Budget-Friendly Weekend Fun
So on top of all the other things that stretch your budget-the mortgage, car payments, insurance, and utilities-what parent doesn’t cringe at a child tugging at her shirt with a “Mommy, I’m bored!” whine early on a Saturday morning? Marilyn Sullivan, an Anaheim, California-based party and event planner explains “Weekend activities don’t have to break the bank, they just take a little imagination.”
*1. Have a neighborhood “ancestry” potluck. Invite your neighbors to cook a family dish that represents their heritage and bring it to your house for a meet-and-greet potluck. Sullivan adds, “I’ve hosted ancestry potlucks, and we’ve ended up swapping recipes for everything from Polish pierogies to Korean BBQ short ribs and English Eton mess for dessert!”
*2. Host game night. Pop those leaves into your dining table and whip out board-game faves like Trivial Pursuit or Monopoly. If the teams are imbalanced or if they make certain family members feel left out (some trivia games can be outdated for younger or older players) card games, such as “Hand and Foot” are ideal for groups of all ages.
*3. Pick a bucket list item and do it now. Sullivan advises, “There’s no time like the present to engage in a project or activity you’ve always wanted to do. Tomorrow is never promised. For example, if you’ve always wanted to go to a planetarium, take your kids with you!”
*4. Host classic movie night and introduce classic movies to your family. Rent “Godzilla” or “Gone With the Wind” (as long as your kids are old enough to understand the mature themes in some of these movies) or even “Singin’ In The Rain” or “Roman Holiday.” Toss lots of pillows and blankets on the floor and “go camping” inside with movies, popcorn, and even ‘smores. Sullivan adds, “You can even have a movie sing-a-long night. Pick a classic, such as "The Sound of Music” or “My Fair Lady” and have your friends and family sing to their heart’s content, even if they’re tone deaf!" You can even print out lyrics from the Internet so everyone knows the words.
*5. Take some baked goods to the residents of a nursing home. Not every activity has to focus on you or your family. Sullivan explains, “There are many patients in nursing homes that are neglected by their families. Paying a visit and listening to their stories is instant Karma and can even help you enlarge your family, even for a few hours. Nobody wants to be alone, and a visit will do wonders for all.”
Having fun doesn’t have to be expensive; nor does it have to involve a lot of planning. Sullivan says, “The most important thing is that everyone is involved, young, old and everyone in between. If your family and friends all feel included, that’s the most important thing.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. TGIF!
Shelley Moench-Kelly, MBA, is a New England-based writer and editor whose freelance clients include Google, L’Oreal Paris and TheWeek.com.
