Mom of the House: How to be frugal in summer

June 20th marked the first day of summer, or Summer Solstice. With school almost ending and summer sports and programming starting, I am really starting to get into the summer mode in our house.

One thing I was reminded of this year is how expensive summer can be. We often need new things like a new summer wardrobe for the kids, a swimsuit, a couple of fresh bottles of sunscreen, some pretty hanging baskets and plants, new sandals, new water shoes, and new crocs. Then there is summer travel.

Before long, summer has become a whole new expense, and the adventure of a new season doesn’t sound so exciting anymore.

We try to be frugal in our household, but are noticing that as our children grow our bank account seems to shrink. Our kids like summery things like ice cream and going on weekend adventures, but the cost of keeping them entertained and making new memories can feel overwhelming.

I decided to create a local summer bucket list of fun and exciting things to do, as a family, that doesn’t cost anything.

If I feel like my kids are restless, I can simply look at my summer bucket list and remind myself that memories don’t have to cost a dime.

I decided to share my summer bucket list, in hopes to inspire other local families to join me on a frugal Summer 2016.

Enjoy local splash pads: The obvious choice is Market Square at City Hall, but there are other splash pads in Guelph worth exploring. Hanlon Creek Park has a splash pad, as does Norm Jary Park, Waverley Park, and the West End Community Centre. View the City of Guelph’s website for more information. My kids love going to the splash pad midday to cool off in the summer heat and I love that they can have fun and make memories for free!
Venture out on some new and family-friendly trails: Guelph is well known for its exciting walking and hiking trails for all levels of hikers. We have decided this summer to venture out into the Eramosa River Trail and Starkey Hill Conservation Area, two beautiful and unique trails and are fun for the entire family. Read about the many hiking trails here.
Check out some parks beyond the walkable: Our family typically only enjoys the parks closest to our home. During the day we typically go for a short walk to the park and I let the kids enjoy the morning on the swings and slides. But there are so many parks in Guelph, and sometimes beyond your neighbourhood is an exciting adventure for the family. You can view a long list of parks available on the City of Guelph’s website.
Join the Summer Reading Club at Guelph Public Library: I have fond memories of excitedly filling out my card for the summer reading challenge at my local library as a kid. This year will be my first year encouraging my own pre-readers to join Guelph’s Summer Reading Club, and motivating them with the fun rewards the library offers.
Go strawberry picking at Butts Family Farm: Not exactly a free adventure, but still inexpensive, I plan on taking our kids strawberry picking at Butt’s Berry Farm. I hear that the strawberry season hasn’t been great, so we will be going as soon as possible to pick some berries. It is less expensive to pick your own berries than to buy them already picked, and it’s a great learning experience for the kids.
Take the kids to the Farmers’ Market every Saturday: Our family enjoys fresh produce from the Farmers’ Market each week, but typically my husband goes alone in the early morning. This summer we would like to break that habit in favour of spending the morning as a family picking out fresh produce and letting our children participate in the experience. Of course we’ll be suckered into buying them fresh powdered donuts and freshly squeezed orange juice.
Fourth Friday at Guelph Civic Museum: The fourth Friday of each month the Guelph Civic Museum opens its doors and allows people to enjoy the museum free of charge. Lucky for us, Friday is our day off from work, and we will be taking advantage of this great opportunity. Anyone who has never been to the Museum should really check it out, it has an amazing kid-friendly area with lots of interactive activities.
Walk the gardens of the Arboretum: This is our third summer living in Guelph, and somehow we have never been to the Arboretum in the summer. This year we will be taking a picnic lunch and enjoying an afternoon at the University of Guelph’s Arboretum.
Attend Art in the Street as a family: One of my favourite events of the summer, I love spending the day at Art in the Street. There are plenty of activities for children as well, and I plan on taking my kids and encouraging them to appreciate the unique and fun event.
Camp in our backyard: I am not a fan of camping, but back in our pre-children days my husband and I did go camping a fair bit. We even have a beautiful and large tent that would fit our entire family of four comfortably. But since I’m not quite ready to go out into the woods with a 2 and 4 year old, I think we will try camping in our backyard this year. I know my kids will have a blast, and if they get scared in the night, our beds are a few short steps away.
Take the kids to a local baseball game: We don’t have the budget (or the patience) for a Jays game in Toronto, but we could take the kids to see a baseball game in Guelph. We can either take them to see friends that play baseball in a local league, or wait until the Guelph Gryphons return in late August.
Have a celebratory summer BBQ with friends, potluck style: My kids get their flair for hospitality from their mother. I love hosting large groups of people in my home, even if there isn’t a lot of space. My kids are always excited when we’re having a party, and since we are moving on July 1st, we may as well host a housewarming party this summer. It’s a great way to make memories and a fun excuse to gather friends and enjoy a cold beer, or three.
Grab a free kiddie cone at McDonald’s Downtown: This year we discovered that McDonald’s offers free kiddie cones, even if you’re not a kid! They are really tiny, and sometimes a bit of a tease, but on a hot day when the kids are begging for a “little” treat, it’s a great way to spoil them without taking out the debit card. We have already knocked this off of our bucket a handful of times...
Visit the Fairy Doors at Exhibition Park: Fairy doors are popping up all over Exhibition Park. My children will love exploring Exhibition Park and imagining many different stories for the fairy homes we come across. We may even make our own fairy doors at home.
Set up a lemonade stand at the bottom of our driveway: My oldest daughter has been asking to put up a lemonade stand on our driveway since Christmas. At some point this summer we will have to make her dreams come true and set up a stand, and teach her a bit about entrepreneurship. This isn’t just frugal, it’s a money-making summer activity for the whole family!