We all know that we ought to be spending more quality time with our families, but sometimes the cost of fun activities can be prohibitively high, especially if you have a large family. Going to the local swimming pool, going to the zoo or taking a trip to a theme park is a great way to spend a happy day together but it could also cost a small fortune. If you’re on a tight budget, the prospect of a long summer vacation or of endless weekends with the kids moaning that they’re bored can be a depressing one.

Luckily, there are lots of things that you can do as a family group without spending a lot of money. Here are just five of the things you can try this year.

1.Get Outdoors

Whatever the time of year, there’s plenty to see and do in nature. Heading to a beach, a wood or even a park is a wonderful way to get closer to nature, and not only will you have quality time together, you will also have a great educational opportunity for the kids. In the Fall, you can go out and collect leaves, pine cones and acorns to make some seasonal art when you get home. In the winter, you can head outdoors to play in the snow or to build a snowman. In the springtime, you can make your own I Spy book and go out looking for signs of the new season. In the summer, there’s a world of opportunities outdoors, from playing ball games in the park to taking a hike along a local trail. Don’t forget your comfortable shoes! You can find more details about how to choose the best ones for you here.

2.Find A Free Museum

There are lots of free museums all over the country, you just need to seek them out. Not only do they represent a fun way to spend the day together without spending a cent, they’re also another way to help teach your children about new things. Whether you’re visiting an art gallery or a museum about local history, you’ll find plenty to entertain you and you’ll have a lot to talk about afterwards. Some free museums even offer craft activities or programs of events for families so you can get even more out of your visit without having to pay a cent.

3.Go To The Library

Another free activity that you may never have thought of before is heading off to your local library. Many libraries have programs running during the school vacations with storytelling, craft activities or workshops that you can take part in for free or for a very low cost. Even if there’s nothing special happening, it’s still a lot of fun to take a look at all the different books and to choose something to read at home.

4.Go See A Cheap Movie

Lots of cinemas now offer low cost screenings for families at the weekend or during the school vacations. Although these movies do cost money, the fee is quite nominal and you can take in your own candy and drinks to save even more. Some cinema chains even offer family movies for free at off-peak times such as weekday mornings – as long as you’re prepared to get up early!

5.Have A Camp Out At Home

If you can’t afford to take a summer vacation there’s no need to feel like you can’t have a camping experience in your very own home. Pitch a tent in your back yard, light up the barbecue and toast some marshmallows. You can sleep outdoors under the stars and it’ll be just like the real thing except you’ll be able to pop indoors to use the bathroom!

These are just five of the free or low cost activities that you can try if you’re on a tight budget this year. You’ll still be able to spend quality time together as a family, and actually you may well find that you have more fun and become closer as a group without spending so much money on expensive activities. After all, how close can your family get at a theme park?

We all want to be the best possible versions of ourselves. That means enjoying regular exercise, eating a balanced diet, and taking care of our health. But the fact is that many men will put off visiting the doctor, ignore that cheap gym membership, and grab fast food on the way home from the office because it simply makes their life easy. A lot of men simply don’t but their own health and well being first.

Are you looking to get more out of your body, and your life, but don’t know where to start? Here are six simple health and fitness tips that will help:

Get a Cheap Gym Membership

Going to the gym is a great motivator to improve your fitness, particularly if you’re reluctant to get started. When you decide not to go for a run, you have no one to answer to but yourself, but when you decide to skip the gym your trainer and your gym buddies will notice and hold you accountable. This can be a powerful motivator.  

Don’t let money be your excuse not to go to the gym: there are lots of affordable membership options available to the modern man, so start researching the gyms in your local area and find the one that’s right for you.

Go to the Doctor

Don’t put off going the doctor if you’re feeling unwell, or ignore those regular screening letters. When it comes to your health, prevention is better than a cure and most diseases are much easier to treat if they’re caught at an early stage. Have your annual health MOT, don’t skip your dental check-ups, never avoid your prostate exam and get your flu jab. Going to see your doctor for regular screening could save your life.

These appointments also give you the opportunity to take to your doctor about any health concerns you might have, so they’re incredibly important for both of you.

Stop Smoking

If you’re still smoking cigarettes then now is the time to stop. Today. Cigarettes contain more than 4,000 harmful chemicals and have been shown to significant increase your risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer. Smoking also leads to fertility issues, increased heart rate and tooth loss.

Giving up smoking isn’t easy, but there are lots of quitting aids and support available. If you’ve decided that you’d like to give up smoking then make an appointment with your GP who will be able to offer appropriate help and support.

Exercise Every Day

We should all aim to take 30 minutes of gentle exercise every day. It doesn’t matter whether you’re walking, running, swimming or hitting the gym. Any exercise that elevates your heart rate and leaves you feeling slightly out of breath is good for your health and fitness. When it comes to exercise, taking little and often is much better than not taking any at all.

If you have a busy life then even 15 minutes of exercise a day is better for your health than two hour-long gym sessions a week, even if the amount of exercise you take on average is the same.

Practice Safe Sex

If you’re sexually active, then remember to practice safe sex. It only takes a minute and is one of the simplest things any man can do to have a positive impact of their own health. Not only will practicing safe sex significantly reduce the risk of an unwanted pregnancy, it will also protect you from a wealth of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, chlamydia and herpes.

If in doubt then wear a condom, and keep one in your wallet, just in case. You never know when you might need it!

Drink Green Tea

Finally, if you can’t get out of bed each morning without your daily cup of tea or coffee, then why not consider switching to green tea instead. With the exception of beer, few drinks have been celebrated for their impact on men’s health quite as regularly as green tea: it really is a wonder elixir. And drinking it daily could help to completely revolutionise your life.

In recent years considerable research into the benefits of green tea consumption have been undertaken. That research has found that green tea can help prevent prostate cancer and lower your risk of developing heart disease. What have you got to lose?

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