Summer is on its way out, so most families tend to choose to do something major over the Labor Day weekend. With the three days off, it can be easy to plan a getaway, but you may sacrifice some serious money to do so. Luckily, there’s quite a few ways to enjoy Labor Day without having to go overboard when it comes to finances. So, you can now get more out of your last minute family time that won’t leave you on the road to recovery until the holidays. With school in full swing this could be the last time to spend some great quality time with the kids without worrying about homework or your own work, so let the good times roll without stressing out.
1. Get Outside
Depending on where you live, Labor Day weekend could be one of the last weekends you get to enjoy some amazing time outdoors. Most locations are still a little warm during the early months of September, but the autumn breeze should be kicking in very soon. This makes Labor Day weekend one of the best times to take in some water sports. Whether it’s swimming or trying out jet skis for the first time, make sure you get in your fill of time in the water to last you until the weather warms up again. Of course, you can always keep it simple by having a water balloon or water gun battle. Another fantastic option is to go camping over the weekend. The fresh air and great outdoors will help you relax while you enjoy family time. While you’re out you may want to try hiking, flying a kite or trying out some sports. All of the exercise will leave you energized so you can take on the challenges of the rest of the year.
2. Clean the House
We all know how it goes. Summer ends and autumn seems to fumble out of our hands and straight into winter. With the fast paced lifestyle of autumn, you may get pretty far behind when it comes to keeping up the house. Not to mention, your house may be a little hectic from all of the summer fun. Thus, it may be a wise idea to spend Labor Day weekend cleaning up and preparing for the upcoming season. You may want to start with going through old clothes, organizing items and creating new ways to keep the home in order on the busy nights. Once you have everything picked up you may want to run through your Spring cleaning routine again. For instance, you should clean behind the refrigerator, flip mattresses and other common items that often get overlooked.
3. Host a BBQ
In true summer fashion, you may want to fire up the grill one last time before the summer comes to an end. This could be the last chance you have to get your neighbors, friends and family together as most people end up incredibly busy once school begins. So, send out some invites and have everyone over for one last shindig to celebrate your friendships and the beautiful weather. You don’t have to spend a small fortune on the BBQ either. For instance, you probably have leftover meat in your freezer that you may have purchased in bulk, so base your meals around the food you already have. If you’re not fully stocked, then ask certain people to bring items to help the party go even smoother. You can even host a potluck to add a special flair to the last BBQ of the season. Everyone will enjoy having the time together, before the chaos of extracurricular activities and the holiday season kicks in.
4. Hit the Sales
Without a doubt, there’s some pretty awesome deals going on during Labor Day weekend so you might want to take some time to check it out. This can be one of the best times to stock up on household essentials and a few wants before the holiday rush begins. Labor Day often offers great sales on mattresses, furniture and household goods, which is great if you’re in need of these items before you begin to blow your budget on holiday gifts. You may also end up finding some last minute deals on school clothes and supplies, so if you haven’t stocked up already it’s a great time to do so. Apart from that, you should check out all summer attire as well as the dreaded white pants you can’t wear again until next year. With a keen eye, you’ll be able to make the most of the sales, especially since this will be the last major sales period before Black Friday rolls around.
5. Become a Tourist
One way to get the most out of the long weekend is to spend some time exploring. It doesn’t matter if you choose your own city or a new one, simply take on the tourist activities to help you relax and have some fun with family. You may find that you discover lots of new things that you may want to return to later in the year. A lot of cities actually host Labor Day celebrations, which can help you have a lot of fun without spending a penny. Between parades and activities, you may find you’re entirely busy all day long which should help you and the family enjoy your Labor Day all the more. Some cities have extraordinary activities, so you may want to do a little research before you choose your future destination.
6. Enjoy a Getaway
You might want to use your extra time to get out of the house and head to a new destination. A quick weekend getaway may allow you to blow off some steam and relax before the year passes you by. There’s lots of ways you can approach a getaway during this time though. If you have plenty of frequent flyer miles hanging out, then you might want to use those on an amazing vacation that will help you have the fun you deserve. There are some pretty awesome deals on flights for Labor Day travel too, so you may be able to get a steal of a deal if you act fast on booking your tickets. Another option is to choose a destination that is a day’s drive or less. This will allow you to drive and save money, which may even help you to discover new locations along the route.
7. Appreciation Cards
Many workers don’t get the luxury of a day off on Labor Day, so you may want to take the holiday to show the children how to show appreciation for those who must serve when everyone else gets to kick back and relax. One simple way to do this is to make some appreciation cards designed to suit each branch. You can make them for fire fighters, policeman, nurses and doctors, or those in the food industry. Kids will have a blast making the cards and they will learn to respect and appreciate those who work to make their life better and safer. You may want to take some of the day to pass out the cards to those that serve, which will allow the children to get a firsthand account of how far a little appreciation can go.
8. Family Camp
If your family is having trouble bonding, or you are just looking forward to some old fashioned family fun then a family camp may be the right choice for the Labor Day weekend. Although family camps aren’t exactly heavily advertised, you should be able to find one for your family without having to spend hours looking. Many facilities, like the YMCA, host family camps designed to strengthen family values as well as the body. Churches also offer family camps, which tend to be a lower cost, especially if they are day camps. With a little research, you may find the perfect camp for your family. However, make sure to act fast because Labor Day is rapidly approaching and you won’t want to miss out on your chance to enroll.
9. Finish Summer Check List
Labor Day signals the end of summer, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on all of those summer plans you didn’t get around to doing. You may want to start with some of the smaller items like water balloon fights, but if you can shoot for at least one large item then go for it. You may even have the family sit around and choose one item on the list to take care of. Of course, this could be an amazing time to complete a project on the house, such as a new paint job. Make sure you have fun with your list though, as this will make the summer magic feel alive again, even if it is just for a few days.
10. Do Nothing
When it comes down to it, this could be the last chance you have to do a whole lot of nothing before life gets really hectic. So, you should embrace the opportunity and ditch then plans so you can keep the long weekend relaxed. You may want to plan a movie day with the family, or simply cuddle up with that long list of books that you’ve been wanting to get around to. Of course, you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of snacks of easy meals to make for the family so you won’t have to stress at all throughout the weekend. This can also help the kids relax or spend time with friends before their life revolves around school. If you really like keeping to a schedule then have the family vote on simple relaxation items, so everyone can have some fun while still having a little bit of time to bond. Before you know it, you’ll feel entirely rejuvenated and ready to head back to work or school with a fresh mind.
Labor Day weekend is quickly approaching, so you’ll want to enjoy a little fun with the family. This doesn’t mean you’ll have to spend a fortune though! With these ten tips you should be able to plan a little something fun without letting your budget stand in the way. So, enjoy your long weekend off and celebrate the labor you do every week as well as your well-deserved break.
