July 2011

Enjoy a Summer of Savings on 20 Things To Do With The Family

Day at the Park

Summer is no fun if it puts you in debt for the rest of the year. Below are 20 ways to share the good times at great prices or for free.

  1. Summer movie night: Now until August 31, General Mills is offering free $12 movie tickets. Purchase two specially marked boxes and enter the codes online to print out your free tickets.
  2. Be a star: Grab your digital camera and make a family movie for Facebook or YouTube. Get everyone involved in creating the story, picking the props and costumes and performing.
  3. Culture on the cheap: Target offers free or reduced admission to arts and cultural events nationwide. Visit the Target web site for events near you.
  4. Read it and reap (the rewards): A child's summer reading adventure starts at the library and leads to a free book at Barnes & Noble. Download the Barnes & Noble reading journal then have children read eight free books at the library and record them in the journal. Take the completed journal to your local store and choose a free book from a list chosen for various age levels.
  5. Get bowled over: Children 16 and under can bowl for free this summer at your local AMF lanes. Just register your children and you’ll receive coupons via email for two free games per child per day. Then, every Sunday you’ll receive weekly coupons throughout the summer.
  6. Explore your city: Imagine visiting your hometown as a tourist and enjoy not having to pay for a hotel or dining out. Visit the web site of your local convention and visitor's bureau to find discount offers on local attractions. Log on to www.free-attractions.com to find free walking tours, street fairs and other events.
  7. Take a trip in the time machine: Spend a day enjoying summer as you, your parents or grandparents did when they were children. Get out the checkers and board games or grab a bicycle and tour the neighborhood.
  8. Experience history: Check on the Internet for a list of the historical markers in your state and take a trip to the ones near you. .
  9. Listen up: Learn something new or fuel your passion with free podcasts. Create an iTunes account and gain access to free lectures and lessons at iTunes U.
  10. Pitch in: Volunteer at a community clean-up or join in a charity walk to add a new dimension to quality time with friends and family.
  11. Slow down and catch up: The summer is a perfect time to email, write, call or visit with old friends.
  12. Grin and Yogi Bear it: Peanut butter and jelly is always more fun at a picnic so dress up summer lunches with great scenery.
  13. Make it at home: Experiment in the kitchen and make your own pizza, juice, bread or cookies. Test your skill at making at-home versions of your favorite restaurant dishes such as those at Olive Garden.
  14. Make money: Clean up the house and have a garage sale.
  15. Picture perfect: Get the old photos together for a scrapbooking session or scan pictures and take your memories digital.
  16. Piece together some fun: Jigsaw puzzles are inexpensive and give hours if not days of enjoyment for people of all ages.
  17. Get in the swim: Many communities have pools that offer swimming lessons and pool time for free or at a reduced rate for residents.
  18. Pacman returns: Find that old video game you loved and play it again.
  19. Find the freebies: Time is money and use your free time this summer to investigate coupon sites and discounts offered by your favorite retailers.
  20. Get it together: Take stock of your finances before back-to-school shopping and the winter holidays strike. If you are unsure of how to handle your debt, contact a non-profit credit counselor such as American Debt Counseling, Inc. for confidential and free advice.