How to Have (Cheap) Fun

One challenging aspect of being homeless is determining what to do during the course of a day while others are filling their time with activities. This can be especially frustrating or intimidating if you are homeless and have children you need to watch while your spouse is at work or out looking for work.

Summer in Kalispell can be absolutely amazing and there are many things to do that suite all manner of interests. We live in a destination location and with so many things to do; often it’s difficult to narrow a list of potential activities down. So in my quest to stay consistent with frugality and limited financial means, here is a list of things to do on a limited budget. These are things that most people…housed or homeless… participate in.

1.  Read a good book – outside.  Head to the local library or used book store and get that book you’ve wanted to read. There are plenty of great book stores in the Valley and our Kalispell library has many amenities for the entire family. Sit in the sun and soak up some vitamin D as your imagination runs wild or your knowledge increases by leaps and bounds with your new books.

2.  Go on a scavenger hunt.  Have your kids or friends make a list of twenty or so outdoor things for your hunt.  Pick from different kinds of leaves, rocks, bugs, plants, critters and all kinds of other things. If you have a phone, then take pictures. 

3.  Go hiking.  This is an excellent cheap summer activity. There are some amazing trails abundantly available. Just make sure you have adequate supplies or resources if you want to have a picnic. It is also a good idea to have some pray in case you run into certain types of wildlife. 

4.  Go fishing.  No, you don’t need a boat.  Find a nearby fishing dock or public shoreline, dig some worms up in the backyard, and have at it.  If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to follow it up with a fish fry at home.

5.  Have a back yard movie.  Hang a sheet up on the outside of the house, grab your DVD player and a projector, and make your own little outdoor movie theater. 

6.  Take advantage of ice cream season.  Whether it’s a trip to your local ice cream shop for a cone, root beer floats at home on a warm summer night, or an ice cream sundae bar, ice cream is always a welcome treat. There are some incredible places in Kalispell to enjoy yourself.

7.  Go camping.  A back-to-basics camping trip is relaxing, fun and it helps you appreciate the many luxuries that abound in real life. If you have a tent, awesome…if you need a tent you can find one for a great price at a thrift store. Food costs are minimal and there are a bevy of locales.

8.  Go biking.  Take advantage of the warm summer weather and the many local bike trails in your area to get some exercise and have some fun. There is virtually no limit in how far you can go. From Somers to Kila, the trails we have are amazing. 

9.  Go on a picnic.  Search Montana’s state website for area parks and pack yourself a nice picnic lunch.  Head online and look for new and different sandwich and salad ideas to give your picnic lunch a little adventure, and enjoy eating in the great outdoors.

20.  Look for summer deals.  Websites like Groupon, Amazon Local and other local deal sites often get you a terrific deal on all sorts of cheap summer activities.

So, I hope you enjoy these inexpensive summer activities!