by Lynne Griffith

Created on: May 29, 2009   Last Updated: May 30, 2009

For those of us who have kids, trying to find ways to have fun as a family when money is tight, can be a challenge. Many people are under the impression that to have a good time with their family, they have to spend a small fortune and travel for hours. This just isn't true. There are many very inexpensive ways to spend quality time with your family on a tight budget.

The easiest and cheapest way to spend time with your family is to do something together at home. Play a game, watch a movie, or even work on a project together. You can find a lot of things to do as a family around your own home that requires nothing more than the things you already own. For most kids, it is not what you are doing; it is just that you are doing it together.

For example, if you are planning to make something out of that old wood you have, include the kids. Let them help decide what to make, and teach them how to use the tools. They will love spending that quality time and learning something new. It will also be something that they remember for the rest of their lives.

Even though there are many things we can do in our own back yards, sometimes, we just have to get away from the house. There are things that we can do as a family that away from the house that are inexpensive too.

Go for a picnic in the park. I have yet to see a kid who doesn't enjoy a day at the park. Most parks cost nothing at all to go to. Pack a lunch for the family and go have some fun. Take a blanket to lie on the ground, sit down as a family and eat lunch. After lunch, go have some fun.

Go on a nature hike. You can walk through the woods, or even by a creek and see many things. Show your kids the different trees and flowers. If you aren't sure of what something is, make a note of what it looks like and when you get home, you can all research it together.

Go to the library. Most libraries have cheap to no cost memberships. Here, you can find a world of information. Make it a game. Each of you pick a topic of interest and challenge another to find interesting information on that topic. Share the information with the whole family. Before you leave, don't forget to check out a couple of books for everyone to enjoy.

If everyone in the family has a bicycle, go for a family bike ride. You don't have to have a specific destination, just get on your bikes and go. To make it more interesting, when you reach an intersection, ask one family member which direction to go. Take turns doing this and see where you

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