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How to have family fun on a budget…

Fun family outings are becoming more expensive. With a bit of creativity, you can have a fun time and entertain the kids without breaking the bank.

Indoor family fun…

  1. Rent a movie
    1. Renting movies is much cheaper than the rising megaplex rates.
    1. Though you must wait months after a movie’s release, you can watch it repeatedly without worrying about the baby’s cries disrupting other viewers, and you can pause for bathroom breaks.
  2. Watch free movies
    1. Gather all the movies you own and watch them with the kids again.
  3. Play a board game
    1. Get out the board games!
  4. Go bowling
    1. Turn the hallway into your own personal bowling alley. Clean out and save 2-liter bottles to serve as blowing pins and use a small ball your kids already have.
  5. Have a fancy dinner
    1. You can make a mean a special occasion by setting he table a little more formal, lighting candles and serving from our fancy dishes.
    1. Encourage family members to dress up. It can be your Sunday best, pajamas, costumes, or anything you like and have on hand.
  6. Try Origami
    1. Research origami online or get a book from a local library.
      1. Kids have a blast turning their paper into birds, windchimes, and frogs.

Venturing out…

  1. Go outside and have fun.
    1. Go to a nearby park or out in your own backyard.
    1. Play baseball, kick the can or any other game.
    1. Have the entire family ride their bikes in a safe area.
  2. Have a neighborhood party
    1. Get the neighbors together and have everyone who has kids play outside games.
    1. Everyone can play baseball, football, or run through a sprinkler.
    1. Everyone can bring their grills out and make food for their family.
  3. Go to the beach
    1. Take the kids and dig in the sand, create sandcastles.
    1. Go swimming, try wakeboarding, fishing, and shell collecting.
  4. Go to the playground
    1. Take the kids to every playground near your home. The kids get exercise, you get exercise, and everyone gets fresh air.
    1. You can try to find new playgrounds that you do not usually go to for a new and exciting trip.
  5. Free museum days
    1. Museums and zoos have “free days” or exceptionally low children’s rates.
    1. If you have a season pass you can go, there all the time for outings. It relieves the pressure of seeing or doing it all in one day. Then next year you can get a pass to a different place.
  6. Watch the planes
    1. Going near an airport (big or small) and watching the planes take off and land is a fun and free way to spend the afternoon.
  7. Storytime
    1. Local libraries or bookstores often have “storytime” for kids. Usually this is a free service and as a bonus I get kids interested in literature.
  8. College campuses
    1. Colleges provide opportunities to see plays, musicals, and recitals.
    1. College performances are cheaper than your local theatre and are a wonderful way to expose your kids to the arts.
  9. Go to the park
    1. Parks are a suitable place to find safe playgrounds, hiking and walking trails, and open spaces for flying kites.
    1. Most parks are free or cheap and you can pack, picnic, and spend a momentous day outdoors.
  10. Go to a game
    1. Go to local games such as high school summer football, basketball, baseball, and hockey games. The kids can see teams in action and learn about sports.
  11. Join a playgroup
    1. This is great for young mothers. Joining a playgroup is an excellent way to get the kids together with other kids.
    1. Moms can meet other moms and make friends too.
  12. Go swimming
    1. Swim at a local school. An entire family can have an exciting time.
    1. Schools often have indoor pools so you can go swimming in spring, winter and fall as well.
  13. Check out the community theater
    1. Go to community theater programs. Community theater is just that; local people put on plays ad musical programs.
    1. Take the kids to local performances where other kids perform.

Get creative…

The outdoor activities you will be able to enjoy with your family depend on your area. Getting an area guide from your Chamber of Commerce, Town Hall, or State Welcome Center will give your great ideas about local historical sites and places of interest. Kids will also enjoy everyday activities such as cooking, gardening, and crafting.

So, get creative and have family fun on a budget.

Source: A Dime Saved