Summer is fast approaching, and so is that time where you and the family will have two whole months to do.. whatever you want! In this article, I’ll provide over 100 ideas for cheap things to do in the summer. I’ve enjoyed these activities and have saved thousands of dollars by enjoying activities that are cheap or free. With some planning, summer fun on a budget is possible.
Read on to find out about the top cheap things to do in the summer.
Why Do Stuff on the Cheap?
You worked hard all year… don’t you deserve to splash out and treat yourself? Of course… within reason. However, living frugally will provide you with many different benefits:
A Greater Sense of Satisfaction
When I save money, I feel good about myself. It takes work to prepare grocery lists, set a budget and stick to it and say no to activities that don’t fit within your budget. When you try out the many different cheap and fun things to do in summer and realize that you’re enjoying yourself, you’ll feel geat about all that money you’ve saved!
Bonding with Family and Friends
In our society that’s constantly on the go and concerned about ourselves, how can we maintain friendships and relationships with loved ones? One great way is to participate in special events and experiences together. Anything from a day at the park to the museum or a movie night in are fantastic ways to bond with loved ones.
Freeing Up Funds for Other Goals
If you have several different financial goals, cutting costs on discretionary expenses is one simple way to free up cash to fund your other pursuits.
Frugal Living Tips When Choosing Cheap Things to Do in the Summer Summer
Before I get into my top 100 favorite ways to have fun on the cheap in summer, I’ll share some more tips on maximizing both frugality and fun.
General Frugal Living Tips When Choosing Cheap Things to Do in the Summer
Cook and Bake on a Budget
Buy items in bulk and always shop with a grocery store. Even if you’re making a special meal, taking the time to compare the same item at different stores and buy the cheapest item is worth the time and effort.
Choose Budget-Friendly Snacks
One major theme in my list of cheap things to do in the summer.. food! Of course, how couldn’t I?! Food is an essential part of our lives. While you won’t break the bank doing any of these activities, there are some ways to make your travels even cheaper – choosing budget-friendly snacks for your picnics and movie nights. Some of my favorite foods to eat on a budget include:
- Freshly-popped popcorn with olive oil and salt
- Hummus and veggies or pitas (or both)
- Apples and peanut butter
- Fresh fruit with yogurt
- Kettle chips
Get Around on a Budget
If you don’t own a car, the obvious choice is to opt for buses or trains. When visiting a major city for more than one day, check if multi-day passes are available for a cheaper day.
Take Advantage of Free Events
Many cities have free concerts and festivals on in the summer that are funded by corporate sponsors and tax dollars. For example, in my city, there is an annual event called Music Week where various concert venues host concerts from all over Canada. From jazz festivals to farmer’s markets, there’s something to suit every personality and taste!
In addition to free concerts and festivals, many museums and art galleries offer free admission on a specific day each week.
Use Coupon Books
Whenever you visit a new place, visit the local Visitor’s Center. Many of these centers have a display rack of various brochures that contain special coupons and discounts. In my experience, talking to the front desk guide is a great way to find out about the top fun things to do that don’t cost money in the region.
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Cheap Things to Do in the Summer at Home
Cheap Things to Do in the Summer – Entertainment
- Play in the sprinklers – get the kids or spouse outside and have fun running around.
- Play a board game – have fun beating your son or daughter at Monopoly – or the other way around!
- Blow bubbles – go to the dollar store and grab a pack of colored wands and liquid soap.
- Watch a movie with family – choose a movie everyone will enjoy, pop some popcorn and pull out a case of soda.
- Read a book – take a trip to the library and pick out 5-10 books you think you’ll love. Then read a sample of each and choose a book out of your pile that interests you the most.
- Play online games – from World or Warcraft to something as simple as the Solitaire game built into your PC, playing a game online is perfect to entertain yourself on a rainy or excessively sunny day.
- Write with sidewalk chalk – put your artistic skills to use.
- Build a fort – grab some pillows and blankets and get creative!
- Host a movie night – invite some family friends and pick 2 or 3 movies you all want to watch.
- Host a bake-off – grab a few friends and challenge each other to bake the exact same dish. Grab a judge to be a taste-tester. Finally, enjoy the treats you’ve made!
- Scrapbook – create an online photo album or go old school and make a hard copy version.
- Window shop online for home inspiration ideas
- Challenge yourself to a cook-off with only the food you have in your house
- Learn a party trick like juggling or origami
- Fly a kite – go to the park or beach and enjoy!
Creative Pursuits
- Make popsicles – pick your favorite fruits, milk yogurt and juice.
- Start a collection – stamps, Beanie Babies (remember those?)
- Start a garden of fruits and veggies
- Write a book – pick a topic you love to talk or read about and decide whether you want to write fiction or nonfiction.
- Start a blog – just like reading, pick a topic you want to write about – for example, fitness, cooking, gardening or thrift shopping.
- Learn to cook something new – look up a recipe for Ratitoulle, quiche or raspberry tarts.. or whatever you like!
- DIY slip ‘n’ slide – find a hill and have fun!
- Photography walk – walk around your city’s landmarks and capture the sites.
- Do a pub crawl – grab a few friend and hit up 3-5 different breweries or pubs.
- Get adventurous with urban foraging
- Grab existing art supplies and paint some nature
- Collect natural objects for art
- Grab existing art supplies and paint some nature
Miscellaneous Cheap Things to Do in the Summer
- Have a garage sale
- Decluttering challenge – declutter a room in your home or just a section such as the closet.
- Explore your closet – pull out some old items you don’t wear often and decide to either keep them or rewear them.
- Propagate existing plants
- Climb a tree
- DIY slip ‘n’ slide
- Cool down at the local splash pad
- Find or make a walking tour of a city
- Photography challenges
- Get adventurous with urban foraging
- Paddle or swim your way around a local waterway
- Rearrange for a new look
- Call an old friend to catch up – it’s never too late to rekindle old friendships!
- Write letters or send postcards
- Start a fundraiser or charity event
- People watch – grab a coffee at the mall and sit down on a bench while observing the people
- Window shop online for home inspiration ideas
- Challenge yourself to a cook-off with only the food you have in your house
- Drop off treats to an older relative – make his or her day!
- Learn a party trick like juggling or origami
- Give yourself an at-home spa day
Cheap Things to Do in the Summer in the Community
Outdoor Activities
- Go to the park
- Swim at your community pool
- Play a sport – why not try cricket or another sport you’ve never tried?
- Go for a hike in a new city or even a new part of your city
- Take pictures of your family or pets
- Go to the beach – don’t forget the sunscreen!
- Ride your bike – explore a new neighborhood or trail in your city
- Have a picnic – make some easy-to-prepare snacks like veggies and hummus and crackers and cheese, grab a bottle of wine and enjoy an inexpensive outing.
- Go fishing
- Go camping
- Build a sandcastle
- Go on a scavenger hunt
- Try geocaching
- Stargaze or meteor shower gaze
- Join a Meetup group
- Attend a book reading
- Fly a kite
- Set a step goal – get your 10,000 steps in – or more!
- Watch the sunrise
Other Cheap Things to Do in the Summer
- Visit the library for events – many hold special art and fitness events in addition to readings and regular services.
- Visit a free zoo or museum
- Attend a free workout Class
- Go to a festival or county fair
- Volunteer – pick up trassh at the park, visit seniors at a nursing home or help rescued animals.
- Have a parade (or at least see one)
- See the sights that are popular in your home town
- Watch a baseball game
- Go to an outdoor concert – take advantage of free events hosted by your city or region
- Go see a play
- Join a Buy Nothing group
- Visit the next town over
- Learn SEO or social media marketing
- Visit the farmers market
- Go thrift shopping – go with no goal in mind.
- Go for a walk – go down a new street you’ve never been to.
- Repair an appliance in your home
- Learn how to sew so you can mend old clothing items instead of tossing them.
- Sleep in the woods or your backyard
- Learn how to code
- Gaze at the stars – don’t forget a blanket and hot chocolate!
- Listen to music – choose a genre you normally don’t listen to and keep an open mind.
- Create a niche TikTok and film engaging content
- Make some music – use GarageBand or Audacity to record your best rendition of Taylor Swift!
- Make something – potttery or a painting, anyone?
- Take a course on Udemy or Coursera
- Take a yoga class – check to see if there’s a free one at your local community center or coworking space.
- Have a potluck at home or in the park
- Do something productive like mending clothing or rearranging your closet
- Host a yard sale
- Bake a complicated dish and film the process
- Learn how to draw using ink pens
A Final Word on Cheap Things to Do in the Summer
There you have it – my ultimate list of cheap things to do in the summer. I hope you are bored no longer and that you and your family have fun during your holiday while enjoying affordable summer activities! Pick one or two things you enjoy doing. Each week of the summer, choose a new activity. Experiment and enjoy – you may discover a new hobby you love.
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Janita is a frugal living expert and owner of Frugal Fun Finance. With over five years of personal experience finding and trying out the best ways to make and save more money, she's eager to share her knowledge. Janita's strategies have helped her save thousands of dollars for funding investments and traveling to over 20 countries.
Janita completed training in personal finance at The University of Western Ontario and McGill University, two prestigious Canadian universities. Her expertise has been shared on GoBankingRates, Yahoo Finance, and NASDAQ.com.
