Budget-Friendly Summer Fun for Families

Minute Read

In your backyard

Leaving your home isn’t always necessary to enjoy free summer activities for both adults and kids.

• Plant a garden. This is one of our favorite inexpensive summer activities. Nurture your plants yourself or get the entire family involved. From growing seeds to harvesting your crops, caring for a garden will keep you busy all summer long. Some great tips to help lower costs can be found in our blog “How to start a vegetable garden on a budget.”
• Host a family movie night. Whether you watch your flicks inside or out, a family movie night is always a fun summer activity. Pop your popcorn, pour some lemonade and snuggle in for an animated film or a superhero blockbuster.
• Camp under the stars. If it’s not too humid and if rain isn’t in the forecast, set up a tent or two in the backyard. Stay up late around the campfire telling stories and roasting marshmallows.
• Have fun with water. Fill up the pool, hook up the sprinkler or create a DIY slip and slide. However, you choose, water activities are one of the best inexpensive things to do in the summer.
• Make your own popsicles. Grab your favorite fruit drink and fill up an ice cube tray. Cut popsicle sticks in half and insert them into the tray. Wait until they solidify and enjoy!

In your community

When you and your family need to get out of the house, these seasonal family activities are perfect. Save money while you’re out and about by getting a cash back credit card.

• Visit a “pick your own” orchard. Strawberries, raspberries and peaches are ripe for summer harvest. Find a local orchard and venture out to pick your fruit while supporting a local farmer.
• Take a bike ride. Venture out in your neighborhood or ride on one of the many bike trails throughout Pennsylvania. Consider holding a meet-up with your other cycling friends.
• Volunteer. There are many nonprofit events in the area that could use extra sets of hands over the summer. Consider volunteering with a nonprofit with year-round needs, such as a food bank or an animal shelter.
• Visit the library. All libraries have reading programs and other activities for kids in the summer. Find your local library, sign up for a library card if you don’t already have one and take advantage of summer programming.
• Plan a neighborhood get-together. Get to know even more about your neighbors this summer by planning an event. Whether a simple backyard bbq or a time-intensive basketball tournament, plan something that will be fun for a larger group.

Download your own budget-friendly summer fun checklist PDF.