Your summer guide to free fun in the city

The warmer months of the year mean a lot of good things: sunshine, short sleeves, gelato as a food group – it’s an exciting time.

It can also mean added costs that put a dent in our financial goals. Whether it’s patio dining, music festivals, or tempting artisanal markets, summer spending has a way of piling up.

But it doesn’t have to be that way!

What if instead, you could enjoy all the perks of the season and emerge victorious with a pocket full of savings? We’re not just talking nickels and dimes, but a sizeable reserve of hard-earned cash to add to your financial bottom line.

Let’s find out how.

Dine without dollars

If you’re itching to get out of the house for good food and friends on a warm day, a restaurant is often the easiest option. It is patio season after all. But at what cost?

From the appetizers and entrees to the decadent dessert, it can all add up and we’d rather not talk about the numbers.

While there’s nothing wrong with the occasional splurge, let’s draw our attention to a tasty social alternative without the hit to your wallet.

It starts with whatever might already be in your fridge and ends with a delicious meal, arranged on a checkered blanket in a sunny park in the city. It’s a picnic, fellow foodies, and there are a lot of different ways to slice it.

If you’re set on recreating classy appetizer options, you’ve got a whole Pinterest library of cheese and veggie dipping platters for inspiration. If sandwiches are more your speed (that’s an easy option too), let’s not forget the fresh fruits and salty snacks you can add into the overall mix. Whatever your style, there’s a packable picnic just for you.

Burn calories, not cash

‘Tis the season for wanting to look our best in peak summer weather.

From class passes for yogalates, to boot camp, gym memberships and personal trainers, there’s no shortage of ways to burn calories and build your strength to achieve your personal goals.

There’s also no shortage of costs that add up when you pursue any one of these options.

As we inadvertently try to avoid our savings balance when our bank account takes the bi-weekly hit, maybe it’s time to embrace a balmy alternative that doesn’t cost a thing.

From swimming to hiking, to a morning jog and a long evening walk, several of the top ten calorie-burning activities can be done outdoors with no spending at all.

With the added perks of blue skies and a pleasant breeze, getting fit for free is looking better and better.

Re-define a good time

All year round we work hard to have fun and as summer rolls in, our open-air surroundings can be the canvas for a jolly good time. 

It almost seems natural to spend less cash if we’re having fun outside, but that isn’t always the case. The good news is that once we wade through the pay-to-play food festivals and concerts with admission fees, there’s a whole other world of money-saving amusement.

If you love going to the movies, imagine classic favourites and recent blockbusters showing under the stars in a scenic park. Chances are your city has it for the low, low price of zero dollars.

Or how about some lovely instrumental tunes, with the notes of a violin dancing off the breeze at a complementary outdoor symphony? You can have it all with free performances spanning different styles of music (check to see what’s in the lineup with your city’s online calendar of events).

Some other great days that might be just under your radar include free city walking tours, Frisbee in the park, or serenely lying under the shade of a tree while you catch up on your favourite book.

Now that you’re fully stocked on ways to save money in these sizzling months, you’re on your way to enjoying good food, feeling your best, and getting in your dose of city entertainment.

Best of all, you’re primed to have a blast while you beef up your bank account and keep those money goals in check.