Summer doesn’t have to be boring for anyone when you’re armed with these 45 free & cheap summer activity ideas!
45 Cheap Summer Activity Ideas
1. Bowl for FREE — Kids can bowl 2 games for FREE every day throughout the Summer. Visit KidsBowlFree.com to see which bowling alleys are participating.
2. Get a FREE Slurpee — July 11 is always FREE Slurpee Day at 7-Eleven. Take your family out for a free tasty treat that will help cool you off during the Summer heat!
3. Make Slime — Both my daughter and I have so much fun creating and playing with this Inside Out Sensory Slime. It’s just so fun to see how it works.
4. Make Homemade Iced Tea — Try brewing a batch of my favourite sun tea. You’ll have fun watching the water change colour and even more fun adding your favourite flavourings like lemons, mint or even raspberries.
5. Visit a Park — Why not visit a nearby provincial or national park that you’ve never visited before? You could explore the trails or just do some day camping by bringing along the hot dogs and marshmallows.
6. Visit the Beach — Living in the Okanagan, we have a ton of beautiful beaches at our fingertips. We like to grab a book or magazine and head to one to relax while our daughters play in the sand or on the playground.
7. Go Fruit Picking — One word. Cherries! We love to get out as soon as our favourite fruits are in season. U-Picks are a great way to spend an afternoon with friends or family and are always much cheaper than the grocery stores!
8. Plan a Picnic — Picnics are one of our favourite things to do. We’ve got a system down to make things easy: It’s always bunwiches with deli meat, cheese and pickles. I always throw in some fruit and veggies too. As a treat, I pack some cold pop and a bag of chips. Simple!
9. Fly a Kite — Well, I haven’t flown a kite since I was a kid, but it still sounds like a fun idea! Don’t own one? This one has great reviews on Amazon.
10. Pitch a Tent in the backyard — Give the kids a fun experience by pitching a tent in your own backyard. Build a campfire, or use a propane fire ring like we do (because of campfire bans) to roast marshmallows.
11. Make Art with Sidewalk Chalk — Sidewalk chalk is something I always have on hand so Sienna can go out to create some masterpieces on the sidewalk or the basketball court we have at our townhouse. This is something she likes to do on her own so I can get a little work done. 😉
12. Plant Flowers — Now, you have to be careful with this one as buying “only a few” plants can really add up! (Trust me, I know!) Rather than planting an entire garden, you could concentrate on filling up a planter to keep costs down. While you’re at it, why not create this Milk Jug Watering Can so the kids can help water.
13. Plant an Herb Garden — Another fun planting project is to plant an herb garden. Fresh herbs are so great to have on hand to make meals delicious. Growing your own herbs can also save you a bundle at the grocery store.
14. Plan a Scavenger Hunt — Want to get the kids outside? They can spend their summer outdoors with a fun scavenger hunt! Buggy and Buddy has 30 free printable options – you’re sure to find something appealing!
15. Run Through the Sprinklers — Cool off in the backyard with sprinklers or even the garden hose. Even water balloons would be a blast! You can pick up water balloons at the dollar store or even one of these neat Fast Fill kits from Amazon.
16. Blow Bubbles — Bubbles are always a hit around here! When I see them for the first time in the spring, I’ll pick up a few of those bubble wands that cost only $1. You could even try whipping up your own bubble solution for the kids to play with in the yard or at the beach.
17. Have a Garage Sale — Gather up all your unwanted items and host a garage sale one weekend to make some extra cash. Let the kids join in on the fun by setting up a lemonade stand for customers. Here are some garage sale tipsfrom Simply Frugal readers that you may enjoy!
18. Visit a local Festival or Event – Our city hosts regular free music events, movies in the park and even summer festivals that are fun for the whole family. These events are free for everyone to enjoy. Check your newspapers and city website to see what’s being offered this year near you!
19. Visit the Library — The library is a great place to visit over the summer months. I believe most libraries offer reading challenges that are sure to encourage reading even while school is out. Check out this post for more ideas on how the library can save you money.
20. Head to the Farmer’s Market – Support your local farmers, and check out a couple of the markets in your area throughout the Summer. You really can’t beat the quality of the produce and the neat homemade items. Here are 5 reasons to buy local produce.
21. Go Swim in the Pool — Since most of us don’t have a swimming pool, head out to one in your community to cool off. Some may require a small entrance fee, but can be loads of fun for the kids.
22. Stop By a Splash Park — Another fun option for the especially hot summer days is to stop at a local splash park. We like to meet friends there since my daughter has a bit more confidence when she’s not surrounded by strangers trying to get her wet. 😉
23. Play on a Sports Team — Love to play sports? Why not gather a group of friends and put together a beach volleyball team? Or maybe ultimate frisbee? If you’d rather, you could sign up your group of friends for a weekend tournament instead.
24. Go to the Movie Theatre – Every Saturday, Cineplex movie theatres offers family favourites for just $2.99 per person.Take a look here for more details.
25. Snag a Daily Deal — Keep an eye out on Grouponand WagJag for deals and local activities for huge savings. You might be surprised at everything that’s offered in your own city!
26. Go Hiking— Our family loves to go for hikes, they’re not quite as long now that we have kids, but it’s still an enjoyable activity! Visit a local bookstore for trail maps or check CanadaTrails.ca for hiking trails near you.
27. Attend a Home Depot Workshop — The Home Depot offers these great FREE workshops where kids can build a different project each month. Check this page for the schedule.
28. Watch Fireworks — Canada Day is known to be a day where fireworks will be involved. Why not find a special vantage point to enjoy this year’s show?
29. Take a Craft Class — Michael’s Canada offers classes for adults and kids featuring all sorts of different projects. I have noticed that every once in a while they offer a substantial discount on classes so keep your eyes open for that.
30. Volunteer — Why not take some time to give of yourself this Summer? Volunteer at a local food pantry, woman’s shelter, or soup kitchen. Ask around, I’m sure the opportunities are plentiful!
31. Find the Best Ice Cream — Go on an ice cream date once a week in an attempt to discover the best ice cream in your city. Places like Marble Slab have coupons often and locally owned shops may have daily specials for you to save.
32. Take an Evening Walk — An evening walk in the summer is just so, so nice. The temperature is somewhat cooler. Plus, there’s just something so nice about the evening light.
33. Try Geocaching — Geocachingis an outdoor activity of searching for and finding a hidden object by means of GPS coordinates posted on a website. We thought this sounded so much fun, so we borrowed my parent’s GPS to give it a try!
34. Do a Puzzle — Puzzles are a hit in our household. Both my husband and I enjoyed doing puzzles growing up and now our oldest daughter likes them too!
35. Learn a New Skill — Summer is a great time to learn something new, whether it be gardening, knitting, or discovering your artistic talent. Read 52 Things to Learn for Free to get started.
36. Start a New TV Series — Why not use Netflix to start a new TV series during the Summer, and catch up on all the seasons just in time for the Fall premieres. While there won’t be a Fall premiere, I think I might try to finish watching Downton Abbey!
37. Do a Science Experiment — Help your kids learn about our fascinating world by trying their hands at a fun science experiment? KidsActivitiesBlog.com has links to a ton of fun projects!
39. Make Homemade Playdough — This is my current favourite no-cook recipe for playdough. Sienna can play for quite some time making me “food” to eat. You probably have all the ingredients on hand already!
40. Go for a Bike Ride — Rather than walking, why not put those wheels to good use! Go for a ride around the neighborhood or ride along a nice path your city may have. You could make a day of it if you pack lunches and lots of water.
41. Make a Sock Puppet – This adorable monster sock puppet is anything but scary. Plus, it uses dollar store items to make for a cheap summer activity!
42. Sort Through Clothes — Maybe I’m weird, but I actually get a hankering to do more organizing projects in the summer. (Not just in January.) I find Summer is a great time to clean out my closet and donate what I don’t wear anymore.
43. Paint Your Nails – Summer time means I must have my toe nails painted in pretty colors all the time! I don’t normally put nail polish on my finger nails, but my toe nails are fair game for anything bright and fun. Why not have a simple spa time by giving yourself a pedicure?
44. Color a Picture – Coloring isn’t just for kids anymore! Print off coloring pages for adults, and pull out the kid’s coloring books for a fun family time. Play some music for hours of good relaxing fun!
45. Have a Nap – Finally, why not have a nap? No better spot than outside in a nice shady area!
I also whipped up this printable Summer Activity sheet that you can print off and hang somewhere convenient so you’re always full of ideas.
Summer doesn’t have to be boring for anyone when you’re armed with these frugal ideas! Leave your fun and frugal ideas in the comments below!
If you are considering purchasing an Instant Pot, or even if you already own one, you should know that your purchase can help save you money in the long run. Owning an Instant Pot doesn’t just save you time, but you will find that it can also help you keep a little more cash in your pocket. How? Look below at 6 ways owning an Instant Pot can save you money, and see if investing in one is for you!
6 Ways Owning an Instant Pot Can Save You Money
1. You avoid grabbing take out.
Since an Instant Pot can cook your meal so quickly, you might be less inclined to grab take out or go out to eat, which can be quite expensive! The convenience of the Instant Pot can be helpful after a long day, and prepare your meal just as quick if not quicker than ordering take out would.
2. You can try thrifty new recipes.
There are thousands of recipes on the internet for you to try out in your Instant Pot. You will find $5 dinners, thrifty dinners, and many other frugal living recipes. These recipes allow you to try out new meals even on the tightest of budgets.
3. You may be more inclined to menu plan.
Menu planning can save you some serious cash. When using an Instant Pot, you may be more inclined to menu plan. Find some recipes you wish to try in your Instant Pot and add them to your menu for the week. Preparing a plan ahead of time can help you avoid impulse purchases and takeout later.
4. An Instant Pot can help with freezer/batch cooking.
Do you love to freezer or batch cook? Then an Instant Pot can help. Create stews and pasta dishes in your Instant Pot then freeze them for enjoying later. Instant Pot can help you create these dishes quickly so you can create a stockpile of meals for later. In fact, in just one afternoon you can whip up as many as half a dozen meals, perfect for freezing and reheating later.
5. An Instant Pot doesn’t use a lot of electricity.
An Instant Pot is quick, easy, and doesn’t use a lot of electricity! This means you are free to pull the Instant Pot out whenever you wish without having to worry about those utility bills going up. It is a budget friendly appliance you can afford to use again and again.
6. Most recipes use ingredients you can buy in bulk.
Many Instant Pot recipes use ingredients you can buy in bulk such as noodles, rice, and beans. This means you can create meals for less, buy many of your ingredients in bulk, and create meals even on the tightest of budgets! How is that for frugal eating?
Did you ever think that owning an Instant Pot could help you save money? Consider these 6 ways owning an Instant Pot can save you money and help stretch your family budget while still enjoying wholesome and filling meals everyone will love.
With a little creativity and some smart shopping, it’s possible to reduce food waste at home quite easily. If you find yourself throwing out rotten food on a regular basis, you’re also throwing away the money you used to purchase the food. And that’s not good for the grocery budget!
Create a Meal Plan
Creating a meal plan is a crucial step to help you spend less and waste less. When you know what you’re going to eat every day of the week, you ideally will only purchase the foods you need at the grocery store.
Without a meal plan and a grocery list based on your plan, you’ll most likely find yourself wandering the aisles grabbing whatever looks good to you. That’s fun, but you’ll most likely end up with not enough or not the right groceries for a week’s worth of meals.
If you really struggle with menu planning, then try out $5 Meal Plan. It happens to be my favorite meal planning service. It’s just $5 a month (the first two weeks are free!), and you get menu plans sent straight to your email along with the exact shopping list you need in order to create the meals. Each meal costs around $2 per person or less. This service allows you to save time because you won’t have to meal plan anymore, and it will save you money as well! If you are interested in joining for free, click here.
Account for Leftovers
If you find you usually have quite a few leftovers, account for the leftovers in your meal plan. Maybe set aside one or two nights that you devote to eating up those leftovers. Or, turn those leftovers into another meal. Perhaps all that leftover spaghetti sauce will create a wonderful chili, as an example.
Buy Less
If your pantry and freezer are quite well stocked, start your “shopping” there. By using what you have on hand already, will ensure you don’t buy more than you need and will help prevent food waste on the products you’ve already purchased.
Also, something I’ve learned about our family is, while buying a big package of celery (for example) may be cheaper in the long run than buying individual stalks, most of it goes to waste! We’re not big celery eaters so purchasing individual stalks is actually cheaper for us because I only buy what we will use. This same principle can apply to many different items in the grocery store.
Buy What you Love
You may have had some moments where you think you should eat more quinoa/fish/whatever, as you’re strolling through the grocery store. I’ve had plenty of those nutritional guilt trips, but this inevitably leads to unplanned purchases for items your family may not be too excited about yet. Focus on the foods your family enjoys, and add new ones gradually, after you’ve found recipes worth trying.
Buy Local
In all honesty, I never understood how buying local produce could save you money since the price I was looking at paying was more expensive than something I could purchase from a regular grocery store. But then I realized that local produce travels way less than anything purchased from most grocery stores. Because local produce travels less, you’re paying for a fresher item that will have a much longer life span! Makes sense, right? An obvious reason to support our local farmers.
Take Smaller Portions
Before you dish out another big portion, ask yourself if you really will finish what’s on your plate. Since it’s not likely you’ll save that little piece of chicken you couldn’t finish, stick to smaller portions. You can always get seconds!
Freeze Leftovers
Rather than scraping your leftovers into the garbage or if you don’t feel like eating them before they go to waste, put them in the freezer! This makes for a great way to reduce waste and creates an easy meal for a busy night.
Take some time to learn what “sell-by” or “use by” dates actually mean. The sell-by date is the last recommended day you should buy a product from the store, but you can still eat it several days to a week after. “Use-by” is the date through which the item will be top-quality. But, if stored properly, most foods will stay fresh a few days longer than the use-by date! Of course, if you note any weird odors, textures, or colors, throw it out.
Overlook Imperfections
Whether it’s soft spots in apples, bruises on bananas or dark spots on potatoes, all produce will develop imperfections. With produce that is past its prime, simply cut around the “bad” parts before you eat or throw veggies into a stock pot for soup, or make a smoothie with the less pristine fruits. Just because something isn’t in perfect condition doesn’t mean it’s inedible!
If you’re dealing with mold, though, it’s time for the garbage. Unless it’s cheese. You can cut around the mold to salvage the rest.
Save it for the compost
Some food waste is unavoidable, so why not set up a compost bin for fruit and vegetable pieces and peelings? In a few months you’ll end up with nutrient-rich compost for your garden!
Got a big, bare wall staring you in the face? Don’t rush off to the store or even the interior decorator just yet. You can make your own custom wall art that will fit your needs, satisfy your desires and cost next to nothing.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to be talented, crafty, or even coordinated. All you need are a few supplies, some time, and a little bit of creativity. We’re talking bare minimum creativity, and if you’re not confident that you can supply even the tiniest creative spark, borrow someone’s child for the day. One way or another, you’ll be able to make great wall art with a small amount of effort and an even smaller budget.
Project 1: Living Large in the Living Room
You need something to stare at besides the TV, right? Well, that demands a pretty big piece of wall art if it’s going to compete with today’s huge flat screens. Get ready to create your own painted canvas to display in your living room. Your friends and family will be impressed with your artistic talent and ingenuity, but all you have to do is follow these simple steps:
Buy a large artistic canvas, 2-3 colors of acrylic paint, painter’s tape, and a drop cloth or tarp if you don’t already have one. The expensive item here is going to be the canvas, but it’s still a lot less expensive than buying prefabricated art.
Decide which color you’d like to show underneath the tape – if it isn’t white, then paint your canvas all over and wait for it to dry. If you like white, skip to the next step.
Lay the painter’s tape across the canvas in diagonals, making sure that each piece of tape is long enough to extend past the edges of the canvas. You can create shapes between the pieces of tape – triangles are easy and make for a nice modern art appeal.
Once your tape is in place, decide which segments you’d like to paint in each color. Two contrasting colors create a stark and interesting effect, while colors from the same family soften this piece of art. Start painting and try not to get both colors in the same section, or you’ll lose the segmented effect.
Wait for the paint to dry, then peel off the tape and touch up any irregular spots. Hang your new wall art and enjoy the compliments from your family and friends.
Project 2: Kitchen Wallflowers
It can be difficult to decorate a kitchen, so many people just leave it as a functional room. Don’t fall into this rut – make your kitchen fabulous with simple but beautiful wall art.
Find or buy a large empty frame from an antique store.
Collect tin cans until you have four or five, then remove the labels by soaking the cans and using nail polish remover to get rid of any residue.
Hang the frame in your kitchen, then position the tin cans inside it and nail them to the wall in a neat line, leaving as much space above them as possible.
Fill your tin cans with fresh flowers in spring and summer, twigs and colorful leaves in the fall, and holly and berries in the winter.
Project 3: Entryway Showstopper
Make a place to hang your keys and show off your artistic side with this piece of wall art. Your friends and family will be amazed to see something you made with such lovely form and helpful function.
Snag an old window shutter from an antique store, thrift store or from your garage. You can also raid friends’ garages or hunt for one if you have a family farm.
Either decide that you like your shutter as is or paint it to go with your entryway décor.
Nail your shutter horizontally onto the wall, then add some nails on the bottom edge to hang your keys.
Insert favorite photos or postcards between the slats.
Appreciate your handiwork.
See how easy and affordable it is to create your own unique wall art? With just a few supplies in hand, you’ll be well on your way to solving your blank wall dilemmas.
I’d love to hear your ideas for decorating blank walls on a budget. Let me know in the comments!
We all know buying in bulk is a great way to save money for our families. When you buy larger quantities you pay less for each ounce, serving, or piece. Sadly sometimes our best intentions to save money by purchasing in bulk, costs us more money than we intended. The good news is, all of those great intentions can pay off and you can buy in bulk to save money with a little planning and know-how.
Use the tips below to help you learn how to buy in bulk to save money.
Decide if bulk is worth it for your family.
Smaller families do not need to buy everything in bulk because when food goes bad you are not truly saving anything. Some things like toilet paper and cleaning supplies are great to buy in bulk for everyone. They will never go bad and you can get your money’s worth from a purchase like that. However, in most cases, a small family may find it challenging to go through large quantities of perishable items before they go bad.
Compare bulk price to the regular price.
Sometimes buying in bulk is not as good of a deal as may sound. Take the time to divide the price by ounces, servings, or pieces so that you can see how much you are really paying. When sales hit it can often be better to buy the smaller packages than to purchase the bulk one, not on sale.
Check expiration dates and rotate your stock.
It is really easy for things to be forgotten in the back of the pantry or freezer for a long period of time. Only to be discovered when it is too late. Grab a sharpie and put dates in large print on everything. Move new items to the back when putting your groceries away to avoid using the newest items before the old.
Store items well to make them last longer.
Airtight containers can keep your bulk supplies fresh longer. A vacuum sealer can keep that fresh meat you found a great deal on from being freezer burnt before you can use it, and storing produce like carrots in water will keep them fresh longer giving you time to use them.
Plan your menu to use up fresh items before they go bad.
Nothing can ruin a great deal like not using what you bought before it begins to rot. When purchasing produce in bulk you really want to be sure you have a plan to use it. When we find a really good deal we plan to use it in every meal and snack we can to be sure it gets used.
Compare prices and selections at your local wholesale clubs BEFORE buying a membership.
Often places like Costco will let you in to check out the selection before you buy a membership. Compare the prices of the top ten things your family will be buying in bulk and go with the club membership if that will give you the best deal on these items.
Look for bulk in unexpected places.
Often supermarkets will have bulk basics like flour in 25-pound sacks available. Your local farmer’s market is a great place to find a deal on bulk produce from local farmers looking to clear out stock by the end of the day. You do not have to purchase a wholesale club membership to buy in bulk if you take the time to shop around helping you save a bit more money when buying in bulk.
Do you find buying in bulk is worth it for your family? What things do you most often buy in bulk? From where?
Is your garage stacked to the ceiling with stuff? If so, it might be time to give it a good cleaning. Cleaning out your garage can not only give you more space in your home, but can also net you some cash in your pocket! Want to know more? Take a look below at these 5 ways to make money by cleaning out your garage, I’m sure you’ll find something you can sell!
5 Ways to Make Money By Cleaning Out Your Garage:
1. Sell your old/unused tools.
Are you a tool hoarder? Tools have excellent resale value. Sell your usable power tools Kijiji, Craigslist, Facebook Buy & Sell groups or place an ad in the local paper. Older tools might be valuable to collectors, so do your research on them and see if they might be worth anything. You typically need just one of each tool, so part with any extras to make some quick cash.
2. Scrap that metal.
Is your garage full of metal pieces? If so, you can scrap them for cash. Old appliances, fencing, old copper, brass, or even aluminum are all worth cash at a local metal recycling center. You don’t even need to clean the pieces, just haul them to the center, have them weighed, and collect your cash.
3. Sell your old bikes.
Bikes both old and new can find a new home on Kijiji, Craigslist, ebay, or your local paper/garage sale site. Collectors are always looking for bike parts and will be willing to take the old bikes off your hands, while college students are always looking for used bikes they can snag for a song. If you have any bikes either old or new, broken or functional, sell them for cash.
4. Hold an odds and ends garage sale.
Get rid of the random clutter with a garage or yard sale. Advertise your sale for free in Facebook Buy & Sell groups as well as sites like Kijiji or Craigslist. Price your items to sell, create a neat and organized display, and you are sure to not only pull in some cash but create some extra space in your garage as well. Just haul out those items, give them a good dusting, and stick a tag on them. It’s that easy!
5. Donate for a tax write off.
Remember, you can get a tax deduction for any donations you make to not for profit agencies. If you have functional items such as toys, hoses, lawn tools, appliances, bikes, wagons, etc. then why not donate them? You will get a receipt for your donation and you will be able to write the amount off on next year’s taxes. That’s like cash in the pocket!
Don’t deal with that cluttered garage any longer. Instead, give these tips for finding money in your own garage a try and you will not only make space, but make some money as well.
Have you found any treasures hidden in your garage lately? Let me know in the comments.
