What's Hot and What's Not

[Linda in Calif]

I thought there were some really good suggestions on this list...just because you don't have a lot of money doesn't mean you can't have fun!

What's Hot and What's Not This Summer

Okay, you may be broke, but there's no need to be bored. Cheap is cool this summer.

What's Out/ What's In

Green fees at a golf course/ Croquet in the backyard
Movies at the multiplex/ Videos and books from the public library
Water parks/ Squirt guns and water balloons
Hotels/ Camping
Pool memberships/ Kiddy pools in the backyard (or natural pools!)
Shooting off fireworks/ Watching fire flies
Restaurant meals/ Picnics in local parks
Shopping malls/ Yard sales
Fly/drive vacations/ Bicycling/hiking vacations
Country club memberships/ Local park and recreation programs
Fancy margaritas/ Homemade sangria
Sleep away summer camps/ Sleepover parties with friends
Trips to the beach/ Hammocks at home
Hotrods/ Fishing rods
European vacation/ Learning a foreign language
Plants from the nursery/ Plant swaps with friends
Tennis at the club/ Badminton in the backyard
Lobster bakes/ Soy dogs on the grill
Pricey vacation attractions/ Free factory tours
Back-to-school sales/ Thrift stores
Veggies from the supermarket/ Growing your own
Turnpike tolls/ Local swimming holes
Tickets to a pro game/ Free local league games
Catering sticker shock/ Potlucks
Lemonade/ Lemonade (It wouldn't be summer without it!)
Expensive summer concerts/ Free summer concerts
Wet t-shirt contests/ Who's got the oldest t-shirt contests
Amusement parks/ City parks
Caribbean cruise/ Rent a canoe
Hang gliding/ Fly a kite
Latest summer fashions/ Last summer's fashions
Price tags/ Playing tag
Vacations involving airfares/ Vacations involving county fairs
Buying a summer cottage/ Building a tree house
Admission fees/ Everything FREE!

Jeff Yeager is the author of the book The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches. His Website is http://www.UltimateCheapskate.com.

Personally, I don't agree that you shouldn't take a trip to the beach...I "dream" about laying on those soft, white sands in PCB but I guess if I can't do that, kicking back in a hammock with a nice "kolt one" isn't too bad.

PS. Re: Who has the oldest T-Shirt....I have one from when I was at FSU...it's 38 years old. Can anyone beat that?!

[BigDave]

whats out....people that suck!
Whats in....Me! Koooowell!

[kim221998]

Well not a tshirt, but my dad has a pair of flip flops around that old...don't remember exactly how old they are, but he's had them as long as I can remember, and I'm 33..lol. I don't see how they lasted so long...I can't get a pair to last barely one year!

PS. Re: Who has the oldest T-Shirt....I have one from when I was at FSU...it's 38 years old. Can anyone beat that?!

[kim221998]

I can't help it...there are some good options on there, but most I won't pick the cheap ones over the other..lol. Guess that's why I don't get to do them often.

I love to eat out to much to give it up completely, though we've cut WAY back. Don't eat much fast food, but eating at regular restaurants I love. Definitely can't give up a trip to the beach for a hammock at home! No WAY! And if I have a chance to go to an amusement park or water park, I'm not giving them up! I LOVE THEM! Just went to a couple last week in Birmingham..yeah it was expensive and probably not worth what we paid, but we had a blast! And I would have hit the expensive summer concert if

I would much rather shop at thrift stores and yard sales then malls and stuff. That's one of the few cheap routes I will go.