Guest Post: Saving Money with Your Kids During the Summer Holiday

Here are some wonderful ways to save money this summer with your kids. This is a special guest post. I know you will fully enjoy this post. Please let Nadia know how much you appreciate her ideas by posting your comments in the comment box below.

Have a fun in-expensive summer with your kids!!!

Cheers…Amanda van der Gulik…Excited Life Enthusiast! ;o)

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Saving Money with Your Kids During the Summer Holiday
by Nadia Jones

With the kids out of school for summer vacation, parents expect late nights, eventful outings, and summer parties. But with movies, amusement parks, family trips, and eating out, the summertime can really put a big dent in the family budget. Use the extravagance of the summer season to teach your kids about saving money and budgeting. Talking to your kids about money is undeniably crucial to teaching them the importance of responsible spending. However, the best lessons are those that are put into practice. Demonstrate careful spending practices during the summertime and get your kids in on the action with you. All too often, kids begin to associate fun with spending money and extravagance. Find ways to have fun during the summer break without busting your budget. These fun summer activities and practices will help teach your kids responsible spending and instill in them the notion that entertainment doesn’t have to come from money.

Have a Family Campout
With summer comes the prospect of a family summer vacation. While there is nothing as fun (and stressful) as taking a trip with your kids, huge family vacations can carry a hefty price tag. This year, rather than flying the whole family to Disneyland or taking an expensive cruise, try vacationing on a budget. Get the kids excited about a camping trip or family “staycation”. While Mickey Mouse and giant vacations are a must at some point, not every summer has to involve a bank busting trip. Plan a weekend camping trip. Camping is significantly less expensive than traveling somewhere and paying for a hotel. Rather than dishing out tons of money on camping gear, consider borrowing from a friend or camping in your vehicle. Of course, you’ll need to make sure that you research the climate and environment you are hoping to “rough it” in. Camping can be a great way to bring the family together and take what feels like a significant vacation without spending too much money. If camping in the mountains or woods is too far for you, try doing a backyard campout. The kids will love this activity because they get to use their vast imaginations. Pitch a tent, make a (careful) bonfire, and roast marshmallows.

Visit the Local Library
While going to the movies or amusement park is always fun, there are plenty of other fun activities around town that don’t cost as much. Try visiting your local library or bookstore. During the summer hours, libraries and bookstores will often have free events for both kids and adults. Often, there will be group book readings and plays. These activities can be fun and enriching for kids. Even if there are not any organized activities at your local library, going there with your kids to find a book can be an activity in itself. Let your kids explore the stacks and find any books they might want. Set up an area to sit, read, and relax.

Use Passes and Coupons
Rather than paying full price admission to the zoo, movie theater, or museum, consider investing in the summer passes to these places. If you will be going to the Natural History Museum or the local zoo regularly, buying a summer pass can save you a significant amount of money. Also, by buying a pass you have the luxury of enjoying your time at these attractions without feeling rushed. You won’t feel that you need to get through each exhibit to get your money’s worth. Take your time and enjoy the experience. One thing that I love to do is set up a regular routine during the summer for all of my family activities. I organize it so that every Tuesday we visit the zoo. Build a curriculum with your kids around these visits. One week we will only visit the bird exhibits and the next we will only visit the rainforest exhibits. This was your kids can really spend time examining each exhibit and animal. Finding a way to combine this curriculum with your other summer activities can be extremely educational for your kids. Have your kids pick one animal from their visit to the zoo and have them look up books about that animal at the library when you visit that week. Your kids will love learning all about the animal of their choice and sporting their knowledge the next time they go to the zoo.

Author Bio:
This is a guest post by Nadia Jones who blogs about education, college, student, teacher, money saving, movie related topics. You can reach her at nadia.jones5 @ gmail.com.

Here are some fun books I found on Amazon with great ideas on other ways to have some fun with your kids while still on a budget! Enjoy! ;o)

(Simply click on the books to take a “sneak peek” inside them!)