Sunday Edition: Sunshine Doesn’t Have to Cost a Thing
15 Summer Activities That Won’t Break the Bank
The Sunday Edition is Tuesday’s little sister—off-the-cuff updates I’d bring up over a coffee catch-up with a friend.
Sundays always make me feel reflective, and lately, I've been thinking about the cost of everything. Not just emotionally (because life is a lot), but financially. Life is expensive, summer doubly so. Between summer camps, cold brew cravings, and the pressure to make “core memories,” it can feel like just existing costs more than it should.
But here’s the thing: I still want joy. I want the sticky popsicle hands, the lawn chair chats, the remember when we… moments and I want them without spiraling into budget panic. So I rounded up a handful of low-spend ideas to fill your season with magic and margin.
Here are 15 summer activities to try if you’re feeling the financial squeeze but still want to have a good time.
1. Go on an ice cream walk - Romanticize a Tuesday night. Pick up a scoop at your favorite spot and stroll through your neighborhood, solo or with someone you love. Bonus points for eating it fast enough to avoid the drip.
2. Stroll a local farmers market - Fresh flowers, a snack from a food truck, and some locally made soap you absolutely didn’t need but felt compelled to buy, worth it.
3. Host a backyard movie night - Borrow a projector, throw a white sheet over the fence, and pop some popcorn. Invite friends or neighbors and let the kids stay up late. Summer gold.
4. Make friendship bracelets - It’s giving girlhood. String a few beads and make matching ones with your bestie or your kids. Maximum nostalgia, minimal cost.
5. Try a cookbook challenge - Pick a summer cookbook (or a free online recipe) and challenge yourself to make three dishes from it over the course of a week. Invite a friend to join and swap leftovers.
6. Organize a field day - Channel your inner PE teacher: sack races, water balloon toss, a homemade slip n’ slide. It’s chaotic and fun and burns some of that wild summer kid energy.
7. Visit a free local museum day - Many museums have one day a month with free admission. Pair it with a packed lunch in the park and you’ve got yourself a budget-friendly outing with culture to boot.
8. Host an at-home happy hour - Pick a theme (like Aperol spritz night or mezcal margaritas), mix up a few drinks, and invite friends over. Fancy glassware is optional, fun is not.
9. Start a shared summer playlist - Create a collaborative Spotify playlist with friends or your partner. Everyone adds their current favorites and you’ve got the soundtrack for your drives, BBQs, or dance breaks.
10. Go on a library crawl - Hear me out: visit a few libraries in your area (especially the quirky or historic ones), grab a free library card, and check out a summer read or two. Bonus: air conditioning.
11. DIY spa night - Face masks, cucumber water, and that nail polish color you bought in 2017 but never used. Light a candle and cue the spa playlist.
12. Plan a potluck brunch - Skip the overpriced café and host a BYO-dish brunch at home. Someone brings fruit, someone brings muffins, and someone always forgets napkins (classic).
13. Explore a new walking trail - Use AllTrails or Google Maps to find a new-to-you path and get those steps in. Go solo with a podcast, or bring a friend for a walking catch-up.
14. Have a paint-and-sip night at home - It’s easy: grab some dollar-store canvases, open a bottle of wine, and follow a free YouTube tutorial. Artistic talent not required.
15. Watch the sunset from a new spot - Find a new rooftop, bluff, or open field. Bring a blanket, a drink, and a little patience. It’s free, beautiful, and always worth the time.
Summer doesn’t have to be extravagant to be memorable. A little creativity goes a long way, and the best memories are usually the ones you didn’t over-plan.
I’ll see you Tuesday with a fresh post. Until then, here’s to a summer that feels full without emptying your wallet.
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The Second Act is an entirely reader-supported publication written and created by Danielle Wraith. Click here to subscribe or gift a friend a subscription here (if a friend sent you this —tell them thanks!). Anything you want covered? Questions? Reply with a comment below! You can also find me on Instagram. Please come say hi!