by Chelsea Springli 
You don’t have to spend a fortune to have fun in the summer. I love living close to St. Louis because of all the low-cost activities. Here are a few ways you can have a budget-friendly and fun summer with your family this year.
Have a Yard Sale
If there’s one lesson to impart to your children about saving, it’s that less is more. Encourage them to find one or two things per day that they could contribute to a yard sale. Then, have the yard sale at the end of the month. Involve your kids in the process as much as possible. They can even head up their very own marketing team by creating posters to hang around the neighborhood and using some word of mouth advertising by telling their friends about it.
When the sale is done, have a conversation with your kids about how to spend the money. A family vacation? A new toy? Or perhaps into a savings account or college fund for future use. This is a great opportunity to teach your kids about budgeting while encouraging them not to hold on to things that don’t bring them joy anymore (hello, Marie Kondo).
Start a (Very) Small Business
One way your child can learn the value of hard work is to earn a wage for doing a job, like paying them an allowance. If you’re not into paying an allowance for normal household chores, help them set up a small business where they can see the rewards of hard work while making a little money on the side. Some examples include window washing, weed pulling, grass mowing, planting a garden, or other landscaping projects. You could even go the traditional route of having a weekly lemonade stand.
Any of these small projects would be a fun way to spend some time together this summer and help teach the life lesson of the value of money and hard work. Just like with the yard sale, have a conversation about how your kids should use the money. Should they spend, save, share, or all of the options?
Plan a Stay-cation!
The average cost of a family vacation can break the budget. For a family of four, a week of vacation, excluding travel, can cost up to $2,000! The best parts of a vacation are the shared experiences, and there’s no need to go too far to get those. Especially where we live. Find a local festival or cultural event and plan a vacation in your home town! You could even stay in a hotel and have a party at the swimming pool for one night to help make it feel more like a vacation. Show your kids the rich culture of their surroundings. Maybe it’s been a while since you’ve been to some iconic local attractions. Here are a few to try this summer.
St. Louis Zoo
The St. Louis Zoo opened with the 1904 World’s Fair and continues to grow and add new exhibits. It’s easy to spend hours at the zoo learning about different animals, their science, and history. Admittance to the St. Louis Zoo is free, but extra activities like going to a sea lion show, riding the railroad, or visiting the stingrays cost a few dollars each.
St. Louis Art Museum
The St. Louis Art Museum was rounded in 1879 and features a rotating display in addition to some year-round exhibits. Today, the museum shows art from five millennia and six continents. Admission to the museum is free, and admission to the main exhibitions is free on Fridays, making the museum a budget-friendly option for your family.
The City Museum
Located in the heart of Downtown St. Louis, The City Museum is an unforgettable experience. The City Museum features several spaces including a climbable rooftop, slides, caves, skateless park, and more. There’s also a dedicated toddler area, making it a fun option for the whole family. Admission starts at $20 when you order your tickets online.
The Magic House
The Magic House in Kirkwood has a mission of engaging kids through hands-on learning that sparks imagination, piques curiosity, enhances creativity and develops problem-solving skills in a place of beauty, wonder, joy and magic. The Magic House also has rotating exhibits, so there’s always something new to experience. Tickets start at $15 but can be discounted for groups. Sounds like a great playdate!
Forest Park
In addition to the St. Louis Zoo and St. Louis Art Museum, you can wander for hours in Forest Park. Whether you plan a picnic lunch, lap a few lakes, or visit The Muny for a free show, use your stay-cation as a time to appreciate the togetherness and the savings!
(Pictures from top left to bottom right: St. Louis Zoo North Entrance photo credit: Christopher Carter, St. Louis Museum of Art photo by mastahanky/Flickr, City Museum photo by Explore St. Louis, and The Magic House photo by Passing Down the Love)
Have a great summer, making unforgettable memories without breaking the bank.
