Who said that you have to give up handfuls of your hard-earned money in order to enjoy the summer? There are countless ways a family can pleasurably take advantage of the summer months without having to spend a fortune on far-away vacations or closer-to-home fun. Here are some low- and no-cost summer activities that you can plan for and enjoy with your family.

• Have a picnic in your local park. Prepare a great lunch for the family, and bring a soccer ball, football, or Frisbee. You can spend quality time with each other and engage in healthy exercise at the same time. C'mon, who doesn't enjoy a care-free, sunny day at the park?
• Spend a day at the beach. If you happen to live in close proximity to water, pack up another great lunch, some bottled water, pails and shovels for the kids, a little music, beach blankets and all the other necessities you'll need for the day. Another inexpensive way to spend some quality and fun time together – except for the gas it may take to get you there.
• Check out a free concert. Many cities offer free concerts during the day or early evening. This can be a learning experience for kids who haven't been exposed to certain types of music or culture. Plus, you can bring blankets and just relax as you listen to the music as you gaze at the sites.
• If you have a hiking trail in your home state, plan on spending a day there. You can literally have a ball communing with nature. Discover plants and flowers along the way or make a list of things to have the kids look for along the route – sort of like nature's own scavenger hunt.
• Sometimes the best time a family can have is in their own back yard. Make a day of it by setting up the portable pool and having some fun splashing around. Then set up the barbecue for the eats. If you really feel like "roughing it," make a homemade tent that will accommodate the family for sleeping out beneath the stars. To top it off, break out the grilled marshmallows and tell a few ghost stories. They'll love it!
• One of the things kids most love to do is dress up. If you have smaller children, why not put on a play in your backyard? The kids can write the script and the whole family can browse the closets to see what outfits you can put together for the characters. Wear silly hats or scarves you may have put away, use make-up just like the celebrities, and perhaps even put together a makeshift stage for the "premier."

For most people, just being with the family is an enjoyable time. Think back to when you were a child. What did your family engage in during the summertime that didn't cost much – if anything – at all? Improvise on those memories and plan in advance so that your kids will be excitedly surprised. Kids love being with their parents, no matter what activity is selected. Everyone can have a grand time just being together, and you can save a load of money to boot. And above all, don't forget the camera; you're destined to make some memories that simply must be placed in the family scrapbook. Enjoy!