Being on a tight budget shouldn’t mean staying home. There are plenty of free, or nearly free, activities you can take part in that are close to home.
– Within 10 miles of Creston, you will find McKinley Lake, Summit Lake, Green Valley Lake, 12 Mile Lake and 3 Mile Lake. Spend $19 for a basic fishing license, pick up some inexpensive rods and tackle at Wal-Mart and go out and catch your supper.
Don’t want to spend $19? You can get a license for a single day for $9.50.
– Gibson Memorial Library is in the midst of its summer reading program. Through June and July, the library is hosting activities almost daily. All of these activities are free to the public and offer a chance to get creative or try something new. Stop in and the very sweet staff can provide a list of what they have planned.
While you’re there, check out a book or two, just make sure you get them back when they’re due.
– Why not try and make some money this summer by hosting a yard or garage sale? For a small fee, you can place an ad in the Creston News Advertiser to draw people in. Make up a batch of homemade cookies or brownies to sell as well, and offer a cold beverage to shoppers, whether it’s water, lemonade or tea, and watch the money come rolling in.
If you’re the crafty type, you can also consider selling your handiwork alongside your miscellaneous treasures.
– Speaking of books, gather your friends together and host a book swap. Ask your friends to bring as many books as you have people attending, six books for six people, and swap them. Be prepared to explain why you liked the book or why you think your friends will like the book.
Up the entertainment quotient by watching a book-based movie, as long as it’s not “50 Shades of Grey” because that’s just the worst book series on the planet.
– Pinterest is full of ideas for arts and crafts, but not all of them actually work as advertised. Gather friends and craft supplies and have a Pinterest Success or Failure night. Pick a few random Pinterest crafts and have fun trying to recreate them. For reference, watch Man vs. Pin on YouTube.
Make sure you post pictures on Instagram or Facebook so the world can see how your projects turned out.
– Create Creston has make and take crafts for $15 or $20 that actually work. All of the supplies are provided, you just have to supply the creative skill. While you’re uptown creating your masterpiece, perhaps you’ll swing by the Creston: Arts Gallery in the restored Creston Depot to see what the month’s featured artist has done.
Be warned. Once you get those creative juices flowing, it’s hard to turn them off.
– Pick up a copy of Peek at the Week at the newspaper office. Each week, it lists a handful of events and activities and some are free or inexpensive. Since, I am the one who puts the list together, it would make me feel better knowing that people actually read it.
If you don’t, my feelings might actually be hurt.
This is just a smattering of ideas. I’ve given a bit of a shout out to some of the local businesses who keep me employed. Please don’t be offended if I didn’t mention someone. There’s always my next column.