Memorial Day might be expensive, but there’s no need to overspend to have a memorable holiday weekend. Here’s how to have a cheap Memorial Day celebration.
- Hit the lake
Get to the beach as soon as possible! Depending on your location, the lake can provide hours of relaxation and pleasure for the entire family at little or no expense. Purchase some affordable patriotic-patterned towels to make the day feel more festive!
- Attend a community event
There’s no need to travel far for a memorable Memorial Day celebration. Look at local internet forums and newspapers to see what’s going on in your community. There will almost certainly be a carnival, procession, concert, and/or street fair where you can have some free Memorial Day fun. As an added benefit, many local activities that do demand an admission price will typically contribute all revenues to charity, so you’ll be giving back all day.
- Host a potluck
If you’ll be hosting this Memorial Day, make it a potluck party! Ask each guest to bring one dish for a complete dinner that won’t cost anyone a lot of money. As a bonus, the menu is a lot more fun when it’s varied and prepared by lots of different cooks.
- Go easy on the decor
No need to blow a ton of money on making your Memorial Day celebration look festive. Spruce up the place with some red, white, and blue balloons, patriotic banners, and deck the tables with inexpensive and on-theme tablecloths from the dollar store.
- Make a signature drink
Instead of setting up a full bar, make one signature drink for the night. Festive and fitting for the celebration, this comes out a lot cheaper than springing for a full-blown bar.
- Look for coupons
Don’t go anywhere without first checking if you must pay full price. You can pick up some great discounts on restaurant meals, entertainment venues, and more at websites like Groupon.com. If you are a member of AARP or AAA, check to see if you can enjoy some additional exclusive discounts as well.
- Host a DIY sports event
For a fun and frugal alternative to the traditional Memorial Day BBQ, invite family and friends over to your place, or meet up at a park, for a day of sports and games. You can play flag football, soccer, have a tug-of-war competition, frisbee, or even drum up a full game of baseball. You can set up some light drinks and snacks or ask your guests to bring their own for a truly cost-free day.
- Participate in a race
Joining a race can be an enjoyable and healthy way to spend your Memorial Day. Participating in a race can cost you as little as $50. As a bonus, lots of Memorial Day races donate all proceeds to organizations that help soldiers pay for expenses that are not covered under military benefits. You’ll be supporting our servicepeople while stretching those muscles!
Memorial Day is always great fun, but it doesn’t need to cost a great deal of money. Use these tips to enjoy a memorable holiday weekend on a budget.