DOLLARS AND SENSE

SUMMER FUN YOU CAN AFFORD

by Joe Plemon 

You want to get away, but money is tight and you just can’t afford that Disney World vacation this year.  But don’t despair.  Use your imagination to make this summer one that will be memorable for you and your kids.  The list of ideas is limitless, but here are a few to get your creative juices flowing:

·         Go camping:  If you are equipped and experienced, pack your stove, supplies, tent and kids.  We slept all six of us in one tent when our kids were small, and we often would just travel 20 or 30 miles to a great state park.  If you aren’t ready to rough it that much, set up a tent or two in your back yard and create a family adventure.

·         Water fight:  Invite friends and neighbors.  Supply water balloons and squirt guns, create some rules (or maybe not) and have a blast getting soaked.

·         Read:  OK.  Maybe not the same excitement as a water fight, but exciting nevertheless.  Take your kids to the public library and let them pick their own books.  Our oldest despised reading until we got him a subscription to a skate board magazine. 

·         Take a day trip:  Although you pay for parking and other special attractions, admittance to the St Louis Zoo is still free.  Again, use your imagination.  A one day getaway can be an adventure for your entire family.

·         Play some board games:  Scrabble, Sorry, Life, Monopoly, Candyland or even Checkers.  Sure, it might seem mundane to video game cultured kids, but playing a game with their parents is an experience any kid will cherish.

·         Volunteer in the community:  No, it doesn’t sound like fun, but helping others can be a great way to not only pass on some terrific values to your children but also create teachable moments when they ask about why they are doing this.

Determine now to do only what you can pay cash for.  With some imagination, you can have a great, affordable and memorable family summer.