Family fun for under $20

It’s the dog days of summer and if you want to get in the last couple of family fun days and nights, it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Although the best things in life are free, you can have a really amazing time for under $20 too!

Museums

Every museum has discount days and nights. Just consult your local museum website to see which times are best for the frugal family. You can also save on snacks by packing a family picnic to be enjoyed in the museum grounds or a nearby park. Match your picnic to the museum theme, for example a trip to the dinosaur exhibition can be followed up with barbequed ribs while sandwiches cut into interesting shapes are the perfect snack after the museum of modern art.

Camping adventure

Camping can be an expensive affair, unless you do it in your backyard. Don’t have a backyard? Ask a neighbour or family member to lend you theirs. Pitch a tent and have a barbeque. Play flashlight tag, stargaze and tell campfire stories.

The family that plays together…

Collect a couple of large corrugated boxes from your local grocery store. Spend your $20 on glue, paint and other decorative elements from the dollar store. Now you and your family can create something really special from your boxes. You can make a puppet theater and sock puppets for an evening show. You can make houses that will ensure days of family fun, tea parties and playing ‘house’. You can also create space ships, pirate boats, rockets, castles and thrones – just about anything you can imagine can be made from a little glue and a cardboard box.

Upcycling projects

Collect old furniture and toys from garage sales or from your attic. Work together as a family to refurbish them. Old toys can be cleaned and repaired while old furniture can be repainted to look good as new. You can sell your upcycled items and use the money for other activities, donate them to charity or use them in your home.