As a family, we have lots of fun hanging out together and making the most of free/inexpensive activities outside (when the weather co-operates). It’s easy to feel like spending money is necessary to have a good time, but it really isn’t.
Here are some of the things we’ve been enjoying lately …
Kite flying is free, if you already have a kite.
Kicking a ball around at the park doesn’t cost a cent, especially when you have lots of soccer and rugby balls to choose from at your house (at last count, we had 7 soccer balls and 6 rugby balls).
Playgrounds are free!
Strawberry picking isn’t free, but it’s a fun and affordable family activity.
Ice cream made from freshly picked strawberries isn’t cheap ($4.50 per cone!) but when you share one between four people, it’s not so bad.
And there are also tractors to play on at the orchard, at no extra charge!
Other family activities we have been enjoying (including quite a few indoor ones, thanks to all the rain) …
Swimming at the beach
Board games (we got the boys The Game of Life Adventures Edition for Christmas, and we’ve been playing it lots)
Riding bikes
Baking
Movies at the theatre
DVDs at home
Playstation
Building Meccano toys
Hot pools & waterslides
Coffee/hot chocolates at cafe
Bush walks
Picnic lunches
Shopping (yes, even the boys!)
Obviously some of these things DO cost money (like shopping!) but it helps to intersperse some of the $$ activities with plenty of free/inexpensive ones. Hot drinks at a cafe don’t have to be expensive, if you have a “buy 10, get one free” card, ask for kiddie hot chocolates (not fluffies, my boys have outgrown them now) and don’t buy cakes and muffins to go with them!
Hot pools and other activities can be affordable if you look for deals on the various “one day” sites. Over the past few months, I have scored several family passes to Parakai Hot Pools for as little as $30, and going there is usually a full day of entertainment for us.
I’m looking forward to lots more photo opportunities as the summer continues. We live right by the beach, so we spend a lot of time down there. I don’t usually take my camera, but I think I will next time.
Only 2 more weeks until our annual Hahei holiday. Nine days of sun (hopefully!), sand, surf and relaxing with the family. I can’t wait!
Yay for Hahei – not long now! (Although I will miss you when you’re away…)
Love your photos. I have kite flying photos from the exact same field, and park photos too. Funny that.
By: swewi on January 6, 2012
at 2:23 pm
No it sure doesn’t take a lot of money to keep kids happy and busy over the holidays. Would also add Botanic Gardens and when the kids were little all those little paddling pools at the different parks were great too.
By: Vicki on January 6, 2012
at 5:05 pm
Love, love, LOVE.
And, I miss summer.
By: Angella on January 6, 2012
at 5:43 pm
Cool pics…love the cheeky grins of your boys :0) Enjoy it (holiday activities) while you can…my kids are all teens now and hang out with their friends mostly..
By: Julia on January 6, 2012
at 9:18 pm
Your boys are so photogenic Hannah – I love all the faces they pull lol!
By: Trace on January 7, 2012
at 6:47 am
Fun fun fun! Great pictures. I really like the kite flying ones. Enjoy your activities and your summer.
By: Danica on January 7, 2012
at 7:07 am
Awesome photos! I really enjoyed seeing your family have fun. Of course if you are experiencing summer we are experiencing winter though this winter has been mild. I have been waiting for a good snow storm for Lilah to play in but nothing yet. Lilah’s free favorite thing to do is go to the playground. She loves the slides and we have a great playground just up the street. She got Play-doh for Christmas and she loves that. It’s so good to do family things with the kids.
By: joanharvest on January 7, 2012
at 8:52 am
great list…..we have a list like that here…and so good to use them over summer when you want to do something but not pay the $$
great pics hannah,,,,,you are rocking your camera!!!
By: mandyb on January 7, 2012
at 9:24 am
wow, what fabulous shots Hannah – awesome scrapping material … and you are so right, outings don’t have to cost lots of $$$.
By: Mrs Frizz on January 7, 2012
at 10:28 pm
Great ideas Hannah! Fingers crossed for lots and LOTS of sunshine at Hahei.
By: Helen on January 8, 2012
at 7:21 pm
What gorgeous photos! Rather jealous of your upcoming Hahei holiday – can I come and be adopted into the family????
By: topkatnz on January 10, 2012
at 12:53 pm