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45 Fun & Frugal Things to Do In Spring

Here in Western New York, our winters can belong. Quite long. We ache to get the windows open and sit outside to catch some sun. So if you’re left overwhelmed with what to do for frugal spring activities this year, check out the list below.

There are 45 things to do on a budget that will keep you and your family entertained.

Pick one to do each day, and you will have a whole month planned out.

Many of these activities can carry you through to summer activities too.

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Start a vegetable garden

Starting your vegetable garden is a great way to celebrate Spring, and it’s a fun way to get your family involved with cooking. I have some great articles to help you get started with seeds indoors here.

Sidewalk Chalk Challenge

The first step to starting a sidewalk chalk challenge is deciding what you want your design, message, or motto to be.

It can either be something related directly to the season like “love” for Valentine’s Day, an inspirational quote about life being beautiful no matter how tough times might seem right now – these have been popular choices over recent years; maybe even just some funny graphics designed around memes that are trending online at the present time?

The possibilities do seem endless.

Visit every park in your neighborhood and only stay at each one for 20 minutes.

This is one of our favorites. If you have a small town and lots of parks it’s a great activity.

Check Groupon or local businesses for Zoo passes

Eat lunch in the backyard with a blanket and umbrella

There’s always time for a picnic! And what better way to enjoy it than with friends and family in your backyard? Bring along an umbrella, or if you’re feeling extra adventurous try some of these fun homemade snacks.

Visit local farms and look for spring babies ( Lollipop Farm is FREE for my locals!!)

Let the kids wash your vehicles

We love to get the BIG sponges from the Dollar Tree to let the kids use.

Set up a sprinkler

If you want to change things up, there are so many different sprinklers available online. Check out this roundup of the seven most popular sprinklers for kids.

Visit Free Craft/Art Shows

Facebook, Craigslist, and some regular google searching will help you with this one.

Bug hunting

Let the kids explore your backyard and look for bugs. Give them any old plastic container to find bugs. If they aren’t finding bugs, encourage them to find things that bugs would like to eat, use for their home, or any evidence of a bug.

Bike Rides on a nearby trail

Make a lemonade stand and see how much money you make

You know what they say, “If you want to make money quickly and easily then get a lemonade stand!”
A kids’ casual game that will teach children about entrepreneurship while providing them with experience in running their own business.

We have done lemonade stands during yard sales with our neighbors. Last year in 2021, the four children made over $50 from selling lemonade for a few hours.

Have the kids use a bubble gun! ( So much easier for the little ones- no spilling)

Buy $1 Unscented Shaving Cream from Dollar Tree, add food coloring to it and give the kids a paintbrush to paint the trees

Make your own Hummingbird mix

We have a nice big window in our living room and it is one of my favorite things to watch and listen for the hummingbirds to come to the feeder. Even if you don’t want to make a hummingbird mix, there are plenty of hanging plants that hummingbirds love.

Visit a local conservation site ( Here in our area Genesee County Park has one)

Play outside in the rain with an umbrella

Make a swing from an old tire, or out of pallets

Check out this post on how to do it.

Have the kids gather up items they want to sell at a yard sale.

This can make a mommy crazy or completely satisfied. It feels so good to get rid of clutter, but sometimes kids don’t want to toss things you see no use for.

Othertimes the kids are ready to part ways with something and you are wishing it wasn’t so.

This is still a great way to declutter and teach the kids a little about buying and selling.

For a successful yard sale check out this post.

Borrow books from the library

I know it seems obvious, but when is the last time you did it? Or even grabbed a couple movies?

Attend local free concerts in your area

Have a Bonfire and have the kids make up a new S’more tradition. Last year we tried Peanut Butter on our S’mores yum!

Check out these 15 creative S’mores you can make during your next bonfire.

Set up a tent and go camping in the backyard

This is one of those things that work fantastic for younger kids. For tips on how to make an epic camping trip in your backyard tap here.

Have the ultimate dance party! We use Amazon Prime music and Kids Bop here we come. Try Amazon Music Unlimited Free Trial45 Fun & Frugal Things to Do In Spring

Movie night with a popcorn bar for those rainy evenings.

Grab different types of popcorn and set it up on a table for the family to choose from. For cute and fun toppings to put on your popcorn check out this post.

Go Fishing

 Fill a bucket outside and add dish soap and have the kids wash up the spring Toys

Paint Rocks and leave them around town- could add encouragement to each one

Pick Early Flowers and place them in a vase inside

Dig for Worms

Attend Local School plays/concerts

Plant Fruit Trees

This is a fun activity for the family to watch and enjoy throughout the years. I find spring time to score the best deals on fruit trees.

For tips on finding FREE Forsythia trees tap here.

Print Free Coloring Sheets Online and Color

There are many free coloring sheets available online.

Visit a local nursery and see how many plants you can identify

When you are there use one of these plants identifying apps.

 Make up a story with cloud characters. Look at the clouds and share what animal they look like

Family Game Night

Our girls are now 9 and 11 and some of their favorite board games are Uno, What do you Meme, Monopoly, Guess Who, Spot it- This is good for younger kiddos too), and so many more!

Check out some of the tops ones on Amazon.

Fly a Kite

Read outside & and then Google Activities to go with the book

Make a bird Feeder Using Peanut Butter Bird Seed and bagels

Freeze Flowers and Have Sensory Play ( tip to here)

Hopscotch

Jump Rope- Even Double Dutch!

Make Daisy Chains

Make A Family Time Capsule and bury someplace in your yard/garden.

Make a Fairy Garden

Have a great spring!

What activities would you add to the list?

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Debbie fox

Friday 18th of May 2018

Travel , see the ocean, historical sites , camping in our 5th wheel having our home with us anywhere we go.

yolanda

Thursday 17th of May 2018

So many good ideas on here

Erica Fortunato

Wednesday 9th of May 2018

Good ideas thanks

April l Williams

Wednesday 9th of May 2018

Jogging

Donna Paglia

Wednesday 2nd of May 2018

What great ideas

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