Summer’s here and the time is right for heading to the beach. Unfortunately, family beach trips are not as cheap as they once were. It seems keeping up with trends has even invaded casual family beach excursions. Here’s a few ideas for making family beach trips cheap.
Beach toys
Let’s face it, beach toys last about as long as cheap sunglasses on a monkey. Why buy expensive beach toys when the dollar store has swim rings, beach balls, sand toys and even arm floaties? These are not supposed to be flotation devices. Even the label on the expensive ones says so. Stop at the dollar store before your next family beach trip for some fun cheap beach toys.
Beach wear
Ten year olds do not need designer swim wear. Shorts are great for boys. Girls will have just as much fun in inexpensive suits as they would in the pricier version. It’s OK to say no to ridiculous trends in swim wear. The beauty of family beach trips is the casual aura. The point is not to impress everyone. It’s to have fun.
Beach food
There’s nothing wrong with bringing your own food on family beach trips. Ignore the vendors and pack delicious homemade sandwiches, chips and pickles. Picky kids who want to buy from the little beach store can be told, ‘Well, I can’t afford it, but if you want to earn the money yourself, I have no problem with you buying it. It’s a great way to teach the value of a dollar.
Admission
State Parks have well maintained beaches and are one of the best values out there. Admission is up to 9.00 per car in Colorado or 70.00 for an annual parks pass. That pass gets you into any Colorado State Park for a full year, The swim beaches are free with admission. Camp overnight on the cheap to extend your trip into a family weekend.
Note: Walking or biking into most parks for the day is free!
Entertainment
Nothing is cheaper than free. Sometimes free entertainment is the best. Bury each other in the sand and make sand mermaids, build sand castles or just take seashell collecting walks on the beach. Musical families may want to pack a guitar. Family trips are often remembered more for the spontaneous fun than the high dollar entertainment.
Sunscreen
I bet you’re picturing my kids blistered and burned because I didn’t use high dollar sunscreen on them. Guess again. Cheap sunscreen is just as effective as the name brands. Just compare ingredients on the label. The dollar store also has cheap straw brimmed hats little kids can wear to help keep the sun off. Don’t forget those cheap sunglasses either.
Beach shoes
Flip flops have always been the biggest bargain in cheap beach shoes. Buy them in bulk in one neutral color next time you visit the dollar store. If a shoe gets lost, they all match. Little girls who like fancy shoes can tie fleece strips to theirs or glue on decorative buttons and fake flowers. Be cheap from head to toe on your next family trip. Maybe you can go more often if you keep trips inexpensive.
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