Catch me tomorrow morning on WTHR Weekend Sunrise at 7:45 AM! Here’s a sneak peek of some of the money saving tips I’ll share.
Summertime can leave you feeling hot and sweaty, both because of the rising temps and the number of seasonal expenses sure stretch your budget. Do not get bent of shape when it comes to family fun this summer. Entertaining the kids doesn’t have to cost a lot & you can still have a great time. Here are my favorite ways to keep your bank account cool during the hot months of summer.
Summer is ripe with events that are free for kids and adults alike. From summer reading programs to discounted movies, workshops, festivals & more, there is no better time of the year to save money on entertainment. Some of my royal favorites include:
Summer Reading Programs: Go immediately to your favorite public library’s website. My guess is there are a number of a great classes, workshops, and movie nights planned already. Don’t forget to sign up for Summer Reading too! Log your hours of reading in the sunshine and you could win great prizes. The fun’s not just for the kids, either. Many libraries offer summer reading programs for adults, too. Build your summer calendar around what your nearest branch has to offer. Pottery Barn, Barnes & Noble, Half-Priced Books, Scholastic, and more offer great summer reading programs for kids. Each has different stipulations but most offer a FREE book for hours logged. Keep your little Princes and Princesses reading and reward them too, without spending a dime. I’ve outlined several of these programs on Queen of Free this week. Be sure to read the specifics and get reading this afternoon and be sure to track the pages, hours, or books so you don’t miss out. Check out 2013 Summer Reading Program Round Up.
Summer Movie Programs: Some theaters offer Summer Movie “Camp” where on a weekday morning, you can catch a flick for free or at a low cost. Typically the movies are rated G or PG and are blockbusters from the previous year. Again, check out this post from earlier this week outlining each of the Summer Movie Camps I’ve found in the greater Indianapolis area. Many of these special offerings also include snack deals that won’t have you cashing in your 401K just to buy some popcorn. From free movies in the park to $1 or even $0.50 deals, you can find them all in Summer 2013 FREE & Cheap Movie Round Up!
Kids Workshops & Classes: See what your local Home Depot, Lowe’s, Michael’s Lake Shore Learning, Lego Store, Pottery Barn, & Jo-Ann’s stores have to offer this summer. Many Saturday mornings have great FREE offerings for kids. Have a kid who’s into technology? Check out the Apple Store’s Kids’ Summer Camp. All of the workshops are absolutely free. Typically these events are geared toward elementary aged kids and you stay with your child while it’s going on {it’s not free childcare}.
Summer Festivals and Concerts: Indianapolis has a number of amazing FREE festivals and events during the summer to help families enjoy the great outdoors but not spend a penny. Among them are: PBS Kids in the Park: June 15th head to Military Park in downtown Indianapolis for WFYI PBS Kids in the Park. Meet your favorite PBS characters, participate in free children’s activities, and enjoy a fun family experience without even cracking into your entertainment budget. Concerts on the Canal: Every Thursday night catch a FREE concert and get FREE admission to the Indiana Historical Society’s Indiana Experience from 4-8 PM. I also LOVE to check the Radio Disney Calendar for the festivals and events that they’ll be attending which are usually free and kidcentric. And I keep everyone up to date on the best free fun in the Indianapolis area on Doing Indy, too!
Before we know it, the stores will be stocking new backpacks, pencils, and notebooks. Make a plan for both an affordable and fun summer for your entire family before the calendar flies into September.
