Summer Break has nearly started!  With unbearable heat, a seemingly endless amount of hours to fill entertaining kids, and an increasingly tight budget, getting thru summer can be a real challenge. 

Here are some things we’re doing that you might not have thought of that you can do for little or no money.  If you have any suggestions that I missed, let me know.  I’d love to hear how you’re surviving the summer!

• Reading!  My kids belong to every summer reading program out there.  A summary of all the various reading programs can be found HERE.  We even have one from their school, which will net them a free book when school starts up again.
• Your local library is a fantastic resource.  Our has a great selection of books, music, dvd’s, and read-along tapes.  We’ve been checking out the read-along books and loading them onto the kids’ mp3 players.  Works great for long car rides or boring afternoons!  Many local libraries are participating in the Reading With Ringling Bros. program – check to see if yours is!
• Public pools.  Alas, we are not one of the fortunate who have their own pool.  But guess what – we don’t have that expense either!  We simply pay $3/ea. to go to one of the many public pools or splashgrounds in the area.  I’ve found that if you go on Sunday right when they open, you’ll have the place virtually to yourself for at least an hour – woo hoo!  We’ve even been known to run around the fountains at the Eismann Center (shhhhh – don’t tell anyone!).
• Michael’s has lots of great (free!) craft projects.  Last summer they ran a Passport To Fun program that we attended and made duct tape wallets, foam coozies, and homemade cards.
• Home Depot does free kids workshops the first Saturday of every month from 9-noon (no sign up necessary, just show up).  For a full list of their upcoming workshops, you can go HERE.
• Lowes does two free kids Build And Grow workshops a month – on Saturdays & Sundays.  For a full listing of their summer workshops, you can go HERE.  Go here to sign up: http://lowesbuildandgrow.com/Home.aspx
• The hose and/or sprinklers.  It costs nothing, and I was amazed at how much fun the boys had just spraying each other with the hose.  Bonus – the grass got a good watering too!  ;)
• Homemade slurpies http://momadvice.com/blog/2009/04/worlds-greatest-homemade-slushies, homemade smoothies, homemade ice cream sundaes – everything is cheaper if you do it yourself.  Plus one more activity to keep the kiddos busy (how may days into Summer Break do you think it will be before you hear the dreaded “I’m bored”?  My guess is day 3!)
• Daily Deal Sites (i.e. Groupon) are a fantastic way to entertain on the cheap!  Check the big deal sites daily to scoop up entertainment or dining options at deeply discounted rates.  Daily Deal vouchers are also a great way to save money during a vacation – simply change the city location on the deal site and see what’s available in the city you will be visiting!  Here are the sites I prefer:  Groupon, MamaSource, KGB Deals, EverSave, and Sweet Jack.
• Join the RedBox Text Club and you’ll receive monthly freebie codes sent straight to your cell phone.  You’ll get at least one free rental code a month – that can even be used on video game rentals!
• There are two free bowling for kids programs out there – each will allow your kids to bowl two games every day for FREE.  You will have to pay for shoe rental.  Go HERE to sign up for Kids Bowl Free and go HERE to sign up for AMF Unplugged.  
• We ended up buying some cheap bowling shoes online and have bowled many, many times for free.  I believe the shoes were about $20 each child shipped.  NOT BAD for a summer (or two or three) for FREE bowling.  In Texas, sometimes it’s too hot to go outside, and bowling is a great option.  
• Sign up for a FREE 30 day trial of Blockbuster Total Access when you enter promo code VIDEOhere.  Guess what – video games are INCLUDED!  This is a fab way to save on entertainment over the summer – just remember to cancel before your 30 days are up!
• Head to the movie theater for some thrifty, air-conditioned fun!  Most major theater chains offer a free (or nearly free) kids summer movie program.  Here are the links to what is available:  Cinemark, Regal Cinemas, Studio Movie Grill.

• Apple Retail Stores Camp/Youth Workshops - two of my kids have attended these FREE workshops, and they’re highly recommended!
• National Parks Free Fee Weekends: June 9th, September 29, November 10th – 12th
• Bank of America Card Holders, Free Museum Weekends: The first weekend of every month.
• Target Sponsored Activities - Free admission to the Nasher Sculpture Center.
• REI Passport to Adventure Program for Kids: download your free kids adventure journal, plus more!
• Bass Pro Shop Free Events for Kids and Families

I hope this has sparked some new ideas for you, and can give you that much coveted few minutes to sort thru the mail, read a chapter in your own book, or simply breathe quietly for a sec!