How to Have A Budget Friendly Summer

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Summer break has arrived! Phew, we made it through another school year..mostly in tact!

Now comes summer, and let me tell you--- my son has QUITE the list of things he wants to do this summer. Trips to the zoo. Trips to a semi-local amusement park. Trips to museums and mini golf, etc. Not to mention the visits from the ice cream truck he's impatiently awaiting!

I don't know about you but when I read through this list---I see dollar signs! They all sound great of course, but with our tight budget, they just aren't all going to be possible this year. Still I want my kids to have a summer they will remember, so how do we get those fun summer memories without breaking the bank? Today I'm sharing a few ideas:

• Have a Park Picnic. Pack up a lunch and make a day of it. Don't have a park close enough? No worries- a backyard picnic can be just a fun! They are our favorites!
• Go camping...in your backyard! This is an especially good idea for young or first time campers. If they get scared, you can still move indoors for the night. Set up a tent, grab your sleeping bags and start a campfire. Nothing to pack, it's all right there. Bonus? No peeing in the woods!
• Water Balloon Pinatas. Fill up some water balloons, tie on some string and hang them from the trees. Let your kids go at them! 
• Squirt Gun Painting. Fill your squirt guns with paint and water, lay out some paper and go! Have some old white tees?...it might be a fun idea to throw those on.
• Have a Lemonade Stand. Not only will it be fun for the kids, they can earn some money to do more fun things (or buy more ice cream from the ice cream truck) too!
• Free Movies. During the summer months, many theaters offer free family movies. These are typically movies that are already out on DVD, but it gets you out of the house and doesn't cost anything! 
• Plant a Garden. It's fun for the kids, and you save money on fresh produce. My son's favorite part is finding worms to put in the garden!
• Dollar Tree Activities. Have a local dollar tree? It can be a great resource for summer fun- sidewalk chalk, jump ropes, hula hoops, bubbles and more can all be found right there! Why pay extra?

These are just a few fun ideas to save this summer. What are some of your favorite money saving ideas for summer? Share them in the comments!