Saving Money in the Summer! (Part 1)

During the summer a lot of bills seem to pile up. The children are not in school so parents have saved on lunch money and bus fare. However there is still a lot of unwanted expense. For one thing the summer programmes available for children can cost up to $18000 depending on the child’s age and the nature of the programme.

That can certainly put a dent in any budget.

The alternative is to keep the children at home and that presents a different problem of trying to find ways to entertain and feed them that would not break the bank.

Budget Friendly Activities

Why not try some free fun activities?

There are several back to school fairs currently advertised to be held at the end of July in Kingston. They are free to attend and have children centred activities. You might even find a deal on textbooks or school supplies!

It is important though not to rush and buy textbooks without first confirming with the school which ones will be used as it may depend on the child’s particular group.

Although not all the offerings at these fairs are free, there are many opportunities for fun.  There is often lots of music and as there are held outdoors there is a lot of space for children to stretch their legs.

Some of these events are streamed live in the media with media personalities and sponsors on hand to give away prizes or do free health and wellness checks.

What if there are no fairs in your area?  Where else can you go?

Beach Trips

It’s always a fun activity to go to the various free beaches around the island. Most children love the beach and it’s a wonderful activity to expose them to the natural environment instead of being cooped up inside the house.

Just remember to pack some sandwiches and carry plenty of water!

Swimming and playing by the water can certainly work up an appetite so in order to make sure that you on’t buy from eager vendors simply bring your own food.

A word of caution

It’s a good idea to learn to swim and teach your children how to swim.

Formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning among young children aged one to four, who are at greatest risk of drowning. Even when children have had formal swimming lessons, constant, careful supervision when in the water, and barriers to prevent unsupervised access are necessary to prevent drowning.

I personally experienced a situation where a young boy who was placed on a tube went under the water and was unnoticed by the adults swimming nearby. Fortunately the little boy was not harmed but it could easily have been a very different end to that story.

Despite all the fun, parents must keep an eye on their children while at the beach.

Check back for part 2 of this discussion!

Where do you take your children for summer fun? Drop me a line below!

Teri Ann Paisley

Gleaner online writer

Tags: beach, budget, children, safety, summer