Summer is coming, and I’ve been racking my brain to come up new ideas for my family to try during the summer. And yes, I want these ideas to be as inexpensive as possible! For those who follow Dave Ramsey, we have been trying our best to continue with his financial plan with a few tweaks after making a lot of cuts to get out of consumer/student loan debt. (Hello, Baby Step 6)!

Family togetherness is huge to me. As our kids get older, this isn’t always possible unfortunately. But when we are together, I hope that we can make good memories. And surprise, surprise, I’ve learned that we do not actually have to spend a lot of money to have fun! Our goal is to try out at least one or two new activities per week throughout the summer.

Some fun summer ideas include:

• Visit the local park.
• Visit the local wildlife refuge.
• Spend the day at the beach.
• Take a nature walk.
• Collect flowers.
• Roast marshmallows.
• Family movie night!
• Make a craft.
• Visit the library.
• Kiddie pool and sprinkler time.
• Buy a museum family membership and visit often.
• Watch the stars.
• Grow a garden.
• Create a family art exhibit.
• Donate extras to a family in need.
• Make cards to send to children in the hospital.
• Attend the local story time.
• Play and organized sport.
• Take photos together.
• Organize a “safari” with your stuffed animals.
• Create a nature journal.
• Have a yard sale where the kids keep their own profits.
• Play horseshoes.
• Family game night.
• Take a bike ride.
• Check out free community events.
• Visit a local festival.
• Family carnival night.
• Have a water balloon fight.
• Blow bubbles.
• Sidewalk art.
• Collect items for a family nature table.
• Help a neighbor in need.
• Check out local state parks.
• Bird watch.
• Make bird feeders.
• Make tie die shirts.
• Make a butterfly garden.
• Make cupcakes.
• Make ice cream sundaes.
• Luau party!
• Visit a local farm.
• Draw names and do something special for that person.
• Fireworks and sparklers.
• Try a new recipe.
• Have a cook out.

Most of these ideas are pretty common sense, and remember that there are many ways to think out of the box when it comes to your individual family.