Introduction

It always happens the same way. The last day of school of the year arrives. The kids come flying through the door, buzzing with energy. But when you look at the calendar, you realize there are 11 weeks of summer vacation ahead without a plan to entertain the children – and without a camp budget to spend on summer activities!

I’ve been there. As a working single mom, summer used to be a challenge since many summer activities for the kids were expensive. There would be costs associated with day trips, camps, and even entertainment all day while I was working from home.

However, I discovered that the best summers for my children were not the expensive vacations. Instead, they were remembered best when we took a bit of time to be creative and find adventures in small activities – all without spending a cent!

In this blog post, I have a summer activity plan for you and your children that will not empty your wallet! It includes a budget before June arrives, free activities, and a weekly framework to keep the kids entertained all summer long – without any stress – and for FREE!

Step 1: Set your summer budget before it starts

The biggest mistake with summer money is not putting a cap on how much you will spend on your children. Impulse buys on ice cream, boredom purchases at Target, and lunch breaks for the family can quickly add up.

To determine the total summer budget for your family, use this formula:

Number of summer weeks × your weekly spending cap = total summer budget

For example, if there are 10 weeks of summer and you plan on spending $50 per week on your children for summer activities, then the total summer budget will be $500.

With $500 for summer, you could set aside:

$200 for activities for the children

$150 for snacks and meals

$75 for supplies

$75 for one big splurge

Adjust the numbers to your situation. However, having a plan for your summer budget before the season starts is the first step!

Where parents accidentally overspend during the summer vacation

Convenience food

Since the children are at home all summer, there will be meals and snacks eaten by the kids. Parents tend to reach for the fast food places more than they plan on.

Boredom toys

Kids will find an object of interest that costs a dollar or less and play with it for 20 minutes!

Impulse day trips

Planned day trips can cost hundreds of dollars. However, when the day trip is actually bought, it may cost 3 times the planned price for food, gas, and souvenirs.

Unplanned camp sign-ups

Camps can be expensive – if parents do not plan to secure the spot for their child, they may have to pay the full registration price, possibly not getting a spot for their child all summer!

Free community resources that most families don’t know about

Free library reading programs for the summer months

Free swim days at local parks and community pools

Free admission days at local museums

Free lunches for children under 18 at local USDA programs, summer meals

Free concerts, movies, and festivals during the summer months

Quick tip

All of the above programs are available when you search for the following on Google: “free kids summer programs [your city]”

Additionally, the Facebook pages of mom groups in your area may have events that may not be publicly advertised.

Budget activity ideas that your kids will actually love

Free day trips outdoors

Splash pad or public park

Nature scavenger hunt

Bike trail days

Backyard water balloon fights

Summer library activities

Summer reading contest

Summer library craft and story time programs

Free educational apps for kids

Creative activities at home

Cardboard box building contest

Backyard movie nights

Create slime or science kits

Build a DIY art supply station

Low-cost outing ideas

Visit the Dollar Movie Theater on the weekends

National Parks annual pass for the whole family ($35)

Farmers markets

Drive-in movies

Social and community activities

Neighborhood Olympics

Playdate swap list to ensure every child has at least one playdate during the summer

Lemonade stand contest in the neighborhood

Volunteer to help at the community garden

Rainy day activities

Create an indoor fort in the living room

Have a marathon of board games to play

DIY spa day for the kids

The 3-2-1 weekly summer framework

Rather than planning what activities to do this summer, just use the following framework for variety throughout the seasons:

3 days of free activities (kids at home)

2 days of low-cost outings

1 day of a wildcard activity (or a special day with a bigger outing)

That’s it! This summer framework will work for your family. It does not require a detailed plan for the week – just a general understanding of what types of activities you will do each week.

A sample week that follows this framework and the budget activities listed above might look like the following

Monday – Backyard scavenger hunt and popsicle making

Tuesday – Summer library reading and story time

Wednesday – Splash pad at the community park

Thursday – Cardboard box building and homemade pizza night

Friday – Nature trail and creek exploration

Saturday – Farmers market visit

Sunday – Reset day to plan next week’s activities

20 boredom jar activity ideas

Creative indoor activities

Build a blanket fort

Draw a comic strip

Make up a dance routine

Bake something from scratch

Make slime

Learning and imagination activities

Read for 30 minutes

Write a short story

Design your dream bedroom

Make up a board game

The hidden cost of summer – summer food

Where summer budgets fall apart is in food costs. Many parents who work during the summer months have little time to cook meals for their children. Additionally, their children may ask “what’s for lunch?” every 45 minutes!

Summer food tips that will work for your family

Batch-cook a few different lunch options on the weekend

Create a snack bar in the kitchen

Create a freezer program for different summer treats

Plan a special day for food

Free summer meals for kids – USDA Summer Meals Program

Many local USDA programs offer free summer lunch for children under 18. These locations include schools, parks, libraries, community centers, and more.

The one splurge that you should save for the summer months

For those with a summer budget, it is important to save for one meaningful experience during the summer vacation season for the entire family.

One summer splurge idea for each family

A day at the local water park

A short road trip

Get kids involved in earning the summer splurge

A summer splurge does not necessarily have to be earned by simply saving your money.

The real gift of a budget summer vacation

Your children will not remember the expensive summertime activities that you provided for them. Instead, they will remember your backyard movie nights, the boredom jar, the days that you took them to explore the area, and creating a scrapbook of their summer adventures.

While you enjoy a budget and stress-free summer vacation, your children will remember the time with you – and you will enjoy your September vacation with less stress about money!

Final Thoughts

Plan a budget for the summer months. Utilize the free summer activities for the kids. Create a 3-2-1 framework for each summer week. Create a boredom jar for your kids. Plan something for the family and all to look forward to during summer vacation.

For parents who also want to focus on their child’s overall wellness during summer break, this guide on healthy habits for kids shares simple ways to build healthier daily routines for children.

Now go enjoy your summer!