A Mother's Guide to Thrifty Picnics, Beach Fun, and More

Summer time can mean tons of fun for your family but it can also cause a parent's wallet to scream for mercy by the time August hits. Over the last eleven years of being a parent on a tight budget I have found many ways to keep the kids entertained while still keeping a few pennies in my purse.

In the summer you can find many free activities in your community, you just need to know where to look for them. If you live in a community with a recreation department check to see if they have a Website. If they do you can often find listings of upcoming events for families. If your recreation department does not have a Website you can call them and ask if they have any offerings for the age ranges of your children. Many communities will send out a mailer describing their upcoming events. Some of the activities you may find offered are organized hikes or nature walks, picnics in the park, tennis lessons, gaming clubs, children's music concerts, magic shows, baby sitting courses and some may offer supervised field trips for teens. You may even find your recreation department offers discounted theme park passes for residents.

Another source of frugal or free entertainment for kids is your local library. Most libraries in my area participate in a statewide summer program for kids. These programs usually include many free activities for kids of all ages. Little ones will enjoy activities like story time, a sing along and a snack. Elementary kids can participate in reading challenges, craft times, movie times and games. Teens can join book discussion groups and volunteer to help the younger kids. The library is another place you may find out about community-sponsored events and special offers. Ask your librarian if your library has passes to local museums, theaters, or science centers available to card holders. In my area we have a wonderful science center but the cost of admission is prohibitive for me. By using my libraries community pass I can get my entire brood into the science center for less than one regular adult admission.