Memorial Day Activities

Memorial Day has become known as the official kick-off of summer. For most of us, it is a time to get together with our family and friends and mark the occasion with a day of fun, food and fellowship.  Here’s how you can have a great time without blowing your family's budget:

Share the menu.  Rather than make everything yourself, ask your family and friends to bring items.  It is best to assign a category to each person, or, you could end up with 4 Jell-0 salads and no vegetable platter!  We usually offer to make the meat and ask our friends to bring everything from the buns to dessert.  It helps your guests feel as if they are contributing and it also helps keep your budget in check.

Skip the fancy decorations. No one will remember what kind of plate they used or the fancy banners and balloons, so don’t waste your money on themed cutlery or decor.  If you really want decorations, get your children to help!  Pull out the red, white and blue construction paper (or markers) and let them have fun creating stars, flags and other items to mark the occasion.  It’s a great way to get your children involved in the day and really helps keep down those costs!

Stay at home.  With the rising cost of fuel, you might want to just stay in your own backyard.  Staying in doesn’t have to be boring! You can create your own water park with a kiddie pool and sprinklers, or just have an old-fashioned barbeque.   If you normally visit a family member, try a Skype visit instead. It’s completely free and still lets you stay in touch without leaving your house.

Attend a free Memorial Day event. Memorial Day picnics and events will be going on all weekend long all over the country.  Try and find one close to home and spend very little money while still getting out to enjoy the day!

No matter what your plans are for the day, just remember it isn't about spending money.  Memorial Day is just another chance to enjoy your family and friends while saying – “WELCOME SUMMER!”