Spring break is here! While most people are really excited, as a parent you know that it is going to be quite the task keeping your kids entertained since you don’t have any plans to go on vacation anywhere. Plus, you don’t have a lot of money to spend on outings. Here are some ways to keep the kids preoccupied while they are home for spring break without breaking the bank. Keep reading to discover some awesome money saving tips!

1.  See a movie on Tuesday

Typically there’s one day a week where the movie theatre brings down the price on tickets. Going to the movies can add up nowadays, so make sure to take advantage of the cheap day. For instance, in Chico, California Tuesday is matinee price all day long, so it’s around $5.50 per ticket.

2.  Enjoy the outdoors

A great way to keep kids entertained and not spend any money at all? Get outside! You can bike, run, hike, explore..the list goes on. Go to your local park, creek, trail, etc. The world is our playground and we should take advantage of it!

If you’re in the Chico, California area, here are some great outdoor places to go:

• Lower Bidwell Park
• Upper Park
• Caper Acres
• 5 Mile
• Honey Run Covered Bridge
• Downtown Chico
• Chico State
• Billie Park
• Hooker Oak Park
• Wildwood
• DeGarmo Park
• The various disc golf parks in town

3.  Look for free events

If you look in your community calendar or local newspaper/magazine you can often find a gamut of free events to attend. A lot of them are often kid oriented and are a great way to save money but keep your child happy during spring break.

4.  Go on a picnic

Take advantage of being on spring break and the sunshine and eat outside. It doesn’t have to be anything too elaborate or expensive. Just whip up a sandwich, grab a blanket and walk or drive on down to your favorite park. Heck, you can even picnic in your backyard! Not eating out will help save money.

5.  Check for camps

Some cities have recreation programs that offer spring break camps for certain ages of children. If you work, or if your child likes being around a bunch of other kids, this is the way to go! Plus, they often don’t cost too much money.

6.  Go to the library

The library is a great place to go for a couple hours to keep both you and your kids entertained! It is always free and there are a number of things for your child to do. They can read a book, go on the computer, or join in on story time. They will be having fun but learning at the same time. Plus, you can catch up on some quiet time yourself and maybe catch up on some reading!

7.  Get crafty

Spring break is a great time to take on a project you’ve been wanting to do, or your kids have been wanting to do. You’ve got an entire week, so dream big! Seek Pinterest for some inspiration.

8.  Gardening

‘Tis the season! Spring break is a great time to get your garden going or to clean up those planter boxes and put in some fresh flowers. Kids often times love joining in on this kind of thing, depending on their age. Make sure you make it fun for them and not a chore.

• Let them pick out [or help pick out] what you will plant
• Get them their own small pair of gloves
• Let them play in the dirt if they want to
• Make it a fun time—turn on some music, grab some lemonade and get to gardening

9.  Volunteer

Many non-profits take in extra volunteers during spring break because volunteering that week has become quite popular. It could be a fun and humbling experience for you and your child to volunteer somewhere in your community.

We hope these money saving tips will help you keep your kids busy over spring break! Have a great time. And remember, if you ever need any sports equipment for your park trip or want to do some shopping while the kids are at camp, visit the Arc Store in Chico, Paradise or Oroville.