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Sandals and baseball, beach days and the Fourth of July, there’s so much to love about summer. With kids out of school and more events to attend, summer can put pressure on your wallet. A great way to combat a swollen summer budget is to take a financial fast on a weekend – or several of them. Here are some ideas.

Plan ahead

Your spend-free weekend won’t happen without planning. Make sure the house is well-stocked with essentials, your car’s tank is full, and that there aren’t any bills due over your chosen weekend. Also, check the calendar to make sure you don’t have any planned social events that require the purchase of a gift, such as a shower or birthday party.

Get creative

This is the time for creative thinking! Put together a meal using only the ingredients you have at home, embody Picasso with a coloring contest, assemble your coolest fort, or break out your smoothest moves with a dance-off… the possibilities are endless as long as you stay creative!

Take a hike

The great outdoors is free! Look up a local trail you haven’t tried, walk your favorite path again, or take a drive somewhere new. Load your backpack with healthy snacks, water, and sunscreen and get ready to hit the trails! You can also make it an all-day outing and pack a blanket and easy picnic to enjoy at the end of your adventure.

Prioritize a lazy day

Designate one day of your weekend for a lazy day. Sleep as late as the kids or the pets allow, skip the day’s chores, have breakfast in bed whenever you feel like it, and spend the rest of the day binge-watching your favorite shows and movies, playing board games, or reading a good book.

Avoid temptation

Don’t tempt your willpower and wallet this weekend. When scrolling, avoid any shopping websites. If you’re out and about, skip the window shopping this weekend altogether.

Host a game night

Instead of spending money on the fun, why not bring the fun to you? Invite friends over for an epic, cost-free game night. Break out some of the snacks you have on hand and ask your guests to bring a dish to pass.

Attend free events

When you have to get out of the house but can’t spend a penny, free summer events are the way to go. Look up free concerts, festivals, fairs, art shows and more in local newspapers and on your city’s website event calendar.

Don’t give up

If something happens and you have to make a purchase, don’t throw in the towel. You can continue pick up from that moment and enjoy the rest of your weekend spend-free.

Category: Holiday & Fun