10 Ways Your Family Can Save Money This Summer

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone.

Summer is my favorite time of year! I was born in the summer and enjoy the heat and the outdoors and all the awesome adventures you get to have. But, I’m also aware that because there are so many fun things to do, that you can easily start racking up the bills! So, it is important find ways to save money on your adventures, and having a phone from Walmart Family Mobile can help!

1. Use Walmart Family Mobile

Okay, if you have been following my blog for a while, you know that we are Walmart Family Mobile customers. Before we had Walmart Family Mobile we weren’t even smartphone users or smartphone owners. We often did some random pay-as-you-go phone, and sometimes even split a cell phone between my husband and me. But, their phones and their plans are just so affordable that we’ve been able to keep our two unlimited talk, text, and data service plans with them, for as low as $29.88/month (for the first line, the second line is $5 less) which includes 1G of 4G LTE data. It’s hard to beat that price, while on the great T-Mobile network.

The summer is a great time to switch plans and providers and start saving money. That extra money in your pocket means more fun you can have.

Disclaimer: All prices for phones and plans included in this post are accurate as of the date of posting; however, these prices are subject to change. Please refer your local Walmart for current pricing.

If you want to know how I use my phone to save even more money on purchases I make every day, read THIS post. Having a smartphone can be valuable in couponing, getting cash back, and more.

2. Sign up for the Summer Reading Program at the Library

Not only are public libraries free for patrons to use to check out books, movies, and much more, they also usually have an awesome summer reading program for kids.

The great thing about these programs is that most of them offer reward incentives in the form of coupons for free food, BOGOs for free food, and discounted tickets or free admission to local water parks, museums, and other attractions. Win for literacy, and win for doing more awesome summer stuff for less!Plus, the library usually offers loads of fun and free activities during the summer as well.

3. Drive Less

Okay, I know summers are notorious for road trips, but as much as otherwise possible, try to drive less! Walk or bike to the store, the movie theater, or the park. Get some exercise, sunshine, and enjoy the gas money left over. But, when you do drive, make sure you are driving in such a way to save money on gas and that your car has been tuned up, including with new tires (and here’s how to save on tires this summer).

4. Use Deal Sites

If you are traveling, staying in a hotel, or planning some excursions in town or out of state, you need to check for great deals on deal sites like Groupon and Living Social. Groupon has some great hotel and travel getaway deals and packages to make your family summer more affordable. But, even without a big trip, there are many local deals that you can snag up for a great price.

I recently bought a pass to a local children’s museum that we really love. Not only did I get the Groupon price, but because I shared it on Facebook and a few of my friends also bought it, I was refunded almost $5 of the $17 price. Talk about an inexpensive way to visit an attraction as a family and with friends! Plus, you can always use a cash back site when purchasing to save even more (read about the cash back sites I use HERE).

5. Kids Bowl Free

If you want something inexpensive to do, and you and/or your kids love bowling, sign them up for the Kids Bowl Free program for the summer. You can get 2 free games of bowling everyday for your kids, though most places still require you to rent shoes. For this reason, it may be worth it to look into buying an inexpensive pair (maybe at one of the many summer garage sales going on or at a thrift store) for your kids. Either way, it’s still fun for less. Plus, many bowling alleys have daily specials as well.

Also look into other similar programs like Kids Skate Free. 

6. Dollar Movies and Free Movies

Depending on where you live, many movie theaters (Regal Cinemas is one) play children’s movies for $1 (or less if you buy a bundle of tickets) every week. It’s a fun treat for the kids to actually go to the theater to watch a movie, and it’s air conditioned. If you want to check out other movies, there are still always Redbox and Netflix too. Many places also offer free movies in parks, libraries, or at other organizations.

7. Free Water Fun

Summer is hot, and many of us just want to lounge at the pool. Buying a season pass can be a good option if your child takes to water like a fish, and you are committed to swimming at your local pool or water park frequently. Be sure to look over my 10 Safety Tips for Worry-Free Water fun.

However, there are many free ways to have water fun in the summer.  More and more cities are putting up free public splash pads at their parks and playgrounds. Look to see if there are any in your area.  These spraygrounds are nice because you don’t have to worry about kids drowning, but they can still get wet, and are next to fun playgrounds. Some cities also offer free access to rivers and ponds. 

And you can always buy a mini pool for your own backyard, or have a water fight with water balloons or water guns at home. Or, you can try to bum entrance over to your friend’s pool.

8. Free Lunches

Most communities are operating The Summer Food Service Program through the USDA. This service ensures low-income children have a place to have a nutritious meal when school is not in session. The meals are free for children 0-18 years old (adults would have to pay a small amount if they would like their own serving). Find where your kids can get these meals HERE.

You can also look up when local restaurants in your area are doing any Kids Eat Free meals (use your smartphone to google which restaurants are offering this with your WFM smartphone), and take advantage of lunch menu prices all summer long by forgoing dining for supper.

I also recommend packing picnic lunches with reusable lunch boxes/bags and containers. Sometimes local amusement parks let you bring in your own food, so don’t waste $50 on food for one meal for your family when you could’ve just packed some food from home for so much less.

9. Use a refillable water bottle.

With the summer sun and heat draining water from our bodies, it’s important to stay hydrated. Save money on water by bringing your own filtered and cold water bottles from home. You can even put your bottles in a little cooler in the car, or with your lunch, and have refreshing water to drink and not have to pay out for a bottled water at the store or at the drive-thru. Refill them often while out, and enjoy the healthy benefits for less.

10. Eat Fresh.

Summer is a great time for fishing and gardening, so why not catch your next meal or pluck those fruits and veggies right from your garden? If you are keeping a garden, let the kids help. They’ll get a little water fun in and water your plants at the same time. If you don’t have your own garden, buy fresh produce from local farmers markets or but what is seasonal at the store.

I have shared with you how I plan to save money and have fun during the summer months with Walmart Family Mobile! What are your summer plans and how will you save? Leave a comment and let me know!