Nothing says it’s picnic season like the summer holidays and July – national picnic month. To mark this occasion, we’ve compiled a list of 5 cheap picnic ideas for you and your family. After all, a picnic is one of the joys of the summer so why not enjoy it even more on a budget?
1. Simple Appetiser
Make the most out of the sun shining by planning appetisers that will please the family. Picnics would be incomplete without appetisers after all.
For cheap picnic ideas, you can’t go wrong with salad. Not only are they cheap but they are easy to make and simple to transport. Some examples of salad recipes would be Greek salad, potato salad or fruity pasta salad.
If you want more variety, go with hummus and carrots to get the picnic rolling! You’ll see your family members’ faces light up with excitement as they go for their first hummus dips but remember to bring the napkins!
2. Simple Food
Simple foods are made for picnics. You don’t have to cook a big meal instead you can just bring budget-friendly food from the local supermarkets. Pasta, sandwiches, wraps or even canned tuna are all cheap picnic ideas that the whole family will love! If you ask us, sandwiches are the best budget-friendly picnic food because they don’t take much space in the basket.
Don’t forget about the drinks, plastic cutlery, and rubbish bags!
If you do leave food stains on your clothes, don’t stress! Our services have got you covered!
3. Bake Desserts or Use What You Have At Home
Great memories always include desserts! To save money, bake a dessert at home! Chocolate brownies or banana cakes are simple to make and bring to the picnic. You’d be surprised at how much money you’ll save by avoiding buying already-made desserts.
However, if you’ve left it late and urgently need desserts, don’t hesitate to buy muffins or cookies from coffee shops to bring to the picnic. They don’t usually cost a lot!
4. Bring an Ice Cooler
Additionally, ice coolers will save you money as you don’t need to constantly buy ice every time! Days prior to the picnic, prepare well by filling your ice cube tray and keeping it in your freezer.
If you have ice cream at home, take it with you and put it in the ice cooler. Not only does it make your kids happy but it will save you from spending money on ice creams from ice cream vans around the park!
5. Find a Free Place To Picnic
Don’t overcomplicate your picnics, they don’t have to be fussy, but they do need to be fun! Look for parks that are free and have good opening hours. Do a little research about the parks so you are aware of the rules. If you are planning a BBQ, look for BBQ-friendly parks.
Ideally, if you are with kids, find somewhere they have free access to a playground or sports place. Or bring a kite, ball or frisbee to provide entertainment!
These are the cheap picnic ideas for you to consider. Spending a lot of money isn’t needed to have a great picnic this summer. All you need is great company, simplicity and great weather!
Enjoy your picnic on national picnic month!
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March 11, 2023 at 8:22 pm
Heya.
These are my top tips. I like to have a full salad bowl for garden picnics at home in order to liven things up no end. Also for summer picnics in a park or at the beach I pack a few rolls, corn on the cob and fruit kebabs for it. If we are going into the countryside, I take sandwiches and cakes in a bag. Best wishes. Fruit cake in a box and granola bars make a decent second option on picnic lunches out.
Or I hand out wraps, cookies, biscuits and water at farms and museums. You can buy picnic food quite easily these days. I know that the farm shops stock products to sell. Alternatively try your luck at town supermarket bakeries, and so on as well. You can invest in a cheap hamper for picnics. For family picnics on a beach I even bring a couple of books to read. We have had family picnics at hospital cafes and at service stations in the past.
Chop up all fruit.