How To Make Your Summer At Home Fun

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Dollar General. All thoughts, opinions and fun ideas are mine. 

Summer time is here and I’ve been pretty excited about it. Since my kids returned to school in the fall, I was looking forward to having this time to bond with them and just have a good time at home. There have been some monkey wrenches in our plans but the power of the pivot means that we’re still going to be having a fun summer at home. 

Full disclosure: being home is hard for me. When we homeschooled, we liked to be out and about learning and then for the summers, they were in camp when we weren’t kicking it poolside. In my head, summer is synonymous with pools, sun, fun, hammocks, games, and all the BBQ’s your heart (and tummy) can take. 

And you can make all this happen while at home without breaking the bank. 

Make Your Summer At Home Fun!

Whether you’re in an apartment or a house, there is always space to create fun. 

For Smaller Spaces:

• Craft Stations
  One of the best parts of summer camp was the little crafts we would do. I loved making paintings from unusual things, creating friendship bracelets, and doing other fun things. Being crafty can be really hard which is why I love the Kids Craft Inspiration on the Dollar General website. They have tutorials that range from beginner on up and all the supplies are found within the store. 

• DIY Lunch Stations
  We believe in giving our kids choices and meals are their favorite part of the day. Instead of prepping all the meals, let them get involved. Set up some stations that include a healthy snack like fruit or veggies, some chips (because let’s be honest, chips are so delicious), bread, deli meat, cheese, peanut butter, and jelly. And then they get to choose what it is they want and put it together. Not only does it make mealtimes take longer, it takes the pressure off you to try and create meals that they will eat every day. The food section in Dollar General makes stocking up super easy. \
• Have Fun With Water
  Yes, even in smaller areas you can do this. Water tables and plastic bins make water fun possible. With the plastic bins, you can fill them up with water and a little soap to give your kids a bubbly good time. Set the bins on the floor or a table on top of some towels so that they’re not making too much of a mess! Want to make some kinetic sand to go in there instead? Mix 8 cups of flour and 1 cup of baby oil. This will make a big batch and doesn’t dry out. 
  

For Bigger Spaces:

In addition to these ideas above…

• Set Up A Pool
  Yes, just go ahead and set up an entire pool—but not one of the flimsy pools. We had one, filled it up and it flopped all over the place, it was NOT the move. We got the H20GO Family Pool and it’s legit the best small pool I’ve ever gotten. Even when they aren’t in the pool, they still play with it because of the additional toys you can use it. My son loves to make pretend to fish with a little set I got from Dollar General too. Pro-tip: Add some boiling water after you’ve mostly filled it up to make it a bit warmer for you and your kids. 
• Play Games
  There are indeed still games that kids can play that are away from electronics *wink wink*. Chalk for hopscotch, balls for catch, water balloons for fights are all some really great ideas. But the really important thing is to schedule time outside because we all need fresh air and Vitamin D from the sun. 

Don’t Forget To Cook Out!

I think cookouts and BBQs are truly my favorite part of summer. There’s nothing like grilling out to make you just feel so good! Whether you’re an “every day is the perfect day for a cookout” person or the type that saves it for the holidays (July 4th, birthdays, Labor Day), Dollar General has what you need. I’ve put together a BBQ Checklist so you can make sure you’re ready. 

Included on this checklist are the following:

• Tablecloth
• Cups
• Napkins
• Plates
• Utensils
• Drinks
• Adult Beverages
• Ice
• Cooler
• Food
  • Meat
  • Veggies
  • Fruit
  • Buns
  • Chips
  • Dips
  • Sides
  • Dessert

Having Fun This Summer At Home Without Breaking The Bank

Balancing being fiscally responsible for having all the fun doesn’t have to be hard—especially with the help of Dollar General. Everything that is mentioned and pictured here has been purchased at Dollar General and the highest-priced item (the pool) was $25 AND I got that $10 off! The DG App and coupons make tracking sales and deals really easy. Using the DG App also makes it easy to find the things that you’re looking for in your local stores easier with the “Find In Store” feature. When you do this, you’re able to reduce the number of trips out while being more intentional about your purchases. You can locate anything from wine (yes friends, wine) to toys making your summer at home truly one to remember. 

I don’t know about you all, but I’m ready for my fun summer in the sun! How do you all plan to make your summer at home fun?