you want to make it a big event, you could rent a picnic area at a local park and have your potluck there.
6. Go stargazing
Most museums and planetariums host stargazing events throughout the season to attract tourist and locals to enjoy the beautiful of space. Go online and check their calendars for upcoming events. Once you have a date and time, plan your day around that. Grab the family and go to low-budget dinner before the stargazing event. If you don’t the money for that, consider staying at home and laying out a big blanket in your back yard and look at the stars that way.
7. Join an outdoor sports team
If you don’t like to take a break in your fitness routine, not even during the summer, consider joining a local basketball, tennis or volleyball team. You can play the sports you love, get the fitness you want, and meet people that enjoy sports as much as you do. Have fun!
[Read: Seven Ways to Save on Dental Care]
8. Try geocaching
If you enjoy partaking in scavenger hunts, geocaching is the thing for you. You can do this in the comfort of your own backyard and soak up some summer sun while you’re at it. Go online to geocaching.com and join the “world’s largest treasure hunt”. Only needing a GPS and plenty of patience, you can start exploring your area or the nearest geocache. Geocaches can be hidden anywhere, local parks, public areas, attractions, and you can get to them on foot or by an accessible car.