Summer is a great time of the year with no school and less of an agenda, there's an endless list of ways to spend the days and the nights. It's easy to get carried away and blow all of your semester savings in a few short days. I've come up with alternatives to some of the most essential (and expensive) summer actives for those of us who have spending problems and $0.67 in our checking accounts.
If you like: amusement parks
You can afford: hiking
Hiking is like your very own adventure. Pro tips for all you adrenaline junkies, don't look at a map and just hope you're following the right trail. There's nothing quite like the feeling of being entirely lost in the woods to get your heart pounding!
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If you like: water parks
You can afford: homemade slip n slide
All you need is a tarp, some dish soap, water and a hill. Not only is it cheaper but you also don't have to worry about lines or small children peeing in the pool.
If you like: going to the movies
You can afford: reading a book
Libraries aren't urban legends, they really do still exist and they're a perfect place to get yourself a book for free. You probably will have to renew your library card, but remember "Harry Potter" started out as a book and tbh we all know the fourth book is way better than the movie anyway.
If you like: restaurants
You can afford: cooking your own dinner
The internet is a beautiful place, not only are recipes posted but there's even instructional videos if you don't know how to cut vegetables. It's marginally cheaper to buy your own ingredients rather than going out for dinner.
If you like: going to the gym
You can afford: going for a run
First off I don't know what kind of twisted person finds working out part of fun summer plans but for those who do and want to save some bucks, ditch the gym and just go on a run. Plus, unlike a treadmill, you can't stop running whenever you feel like it; you have to make it back home so there's built-in motivation.
If you like: the mall
You can afford: thrift stores
Macklemore hit this one right on the head. Buy old jeans for $7 and cut them instead of getting new shorts for $25. Savers is my personal favorite but there's also Goodwill or smaller consignment shops. If you're like me and can barely afford name brands when they're "on sale" I highly recommend ThredUP, an online secondhand site that has designer items that are high quality but low price.
If you like: going to concerts
You can afford: making a music video
Instead of tailgating just drink a handle of cheap vodka with your friends and film yourselves trying to dance, put it with some music on iMovie, and BAM you have endless entertainment. Just remember what goes on the internet stays there so maybe think twice before putting it on YouTube unless you want it held against you for the rest of eternity.
