I love finding fun things to do as a family during summer. My kiddo is off from school and we can get so much time together. We have lots of things to do around our city, however, some activities are more expensive than others. A trip to our children's museum is $24  a ticket. It's not something that we can do on a whim.
Instead, we try to do family activities that won't break the bank. We often have just as much fun doing a free activity than one we paid a bunch of money for. If you are looking for some frugal summer fun check out how to have summer fun for less.
Go Outdoors
Heading outdoors is a fantastic way to have some summer fun without spending a lot of money. You can head to the park, pack a picnic lunch, go geocaching, or take a hike. There are so many fun things to do while the weather is warm and sunny. Most places like parks are completely free. I have found that even the state parks tend to be fairly reasonably priced. Our state park is $7 for a carload. Well worth it for a day's entertainment.
Join A Club or Camp
There are so many clubs you can join to keep the kids busy and having summer fun for less. When I was little I loved 4-H club, it's only a few dollars to join too! Most libraries have a summer reading club. Kids can get free prizes for reading books. Our library even has a summer book club for adults too.
If you have a girls or boys club nearby they often have summer activities for a reasonable price. Apple has a free summer camp for kids that is so much fun. My kiddo did Apple Camp a couple of years ago and loved it. The secret with clubs and camps is to sign up early. The best free or frugal ones fill up fast.
Be Creative
Rainy days are often the hardest to find things to do. Be creative and find fun things at home to do. You can build a fort, put on a play, or just put on your swimsuits and play in the rain. You can make a scavenger hunt or an obstacle course. Science experiments are great for rainy days too! My kiddo and I just made flubber a couple of weeks ago. It was fun and easy to make. You don't have to spend a lot of money to entertain the kids, just get creative.
Look For Deals
I have found so many great deals for summer activities. Our local movie theater has $1 movies during the summer, kids can bowl for free at certain bowling alleys, or you can sometimes find some groupon deals for museums or tours. A lot of smaller museums or tours will offer them for around $1-$2 a person. I love to find the small obscure tours for cheap. It makes a fun and adventurous day. One of our favorite day's last summer was an opalescent glass factory tour that was only $5.
Summer fun doesn't have to mean spending a bunch of money. Get creative and you can find some activities that work for your budget. What is your favorite frugal summer activity?
