Make the most of weekends – for free
OPINION: ‘‘Mum, can we do something fun this weekend?’’
Usually when my kids ask me that, it means, ‘‘Mum, can we go somewhere expensive this weekend?’’ I won’t lie; I sometimes start getting anxious on a Friday afternoon when I realise the kids will be home for the weekend and will expect some form of entertainment that I don’t want to pay for.
The purpose of a weekend is to have a little fun after a hard week of working, schooling, and generally doing life. But in a time when we all want to save more than we spend, it is possible to enjoy a weekend without paying for anything.
The easiest free activities for families with young kids are the ones that are outside, like bush walks and visits to the beach. A few weekends ago my husband and I took our kids on a bush walk that’s also a fairy house trail. We all had a great time searching for fairy houses while enjoying the serenity of the forest, and the best bit was that it only cost the price of petrol to get there and back.
Instead of gravitating to your tried and true local playground, do what Prime Minister Chris Hipkins once famously suggested and ‘‘spread your legs’’. We have a great playground a short walk from our house but our favourite one is a 15-minute drive away. It’s enormous, there’s a pond with a giant dinosaur, and there are always other small people my small people can become instant besties with (which means I’m less likely to have to go on the flying fox with them – it’s a winwin).
Dining out is a particularly expensive way to spend a weekend. Instead of going out for brunch with a friend, go for a beach walk. Organise a barbecue or potluck at someone’s home instead of going out for dinner with friends. Put the kids to bed early, whip up a sneaky chocolate self-saucing pudding, and watch a movie. If your kids love an ice block as a treat, don’t buy them individually from the dairy; add a box to your next supermarket shop and keep them in the freezer (hidden, otherwise if your kids are like mine they’ll eat them all in an afternoon).
What if it’s raining? No problem. Build a fort, pop a pan of popcorn (I’m an old-school popcorn popper), and plonk your kids in front of a classic Disney movie for the afternoon). Forgo a trip to the hot pools by nipping around to a friend’s place for a spa. A visit to a museum or art gallery is a nice way to feel cultured, without having to spend anything (or getting wet).
Feeling restless? Don a coat and go for a walk in the rain anyway. Free isn’t always comfortable, but it’s always good for your bank balance. And a walk in the rain will almost certainly make you feel great.