Summer vacation doesn't have to equal boredom. Here are 50+ activities for kids this summer.
50+ Fun Activities for Kids
Summer vacation is almost here, and if you’re searching for free summer activities for kids, cheap things to do in summer, or easy summer bucket list ideas, you’re in the right place. Keeping kids entertained all summer doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. There are so many fun, budget-friendly ways to fill your days with memories instead of stress. From outdoor summer activities for kids to creative at-home ideas and simple family-friendly adventures, this list is packed with inspiration to help you enjoy a fun, affordable, and memorable summer.
Summer doesn’t have to be expensive to be memorable. With a little creativity and a mix of outdoor adventures, simple at-home fun, and community activities, you can fill the summer months with meaningful moments the whole family will enjoy. Whether you try a few ideas or work your way through the whole list, the goal is the same: less stress, more connection, and plenty of summer memories made right where you are.
What do your kids like to do? What are your favourite boredom busting ideas?
Here is what I would like to know: a friend of mine is trying to start a pantry or a stockpile so that she is not constantly out of everything and so that she can maybe save a bit of money.
What would you consider your must-haves in your pantry? What staples do you always have on hand?
Food is expensive. When it comes to making a budget for your family, you’ll notice that one of the highest costs you have is food. While it's not possible to eliminate food from your budget, you can decrease the costs by growing your own food.
On that note, did you know that many of the scraps from foods you purchase on a regular basis from the grocery store can be regrown in your very own kitchen? Instead of throwing away food scraps, you can start thinking differently about them!
Below, I've listed 7 foods from the grocery store that you can regrow in the comfort of your home. If you already grow your own food right in your garden, you'll have no problem growing your own produce from scraps.
Celery
One of the simplest foods from the grocery store you can grow from scraps, is celery.
Planting celery is very simple: Cut off the base or the bottom part of the vegetable and place it in a bowl with warm water. Place the container in a spot that has direct sunlight most of the day.
After a week, you’ll notice that there are leaves growing at the base of the celery. Once you see these leaves, it is now ready to be transplanted in the soil.
Romaine Lettuce
Romaine lettuce is easy to grow from leftover scraps. Instead of throwing the bottom of the full head of lettuce in the trash, place it in a bowl with a bit of water.
Keep this bowl in a place with direct sunlight. Mist the leaves with water consistently. After two to three days, you will see that there are shoots of new leaves appearing. Once you see them, your lettuce is now ready to be transplanted or simply harvested for salads.
Bean Sprouts
Growing bean sprouts is easy. Just soak a handful of dry beans in water then leave it overnight.
Drain the water and place the beans in a container. Cover it with a towel, leave it overnight, then rinse it again the next day.
Keep doing this until you see the sprouts growing, then you can transfer them to your garden.
Onion
Another easy vegetable to grow, whether it is indoors or outdoors, are onions.
Cut the root of the onions off and plant it in a garden plot or container. Cover the root with potting soil but leave at least half an inch of the onion exposed. In a few weeks, you will start to see leaves growing.
For Green Onions, use the top part of the onion and leave the bottom 2-3 inches with the roots attached. Place them in a container with water covering the roots. In no time you’ll see the tops of the green onions growing new green. You can keep them this way and just continue using the tops and allowing them to grow in the water. Just change the water periodically and rinse the roots.
Garlic
Garlic is an easy way to start growing scraps with fast results.
For garlic, choose a whole bulb or individual cloves that have started to send out green sprouts. Place the bulb or clove in a small amount of water and change the water daily.
Potato
Did you know that you can grow a potato out of potato peelings?
Check the peelings to see if there are eyes on them. Cut the peelings into two to three-inch pieces but make sure that there are at least three eyes on each peel.
Dry these peelings, then plant them in your soil, about three to four inches deep. In a few weeks, you will see a potato plant starting to grow.
Tomato
Don’t throw away the seeds from the tomatoes! Rinse them and allow them to dry.
Once dried, you can start planting the seeds in a rich potting soil. Once the seedlings are a few inches high, you can transplant them outdoors where there is plenty of sunlight.
Turn your food scraps into golden nuggets. Instead of throwing them away, use them as another source of food. You are not only saving money, you are also assured that your family gets better and healthier food.
Over the years, I've learned a few things about building my daughters' wardrobes cheaply. (I just have to be careful I don't overbuy because girls clothing can be so cute!) But as you know, kids outgrow their clothing very quickly so buying clothes can become quite expensive. But, by planning ahead and taking these tips into consideration, you'll be sure to build your children's wardrobes cheaply.
Accept Hand-Me Downs
Nothing is as cheap as free! I took full advantage of the clothes my sister-in-law offered to lend us for the first six months or so of Sienna's life. I know hand-me downs are normally meant to be kept, but our borrowing situation was ideal since we didn't have to store any of the clothes once we were finished with them. We just gave them back!
Buy off the Clearance Racks
Buying off the clearance racks is especially handy if you're stocking up for next season. Last Fall/Winter, I stocked up on quite a few items that will work for Sienna this coming winter, including a snow suit for only $10! Had I waited until she needed the snow suit, I'm sure I would have been paying close to full price. Currently my favourite stores to shop at for clearance prices is the Joe Fresh section in our local Superstore and Old Navy.
Shop online
Similar to shopping the clearance racks in a brick and mortar store, shopping the sale sections online can save you a bundle. Last Summer I stocked up on quite a few outfits when Old Navy had one of their better coupon codes. I think I averaged about $3.00 a piece! I also enjoy shopping online at The Children's Place and Joe Fresh.
Buy used
Garage sales and thrift stores can be a great place to look for gently used clothing. Although I haven't had much opportunity to shop at garage sales myself, I know that the clothes I was selling in our recent garage sale were hot sellers! I'm sure most cities offer this, but our town also holds a twice annual kids garage sale at our Recreation Centre. I picked up some cute sweaters, jeans and PJ's for about $0.50 a piece. I find buying used clothing an excellent way to build a kid's wardrobe cheaply because the items are usually only worn a few times before they're outgrown.
What are your tips for building a kid's wardrobe on a budget?
While spending less is often the best thing to do financially, sometimes it’s good to earn more money if it means it will push you closer to your financial dreams faster.
But before you get excited about the idea of earning more money, it’s important to make sure you manage the money you already have well. If you’re financially strapped, there’s no point in earning extra cash if you’re just going to spend more money for short term satisfaction. Focus on getting a monthly budget figured out and learn how to maximize the money you already have before you go out and try to make more money.
Once you have that out of the way, you can read these ideas to help you earn extra money:
Earn money from your hobbies
I’m sure many of you have a hobby that you enjoy and are quite good at! Why not turn that hobby into extra income? Here are some ideas to get you thinking:
Earn Cash-Back for shopping like you normally do with Ampli(Canada only)
Sell your baking during coffee breaks to local businesses
Enter your work in contests with cash prizes
Paint business windows for the holidays
Bonus idea: If you love visiting websites or blogs, sign up for UserTesting. You’ll be paid $10 for each website or app that you complete a set of tasks on, while speaking your thoughts out loud.
Sell things you no longer need
Clear up some space in your home by selling things you no longer need or care for. Have a garage sale or try selling items on Kijiji, Craigslist, or eBay. Or give a Buy & Sell group on Facebook a try.
Rent out your space
If your home has an extra bedroom or empty space, you could become a landlord. Students and recent graduates are often especially eager for affordable and small spaces to call “home”. Your extra garage space might also be perfect for someone needing to store their collector car, for example.
Try a paper route
Earn a bit of extra money by doing a paper route. Get some fresh air and exercise while you’re at it!
Offer to babysit
Give some friends or even neighborhood families some time away from the kids so they can go on a date or get errands done by offering your services as a babysitter.
Start a part-time business
If you have a bit of time to devote to money making, why not consider starting a part-time business from home? You could try these ideas on for size:
Life/Business Coaching – are people always asking your advice on a particular subject? Consider charging a fee for your advice.
Teach English at Home with VIPKID
If you have a Bachelor’s degree from a US or Canadian University as well as experience with children (such as: teaching, mentoring, coaching, tutoring, babysitting, etc.) you could possibly earn up to $22/hour (USD) teaching online with VIPKID. VIPKID needs thousands of work-from-home teacher’s to teach English online to kids in China. This is an amazing work-from-home opportunity – and don’t worry, you do not need to know any foreign language or have formal teaching experience. Find all the details here.
All in all, get creative or meet a need you see around you to earn a bit of extra money you can put towards reaching your financial goals!
What are your ideas for earning extra money? Do you have any stories to share about how you’re currently earning extra cash? Please share in the comments!
Having Christmas on a budget can be challenging, especially when it seems like you're surrounded by reminders of everything you're "supposed" to buy. It can be easy to start feeling like you're letting your family down if you can't afford to do it all.
But here's the thing: your family doesn't need an expensive Christmas to have a wonderful Christmas.
Some of the holiday memories that stick with us for years have very little to do with how much money was spent. They come from traditions, laughter, time together and those simple little moments that make Christmas feel special.
If you're planning Christmas on a budget this year, don't focus on everything you can't afford. Instead, look for ways to make the Christmas you can afford feel meaningful and fun.
Here are some ideas to help you make the most of Christmas without spending a fortune.
Focus on What Christmas Means to You
Before you start worrying about gifts, decorations, food and everything else on your Christmas to-do list, take a step back and think about what you actually want Christmas to feel like.
Maybe it's spending time together as a family. Maybe it's slowing down, enjoying traditions, eating good food or simply having a few days where everyone can relax.
You don't have to recreate someone else's Christmas.
Decide what matters most to your family and put your limited money toward those things. Everything else can be simplified, skipped or done for free. A smaller Christmas isn't a failed Christmas.
Make a List of Free Christmas Activities
You don't have to spend money every time you leave the house during December.
Look for free or low cost Christmas activities in your community. Libraries often have holiday story times, crafts and family activities. Schools and community groups may have concerts or performances that are free to attend.
Have a family baking afternoon using ingredients you already have
Free doesn't have to mean boring. In fact, some of these activities can become the traditions your kids remember most.
Use What You Already Have
One of my favourite strategies for Christmas on a budget is to stop assuming that everything needs to be new.
Before buying decorations, craft supplies or holiday entertainment, shop your own home.
You might already have:
Craft supplies
Christmas books
Board games
Baking ingredients
Leftover wrapping paper
Decorations that haven't been used in years
Candles or other items that can make your home feel festive
Supplies for a fun family activity
You don't need a completely new Christmas every year.
Pulling out the same decorations, books and games year after year can actually make Christmas feel more special because they become part of your family's traditions.
Make Your Own Christmas Decorations
You don't need to spend a lot of money decorating your home.
Paper snowflakes, popcorn garlands, paper chains and homemade ornaments can all make inexpensive Christmas decorations. If you have access to evergreen branches, you can also use them to add some natural greenery to your home.
Turn decorating into a family activity rather than something you have to buy.
Put on some Christmas music, make some hot chocolate and spend an afternoon creating decorations together.
The memories are worth far more than the decorations.
Don't Underestimate Homemade Gifts
If you need gifts but don't have much money to spend, think about what you can make, bake or give as an experience.
Depending on your skills and what you already have at home, you could make things like:
Cookies or other baked treats
Homemade hot chocolate mix
A simple photo gift
Handmade ornaments
A coupon book for things like a movie night or breakfast in bed
A handwritten recipe collection
A homemade craft
A "date night" or family activity that you plan yourself
You don't have to make everything yourself, either. Even choosing one or two homemade gifts can help stretch your Christmas budget.
Start a Few Simple Christmas Traditions
Traditions don't have to cost anything.
Maybe everyone watches the same Christmas movie on a certain night. Maybe you make pancakes for Christmas morning breakfast. Perhaps you read the same Christmas book every Christmas Eve or take an evening walk or drive to look at the lights.
You could even start a tradition of letting each family member choose one free activity to do together during December.
The important thing isn't how elaborate the tradition is. It's that you do it together and repeat it year after year.
Make the Most of a Small Number of Gifts
If you can't afford a lot of presents, don't feel like you need to fill the space under the tree.
For younger children especially, you can make the experience of opening gifts last longer by wrapping individual stocking stuffers separately.
You can also make opening gifts an event rather than a race. Take turns opening presents. Let everyone see what each person received. Put on music. Take pictures. Have a snack or hot chocolate afterward.
A few thoughtfully chosen gifts can still feel exciting.
And if your children are older, consider talking honestly about the budget and making Christmas about experiences, traditions and time together rather than a mountain of presents.
Simplify Christmas Dinner
Christmas dinner is one area where you can save a surprising amount of money when you're having Christmas on a budget.
Choose a few foods your family genuinely enjoys and skip the pressure to make a huge meal just because it's Christmas. A simple meal eaten together can feel just as festive as an expensive one.
And don't forget leftovers! Plan meals around what you already have and look for ways to stretch your Christmas dinner into another meal or two.
Have a "Yes" to Free Fun Day
Here's a fun idea for families: have a day where the goal is to find as many fun things to do as possible without spending any money.
Make a list together. Maybe you'll:
Make breakfast together
Go for a winter walk
Look at Christmas lights
Come home and make hot chocolate
Have a family game tournament
Watch a Christmas movie
Make popcorn or another inexpensive snack
Read Christmas books before bed
You might be surprised at how quickly a completely free day can turn into one of your favourite Christmas memories.
Look for Ways to Give Without Spending Money
If you have limited money, you can still give to others.
Shovel a neighbour's walkway. Write someone a thoughtful note. Call a family member you haven't talked to in a while. Help someone with their Christmas baking. Donate items you no longer need if you are able.
Small acts of kindness can make a difference, and they don't have to cost anything.
It's also a great way to remind ourselves that Christmas isn't only about what we receive.
Give Yourself Permission to Say No
Saying no is an important part of having Christmas on a budget.
You don't have to say yes to every Christmas event, gift exchange, school fundraiser, holiday outing or expensive tradition. If something isn't in your budget, it's okay to say no.
You can suggest a free alternative. You can participate in a smaller way. Or you can simply skip it this year.
Protecting your family's finances is more important than keeping up appearances. Don't feel guilty because your Christmas doesn't look like someone else's! Social media can make it seem as though everyone else is having a picture perfect, perfectly decorated, incredibly expensive Christmas. Remember that you're seeing a tiny snapshot of someone else's life. Your family doesn't need Instagram worthy Christmas memories.
They need you.
Remember What Your Family Will Actually Remember
Years from now, your kids probably won't remember whether you bought the most expensive gifts, had the fanciest decorations or served a huge Christmas dinner.
They'll remember the things you did together.
The movie you watched every Christmas. The cookies you made. The Christmas lights you drove around to see. The silly traditions you repeated every year. The hot chocolate before bed. The games you played. The stories you told.
You don't need a big Christmas budget to create big Christmas memories. If you're celebrating Christmas on a budget this year, give yourself permission to simplify.
Spend less. Buy less. Do less.
And then use the time and money you do have to create a Christmas that feels good for your family.
Because a meaningful Christmas isn't measured by how much you spend. It's measured by how much you enjoy the people you're spending it with.
What are your favourite ways to have Christmas on a budget? Share your ideas that make Christmas special in the comments!
