The summer is upon us where we can enjoy the sun finally, have picnics, sit by the pool and not think about those awful winters.  Well, most of us have those awful winters but those that  live in the South and Southwest, consider yourself lucky that you don’t have to live in them because frankly, I hate them!

When it comes to the summertime, I find it to be one of the best seasons around.  You can stay outside without having to worry about freezing, you swim, eat outside and do so much more.  If you’re on a tight budget this year, there are some great activities that you can do that won’t break your budget.

Get a group together – head to the park

No matter where you live, there’s probably a park nearby.  Whether you live near a state park, a local park or whatever, grab some friends and head on town there for the afternoon.  Here, you can play frisbee, football, eat a small picnic lunch and more.  All this can be done for a few dollars depending on what you get to eat.

Check out your local city

Each local city usually holds events during the summer.  Whether it’s a pool party, something at the library, a lot of these activities can be done for next to nothing at all.   If you have a family and a few kids, these are great opportunities that you shouldn’t pass up.

Play some sports outside

If you have a big backyard, hold a party at your house.  If you don’t, that’s okay.  Once again, find that park where you can play football, tennis, basketball or whatever.  It’s a great opportunity to get together to have fun with friends and relatives.

Go to the minors

If you’re a fan of live sporting events, settle for the minors rather than the pros.  A lot of people like going to the games just for the atmosphere.  If you have a minor league baseball team in your area, consider going to one because you can spend 75% less compared to a pro team.

Head on over to a lake

No matter where you live, you probably have some sort of body of water.  If you like to fish or you really aren’t a fan, try grabbing a rod and find either a pier or a place where you can cast and catch fish.  Even if you don’t eat them, just catch them and release them.

Grab a newspaper or look online

Each week, look online or grab a paper and see what kind of events are hanging around your area.  You’ll be shocked at all the free fairs, events and everything else that you can attend without paying a dime.  A great place to check out events in your area is on Yahoo!’s Upcoming Event page.