12 Fun Things to Do In Summer Without Breaking the Bank

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What's in and what's out this summer? The Cheapskate has your answer.

By Jeff Yeager

Fun Things to Do in Summer

You don't have to take out a second mortgage to have a blast this summer. Here's what's hot and what's not when it comes to having summer fun in the New Economy:

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Out: Country Clubs

Initiation fees and annual dues will easily set you back a hefty five figures, according to the Club Manager's Association of America.

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In: Local Sports Leagues

For kids and adults, summer softball, volleyball, soccer and a host of other amateur sports leagues are the new, cool clubs to join. Most charge some type of dues or fees, but unlike country clubs, it's rarely an amount that's going to be a tradeoff between bankrupting your kid's college fund and being able to say "I belong to a club." See leaguelineup.com for a league near you.
Related: The Surprising Origins of 4 Popular Lawn Games

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Out: Amusement Parks

Entry fees and add-ons at even local amusement parks can easily cost a family a four well over $100, with major parks costing nearly that much per person per day.

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In: County Fairs

County fairs can be an affordable alternative to pricey amusement parks. Find fairs in your area atcountyfairgrounds.net, and ask about special discount days for families, kids, seniors, etc. Some fairs even allow you to carry food into the fairgrounds to have a picnic with the family, saving you even more.
Related: 12 of the Best U.S. Farmers' Markets

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Out: Expensive Dinner Parties and Restaurant Meals

Tired of always being stuck with the check when you go out to eat with friends? Try these money-saving alternatives.

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In: Pot-lucks, Backyard BBQ's and Progressive Dinner Parties

Eating in is the new eating out. Try setting a theme (e.g. Mexican night, all-crock-pot feast, etc.) for potlucks to make them more festive and fun. You can also share the cooking – and the costs – by having a moveable feast, with each of your friends hosting the group in their home for one course of a progressive dinner party.
Related: 28 Delicious Summer Recipes

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Out: Water Parks

Sure they're fun and refreshing on a hot summer day, but they can really soak you financially.

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In: Squirt Guns, Water Balloons and Kiddie Pools

For less than the cost of a single one-day ticket to an expensive water park, you can probably equip yourself for a whole summer's worth of wet-n-wild fun. Save your empty squeeze bottles from dish soap and repurpose them as high-caliber squirt guns, or make your own "super soaker" out of common household items using the directions found atsscentral.org/homemade.
Related: 6 Facts and Myths about Swimming Safety

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Out: Green Fees

A round of golf will cost you about $40 at a public course, according to the National Golf Foundation, and usually a lot more at private courses.

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In: Living Green

Of course living green is always in, but in the summer it can be extra fun and save you even more money by planting a backyard vegetable garden. If you don't have space for a garden, many vegetables can be grown in pots and other containers, including most herbs, tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, and even radishes and beets. Or consider planting some perennial vegetables, which will deliver a fresh crop every year once they're established.
Related: Organic Gardening Tips

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Out: Luxury Cruises

A cruise can easily cost hundreds of dollars per day, and that's before all the add-ons the industry is notorious for pushing.

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In: Canoe, Kayak and Tube Rentals

Be the captain of your own boat! There are thousands of local canoe liveries and outfitters around the country where you can rent a canoe, kayak, inner tube or raft for less than the cost of a round of piña coladas onboard the Love Boat. Find an outfitter near you at propaddle.com — and be sure to always wear your life jacket.
Related: America's 11 Most Endangered Rivers

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Out: Fancy Resorts and Hotels

Lodging is often the single largest expense on a summer vacation, but what it cost you nothing?

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In: Camping and Couch Surfing

There are plenty of places where you can camp for free(or cheap), including many National Forests where "primitive camping" is usually allowed for free. And when you're on the road, many Wal-Marts will let you camp overnight in your RV in their parking lots. If you're looking for indoor accommodations, check out CouchSurfing.org, a nonprofit organization with half a million hosts all around the world who will let travelers crash on their couches for free.
Related: Why I Stay at the Cheapest Sleazy Hotels

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Out: Sailing Yachts

Can't spare $103 million for a yacht like this one? Then...

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In: Sailing Kites

... go fly a kite! Making your own kites is almost as much fun as flying them. You can even recycle materials like newspaper and paper bags in the process. And cloth rags or old neckties make perfect kite tails.
Related: How to Reuse and Recycle Almost Anything

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Out: Spas and Massages

I've never understood how a $100 an hour massage can be relaxing. The very thought of spending that much makes me tense.

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In: Napping in the Hammock

The simple things in life are often times the best. Relaxing in a backyard hammock is hard to beat, but if you hang one between two trees, make sure you don't hurt or kill the trees by driving nails or screws into them or leaving ropes or cords wrapped around them permanently. Another fun summer project is to make your own hammock.
Related: Summer Cocktail Recipes with Garden Ingredients

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Out: Summer Camps for the Kids

According to the National Camp Association, the typical sleep-away summer camp charges about $1,000 per week (homesickness counseling included).

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In: Sleepovers

Set up a rotating schedule of summer sleepovers with your kids' network of friends, so that they can still tell ghost stories 'til the wee hours and every set of parents get some kid-free time. And for inexpensive, fun programs during the day, check out the schedule of summer activities at your local parks and rec department.
Related: 30 Ways to Get Your Kid to Play Outside

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Out: The Latest Summer Fashions

Fashionistas tell me that the must-have shoe for men this summer is the Car Shoe. At $480 a pair, that's nearly as much as I paid for my last car.

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In: Last Summer's Fashions

Can't we just agree that the last summer's colors and styles are still in vogue and save ourselves a bunch of money? And, looking ahead to next summer, don't forget to shop for end-of-season bargains come August — if you buy that swim suit on sale at the end of this summer, it might just inspire you to fit into it come next summer. Now that's fashionable.
Related: 5 End-of-Season Sales to Watch For

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