Everyday Cheap Family Fun

The Frugal Way to a Family Rich with Priceless Memories

Everyday cheap family fun comes from the little things you do to save money but keeps the focus on family fun activities that enrich your life.

The fact that frugal family fun costs practically nothing should be the bonus. The reward is in the time you spend with your family. Having a fun frugal mindset just takes the ability to see what's already around you with a new appreciation...and a little practice.

Here are some of the things we do to have unlimited fun, and good times day to day on a limited budget.

Keep Up with Local Happenings. There is no need to feel like you can't have a family outing just because money is tight. Look through your community newspaper, or your state website to find opportunites for local family fun that fall within your budget. Fairs, Festivals, Open Houses, Expos, Car Shows, Yard Sales, Flea Markets, Holiday and Seasonal events, are just a few of the locally sponsored, low cost events that my kids and I enjoy throughtout any given year.

Keep a Boredom Buster Box. Fill a storage container with inexpensive toys and activities. Bubbles, Card Games, Coloring Books, Puzzles, Frisbees, Dominoes, Magic Kits, Sidewalk Chalk and Silly Putty are just a few things that come to mind, and all are available in the toy aisle of your local Dollar Store. Don't let your kids know you have this box. Simply pull out something new and fun whenever they complain that they're bored. This is especially handy on hot summer days, or cold winter days when everyone is stuck inside.

Rent Movies instead of going to the movies. Join Netflix Netflix.com or Blockbuster.com for low cost movie rentals that come right to your mailbox. My family rents movies this way and we love it. We're able to rent a lot more movies per month than I could ever afford if we went to the theatre, or even by renting the conventional way.There are no late fees and we always have something new to watch. Plus the selection is endless.This cheap family fun idea almost seems like a luxury that actually contributes to frugal living.
Support Your Local Thespians. If your local high school has a drama society chances are they'll be presenting some sort of production at least once, maybe twice a year. My kids and I love the energy and excitement of live performance and we've seen some really good high school productions that cost very little. Colleges and community theatres are also very affordable ways to have a family night at the theatre.

Find Your Local Scouting Troops. We have a Brownie and a Cub Scout in our family.The Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts organizations have been in existence for decades and offer children the opportunity to work in teams, learn about respect, self-discipline, and the spirit of volunteerism. The fees are extremely reasonable, but you can't put a value on the things your children and you will come away with.

Restock your craft supplies often.. Keep your kids crafting without spending tons of money.

Zac getting his first ever derby trophy

free family crafts

Rethink the Family Vacation. A three day weekend at a nice motel at a location you can just drive to can be a great vacation getaway. The same rules apply whether you're flying away for two weeks, or driving away for two days. Find affordable family vacation ideas and vacation tips here. Pick your destination up to a year in advance, and be realistic about what you can afford. Stressing over money while on vacation isn't relaxing at all.

Visit the Library often. The library can be a great source of cheap family fun both for the kids and for you. Read aloud times, book clubs, presentations based on book topics, and used book sales are a lot of fun for my own kids because they all love to read, so anything that has to do with books really gets them excited. But who can afford retail book store prices several times a week? The library keeps them knee deep in "new" books to read without me having to go broke over it.

Have Family Game Nights or, Mornings, or Afternoons. It's a cliche' by now; family game night for cheap family fun. But it's true. Sitting around your kitchen table with some good snacks and a fast paced family fun game won't cost as much as a night out for all of you. Plus you can have a lot of laughs and connect through that laughter.