How much do you have budgeted for entertainment and family activities? If you’re budget looks like my budget, the answer is not that much. At the end of some months I’ve gone through my activity budget and am running on empty. Not to worry! Money is not needed for many fun family activities. An added bonus would be picking an activity close enough to your house that you could walk too instead of having to drive.
If you ask my three children what they’d like to do they will quickly yell out “PARK”. The park is one of the best places for children and families. There’s no admission fee, there are other kids and families to play with, and the activities can be endless! The play equipment is child safe, you can ride bikes, go for a walk, fly a kite, play frisbee, or even sit around on a blanket relaxing and reading books. To keep from having to buy food pack some sandwiches or easy finger foods. Bring water in re-usable water bottles or bring a little cooler with drinks to keep your family hydrated and cool. Some parks will even allow you to bring your family dog, but be sure to find out the pet rules ahead of time.
Are your children begging to go to the movies? The movies can blow your entire monthly activity budget before the movie even starts. Tickets are typically $8-$12 per person and concession stand food is just way to expensive. The last trip my family made to the movies on a Friday night cost us over $60, and for a 90 minute activity it’s just not worth it. Now we are smarter when it comes to movies. We have learned we can have just as much fun renting a movie at Redbox for $1 a night and making microwave popcorn. There’s no crowd or bad seating in our living room, we don’t pay $5 a box for chocolate from the fridge, and if one of the kids need to potty we have a pause button. Every six months or so we do go to the dollar movie theater, and even with popcorn and two drinks we can keep the trip under $20.
The library can be a fun place to go as a family. Call me crazy, but picking out movies and books to take home feels just as good as shopping. You get to keep them for a few days and it doesn’t cost you a dime! My kids love to choose the movie for movie night and I like to pick out a good book. During the week our local library also has story hour and activity times for pre-school kids to get out and be social. Some week nights they have special events for older kids, like reading books in pajamas. Check with your local library and you might be surprised what all they have to offer.
Other free, or almost free, family activities can be found at museums, community centers, and zoos. Be sure and check websites of local businesses in your area for half price or free days. Some places even give home school discounts and have private special events for children that are home schooled.
Doing free family activities should not make you feel deprived or broke. Family time should be special, no matter what you are doing or how little it cost. Your kids won’t notice that you’re not maxing out your credit cards to keep them entertained, but they will feel special that you took the time to take them to the park or library. Cherishing cost free family time with your children will teach them good old fashioned frugal family values.
September 23, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Great post, thanks Brandy! just went to see cloudy with a chance of meatballs with my son; it was $45 and he did not even like it!