The Fourth of July is a great time gather family and friends for a celebration that goes above and beyond. However, planning a celebration for this patriotic holiday can mean a lot of spending on your end. From meats for the grill to firework prices, it may be hard to get anything done during the holiday if you’re on a tight budget. Luckily, there’s a lot you can do to celebrate the holiday without having to put a lot of money into it. From simple getaways to frugal party ideas, with a little shopping know-how you’ll be ready to make your Fourth of July the best yet.
1. Skip the Party
There’s no law that says you have to have a Fourth of July party, even if you tend to have one every year. If you’re budget isn’t looking so hot this year then let everyone know you’re not going to be having a party. This may give someone else a chance to shine, which could be a nice change of pace. After all, sometimes it’s nice to give up hosting duties and simply enjoy being the carefree guest. Ask around to see if there’s any parties you can go to. Of course, if there’s more parties than you expected then you can easily hop from party to party to keep the day fun and frugal. You may find that going to parties is more your cup of tea and suits your budget too. If it doesn’t suit you then you can always host a party next year or when your budget can support a party.
2. See A Firework Show
Many cities and even rural areas don’t allow fireworks for a number of reasons. Those that do allow fireworks often have a long lists of rules to follow which may leave you wanting to forget the firework aspect of the holiday right away. Prices of fireworks aren’t exactly the best either and could leave you spending so much that you won’t have anything else to do for the day. Instead of worrying about fireworks in general, look to see if there’s going to be a firework show in your community or a surrounding community. Usually, these shows are free or cheap to get into and will give you the firework show you couldn’t get at home. Of course, you don’t actually have to go to a show to get this experience. Try carefully getting on the roof or setting out chairs in the front or backyard and watching all of the fireworks that are being let off around you. It’s free and will have everyone amazed by the show.
3. Shop Online
Believe it or not, but the Fourth of July is a great time to get online and shop. Sure, there’s lot of in store sales, but not quite like the sales you’ll find online. On this day you should find summer clothes, bulk party supplies, as well as seasonal items. Try to keep an eye on your favorite websites to see if they begin their celebration early as you may be able to find some great deals before the holiday even begins. The best thing is you don’t even have to set foot in a crowded store, which may save you more than money! Of course, many stores will also offer free shipping during this time which will help maximize your savings so your deals were even more worthwhile than you thought. With a little luck, you’ll be able to stock up on school supplies, summer clothes and other items that could keep your family stocked up and saving money for the rest of the year.
4. Decor
Decorating for the Fourth of July should never be a huge expenditure, even if you are hosting a party. In fact, there’s a lot of DIY crafts that are perfect for the entire family and may even leave you wanting to leave some of the decor out all year. One simple craft, that’s great for keeping kids busy, is to take the cardboard from a toilet roll and turn it into a firecracker decoration. Simply add paint to the toilet roll, then when it’s dried place streamers, pipe cleaners or other strings to the back of it. Once that’s dried, use paper to make an angled top. These can be hung from the ceiling, used as streamers or placed around the house. You can also add a string to the front and have kids make them fly as they run. Of course, there’s lots of ideas for this holiday so make sure to browse online. If you prefer to buy your decor then keep items like streamers, tablecloths and so on as a solid color. It’ll be easy to reuse at another party and these items generally cost less. Dollar stores are a great place to shop for these items, but keep in mind the quantity of the packages because you may not get your money’s worth.
5. Know Safety Procedures
Keeping up to date with safety procedures can actually be one of the biggest ways to save money, believe it or not. A lot can go wrong with a holiday like this because fireworks can easily go from a fun event to a trip to the E.R. Also, many people choose to drink on the Fourth, which could leave you dealing with accidents, big and small. So, before the event begin make sure you brush up on how to put out a fire. Although having a fire extinguisher on hand is one of the best ways to deal with the issue, sometimes this isn’t an option or it may be too big of fire for the extinguisher to handle. So, keeping up with these facts could save your life and your property. You should also make sure you know basic first aid procedures as well as how to keep a situation under control if there is a problem that needs emergency attention. Last but not least, put your pets away before the fireworks begin. A lot of animals are spooked by the noises which could prompt them to run away. So, in order to avoid your pet getting harmed or having to pay fees to get them returned, it is best to keep them secure before all of the action begins.
6. Soak Up Sun
A lot of people want to take off on pricey vacations when the Fourth of July rolls around. This can be one of the priciest times to travel though. Instead, try to get some sun in your own area. One of the best ways to do this is to head to a local body of water. May it be a pool, river, lake or the ocean, it’ll help you get the burst of Vitamin D you’ve been craving while ensuring your loved ones have a blast on the big day. Water isn’t the only option though, you can easily go on a walk, hike or scavenger hunt to get some sun and enjoy the great outdoors. You can even base the scavenger hunt around the holiday to make it more fun for the kids. No matter which option you choose, make sure to stay hydrated as the weather will definitely be hot in most places. Of course, if you don’t want to, you don’t have to travel anywhere. You can easily plan games in the front or backyard too. For instance, relay races are always a hit or you can pull out your favorite sports game to enjoy. Even hanging out on the porch and reading is a great holiday option.
7. Potluck
If you decide you want to go forward with the party despite the high price, then there is one quick way to cut costs and time. That is, make it a potluck. Potlucks are a great way to transform your personal party into a community event. When you send out invitations make sure to ask people to RSVP with the dish they’re making. This will help you prevent multiple dishes from being brought and will help you get a good idea of the food you need to purchase for the party. With most of your guests bringing their favorite holiday dish, you should have to spend very little on the party food, which will help you spend in other areas. If you do have to buy food then make sure to shop for cheap or bulk items to keep things simple.
8. Visit a National Park
There may not be a better way to celebrate Independence Day than to actually celebrate in one of our many national parks. During this time of the year, many parks may actually reduce the price of admission or allow guests to stay for nothing at all. Some parks will even have special celebrations to draw in more guests to the beautiful outdoors. In the park you can camp, fish and enjoy the great outdoors without having to worry about work or anything else that may be on your mind. You can even shut off the air conditioner while you’re gone to save even more money. Some of these locations will even allow you to go out and fish without a fishing license which will help keep your holiday celebration even more frugal. With any luck you’ll even be able to catch dinner to cut down on costs even more. With the beauty of the park on your mind, there’s no doubt you’ll look back on this Fourth of July fondly for years to come.
9. Movie Marathon
Since the United States has become a country, we’ve had many moments to celebrate, mourn and feel inspired over. So, take this holiday to celebrate the country for its many special moments and milestones. There’s countless movies that showcase American life, which are perfect to put on for your holiday celebration. In most cases, you can even find family friendly blockbusters that are sure to please everyone. Look for movies about Lewis and Clark, any war that’s challenged us, the civil rights movement or simply some of today’s great accomplishments. There’s no limit to your options. If you don’t have a large movie collection then check out what your cable stations or steaming video subscriptions have to offer. You may be surprised as to how many movies actually make you think of the country, once you begin your movie marathon.
10. Travel Wisely
If you have to hit the road for the holiday then the best thing you can do is plan well in advance. Try to make sure you have alternative routes to help you along the way, which can come in handy when there’s traffic or construction work. You should also download apps to help you out with finding gas stations that will save you big time. Make sure to pack food for meals and snacks so you don’t have to stop for fast food when you’re on the go. This will cut down on spending and ensure the family doesn’t feel terrible when you get to your location. You should also pack as light as possible as the heavier the car, the more gas you’re going to waste on the road. Last but not least, try not to run the air conditioning if you can. This is especially important if you’re driving through the mountains as it can leave you over heated and may leave you stranded on the road.
The Fourth of July is a great time to get together with those you love, so don’t let money stand in your way of this amazing holiday. With these simple tips you should be able to plan accordingly so you’ll get more out of the federal holiday for a lot less money!
