• When you're on a budget, it may seem like everything costs money. Trying to entertain your kids without spending a lot doesn't have to be a challenge. There are many cheap activities for youth--some activities are even free. With a few of these ideas, you won't have to shell out $20 or more any time your child gets bored.
  
  

Board Games

• You can purchase many classic board games (i.e., Sorry, Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land) for less than $10. Other games aren't much more expensive and you can also often find board games at a thrift store. Keep them in good condition and they can provide hours of entertainment. You can also hold a board game tournament, keeping track of who wins what game--the person who wins the most games is the winner of the tournament.
  
  

Park Outing

• Take the kids to a park for some outdoor fun. You can go on a hike or play tag, both of which are free activities. Other cheap options including buying a flying disc, a ball or a kite and playing with that item. This is also a good way to squeeze in some exercise.
  
  

Movie Night

• Rent a movie and pop some popcorn. Choose air or stove-popped popcorn to save even more money. If you have time, have a movie marathon, watching two or more movies from a particular series. This is a fun evening activity or for a sleepover.
  
  

Bubble Fun

• Make your own bubble solution using 1/2 cup of dishwashing soap, 2 cups of water and 2 tsp. of sugar. Use a bubble wand or tie a string loop onto a long stick for bigger bubbles. For artistic fun, you can add food coloring to the solution and pop the bubbles onto paper. Commercial bubbles are also inexpensive.
  
  

Gardening

• While gardening is a hobby that can get quite expensive, it doesn't cost much to purchase a simple packet of seeds and a bag of dirt. Teach your child how to garden and you'll also be able to enjoy the fruits--or vegetables--of your labor when it's harvest time.
  
  

Crafts

• You can purchase a lot of craft supplies, such as construction paper, acrylic paints and glue, quite inexpensively. If you have several of these on hand, it's easy for kids to make a craft at any time. For example, they could make puppets from paper or simply paint a picture.