They say the best things in life are free. It just
doesn’t seem so when your family drops $100
on dinner and a night at the movies. This time
of year, many families turn to indoor entertainment, which can be more expensive than warm
weather fun.
Regardless of your financial situation, intentional spending and learning to balance wants and
needs are important when it comes to the family budget. Here are some simple ways to spend
time with your family without spending much
(or any) money:
Hike Even in winter there are great trails and
parks worth the effort of bundling up! Other
than a national or state park fee… water,
simple snacks, and good shoes are pretty
much the only requirements. Hiking with
other families or friends is a great way to get
exercise, form friendships, and discover the
wildlife. Revisiting the same trails during
different seasons is a way to investigate how
ecosystems grow and change. Letterboxing
and Geocaching add to your hike’s adventure.
Childcare Swaps Instead of paying a
babysitter or staying home all the time, ask
another family to trade childcare. Taking
your children to someone else’s house for the
afternoon or evening will allow them time
to play with friends and new toys, and have
a chance to get out as well. When it’s your
turn to host, plan a craft or special activity to
make it a special occasion.
Potlucks Going out to eat can get pretty
pricey, especially when you try to avoid the
generally unhealthy kids’ menu. Cooking at
home is one of the best ways to keep within
your budget. Organize a potluck or cocooking night. Plan to make a couple dishes,
(even a pizza and salad are great), and have
the other family bring some of the ingredients. While the kids play, the adults can
spend time in the kitchen chopping or rolling dough. Have the kids set the table or help
in cooking, and when it’s dinnertime, you’ll
appreciate the freshness, collaboration, and
fewer dollars you needed to spend.
Movie Night Netflix, Redbox, Amazon,
Hulu, etc. all have ways to see movies for as
little as a dollar. Or don’t be afraid to dust off
the movies you own but haven’t watched in a
while. Make it a regular occurrence and let
family members take turns choosing what
you watch. Lay blankets and pillows on the
floor and turn out the lights. Your kids will
look forward to this tradition, and you’ll be
a lot more comfortable, maybe even enough
for a double feature.
Family Game Night Many of
us have stacks of games shoved in drawers or
closets. Plan a night a week or a couple times
a month, to pull them out. Put on good
music, have lots of snacks on hand, and pile
around the kitchen table. You’ll find yourself laughing, telling stories, and dusting off
more of those forgotten games.
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