Fun With the Family - These 12 Tips Show You How to Do It on a Budget

Having fun with your kids is an essential part of your family life. It improves relationships, is a learning opportunity for both you and your children, and is an escape from other pressures in life. The good news is it doesn't always have to cost much money. You can have a blast while spending pennies on the dollar. Below are 12 tips to get you started.

Tip 1: Go bike riding: You can spend a few good hours riding and having a picnic with the kids. Definitely a good cheap way to spend a sunny afternoon.

Tip 2: Go sledding: If you are lucky enough to live in a place where it snows (we would love to live near the snow...sand dune sledding in 50 degree C with a roaring Southerly doesn't quite have the same appeal!) then take advantage of it. I don't know any kids out there that don't like sledding followed by a hot chocolate.

Tip 3: Cook with the kids: They learn skills, you get some help and everyone is happy!

Tip 4: Bake: This is an oldie but a goodie. Make some simple recipe cup cakes then have the kids decorate them. Banana cake or other fruit cakes are awesome. Whatever fruit is left over at the end of the week you can make a cake out of it!

Tip 5: Have the kids do some volunteering: In our opinion it is never to early to get the kids to help out the community. They will learn some good skills (for free) that will equip them for later in life.

Tip 6: Visit the zoo: Depending on where you live this can save you money. In some parts of the world zoos are incredibly cheap (where we live it only costs about 1 dollar to enter), however in other parts it may cost $20 a person. So check the prices first. If it is expensive, make those animals work for your money. Complain until the lion roars and the herd of zebras starts galloping around the enclosure.

Tip 7: Open air movies: Many cities put on free open air movies. They make for a good evening. Bring a few blankets and some food.

Tip 8: Fire works: We are a big kid at heart and love fire works in any way, shape or form. Whenever there are some near you (for us "near" can mean a 300km radius!) then go out and watch them!

Tip 9: Go fishing: Once you have the fishing equipment, fishing is virtually free. Find out if there are a few good local spots near you and get going. Most kids love it!

Tip 10: Bush walking: Take the kids for a "short" bush/forest walk and enjoy all that nature has to offer on the cheap.

Tip 11: Visit State and/or National Parks: Find out what State or National Parks are near where you live and visit them with the kids. You may be amazed at what you find!

Tip 12: Enter local events such as fun runs: Some exercise, a low entrance price and catching up with friends and family...it has all the ingredients of a good day out.

Rusty is an affiliate marketer with eight years experience. His areas of expertise include SEO, articles, ezines, blogs and PPC. Rusty is particularly interested in the areas of goal setting, time management and financial and money management.

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