I know how it is. You scroll through social media and see happy families on epic vacations in sunny locations and feel that familiar pang of jealousy. But with the price of groceries and everything else these days, for a lot of families it’s hard to even be able to take the whole family to the local movie theatre, let alone on a trip! Your FOMO is taking over, and you worry about being able to provide exciting, memorable experiences for your family. Sure, vacations are fun. But you can make happy family memories in your own way, without having to spend a fortune. Here are some budget-friendly things you can do with your family to create incredible memories, and hopefully some new traditions.
Inexpensive Family Memories
Plant a Vegetable Garden. Have each family member pick out a small vegetable starter or pack of seeds and plant and nurture a family garden. If you have little to no yard space, or if it’s too cold outside. This is easily something you can do on a patio, or even indoors. Your kids will love to eat the vegetables they grew themselves!
Get out into Nature. We’re so lucky to live on Vancouver Island where you can explore a different park or beach almost every day—pretty much year-round! Make a point to explore every green area or beach access in a local neighborhood. Or plan a day trip once a month to explore one that’s in an area you don’t visit often. Visit certain areas at different times of the year to see how the foliage changes.
Weekly Movie Nights. Choose a family-friendly movie and make a night of it. Make, or order, pizza and have popcorn and other snacks. Unroll your sleeping bags or make forts out of pillows and blankets to create a fun, cozy atmosphere.
Bake or Cook Together. Getting the whole family into the kitchen to bake or cook together is not only fun but helps your kids gain important skills they’ll need in the future. Even toddlers can pour ingredients into bowls, so make sure everyone has a job to help put your meal together. If your kids are older, you could even have a cookie bake-off. Or find out who can make the wackiest cupcakes!
Family Games Night. A little friendly competition between family members teaches kids about sportsmanship and helps kids learn important skills such as counting money. Buy or borrow a variety of games that the whole family will enjoy.
Have a Tea Party. Make or buy some fancy treats, dress up in your fancy clothes and use the fancy teapot! If your kids are young, you could assign everyone a fun character. Or if your kids are older you can come up with an inspiring theme. This is a fantastic way for your family to bond and create memories on a rainy Saturday afternoon.
Volunteer Together. Volunteering together is a fantastic way to give back to the community and teach kids about the importance of helping others. Most cities on Vancouver Island have volunteer databases you can look up online. Or you can call around to your local pet shelters, homeless shelters, literacy foundations, hospitals or any other organization your family would like to help.
Be a Tourist in Your Own Town. Once a month find a day for your family to go exploring in your town. Watch out for specials on local tourist attractions during the off-season. If you’re not finding any deals, or it’s the high season, simply head to areas you rarely visit and check out the local shops and have lunch in a new-to-you restaurant.
Start a Family Book Club. If your family can all read the same book, say a Young Adult Adventure novel, then read it together and discuss your book together at certain intervals. If you have younger kids or simply enjoy different genres, have everyone pick out a book and take a turn discussing what your book was about, your favourite parts and important lessons. On rainy days when everyone is home, curl up with blankets and pillows and have a family read-a-thon.
