I love summer holidays. Memorial Day and Labor Day are bookends to the summer and the 4th of July falls smack dab in the middle. Besides celebrating our country, the 4th of July can be a great frugal holiday. There are many free things to do for the 4th.
- City Fireworks Displays - our city has its annual fireworks at the end of a week-long carnival on the Sunday before the 4th of July. It's a great opportunity to get together with friends. The kids run around, we bring snacks to share, and it is all free! There are usually several options for fireworks displays (depending on where you live). Often the newspaper will list the fireworks displays in the surrounding areas.
- Parades - many towns have parades to celebrate the 4th. Although we don't have one here, I remember watching (and participating) in parades when I was a kid. It's fun to line along the road watching all the groups marching through. My favorites were always the marching bands and the shriners.
- Cookouts with Family/Friends - we usually celebrate with family by grilling hamburgers, hot dogs, and brats, as well as all the fixin's. To keep costs down, organize a potluck, so everyone shares the cost of the food. Or, if you are hosting, plan your meal early and shop the sales the month prior for great deals on the food. For fun, we set up volleyball and croquet in the backyard.
- Make a cute patriotic dessert - A couple of years ago, I made this cute Uncle Sam hat cake (see photo above) to bring to a 4th of July party that we attended. It was easy to make, and really cute. Here are some other cute ideas.
- Inexpensive Kid's Crafts - organize some crafts for the kids to do during your cookout. Here's a great site with some inexpensive crafts for them to create.
What do you do to celebrate the 4th of July? How to you save money on your celebrations?
Natalie
I love all of the stuff you mentioned. 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays and it can be one of the least expensive too! Great hat cake by the way.
Corrie @ "Cents"able Momma
Thanks, Natalie!
Carrie
Visiting from Life as MOM - your cake is SO CUTE!! One of the things I do, not just for the 4th but for other holidays as well, is to find holiday-themed books/movies. It takes a small amout of money in the beginning to purchase the books and movies, but once I own them, we watch and/or read the holiday movies/books every year. It becomes a tradition without having to spend money after the first time. Yay! 🙂
Corrie @ "Cents"able Momma
Great idea, Carrie! I usually do that for the "big" holidays like Christmas, Easter, etc., but I didn't think about doing it for the 4th of July.
Jessica
Visiting from "Life as Mom" and I had to chuckle - I posted on this same topic....great minds! 🙂
We also do this: wait until the day or two AFTER the 4th and collect labeled apparel/merchandise at deeply discounted prices and save for the next year (makes for some cheap centerpieces, arts and crafts, pictures w/matching shirts, etc!)