At the same time that we are just falling into the routine of school season, fairs and festivals flood the calendars! One fair in September….two festivals………..One festival in October……..one late fall vacation…….Family fun is as important as watching the family funds as you and I (Litsa) plan these events for our families! Thus, I wanted to share a few strategies that help me in planning a creative day of fun at fairs, festivals, and more. Here are my tips:
- Keep the family budget updated. Designate funds for family FUN (i.e. fall festivals)!
- Pack snacks and lunches for everyone based on how long you will be gone from home.
- Take your coupons along for freebies, check our listing of dining out coupons (i.e. Sonic corndog, Chic-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich, etc.)
- Only order water if you have to have something to drink. Keep bottled water in the car too.
- Give each person a spending limit based on your budget. (i.e. Money for face-painting….)
- Take photographs of what you want to do next time and/or use these photographs to help you recreate projects of interest at home.
- Discuss with children in the car—smart money strategies. (i.e. We didn’t buy the crown because it cost much more than a similar one at the store.)
- Play games in the car based on your senses (What did you hear, touch, see….). This activity will elevate an awareness of what you and your child just experienced. We all experience things differently. Conversation opens the door to understanding one another!
There’s no right or wrong way to enjoy time with your family! Stay at home and play if money is tight or you need to stretch it for another activity or bill but when you can getaway–do take in the sights and sounds of fairs and festivals with savings strategies that encourage creative thinking and fun away from home! Although a tank of gas cost me $80 for a weekend getaway to Memphis for a little Saturday fun (but there’s half a tank left to play with for a week of city errands), we didn’t spend more than $32 at the Cooper-Young Festival in Midtown!
This price included a stop at Whole Foods Market to create a Tye-dye shirt with fruits and vegetables, organic plums for lunch this week, cookies for munchies in the truck, an organic pear and avocado, a green smoothie to try something new——–and of course the fair’s delightful events: face-painting, crushed ice slushy, a bag of colorful rocks, photographs & more!
What fairs &/or festivals will you unearth this season? Do you set a budget and preplan prior to arriving at the event?
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