Frugal Tips for Surviving the Summer Festival

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Frugal Tips for Surviving the Summer Festival

By Brenda Hyde

Summer days are filled with festivals, fairs and shows of all types. I love

this kind of summer fun for families but it can be expensive and even

frustrating, if you aren't prepared. I have some tips that can make your festival

experience fun and frugal, if you are careful.

Decide ahead where you are going and watch the local newspapers for guides

and schedules. This is SO important. You will find tips on free or cheaper

parking, locations of activities and events that you want to attend, and you can

discuss it as a family AHEAD of time, so you aren't flying by the seat of

your pants once you get there.

Bring water or juice with you in a compact cooler with refillable cups if

possible. Drinks are often a huge expense and while it's SO important to stay

hydrated in the summer, you don't want to spend a chunk of your budget on

this, so bring your own! When it's gone, look for drinking fountains and refill

your cups.

What else to bring: Wet wipes, sunscreen, a thin blanket that can be rolled

up easily (for sitting on the grass or using as a cover in case of rain),

hats, sunglasses, camera, extra change of clothes and some type of activity or

toy if you have a toddler or baby (see below).

Many activities are geared towards four and up, so if you do have kids

younger than this be prepared to occupy them if necessary while their siblings are

busy. Toddlers love face painting, story telling and music of any kind, so

look for events that include these first, but they love sitting on a blanket

playing with mom or dad too when the other kids are busy with the older

activities.

Eating is actually the biggest expense and can be the most aggravating. Talk

ahead of time with the kids about your plans. When we were on a shoestring

budget we would go after lunch or supper and sometimes we didn't even buy

food, but opted for free activities. Those were some of the best outings we had,

and I don't regret not spending money on food. If you do eat, consider buying

inexpensive food like popcorn or splitting a treat and later stopping at the

store for ice cream, toppings plus bananas and whipped cream! It's FAR

cheaper than buying meals or ice cream during your outing AND it's a smooth way to

head home and gives the kids something to look forward to after a long day.

If your particular festival allows it, you may even be able to pack a picnic

lunch or dinner, in which case you can save lots of money while enjoying a

family outing. Click here for lots of picnic tips and recipes from our sister

site, FabulousFoods.com.

4-H/county fairs are great fun for the whole family and are very inexpensive

if not free, so look for these in your area too.

Lastly, consider the age of your kids or grandkids when planning outings.

Take breaks often, be firm with them on the rules of being on a "field trip",

and only do as much as their age group can handle. Each year you'll be able to

do a little bit more, and you'll figure out which events are a nice fit with

your family.

About the Author:

Brenda Hyde is Mom to three little ones, a freelance writer and editor here

at OldFashionedLiving. Her family travels year round, often with grandparents

and great grandma, as well as an extra cousin or two!

_http://www.seedsofknowledge.com/festivals.html_

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