Bored this summer but can’t afford to go on an expensive vacation? No need to feel deprived. Even in a recession, individuals and families can have a good time. In fact, many cheap activities are also healthier and better for you. Here are our favorite fun cheap things to do. Try to balance your recreational activities. Do some of them outdoors and some at home.
Play board games. You buy a board game only once. But you can use it forever. All you need is a table and other people to play with. Old favorites include backgammon, domino, Scrabble and mah jong. You won’t just save yourself a lot of money, you also get to exercise your brains. Excellent for children too.
Go to the park. Take your dog for a walk. Let your kids play in the open air. To make it more fun, bring a cooler with lunch so you can have a picnic. Some parks have barbecue facilities too. Here you get plenty of sunlight and fresh air. You give yourself and your family a workout. And you get to control what you eat. It’s much cheaper and healthier than going to the movies and having a soda an popcorn
Visit a museum. When was the last time you went to see the local museum? Bring your family, friends and a camera. Museums are a great place to spend a whole day in. And usually they are cheap.
Visit the library. While a library may not be on everybody’s list of fun cheap things to do, it deserves to be. At the local library, you can borrow hundreds of books, CDs and audio tapes for nothing. Not only that, you may also get free internet and computer access. Bring your laptop with cord.
Raid the dollar store. If you don’t know what a dollar store is, it’s a place where you can buy items for about $1 each. Just don’t expect to find standard name brands there. You’ll make big savings on everything from soda pop to shampoo.
Watch free movies. Why go to the theater when you have cable? Everyone has to have cable now anyway since the analog is gone. Cable providers offer hundreds of free movies each month. If there’s a fee, it’s usually small. Sure beats paying tickets at the theater.
For more cheap activities, check out http://money.aol.com/top5/general/best-dollar-store-buys and http://www.wisebread.com/free-and-cheap-fun-things-to-do-in-your-city
