Summer is an amazing time of the year and a favorite for many. The warm weather and sunshine makes people want to get outside and have fun. What’s your favorite thing to do during the summer? Spending a weekend at the cottage, renting jet-skis and taking long weekend road trips are all fun summer activities, but they all cost money.
If spending big bucks to get outside and plan a summer vacation just isn’t in your budget this year don’t worry, there are still a lot of activities that you can do without spending more than $10.
Read a book
There’s nothing better than heading to a park, finding a spot in the sun (or a big shady tree if that’s your thing) and enjoying a good book. Some people like to read light-hearted, romantic or silly books during the summer. Not me, I stick to my hard-core crime fiction stories.
Right now I’m reading Invisible by James Patterson. If you’re looking for a classic to read this summer I really enjoyed Valley of the Dolls and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Although I balled my eyes out while reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Can you recommend a good book to read this summer?
Go for a walk
Fresh air and sunshine does the body good. Going for a long walk (like half a day) is one of my favorite summer activities, although I don’t get to do it as often as I would like. I admit that spending half a day walking around is a big time commitment, but sometimes we just need a break from life and our daily routines. Getting some exercise while cleansing the mind is a win-win in my books.
Explore your city
If you’re lucky to live in a big city like New York City why not jump on the subway and get off at a station you’ve never been to before. Exploring your city is an excellent way to clear your head. The only thing you have to think about while walking around is discovering new shops and restaurants, and meeting new people. Well that and not getting lost. If you’re headed outside for the day don’t forget to apply sunscreen.
Have a picnic
What could be better than spending a day outside, on fresh grass, getting a suntan and eating food? Nothing that I could think of. The tricky thing about planning a picnic is you need to pack enough food for the entire day, but you also have to bring food that doesn’t need to be kept cool. There’s no point in planning a picnic if the food is going to go to waste because that’s also money wasted.
Spend a day at the beach
A day at the beach is a chance to get outside with family and friends and have some fun. The great thing about the beach is you can do so many different activities in one day at one place and they don’t have to cost a lot of money.
You can toss a football around, play Frisbee, go for a swim or take a long walk along the waterline. If you want to cool off or spend a few bucks you can treat yourself to a nice cold drink or ice cream cone. If not then be sure to pack lots of bottled water. The last thing you want is to ruin your fun day by getting heat stroke.
Have a backyard BBQ
Hosting a BBQ doesn’t have to be expensive. You can ask family and friends to each bring something. Individually that can cost under $10, but all together it adds up to a lot of food and drinks on the table. Remember to buy in bulk and try to DIY as much as you can to save even more money on your summer cookout.
Take advantage of freebie cultural activities
Popular website Pop Sugar says that taking advantage of free summer activities such as free music festivals is one of the best ways to plan your weekends. The warm summer months usually host a ton of outdoor activities in local parks and other spots around your city.
Check out museums, schools, churches and other associations to see what’s happening for free around your city this summer.
What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer that doesn’t cost a lot of cash?
