Simple Summer Joys Free of Charge: My Favorite List for Slowing Down This Summer

Some of the best things about summer cost absolutely nothing

Can I be honest with you for a second? I have been guilty of thinking I need to DO something with summer. Go somewhere. Plan something. Make it count.

But the truth is, the summers I remember most fondly did not cost a thing. They were slow and sweet and simple summer joys free of charge. And I think most of us could use a whole lot more of that right now.

So today I am not giving you a budget tip or a side hustle idea or a tech tutorial. Today I am just giving you a list. A reminder. A little love letter to the simple summer joys free of charge that are already right outside your door waiting on you. And honestly probably better than anything you could buy.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through my links — at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools and products I personally use and trust.

Simple Summer Joys Free and Found Outdoors

STEP OUTSIDE. THE BEST STUFF IS RIGHT THERE.

Catching fireflies after dark. I do not care how old you are. The minute you see that first little flash in the yard, you are eight years old again. Grab a jar, punch some holes in the lid, and let them go before bed. Free magic.

Front porch evenings with nowhere to be. Sweet tea in hand, fan going, watching the neighborhood slow down for the night. This is living, y’all. This right here.

Bare feet in the grass. I know it sounds simple because it is. But there is something about kicking off your shoes and feeling actual ground under your feet that just settles your whole nervous system down. Try it this week. Bonus: they say it has health benefits, too. More on that another time.

Watching a summer thunderstorm roll in. From the safety of your porch or a covered window, a good summer storm is genuinely one of the best free shows nature puts on. Especially in the South, honey. We do not play around with our summer storms.

Early morning walks before the heat hits. The world before 8am in summer is a different and quieter place. Birds going, air still somewhat cooler, nobody else around yet. Worth setting the alarm for.

Farmers market browsing. Even if you do not buy a single thing, walking through a summer farmers market on a Saturday morning is a feast for all five senses. Free to walk. Free to smell the peaches. Free to chat with the people who grew your food. I’ve noticed that there are more famers markets open somewhere in my area almost every day of the week.

Sitting outside after dinner. No phones. No plans. Just whatever is left of the evening light and the sound of summer doing its thing.

Simple Summer Joys Free and Found Right at Home

YOU DO NOT EVEN HAVE TO LEAVE THE HOUSE FOR THESE.

Reading outside. A good book, a shady spot, and an hour with no agenda. The library card you already have makes this completely free. Read about the Libby App (Free e-books)

Eating breakfast on the porch. Same meal you were going to make anyway. Different zip code of feeling entirely.

Opening all the windows first thing in the morning. That first rush of cool morning air through the house before you close everything up against the afternoon heat is one of summer’s most underrated pleasures. I remember as a child and even as an adult having an attic fan and when you open those windows and turn the attic fan on . . . pure bliss.

Picking something from the garden or a neighbor’s yard. A handful of tomatoes. A few zinnias. Something you grew or someone shared with you because summer makes people generous like that.

Watching the hummingbirds. If you have a feeder, you already know. If you don’t, a basic hummingbird feeder costs about $8 and the sugar water to fill it costs pennies. Hours of entertainment.

An afternoon nap with the fan on. I will not elaborate. You know.

Calling someone you have been meaning to call. Sit outside, tap the number, and catch up properly. Free, good for your soul, and something you will not regret.

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Your Only Assignment This Week

Go do one thing on this list today. Just one. Put your shoes by the back door, pour something cold, and step outside for ten minutes with nowhere to be and nothing to accomplish.

That is it. That is the whole post.

And if you want a simple system to make sure your finances are as easy and peaceful as a summer evening on the porch, the Money Map workbook was made for exactly that kind of calm, clear approach to your money: You can grab it here: YOUR MONEY MAP

Talk Soon,

P.S. Watch those dollars, y’all.