“The Budget Mama’s Guide to Summer Fun in Chicago”

Try this for a scenario: the kids have been out of school for about a month, the weather’s been a little dodgy, and everybody’s starting to get on each other’s nerves. With your budget stretched to the breaking point, you feel a twinge of desperation. How will I make it to September? If this sounds familiar, I’m right there with you, so here’s this Budget Mama’s game plan: skip the expensive stuff, and bet on some old Chicago standbys for a gratis good time. It’s easy, and it all starts with going “P”.

Not “pee”! (I know you’ve been changing a lot of diapers, and doing a lot of potty training lately ‘cause the sitter budget isn’t what it used to be, am I right?), but I’m talking “P” as in the holy triumvirate of free fun in Chicago: Public Library, Park District, and Public Beaches. With an amazing roster of new programs, these civic institutions deserve a fresh look. So, if you want to have a blast without breaking the bank, just remember: keep “P”-ing.

Let’s begin our adventure with the Chicago Public Library’s impressive Reading is Art-RAGEOUS Summer Reading Program. Designed to foster literacy and art appreciation, this cooperative effort with the Art Institute of Chicago, is chock-a-block with adorable, fun-filled events for the whole family. And the best part is, they’re all free, a library card is the only ticket you’ll need. Last week, we checked out a Folk Art of Mexico story hour and craft program where we listened to magical tales, and then got messy making jaguar masks. My goal is to hit up at least one library event a week for the proverbial two birds: the kids get entertained, and I get to indulge my passion for reading and making art.

For the younger set, if your child reads (or you read to your child) 25 picture books, they get a free Reading is Art-RAGEOUS t-shirt. For those reading chapter books, ten will get you the tee. My daughter already scored her cute t-shirt by getting down to serious business with her reading list, and she won a picture book in the weekly raffle. BAM! We started our summer $18 ahead of the game for the free tee and book. Swing by any Chicago Public Library to enroll in the program, and pick up a guide with event locations and dates. More information is available at: www.chipublib.org.

The City in a Garden

Moving on, we’re heading to the gems of Chicago’s outdoor experience—the Public Parks. Established in 1934 during one of the worst periods of the Great Depression, the Chicago Park District is now “the leading provider of green space and recreation in America.” Really? This is not your mother’s playlot, folks. If you haven’t checked out what the Chicago Park District has to offer recently, you’re in for a pleasant surprise: there are concerts, movies, puppet shows, dance lessons, petting zoos, classes on organic farming, fishing, canoeing, and beekeeping, and the list goes on. While most programs are free, a few (like Theater on the Lake) charge a small fee, so plan ahead by visiting www.chicagoparkdistrict.com for information on events and programs.

Our goal is to visit at least one new park a week and that shouldn’t be a problem—there are over 550 in the city! Last week we hit Walsh Park for a family outing, Revere and Winnemac for play dates, Peterson Park for soccer class, Welles Park for an evening concert, and Chase Park for fireworks. Man, even the kids were exhausted from all that “P”-ing! It would be impossible to list all the great stuff there is to do this summer in the parks, but I’ll tempt you with just one from the Concerts in the Parks series: the band, “BoomShakalakka” invites you to come out and shake your booty! Take a blanket, a picnic dinner, and the whole family to Adams Park on July 21st and enjoy the free concert as night falls. Bring an extra blanket and let the little ones fall asleep under the stars, while the adults nibble on dessert, or do some funky footwork.

While we’re on the subject of dinnertime concerts and Picnics in the Park, let’s just get this on the picnic table right now: this year, I’m packing my own. I mean, I already bought the food to make lunch and dinner at home, right? So I’m skipping the pre-concert restaurant trip and the fancy take-away, and BAM! I just saved anywhere from $15-$50 per outing! When you figure you might do a dozen or more outings this summer, the savings can add up fast. Keep the picnic basket simple or you won’t feel like doing it, and you’ll be stuck at home or tempted to pull out the plastic. My basket looks like this: sandwiches and fruit, leftover pasta, veggies and dip, and a treat, such as my favorite use of those perennially rotting bananas: homemade banana bread.

Healthy goodies like banana bread, carrot raisin muffins, or cinnamon scones are cheap, easy to make, and good projects for little helpers. They are perfect mid-morning park snacks with fruit or yogurt, and nice complements for those Starbuck’s whackaccino things you’re NOT indulging in this summer. Instead, try this little concoction that I call the “experimental coffee drink” which makes me feel extravagant when in actuality, BAM! I’m saving $5-$10 on coffee and pastries several times a week. It’s “experimental” because every day is a little different, depending on what’s in the fridge (hazelnut decaf? Sure. Scoop of vanilla ice cream? Why not!) Here’s the basic “recipe”: take your favorite insulated cup, fill halfway with ice, pour leftover coffee, ½ cup vanilla soymilk, and a little turbinado sugar, one reusable straw, mix and go. This homemade version is better on your pocketbook, your waistline (60 calories compared with 240 for a Starbuck’s Frappuccino), and the environment. (See this link for a dollars-and-sense article about making your own lattes—think saving enough for a down payment on a car!)

Or you can skip the coffee altogether, and port a fruit smoothie in that fancy stroller’s cup holder (ah, we had money to burn back then didn’t we?) Here’s a great recipe that my kids love, and they don’t even know it’s made with tofu and packed with protein and antioxidants!

So now that we’re saving lots of green and having some delicious fun, let’s boogie on down to the ultimate summer destination: the beach! Under the umbrella of the Chicago Park District, there are over 25 miles of open Public beachfront for city dwellers to use and enjoy. From Juneway Terrace Park & Beach on the north side to Calumet Beach on the south side, all 31 Chicago beaches are free of charge. But beachcombers beware, parking is not always free, and private lots can be pricey at beaches close to downtown. So before you don that bathing suit, visit this link to check for street parking, get the daily swim report, and see what facilities are available. BAM! You just saved $5-$25 on parking.

Now there is one thing that the Budget Mama NEVER skimps on: sunscreen. Choose a high quality sunscreen with SPF 30+ for the kiddies’ oh-so-tender skin, and for goodness sake, don’t forget to use it yourself! Beware of sunscreens with SPF numbers of 50 and above as they can be dangerous, luring folks into a false sense of safety, as UVB rays which cause sunburn are blocked, while the skin is left exposed to the more damaging, cancer-causing UVA rays. Studies indicate that those who use high SPF sunscreens (defined as 50 and above) sustained the same amount of sunburn and absorbed more of the harmful UVA radiation as those who used low SPF sunscreen or no sunscreen at all, due to the temptation to stay in the sun too long.

Check out the Environmental Working Group’s excellent guide to find a safe, effective, environmentally friendly sunscreen. Sunburns and heat exhaustion are sure summer killjoys, so apply sunscreen early and often, and make sure the family drinks plenty of water. That’ll help to keep you “P”-ing all summer long!

Wishing you and yours a glorious, joyful, safe, and budget-friendly summer to remember for years to come.



Sources & Additional Reading:
http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com (2009). Chicago Park District History: Celebrating 75 Years!

Sniderman Bachrach, Julia (2001). The City in a Garden: A Photographic History of Chicago’s Parks. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.