10 free or cheap ways you can have fun this summer

10 free or cheap ways you can have fun this summer10 free or cheap ways you can have fun this summerAs I wrote last week, its important to plan ahead all year in order to have fun during the summer.Thats true of any time youll be spending mora money than usual. But its also true that you can find ways to have fun that dont cost much or any money at all.The key is to get creative and do some extra research. Going out to eat or drink is not the only way to have fun and be social.Here are just a few inexpensive ideas that I have enjoyed myself.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and morePublic PoolIn many places, if youre a resident of the city, you can visit public pools for free. In DC, you just have to show your DC ID or a recent utility statement. When I lived in DC proper, I loved going to the public pool on summer weekends. When I lived in Eckington, my local pool welches at Harry Thomas Recreation Center.The best part was that the area hadnt gotten super popular yet, so that pool was rarely crowded. When I lived over near U Street, my local pool was near Howard University.That pool was VERY crowded. The key was to get there before it opened and get in line so that you could actually get a chair by the pool. Going to the pool is a great way to stay local and still get some pool time. To make it even more fun, invite your friends But make aya to put on sunscreen.MuseumWe are spoiled by free museums in Washington, DC. Im still not used to paying to get into museums when I travel to other cities. But regardless, museums are a great way to stay entertained all day without having to spend too much money.If youre in DC, you should definitely take more advantage of the Smithsonian system.Even if youve lived here for a decade (like I have), Im sure there are plenty of museums you havent yet seen. If you dont live in DC, see what your city has to offer Some places, like the Chicago Institute of Art, can be pricey to get into, but you never know what other affordable options are in your city.Keep in mind that even if a museum is free, an easy way to blow your budget is by getting a meal inside the museum. The cafes can be very pricey (and not always very high quality), so plan to either bring a sandwich and some snacks, or get lunch afterwards.Live MusicGoing to concerts can be really expensive, especially if its a popular artist. This is one of those things that I dont mind spending money on, particularly if its my favorite artist.However, there are ways to enjoy live music without spending a pretty penny. See what kind of summer events are going on in your neighborhood.For example, in my neighborhood, there is a free concert series every Friday night until September. Look at your towns website or any blogs that represent your area. You might get lucky and find a free concert series in your town tooHikingThis is one thing that I need to do way more of ten. And its not very accessible if you dont have a car. But hiking is a great way to enjoy the summer weather for freeIf you live in the DC area, there are tons of hiking opportunities to explore. Plus, if you dont have a car, there are lots of short-term car rental companies around now that you can use if youre just going somewhere for a few hours.Bike RideMy husband bought me a bicycle last summer so that we could finally do one of his favorite activities together. The bike was a little pricey, so I definitely wouldnt recommend that as a budget-friendly idea (unless, of course, you save up for it over time).However, if you already own a bike, or if you live near a bike rental (like Capital Bikeshare or Citi Bike), its easy and affordable to go on a bike ride.If you dont like riding on busy streets, find a local trail or park. If youre in the DC area, there are tons of bike trails all over. If you dont want to travel too far, go to Rock Creek ParkMovie NightThere are a couple appr oaches to this idea. Either find local movie nights where a movie is played outside and you can watch from the comfort of a blanket on the grass.There are several different options for this in the DC area, but look around in your town to see if there is a summer film series. Alternatively, you can have friends over and host a movie night at your home.There are endless movies on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and HBO. You dont even have to rent one Make some puffmais and brownies and snuggle in for the movie.Patio TimeA couple weekends ago, I went to a birthday party up on the rooftop of an apartment building. It was a beautiful night to be outside, and the view of the Washington Monument was beautiful.The hosts provided lots of delicious snacks and drinks, so I know that they probably spent quite a bit on that shindig. However, you can host a potluck on your patio, porch, or rooftop to save money while still having fun.Local Carnival or FestivalA couple weekends ago, my town threw a P re-Centennial festival downtown. The centennial for the town is next year, but they decided to throw a party this year too.There was live music, face painting, food trucks, and local vendors. The festival itself was free, so we only had to pay for food and drinks from the food trucks and vendors.Of course, that can end up costing a lot, but if you eat ahead of time, you dont have to worry about that. Find out what kinds of fun festivals or carnivals your town or city puts onDiscount NightsMy husband and I recently found out that our local Regal movie theater sells $6 movie tickets on Tuesday nights.Its only that price if youre a rewards member, but the rewards program is free We found this out by total accident, but now we try to plan our moviegoing excursions to be on Tuesday evenings. That saves us a TON of money and then we feel more comfortable getting a snack if we want it.Do some research and find out when places near you offer discounted prices. It wont happen everywhere, but you might be surprised what you findNow go out there and have fun this summerDo you have any other affordable, fun ideas? Share in the comments belowThis article first appeared on MaggieGermano.com.