The cost of going out as a family on a regular basis can quickly add up, making it difficult to stay within a financial budget. This makes finding fun family activities to do at home essential. Just because you are staying in, however, doesn't mean that you have to be bored. There are many evening activities that will save you money and create long-lasting memories centered on family fun.

Take It Outside In the Summer
• Physical activity is a major component in a healthy lifestyle and provides an opportunity for families to spend time together. During the summer, the days are longer and temperatures lower in evenings. Head outside to the yard or to a local park. Play a family game of basketball, take the roller blades, jump rope or simply walk the park while the kids bike or skate.

Family Circuit Training
• Whether you are indoors or out, you can have fun with circuit training. Set up about five stations in the yard or in a room. Make one hula hoop, another jump rope and maybe one bouncing a small ball. Choose any activities your family enjoys. Turn on your favorite music, let each person select a station. Do the activity designated for that station for about one minute, blow a whistle and switch stations until everyone has gone around two to three times.

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Cook Together
• Cooking as a family creates wonderful memories and teaches children necessary skills for later in life. Allow each member of your family to choose a favorite meal each week. On their specific night, the family member is in charge of the kitchen and gives everyone a job to include them in the process of making the meal. This can also be done for a baking night, where once a week you pick a favorite cookie or dessert to make, rotating through the choices of each family member.

Game Night
• Many families hold game nights, and they serve as a fun way to celebrate time together whether you are playing a favorite board game, card game or even using a video game system. Get everyone a little more interested by making the stakes a bit higher. Let the prize be the option to get out of one chore for the week or to request their favorite meal for dinner.

Dance Contest
• If the family has been sitting all day at school or work, use activity time to get moving. Hold a dance contest. Allow each member of the family time to select his song and create a dance that he will perform for everyone. Plan to have several dancing rounds; pick one family member to be judge and sit out each round so she can select the winner. If there is a tie at the end, have a dance off to determine the overall winner.