Freebie Ideas for Summer Fun

Posted by Julie | 0 comments

Ah, summertime is upon us! A time for ice cream cones, popsicles, swimming, lightening bugs at night, BBQ’s, movie theatres, amusement parks and oh so much more. We sometimes get stuck in a rut doing the same things over and over again and it does good to think outside the box! There are times we tend to forget about the free things we can do in the summer, too. For one, we have a budget and I need to stick to it the whole year through, not fall off the wagon in the summer. For another, why not use the free stuff?! So, here are some freebie ideas for summer fun…

1. Your community calendar! You can look at the website for your town and those that are nearby or even stop by City Hall to see what is scheduled for the month. Some events that I have experienced are: wine tasting, 4H, drama club/group, etc. Many times, there are free or nearly free events!

2. Visit the Library. Of course there are CD, DVD and books to borrow. However, many libraries have summer activities you can be a part of. From a reading program to movie nights or other events.

3. Play board games. This may seem boring at first mention, but if you can get the family involved and pick a game you haven’t played in awhile, it can be very rewarding and fun!

4. Meet a neighbor! Many times we get caught up in life and don’t even know those around us, or maybe only know the neighbors who have kids. (for obvious reasons) There may be a new good friend just waiting to be noticed.

5. Learn a new skill, such as photography, knitting, crocheting, leatherworking, quilting, origami, etc. Check with friends and family who may already have the skill set you’re interested in and ask them to help you! It’s a good way to spend quality time together AND learn something new!

6. Visit a museum, zoo, move theater, amusement park, etc. You can check with them to see if they have a free or greatly discounted day for you to attend. Some movie theaters offer a matinee movie once a week, free admittance to the amount of people their theater will seat, so get there about 30 minutes early or ask what they recommend.

7. Build a blanket fort and watch movies! You can build a huge blanket fort, invite some friends over and ask them to bring a favorite movie with them, make some popcorn and enjoy the day.

8. Volunteer! This is another one that may seem really dull and boring, but is so rewarding! And, you may be surprised at how much fun you end up having. There are programs out there to help build homes, trash clean up, elderly visits, youth programs, etc. So much to choose from!

9. Attend a dress rehearsal. You can check with groups in your area to see when they will be having a dress rehearsal and if you can attend. Many times they are open to the public and free!

10. Attend a free class. Community colleges, home improvement stores, craft stores, grocery stores and others many times offer free classes during the summer that you can attend. Call around to see what is offered in your area and sign up for what interests you!

You can also sit down with the kids and make a list of things you would like to do. When your list is completed, see how many of them you can do for free or at a very reduced price. If you have some other fun and rarely thought of ideas that I haven’t mentioned here, please comment and share with us! Have a fun and wonderfully blessed summer!

Julie Barnett is a Navy veteran and spouse who has been happily married since 1993. She is a homeschool Mom to 2 amazing kids, a teenage young lady and an elementary age young man. She enjoys fishing, camping, scrapbooking, card making, crafts, reading and oh so much more!