How to Have fun as a Family for Free or Cheap
Creating memories through family activities is a great way to stay connected and deepen your bonds as a family.
Here are 37 frugal family activity ideas for you.
Disclosure, this post may contain affiliate links for products or services we use and love.
1. Beach Night
Go to the beach at sunset, have dinner and snacks.
Lay down a few towels, look at the stars, talk about your dreams or even do some night fishing.
2. Games Night
Build up a selection of board and card games you can play together.
Choose some that are quicker and easier such as Uno, Connect 4, Twister and some longer ones if you want such as Monopoly.
This way, it is up to you how long the night goes for.
3. Scavenger Hunt
Print a list and go searching. Split into teams and see who can finish it first or compete purely against each other.
There are various free lists online or you can create a list yourself.
4. Master Chef or Similar
Pick a recipe to cook together or let the kids have at it with whatever you have.
You could pick a theme, an ingredient they must include or a specific meal such as entree or dessert they need to make.
Or you could do it with them watching, helping and being ‘judges’.
5. Obstacle Course
Head to your local park or look for an outdoor fitness ground to use as an obstacle course, otherwise you can create your own.
Use what you have at home such as chairs to climb over, tables to climb under, rope to jump over, set up string as if it’s a field of lasers they have to climb through etc.
Set your own rules then compete.
6. Bike Ride
Go for a bike ride as a family. This does require everyone to own a bike but if you don’t, you might be able to borrow from friends or family.
You could get creative with it using an app such as Strava which maps your ride and you could create words or images with it.
7. Movie Night
It can be as simple as Netflix and popcorn at home.
Choose a movie to watch or start a series where you watch a few episodes each week as something special to do as a family.
Create a fort with sheets, our chairs and things like that then, watch it while sitting in the fort.
Put a sheet over the trampoline (at the top of the net) to create a tent and watch something on a laptop in there.
Make cars out of cardboard boxes to create a drive-in experience for little ones.
If you have a ute, add some blankets, pillows and things to the back then set up a projector if you have one.
Movie nights don’t need to be basic and boring, it’s up to you how you do it.
8. Cultural Night
Pick recipes, snacks, traditions and a movie from a different culture to learn more about it and appreciate it.
9. Fire
A fire pit is a great addition to a backyard and so enjoyable for the kids.
Whether you are telling stories, roasting marshmallows or cooking dinner over the fire, they will love it.
Fire nights create great memories to last a lifetime.
10. Puzzles
Either buy a puzzle to do as a family or check out the many online options.
If you do larger puzzles you can get a puzzle roll which is a mat you can do the puzzle on and roll up if needed without losing all your progress so you can continue it later.
11. Festivals and Events
Keep an eye out in your local area to see what events are happening and when.
There are loads of festivals and events for the whole family which are free or super cheap.
Look for events promoted on Facebook in your area.
12. Chase Waterfalls
Google where waterfalls are near you.
Some require a bit of a hike in, others are easily accessible with a boardwalk.
Read the reviews and comments to know if the walk to it is easy enough for your family and your abilities.
Please take any rubbish out with you, stick to the paths and be conscious of the wildlife wherever you go.
13. Fishing
Find out where the good fishing spots are in your area and give it a shot.
It costs a bit to set up if you don’t already have the gear but you might be able to borrow from other people instead.
You can follow a day of fishing with a fire that night to cook your catch too.
14. Stargazing
Grab some blankets and pillows then lay outside somewhere, away from lights so you can see the stars clearly.
Learn about the constellations or get an app or book to help you work them out then see how many you can identify.
15. Volunteer Somewhere
Soup kitchens, youth centres, refuges, animal shelters, and numerous places are looking for volunteers.
Depending on the age of your kids you could do this. Or arrange a fundraiser to help your chosen charity.
Research your favourite organisations to see how you can help.
16. Free Camping
Look up free camping spots in your area and head out for a weekend.
Most will not have amenities other than maybe a drop toilet and possibly some water.
They can be located in the most beautiful areas though, close to rivers, lakes or creeks, great bushwalking and historical sites.
Check Facebook for groups to join where you can get advice, find great locations and possibly join other families with similar interests.
Wikicamps is a great app to use for this too.
17. Go on a Picnic
Picnics are loads of fun for kids.
It is exciting to see what food was packed, as it was different to what we would have had at home.
Make it a little special and cut the food into shapes or buy some of the favourite treats for everyone.
You can head to the beach, a park, lake or go for a little bushwalk but wherever you go, please take your rubbish back with you.
Chicken and salad wraps, make your own wraps or burgers, quiche, scrolls and a selection of fruit.
18. Visit a Farm
You don’t need to go far from the city to find farms, there is one in the middle of Melbourne and within an hour of most cities e.g Hahndorf Farm Barn in SA.
Many kids love visiting farms, feeding the animals, grooming them, learning to milk cows etc.
It’s educational and fun for them.
19. Fruit Picking
Each fruit season, many fruit farms offer tours and fruit picking.
It can be a great way for kids to learn where their food comes from, how hard farm work can be and appreciate fresh produce.
Plus there are usually interesting foods such as jams, preserves and wine made from the produce you can try.
20. Factory Tour
Look up factories in your area such as chocolate, cheese, jam and similar.
Most offer a tour of some sort with various activities for kids and samples along the way.
Some have special events in school holidays too.
21. Visit a Museum
Check out what’s on at your museum. Some offer free entry or free days and you just have to pay for special visits.
Otherwise, it might be worth getting an annual pass and visiting regularly with the different activities and exhibits throughout the year.
Some annual passes include entry to other museums and attractions.
22. Arts and Crafts
Pinterest has millions of ideas for art and craft activities you can do.
Create box robots, a box car track, mini rollercoasters for toys etc.
Paint on butchers paper attached to the fence for big artwork. Let the kids draw with chalk on the driveway etc.
Collect clean recyclables during the term then in the school holidays let the kids get creative with whatever you have then when you’re done, you can pop them in recycling!
23. Hiking
Check out trails available in your area and the reviews.
Some are friendly for younger kids, others require more effort.
The views, waterfalls and animals you see on trips can been wonderful.
You don’t need special gear for many of the bushwalks around Australia but always check first.
24. Build a Fort
Building a fort is easy to do with sheets, blankets, pegs, rope and whatever furniture you have.
You can create a fort kit with a pillowcase, some sheets, rope and pegs.
Having the fort kit on hand can make it a lot easier to set up and pack up once finished.
Plus you can make it another activity for them to decorate their fort kit one day when you first get it organised.
25. Charades
This classic game was something we used to play heaps as kids.
What is charades? One person has to act out something without talking, usually a movie, book or similar and the other people have to guess it.
Find the rules for charades and some tips here.
26. Hopscotch and Chalk Art
Get outside with chalk to create some art or draw hopscotch and play it.
It washes off easily and if you have the space there is a lot you can do.
Longer or wider driveways can be turned into mini streets with some chalk for kids to ride their bikes or scooter.
You can create running tracks for races, hopscotch as mentioned or any number of games.
Another option, if it is wet outside, use masking tape to create hopscotch inside.
27. Playground
Head to your nearest playground for some fun, either outside if there is good weather or many shopping centres have good playgrounds that are free.
Or look up interesting and alternative playgrounds in your area too.
28. Fly Kites
Make or buy a kite and head out for the day to fly them.
Learning how to build one and doing it is a lot of fun but it’s easier to simply buy one to use.
The kids can see and learn about what makes a kite fly higher or faster and then compete.
29. Geocaching
Using a GPS (usually your phone) you can participate in this international fun.
Geocaches or caches are little items left in specific spots you find with your GPS.
There are millions hidden around the world so there is likely to be some near you.
30. Do a Class
Some classes are free, others have a fee and you can do them in person or online.
See what is available in your area through Facebook, Meetup, community centres and similar then join ones you are interested in.
Or check out tutorials you can do together on YouTube such as painting.
It can be a lot of fun plus you all get to learn a new skill, create something or taste something new if it’s a cooking class.
31. Photo walk
Take your camera, phone or any device with a camera on your walk.
Look for specific things to photograph or go at a time you know will be great such as sunset.
You could do a tutorial before you head out and practice your new skills then try some editing too
32. Sandcastle Competition
Living near the beach, we build sandcastles and try to get creative with it.
You can make them as big or elaborate as you like.
We’ve also turned each other into mermaids and created fun sculptures.
If you are worried about getting sand in your car, you can rinse off then dry off and use a leaf blower to get more of the sand off too.
33. Sleep Outside
Set up a tent in the backyard for a family camping night.
Or use a tarp and trampoline.
If you do choose to camp somewhere public, check regulations for the area to ensure you don’t break any laws.
34. Sport
Soccer, basketball, netball, darts, any sport you can do together can be fun.
When it is just the family and no pressure from peers, it’s easier to learn and enjoy it.
In our experience, paying a little more for better quality equipment is worth it.
Ensure it is stored well, away from the weather, to make it last longer too.
35. Memory Night
Take out the photos, let them pick and tell a story about the photo or something it reminds you of.
The world has changed so quickly the past few decades, with massive advances in technology that what might be normal from your childhood could be mindblowing for them.
36. Snorkelling
If you live near a beach, especially if there are reefs, this is an easy one.
You can often get snorkelling gear for cheap and then you have it for whenever you want to use it.
It is a great option for any holidays near beaches too.
37. Nerf or Water Guns
Nerf gun and water gun fights have always been popular with my kids.
Buy a few and randomly bust them out for an afternoon of fun.
Pay attention to where they all go though so you can pick them up later and store them properly.
What fun and frugal family activities do you do?
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