Mom Life

Budget friendly Weekend

Nothing like having a brother who can slay dragons, amiright? ….. When the work week is coming to an end, my mind starts to wonder what our next family adventure is going to be. First, things first, I check the bank account and see what I have to work with. I quickly realize that my wallet is telling me to stay home, in bed and don’t move. HA! Of course, with two littles, that is not possible. So, I let my frugal mind take over.

Sooooo, during this past weekend we pulled out the good ol’ craft box for some fun. In this box, we happen to have some shimmery pipe cleaners, so we made bracelets with Cheerios. I realized this was a mistake, because… well ants. Lol. I recommend using pasta shells with a little paint! After nap time, we headed outside and had some water fun! Perfect way to chill out on these hot summer dates.

Below are some things we have planned for the next few weekends. I hope this can help plan your next ‘grand’ adventure.

Frugal weekend adventure tips

Go for a hike

Many cities have surrounding hiking trails for all fitness levels to partake in. A quick Google search of ‘Hiking trails in ZIP CODE’ should get them popped right up. We recently went to Rileys at Los Rios Rancho trails and the boys loved it! They had all sorts of trails to take and in all honestly didn’t think my 4-year-old was going to enjoy it very much. He showed me and hiked up and down the most strenuous mountain side like it was nothing! He enjoyed exploring the grounds and taking in nature. Things we take for granted sometimes. Be sure to pack lots of water to keep hydrate and of course break as needed.

Explore local landmarks

Sometimes we forgo the places right in front of us because a different city seems cooler than where we call home. Hit up your local Visitor Center or even a local hotel and see what pamphlets they have in stock. Use it as a map and visit different locations. Nothing is cooler than seeing something in person. Pack a picnic and find a historic park for a change scenery.

Picnic in the park/outside

Or even a BBQ in the backyard. I know for my littles, they enjoy just being outside in the fresh air. Taking even dinner or dessert outside can make a big difference. You can also build blanket tents too or for those mama’s in hot areas (like me) we love the slip and slide and blow up pool we purchased at Target. $40.00 brought a summer of fun! (See photos below!)

Visit the nearest Downtown

I didn’t know how much our little Downtown offers here in Riverside (Southern California). From one-of-a-kind shops, to local coffee shops and historic hotels. We love exploring each place and grabbing a small lunch at one of the local eateries. Yelp is great for searching for a place since you can sort by cost. Also, a lot of Downtown’s have open seating everywhere, so a homemade lunch will be just as perfect while the littles run all their energy out.

Netflix and Chill
The kid version of course! Pop some popcorn, make a homemade pizza (can be done under $20!) and put on their (your) favorite movie or show. Make some time for pillow forts and pass the day away. In between shows you can even get up and do some jumping jacks or have a silly dance party to get the blood flowing and some energy out!

Let me know if you try any of these or have a favorite frugal weekend adventure you love below!