What Are Your Low-Budget Summer Fun Ideas?
The idea is to share with each other; low / no budget ideas for having some fun which makes good use of Summer weather.
Maybe; some things you used to do - which could be re-discovered?
New things you would like to try - but hadn't quite got around to yet ...come on: try them out - they might become a new part of your culture and traditions!
Perhaps there may be an interest / hobby / pastime to be discovered out there which is known to someone in our community - which many of us could also try out and see if we find it fun too.
I will brainstorm a few ideas to try and kickstart the thread:
- find a new picnic-friendly recipe on a website and email it to a friend / relative / neighbour (you could each try it in your own outside space, or local park - or you could arrange to meet up to share the experience of trying the new picnic item together). It doesn't have to be strictly about "cooking" - it is Summer fun after all - so it can just as well be about a new fresh way to "assemble" your standard store cupboard stable food items.
- what would make a walk in your local area more of a fun adventure? Along with your sun hat or bandana; add a blanket and a novel beverage to your bag - walk somewhere nearby and then sit down somewhere for a bit longer than you might otherwise do so at a different time of year.
- feeling it is an inspirational time of year to motivate yourself to be a bit more arty? Keep a piece of paper and a pencil in your bag - take a look around as you go about life - grab a quick moment to note down ideas and images you see out and about - next time you are sat in the shade taking a rest - have a look through the little images and see what you could do to develop them - maybe an idea for a card as a gift for someone?
- make up a drink and snack tray and have a break time relaxing outdoors for a while (an upside down cardboard delivery box makes for a make-do coffee table - to keep your food tray off the ground).
- if you have a radio / can access a radio broadcast via the internet, mobile app (even older mobiles often have that feature if you use plug-in headphones as the aerial), or Freeview TV radio channel, or via BBC Sounds - why not try out listening to s new radio station (new-to-you music style to discover), or on a favourite radio station explore a new-to-you radio programme or series? https://www.radiotimes.com/radio/radio-listings/
- could you bring a little of the Summer feeling outdoors to brighten up your indoors? Maybe a side plate of seasonal fruit on your table at breakfast time - to tempt you to add some to your cereal or yoghurt? What about grabbing a mug, or a clean jam jar, and using it as a mini vase with some water and sprigs of summery outdoor plants / herbs to accompany your lunch table?
- if you work and take a packed lunch - ring up the changes a bit for Summer - there is more to life than the same old cheese sandwich. Ever tried a seasoned or added sprinkle of dried or chopped mint leaves with thinly sliced / grated cucumber in your sandwich? If you have some eggs you could hard boil a couple, peel them and either slice them or mash them in a cereal bowl with s bit of margarine or salad cream plus some finely chopped herbs - now you either have a sandwich filler or put it in a clip lock box to take with you to jazz up a salad.
- find somewhere nearby with some plants in bloom and just watch the flowers for a while (you might spot some bees, or there are lots of different small butterflies to be seen venturing into more urban areas this year due to the dry season we have been experiencing).
- feeling a bit too hot / humid to be bothered to travel anywhere? What about cooling off at home for a while with a mini-spa mindset? Grab some drinking water and put it somewhere you can sit down and then get a large plastic bowl with a small amount of water in it, plus a towel. Sit for a while with your bare feet in the bowl of cool water while you enjoy your drink of water. Can't do the feet thing for sensory reasons? Instead, how about a damp face flannel loosely draped over the back of your neck (or forehead)? Just enjoy being part of some human air conditioning for a few moments to cool off.
- haven't got a fancy battery hand fan / commercial folding paper hand fan? Look for an old glossy magazine and use one of the outer cover pages folded into a 1 cm concertina and fold one end over by 2 cm to improvise a hand fan.
- even if you don't bother other times of year - put an ice tray of tap water in the freezer compartment to give your Summer drinks the holiday treatment.
Over to everyone else.
What are your Summer fun / relaxing / entertainment go-to ideas - which other people might have either forgotten about, or yet to try for themselves?
Please remember: to try and keep it in the no / low budget territory - so that everyone can be inspired to have a go too.
...and we all know that our community would love photo evidence shared of your Summer fun having-a-go ideas - or an image / cartoon / meme representing your topic / outcome - all so much cheaper than sending a postcard - but still in the spirit of the "wish you were here" too vibe!
