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16 Free Activities to Enjoy This Summer

By U.S. News & World Report

Summertime is here, and with it comes a variety of things to do outdoors on a warm and beautiful day. Too often, though, our minds are attracted to the options that come with a hefty price tag. Lavish vacations. Decadent weekend getaways. Popular tourist attractions. Pricey summer camps.

The thing that’s often overlooked is that many of the best perks of summer cost nothing at all. Filling your summer days with these 16 small pleasures will create a wonderful summer without putting a big dent in your pocketbook.

Go on a walk or short hike in a nearby state park. Many state parks are free and have many trails designed to show off nature’s beauty at varying difficulties to accommodate all fitness levels.

Pick some flowers. Fill a vase with wildflowers that you picked while walking. The fresh blooms can add wonderful fragrance to your home and provide a beautiful decoration.

Go to a public beach. Public beaches are often free and provide access to rivers, lakes and oceans while giving you a great opportunity to relax, nap or play beach sports.

[See: 12 Frugal Ways to Save on Vacation.]

Play soccer at the park with some friends. All you need to start this inexpensive summer fitness activity is one ball among your group of friends. Go to a park and pick out natural goals and boundaries. Better yet, find a public field to play on.

Go to a free concert. Many communities and organizations offer free public concerts during the summer. Check out the community calendar for your town or for neighboring towns and see what’s playing, then head out there with a blanket to sit on and enjoy the free music.

Take a ton of digital photographs and share the best ones. Find beautiful things in your life and take lots of photographs of them, then go through them selectively and share the best ones with family members and friends.

Go to a community festival. Many communities hold a summer festival with many free activities and concerts and even free foods and other treats. See when your community — or a neighboring town — has a festival and make sure to attend.

Help someone in need with a project. Many people in your life and throughout your community can use a helping hand. If you know an elderly person or a person with a disability, simply ask them if they need any help with any projects and then spend some time helping them get things done. You’ll be amazed at how good you feel afterwards.

Go stargazing. Go to a spot far away from artificial light and gaze upward at nature’s majesty on a clear night.

Watch the sunrise or the sunset. The colors that fill the sky during sunrise and sunset can be utterly breathtaking. Look for slightly cloudy days or for opportunities to take in the sunrise over a beautiful skyline or across the water.

[See: 12 Habits of Phenomenally Frugal Families.]

Go on a brewery tour. Many breweries offer free tours that explain the art of beer-making. Many tours end with some free samples of the product. See what kinds of tours local brewers offer.

Run (or walk) barefoot through soft grass. The simple act of taking off your shoes and walking or running across a field of soft grass can feel absolutely wonderful. It’s one of those little miracles of summer that can just make your day better.

Go people-watching in a public place. People are always out and about in the summer months. Find a nice bench in a park somewhere and simply watch the people go by.

Go swimming in a lake. Many lakes offer free access to swimming areas. Simply toss on a bathing suit and dive in for a cool summer swim.

Skip rocks across the surface of that lake. When you’re not swimming, you’ll likely find an area or two with many rocks around. Spend some time there skipping rocks across the water’s surface.

[See: 10 Foolproof Ways to Reach Your Money Goals.]

Go on a walking tour. Almost anywhere you are, there’s an opportunity for a walking tour. Simply walk through downtown, or through the historical district of your town, and see what’s already on offer there. Do the same in nearby towns. Who knows what you might find?

There are countless free and extremely low cost things to do around you. Take advantage of them and fill your life with activities that don’t drain your pocketbook. You’ll soon find yourself building an amazing life with financial security to boot.

More from U.S. News

10 Fun, Frugal Ways to Spend Your Free Time

10 Ways to Stay in Shape on a Budget

10 Summer Savings Tips

16 Free Activities to Enjoy This Summer originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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