7 Inexpensive Ways to Have Fun this Summer (for Kids and Adults)
Everyone can enjoy the summer without breaking the bank on expensive outings. Here are some ideas for getting out of the house with friends, family, or even by yourself!
Host an Outdoor Potluck
Potlucks are a great way to get a group of people together and celebrate the summer without putting a hole in your pocket. Encourage everyone to bring a dish and get creative with what you bring.
Unique salads, walking tacos, or hot dogs are just a few inexpensive ideas for bringing everyone together around simple and delicious food.
Get more Summer Potluck Recipes.
Practice Your Photography
With longer days, summertime is a perfect opportunity to brush up on capturing photos of family and friends with any camera you have (your phone’s camera is probably the most accessible). There are a lot of opportunities to photograph in the summer: vacations, outdoor events, or just hanging out in your neighborhood.
For the more experienced photographer, try playing with different lighting at dawn or dusk.
Try out some photo challenges, like this one:
Go Camping
Whether you travel to a state park or keep it in your backyard, there are no rules when it comes to picking out the perfect scenery for camping. Camping is a great way to unplug from electronics and spend quality time with family and friends. Consider making a camping tradition to encourage spending time outdoors in the summer and getting to reconnect.
Check out the free campgrounds in your area.
Get in the Water
Pools and summer practically go hand in hand. When you want to get outside, but need to beat the heat, spend a day at the community pool or plan a day to head to the closest beach. No pool nearby? Create some water play games with a hose or sprinkler.
Find a list of water games to play.
Build Your Own Obstacle Course
An obstacle course is a great way to entertain kids and adults for the summer. Keep it simple by building it in your backyard with items around the house or stopping at a thrift store or dollar store to pick up safe, fun items to include.
You can even use the course to create some fun team-building activities.
Get inspirations for the perfect obstacle course.
Volunteer
There are many ways to give back to the community or a favorite cause. Get acquainted with a new volunteer opportunity by starting with giving a few hours to a nonprofit to see if it’s a good match for you and/or your family.
Check out Volunteer Match to find local or national nonprofit organization to partner with over the summer.
Have a Garage Sale
Declutter the house and spend some quality time outside by hosting a garage sale. Your community might have a special garage sale weekend, but don’t worry if you miss the date! Garage sales happen all summer, so plan a weekend you’d like to dedicate your time to cleaning house.
Not feeling confident about how much you’d like to justify hosting your own garage sale? Share the news with friends and other family in the area and invite them to bring items they may need to sell, too!
Here are a few ideas for hosting an effective garage sale.
Keep your financials a top priority.
Summer is a great time to get reacquainted with rebuilding an emergency savings plan and to double check your financial goals for the rest of the year.
Not sure if your budget is where it needs to be?
Keep your budget on track by using our budgeting tool.
Open your savings or checking account any time of the year. Join a credit union to get all the benefits—from free checking account to easy online and mobile access.
American Eagle Credit Union
Anheuser-Busch Employees Credit Union
Purina Credit Union
