March break on a budget: Cheap ways to make each day special for your kiddos if you can’t afford much

Higher prices for just about everything are to blame for the record number of March break staycationers this month, who simply can’t shell out thousands for a traditional family getaway. Ample fun at home with your kiddos can still be had on a shoestring budget. Check out these seven frugal ideas — one for each day of the break.

Get outside and enjoy nature

Pick a nature day where you and the littles go for a hike, visit a park, test out your bikes (weather permitting) and play sports. Dress for the weather so you won’t have to cut your time outside short. Pack a picnic to avoid buying lunch at a drive-thru, which for a family of four is now averaging $50 to $60. To make this excursion feel “special,” go to a place you’ve never been, and plan an out-of-the-ordinary picnic menu that includes foods and treats you wouldn’t normally serve.

Takeout dinner and movie night

Skip delivery charges and tips by picking up your family-friendly takeout. Choose a place to order from where you have a coupon, and use up gift cards if you have them. Once the order arrives, throw your favourite family flick on the television and enjoy a TV dinner. The idea here is to spend under $40 for your entire evening. You can amp up the fun and invite another family to join you — pizza party, anyone?

Go swimming indoors or visit your local rec centre

Do you have a family membership to a pool? Is there a free drop-in swim or play program in your community? You might be surprised at how many sports activities are free or low-cost throughout March break, and many of these activities span over multiple days, giving you a variety of scheduling options. Why not sign up for a few different activities your kids would enjoy, and if there’s an opportunity for them to learn something completely new — like pickleball — join them in the fun. Local activities are also an opportunity to invite other kids for a playdate.

Bake, make and shake

Pick a recipe to bake or make a new kind of food each day. Your kids can help you get the ingredients by accompanying you to the grocery store, holding the list of items you’ll need and then preparing the recipe with you. Making a list of what you need should help to avoid unnecessary spending at the grocery store and shopping at a discount grocer will ensure you’re paying less for almost everything (no-label baking supplies and non-perishables have been staples in my kitchen well before inflation). While you’re baking or cooking, throw on music and have a dance party. For this idea to be successful, stick to simple recipes that you and your kids won’t find too tricky or take too long. Once your dishes are ready, take beautiful pictures just like the food stylists do for Instagram recipes.

Start your garden

I was super surprised last year when our young son showed interest in gardening. We rolled with it, got him a $4 pair of Paw Patrol gardening gloves and a handful of plants to water throughout the season. Before I knew it, he was filling up the watering canister by himself, removing the dead heads from the flowers, and he’d made himself a painted rock garden. This year, he wants to plant some veggies.

If you have access to a garden in your own backyard, or a community plot (you can easily sign up for one of these for low to no cost), March break might be the perfect time to start getting it prepared for planting in a few months (timing will depend on where you live). See about involving your kids in making the garden feel like their own. Encourage them to get crafty and design a few homemade gnomes, paint their favourite outdoor chair, install a new solar light, prepare a little place for them to plant their own vegetation. Your local dollar store will have loads of gardening gear for a fraction of the cost you might pay at a specialty store. I’ve found that my gear has lasted multiple seasons, with good care. While you’re all working away, bring that portable speaker outside and dance.

If your kids are really into it, you might just extend the garden time, pitch a tent in the yard and “camp.”

Road trip to visit family and friends

Who can you visit? Can you plan a mini road trip to spend time with another family, a grandparent or friends? Changing the scenery might just feel like a complete vacation for you and for your kids. While you’re away you can check out local parks, activities, markets and festivals. Budget for your travel costs like gas or train tickets, pack your own food, and see what you can do about staying with family and friends to avoid hotel costs.

If you start saving right now, you might just have enough for one great paid activity

When you can’t do it all, because your budget can’t handle it, focus on just one awesome activity that you can afford, and prioritize it. Ask your kids to narrow down a few activities they would love to do — amusement park, treetop climbing, zip lining, science centre, the zoo, one day of a skateboarding day camp, waterpark, watching a live sporting event — then choose just one activity (if your kids are older it might mean they each choose their own one activity). Map out the cost for the event. Start socking away money for it right now. Look for coupons and promotions and see if your employer has any work perks that give you a discount. When you’re ready and you have the savings, book it.

As you maximize your hard-earned dollars for spring break, know that your time is the biggest gift you can give to your kids. So, be present and have fun, which is much easier to do when you’re not worried about breaking the bank.

This article was originally published in The Star. Lesley-Anne Scorgie is a Toronto-based personal finance columnist and a freelance contributing columnist for the Star.