School is out, the weather is warm, and you are ready for some of that long awaited for summer fun. But for many families, the budget is tight, very tight. So what do you do when money is low but the need for fun in the sun is high?

Plan, Plan, Plan Tight budgets usually mean that there are no spontaneous trips to a nearby amusement park. Sit down with the family and think of ways to spend this summer.


Try finding small entertainment around town. Planning out exactly the activities you want to go to gives you an opportunity to find money saving deals and coupons.

Spray Grounds This can be a great alternative to an expensive water park. A lot of cities and communities offer free or cheap spray grounds where kids can get wet and cool down. This is especially advantageous for parents with younger kids who may not be the best swimmers. Why pay a large admission fee when you won't be using the big pools or the slides?

Camping Tired of the staycations, but still unable to afford travel expenses? Try cutting those travel expenses down considerably by camping instead of paying for expensive hotel rooms. Camping is a vacation in itself, and there are camping sites everywhere. You may not want to spend a week traveling this way, but at least it will get you and your family out of your home town for some fun. If you have no camping equipment, try scoping out the garage sales in your area. You may be able to find great tents and equipment on the cheap.

With all the camping gadgets and gear out there it's not hard to get a great night's sleep under the stars.

Coupons and Specials The wonderful thing about entertainment is that they're desperate to get patrons, especially when the economy is suffering. For parents that means there will be a plethora of coupons and deals to get your hands on. This is where planning becomes vital. Once you and your family have decided on some of the larger summer activities, scour the internet for some great deals. Amusement parks also offer coupons through vendors and businesses. If no coupons can be found, consider going to the park later in the day. Many amusement parks around the country offer twilight specials, and discounts on ticket prices when you buy online. Research the amusement park you plan on going to carefully to find the best deal you can.

Zoos The most wonderful things about zoos, apart from all the great animals, are that they are usually cheap. In fact, there are lots of zoos that have free admission. For a list of free zoos in the U.S. click here. If your local zoo is not free, try to find coupons and discount hours, just like with an amusement park. Zoos usually allow you to bring in your own food for an in park picnic. This alone can save you a tremendous amount of money.

Backyard Waterpark There's no place like home, and if you are looking to make your home a summer destination, try outfitting your backyard into an at home water park. While this is not exactly the cheapest option, it may be the right one for you. Grab the sprinkler, a couple inflatable pools, a slip and slide, and some slides. There are a number of ways to do this on a budget. Garage sales can be your best friend on this one, if you are really strapped for cash. Set all the pools, slides, and sprinklers up to create a fun water park for your kids.

Summer time for kids isn't always about vacations to far away places, and visits to the latest roller coaster. Summer for a lot of kids is about freedom. It's about having fun with friends and family, and that's something you need no money for.