This is how to survive summertime with kids on a budget! With coffee in hand and cheap activities it’s possible to keep your sanity and make everyone smile.
Ok let’s be honest. If you’re a mom you’re excited for summer to arrive to spend more time with your kids and maybe go on vacation. But you also know the “what are we doing today?” questions are about to start…..and continue. I did something different last summer which helped immensely and will do it again this year. Sponsored by Dunkin Donuts.
At the end of the school year I printed out a calendar with the days my kids would be off of school. We all sat down and made a list of the things we wanted to do together and put them all on the calendar.
Some days were set to be “off days” where we were going to relax at home (at least one each week). This is how to survive summertime with kids on a budget and keep y’all smiling.
We filled it first with things off our summer to do list. You can print a copy of it here if you like too.
Then we added a few others until it was full….
Here’s what a typical summer day looks for us, and costs less than $10.00 out of pocket:
- Grab a Dunkin’ Donuts iced Coconut Creme Pie latte for me.
- Dalgona Coffee or some other type is a must each morning. Each child chooses a special donut and we’re set.
- Find a new park in the city we haven’t visited yet
- Sit under a tree and enjoy our breakfast treats together
- Allow kids to play for an hour or so
- Head home to change into swimsuits and pack a picnic lunch
- Swim at the community pool
- Eat lunch
- Go home and watch a movie (I can prepare dinner during this time)
- Prepare for bed after a full day of fun!
To start each day, especially during the summertime…..I need coffee, and the kids always look forward to a treat! To be totally honest I am not a black coffee kinda’ girl, I like sweet “fru froo coffee” I like to call it that has added flavors and topped with whipped cream.
Dunkin’ Donuts has always been well known for donuts in our house but now they have a variety of iced and hot espresso drinks to choose from that are made with espresso beans which are 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified™ and of the highest quality.
They don’t just have hot and iced (my favorite) lattes though, they also have Macchiatos and espresso or cappuccino drinks too…there’s something for everyone.
Their Macchiatos are handcrafted, layered, include milk, a double shot of Dunkin’ Donuts rich, freshly-brewed espresso, and then topped with a big dollop of whipped cream (available hot or iced).
You can choose from Caramel, French Vanilla, Hazelnut, Mocha, Butter Pecan and Coconut Crème. You just can’t go wrong with any of them. 😉
Once you grab your coffee for a get up and go do a free and inexpensive activity in SoCal or there are tons of other summertime activities for kids elsewhere.
- Print out a map of all the parks in your city and plan to visit 1 new one each week
- Visit your local community or city pool
- Go to the beach, Balboa fun zone is one of our favorites
- Visit a friend who also has kids
- Go for a hike
- Pack a picnic and go for a drive to find the shadiest spot to sit and eat together
- Have a water balloon fight
- Fly a kite
- Play in the sprinklers in the backyard
- Bake cookies together and deliver them to your next door neighbor “just because”
- Teach budgeting for teens too so they learn the more they spend the more they can do
Worried your kids will be lazy on those off days you’re home? Print out our screen time printable.
Hope these how to survive summertime with kids on a budget tips help you and your family too, and create a summertime you’ll remember.
Love these ideas and how most involve being outside.