20 Cheap & Easy Ideas for SUMMER FUN!!! 🌞

You don't have to break the bank to have a lot of fun this summer. Today, I'm sharing 20 cheap, easy, and fun things to do this Summer. Watch the quick video here, or keep reading!

1) Play chocolate bar bingo

2) Camp in the backyard

3) Plant something

4) Send a letter or postcard to someone special

5) Read a book outside

6) Have ice cream for supper

7) Paint rocks

8) Watch a movie outside

9) Bake something

10) Go on a road trip

11) Cook something over a campfire

12) Grill donuts

13) Fly a kite

14) Eat donuts hanging from a string (no hands)

15) Have a picnic with food from a local restaurant or food truck

16) Have a one-on-one date with a family member or friend

17) Have a water fight

18) Have a "kids pick the meals" day

19) Get ice cream in your PJs (drive throughs work well)

20) Go geocaching

I hope you do some of the things on this list. Enjoy!

♥ 
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also enjoy the campfire treats here.

Sweet and Simple Summer Crafts (for all ages)

These crafts are perfect for all ages. The supplies are easy to find (mostly from the dollar store and the recycling bin), the crafts are simple, and the results are super-cute! If you want an afternoon of crafting at home, these crafts are perfect. They are also wonderful for craft classes and parties.

For the instructions for these adorable (and fun to make) crafts, check out the video I made here.

Fun, right?!?

💗

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

☀️Super cute (and classy) SUMMER DIYs… made using dollar store supplies / Dollarama DIYs

I am so excited to share my latest SUMMER DIYs with you today. They are easy and inexpensive to make, and they are sooooo nice! No one will ever guess that they are make with dollar store supplies.

1) Solar Powered Fountain - The base of this solar fountain is made from Dollarama planters. Can you believe it??? You can get an "up close" look and find the "step by step instructions" here.

2) Simple S'more Station - I love a themed tiered tray, and this one is perfect for summer. Take a look at how I made it using Dollarama supplies here.

Pretty cute, right? Make sure you check out the video I made below.

Have a great summer, and don't forget to check back here (or on YouTube) for more easy, inexpensive and fun ideas.

💗

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

10 Summer Adventures for the Family... and a printable checklist

When it comes to summer fun, it's always great to have inspiration and a plan. Today, I'm sharing both! You can pick one or two items off of my summer adventure checklist, or you can tackle all ten.

To download a copy of the list: click on the picture above, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular 8x10 photograph.

And... here are the details...

1) Eat ice cream – Make homemade ice cream, have ice cream for supper, or try a NEW ice cream stand.

2) Do something good – Run a lemonade stand or yard sale for charity, visit the grocery store and buy things to donate to a food bank, or participating in a few random acts of kindness.

3) Buy a meal from a food truck and eat outside – Grab burgers, fries, fish, or pizza, and have a picnic in the park.

4) Visit a beach – Go for a swim, play catch on the shore, collect sea glass and shells, fly a kite, or go on a scavenger hunt.

5) Cook on a campfire – Avoid dinner dishes by roasting hot dogs over an open fire. Then, cook campfire treats for dessert.

6) Plan a theme day –Some options include: “spend gift cards day”, “play board games day”, and “kids pick the meals day”.

7) Have an outdoor movie night – Watch a movie under the stars with blankets, pillows and treats.

8) Plan a parent / child date – Parents pick the time frame and budget, and the kids pick the activity.

9) Get creative – Make a craft, bake something, decorate a cake, try a new recipe, or film a video. The only limit is your imagination.

10) Explore – Go on a hike, hunt for waterfalls, swim somewhere new, or go a road trip.

Which of these summer adventures are you going to go on with your family? Let me know in the comments below.

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

5 Genius Budget-friendly Ideas for SUMMER... including FREE games and decor

Summer is definitely my favourite season. Who doesn't love decorating with cheerful colors, vacations, and warm temperatures? Today, I'm sharing a few genius ideas for summer... including food, decor, and more. I use a lot of dollar store supplies AND I have freebies too!

I even made a fun video with all the info you need!

Watch the video here.

1) Hand painted lemon slice coasters - I found a six pack of rounds at the dollar store, and I thought it would be fun to turn them into lemon slice coasters. They are super simple and fun to paint -- at any age. I'm not much of a painter, but I think they turned out really cute! You can find the full step-by-step instructions here.

2) Cheesecakes in jars - I love these individual cheesecakes. They are portable and perfect for camping, picnics, and bbqs. And... the best part is how easy they are to make. Find the instructions for these "no bake" cheesecakes here.

3) FREE Summer print - I love cute summer print, and this one is FREE and looks adorable in a dollar store frame.

To download the picture I designed: click on the picture you want (below), right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regular photo.

4x6

5x7

8x10

4) Printable SUMMER Tic Tac Toe - I'm obsessed with these little games I designed. They are perfect for summer days, camping, and road trips. I love the bright colours and the fact that they are an activity AND a snack. Cute, right?

To download the games I designed for free: click on one of the photos below, right-click, save it to your computer, and print it like a regurlar 4x6 photo.

5) FREE Summer decor - I love inexpensive seasonal decor, and these summer prints are super-cute and FREE. Grab copies here, pop them in a dollar store frame, and enjoy!

I hope you enjoy these budget-friendly ideas for summer. Let me know which one is your favourite in the comments below... and don't forget to watch my video for a closer look.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also like the summer DIYs here.

Summer Crafts for Kids (with a "how to" video and free printable templates)

Summer is the perfect time to craft with kids, and these crafts are simple AND fun! The video (below) is easy to follow, the templates are free, and the supplies are easy to find.

Here are the crafts:

And here are the instructions:

Let me know which one is your favourite! I think the Cheerio worm is mine... but they are all fantastic. :-)

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

10 NEW (Dollar Store) Summer Essentials and HACKS

Summer is here, and your local dollar store is the perfect place to stock up on summer essentials. Today, I'm sharing my favorite dollar store finds for Summer and HACKS you are going to want to try!

Click the links for more details.

1) Personalized summer essentials bag - It's super-convenient to have an "easy to grab" bag full of summer essentials, and the dollar store has everything you need to stock it inexpensively.

2) Compact beach towel - The dollar store beach towels are cheap, colourful, and thin enough to pack it easily.

3) Water bottles - The dollar store has water bottles to fit any style. I love this big one with a straw. It helps me stay hydrated all summer long.

4) Solar lights - I love using solar lights on my patio. They are very low maintenance and provide a great atmosphere all season long. The small string solar lights are perfect for the roof of my gazebo.

5) Personalized detangling brushes - These brushes are perfect for wind-blown, pool, or beach hair. They are inexpensive and fun to personalize with a Cricut decal.

6) Economical (and fun!) movie night treats - Buying your favourite candy and packaging it in dollar store condiment containers is clever. It also looks great and helps with portion control.

7) Campfire essentials - Campfires are a summer essential... so you need to make sure you have lots of campfire treats on hand. I love this dollar store bucket, goodies, and personalized roasting sticks.

8) Storage solutions - To make room for summer, pack away winter clothes and blankets. The dollar store has extra large bags that work perfectly.

9) Citronella candles - The dollar has many options for these candles that help keep the bugs away. My current favorite is this cement version. It's very "on trend".

10) Glow sticks - Glow sticks are a summer staple in our home. They are great for taking for walks in the dark and for playing tag at night. They are also great for providing light... especially at the bottom of a cooler. Functional AND fun!

For a closer look and MORE great ideas... check out the video below.

I hope you head to the dollar store and pick up some of these summer essentials. These products are definitely worth buying and the hacks are definitely worth trying!

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

You might also like the dollar store diys for summer you can find here.