Guest Post: 25 Budget Friendly Summer Activities!

25 Budget Friendly Summer Activities

Disclosure: This is a guest post, I am not the author of this post. I have not been compensated for this post.

Author: Andy Andersen

One of the best kept secrets of the modern world is that you don’t have to spend money to have fun. Don’t let a tight budget get in the way of your having a good time this summer! Here are 25 budget friendly summer activities to remind you that the world is still an exciting place regardless of whether or not you have the funds for the most popular commercial entertainment.

1. Plant a Garden

Growing your own garden can cut monthly grocery expenses significantly. The money you spend to grow fruits and vegetables will be a small fraction of what you would otherwise spend on produce at the market. Not to mention it can be a fun new outdoor hobby. Click here for more information on how to use your garden to cut monthly expenses.

2. Refurbish an Old Bike for Summer Cycling

Cycling is a very popular hobby these days. Most people who make cycling their main mode of transportation, or who frequently cycle recreationally, argue that it’s good for the environment and for personal health. If you’re looking to get into cycling, but don’t have the budget for a brand new bike, try buying an older, cheaper one and refurbishing it. This will make for a great summer activity and save you loads on gas when your bike is refurbished and ready to roll.

3. Park Exercise

Cancel your gym membership and get the same workout using your local park. Work with the playground equipment, benches, hills, and lawns of your local park to create a comprehensive workout routine. This way you’ll be able to enjoy the outdoors and summer weather, get a great workout, and save a fortune on gym membership fees.

4. Mow Your Lawn with a Push Mower

Using an old-fashioned, non-electric push mower on your lawn can turn an otherwise effortless activity into a good little exercise. Mowing with a push mower will get your blood pumping, your muscles moving, and save you the money you would have otherwise spent on gas for an electric mower.

5. Staycation

Taking a staycation can mean way more than just sitting around the house during your summer time off. No matter where you live, chances are there are local attractions that you’ve never experienced before. Take advantage of your summer vacation time and find some new activities that are waiting for you in your own neck of the woods.

6. Themed Local Trips

There’s no end to the themes you can incorporate into discovering what your own backyard has to offer. Spend a month eating at every ethnic restaurant in town, or take tours of all the local factories, or research all historical landmarks and see them in succession. Get out there and experience it all!

7. Camping

Getting out into the wilderness can be one of the most exciting budget friendly activities out there. If the weather and environment permits, cut down even further on costs, ditch the tent, and sleep under the stars. Cooking by the fire is almost always a fun, cost-effective way to eat as well. Take the opportunity to get back to nature this summer!

8. Try New Recipes in the Kitchen

It can be really easy to fall into routine in the kitchen, especially if you’re on a tight budget. This summer might be the perfect opportunity to do some research and try out new recipes. These days social media forums like Pinterest are full of budget-friendly recipes that will breathe new life into your family’s dinner habits.

9. Museums

During the summer, people are more inclined to get out and explore new places and activities. Why not take the opportunity to visit local museums. Do some research and see if your local museums have any free admission or discount days and take the whole family to see and learn something new.

10. Free Concerts

Summer is the best time to jump head-first into the concert scene. Taking advantage of the summer concert season means experiencing something unique to your town and it’s a great way to make memories tied to the magic of the summer season.

11. Learn a New Sport

Summer is a great time to get outside and exercise. Why not make it a social thing by learning a unique new sport with friends. Learning a new sport together can be a great way to reconnect, revitalize relationships, and get a great workout in the process.

12. Picnic

The traditional picnic basket is usually full of food that doesn’t cost much to put together. Spend the summer enjoying a budget-friendly meal with family or friends and picnic a few times each month.

13. Have a Yard Sale

As thrift and vintage clothes stores have become more popular in mainstream culture, so have yard sales. Now is a better time than ever to assess your vintage inventory and sell it to someone who is looking for that perfect object to re-purpose. Make a community event out of it and invite neighbors and friends to contribute items to the yard sale too.

14. Geocaching

Geocaching is a popular outdoor recreational activity where you use GPS to find objects that others have hidden. As it has become a popular hobby in recent years, you can find geocaches practically anywhere. Take the family out geocaching this summer and see your city in a whole new way.

15. Wash Your Car at Home

Washing the car may not be the ideal outdoor activity for everyone, but there’s no better time than summer to wash the car in your own driveway and shave a few bucks off your monthly budget. Make it a family activity and take the opportunity to cool off from the summer heat.

16. Hit the Tennis Courts

Local schools and parks usually have solid tennis facilities. Summer is a great time to hit the tennis courts with friends and enjoy a fresh new way to exercise. If you have access to a lit-up court, tennis can be an especially great way to exercise at night.

17. Go Camping in Your Back Yard

You don’t have to travel far to enjoy the great outdoors. In fact, you don’t even have to travel beyond your own backyard. Summer is a great time to pitch a tent on your property, enjoy a tinfoil dinner cooked in your own stove, and tell ghost stories around the flashlight.

18. Make Homemade Ice Cream

Homemade ice cream is a cheap and easy summer treat. With a plethora of recipes available online, there’s no end to the delicious flavors you can create. When the Fourth of July barbecue rolls around, make a fun activity out of providing the desert.

19. Start a Book Club

Reading is perhaps the most budget-friendly activity possible. If you’ve got a bit more time on your hands during the summer, make it a social activity and start a book club with friends.

20. See a Drive-In Movie

There aren’t very many drive-in movies left these days, but if you do have close access to one, it can make for a great budget-friendly weekend activity. Take your favorite snacks, or make your own to further cut down on costs, and bring friends to enjoy a summer blockbuster under the stars.

21. Have a Vegetarian Barbecue

Want to cut-down on food costs while serving an interesting new dish? Find a tasty barbecue recipe and use vegetables from your garden as the main dish. Use vegetables that are especially delicious when grilled and you’ll surely please even the most carnivorous BBQ aficionados.

22. Watercolor

A great activity for the creative type, painting with watercolors is extremely cost-effective. Research some techniques online and take to the watercolor canvas. Make it a social activity and have a contest with other watercolor novices.

23. Visit the Library

Because everything is so easily accessible online, it may have been a long time since you visited the local library. Now is a great time to renew your library card and make the library a prime destination for your lazy summer day schedule. Invite friends and family to check books out from the library this summer and you can all go together.

24. Visit a Nearby National Park

America is home to many, many more national parks than Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon. There just might be a hidden gem of natural wonder near your home that you’ve never seen before. Research online and find out if there’s a national park near you.

25. Create Your Own Backyard Obstacle Course

Summer is a better time than ever to turn your own backyard into a challenging obstacle course. You can use household items, or build some obstacles out of second-hand building materials. Summer is the time for high-adventure, and even with a tight budget you can bring the adventure to your home.

What is your favorite Summer activity?

Anything above grab your attention?