Save On Outdoor Summer Activities
Written by Mary Luz Mejia

Monday, May 13th, 2019

As the sun comes out and temperatures rise, Canadians start looking at ways to enjoy our short summers.

There are patios to enjoy, road trips to take and cottages to visit. But all those fun times with friends and family can make your wallet leaner than an Olympic swimmer. With so little time to enjoy the good weather, it's easy to get carried away with summer spending.

Here are five simple and affordable outdoor summer activities I'm looking forward to enjoying.

1. Potluck 

Want to entertain, but the thought of all that cooking, grocery shopping, organizing and cleaning up is both daunting and pricey? Host a potluck instead. If you live in a small space, take the party outside to a backyard (yours or a friends), by a lake, beach, park or your building's communal patio.

Is your condo balcony large enough? Use that space to carry the overflow of guests. Nearby nature can provide it's own stylized backdrop, so all you have to do is gather your pals. You can even make it a BYOB to save on costs - just have a cooler ready. Even a cool and refreshing punch doesn't have to break the bank.

2. Picnic Perfection 

If you prefer to keep things a little more intimate and don't want to herd the gang for a potluck, simplify and grab the kids or a few of your favourite people and head to a serene green space for a summer picnic. This is the perfect way to have a relaxing day out in the sun, with easy snacks like hummus and your fave dippables, flatbreads, sandwiches, cut fruit and tortilla chips. Take a Frisbee along and make a day of it. If you'd rather go out at night, stargaze and relax by the light of the moon.

3. Cruising in Canada 

Travelling within our own borders means our Canadian dollar works harder for us. Drive, or take the bus or train. Look for last-minute deals to a neighbouring city and enjoy all there is to offer in this country.

Or book a staycation in your city to take advantage of museum exhibits, galleries and events. There are tons of free, family-friendly festivals across Canada, from Toronto's Panamerican Food & Music Festival to Montreal's Jazz Fest. Or keep on eye out for free nighttime movies in parks or event spaces in your town or city, like Vancouver's Stanley Park summer movie series. Consult the entertainment listings in your city or town.

4. Score! 

Savvy deal hounds know that whether you're buying merch online or you're looking to attend a theatre performance, there are some deep discounts to be had if you're willing to dig a little. Spa treatments, circus performances, meals out, concerts—all of these can be had for a lofty discount with a little sleuthing.

5. Work Out for Free 

Check out your city or town's free workout sessions, like yoga in the park. Or head to any one of these fitness parks in Edmonton, where you can sweat like Thor under the prairie sun!

Just Have Fun

After our long, cold winters, we deserve to have a little fun in the sun. By finding joy in what's around me, from local parks to my friends and family, I'm looking forward to being busy and active this summer without going over my budget.
Share now

Spend and save at the same time with the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card.

Learn about Tangerine’s options for spending that put you in charge.

Related posts

How Inflation Can Affect Your Finances
How Inflation Can Affect Your Finances
January 5th, 2022 | Kelley Keehn
How I Saved on Groceries by Shopping Local
How I Saved on Groceries by Shopping Local
December 21st, 2021 | Ethan Rotberg
The Unexpected Costs of Starting an E-Commerce Business
The Unexpected Costs of Starting an E-Commerce Business
December 20th, 2021 | Ethan Rotberg
Legal Stuff
This article or video (the “Content”), as applicable, is provided by independent third parties that are not affiliated with Tangerine Bank or any of its affiliates. Tangerine Bank and its affiliates neither endorse or approve nor are liable for any third party Content, or investment or financial loss arising from any use of such Content.
The Content is provided for general information and educational purposes only, is not intended to be relied upon as, or provide, personal financial, tax or investment advice and does not take into account the specific objectives, personal, financial, legal or tax situation, or particular circumstances and needs of any specific person. No information contained in the Content constitutes, or should be construed as, a recommendation, offer or solicitation by Tangerine to buy, hold or sell any security, financial product or instrument discussed therein or to follow any particular investment or financial strategy. In making your financial and investment decisions, you will consult with and rely upon your own advisors and will seek your own professional advice regarding the appropriateness of implementing strategies before taking action. Any information, data, opinions, views, advice, recommendations or other content provided by any third party are solely those of such third party and not of Tangerine Bank or its affiliates, and Tangerine Bank and its affiliates accept no liability in respect thereof and do not guarantee the accuracy or reliability of any information in the third party Content. Any information contained in the Content, including information related to interest rates, market conditions, tax rules, and other investment factors, is subject to change without notice, and neither Tangerine Bank nor its affiliates are responsible for updating this information.
Tangerine Investment Funds are managed by Tangerine Investment Management Inc. and are only available by opening an Investment Fund Account with Tangerine Investment Funds Limited. These firms are wholly owned subsidiaries of Tangerine Bank. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.