If you have ever watched Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer (movie) as a kid, then you would know her summer mission; to not have a bummer summer. Many people say that their summer is going to be fun and adventurous, but fail to meet their standards. They run out of ideas (and cash) very rapidly. This puts a damper on their soon-to-be glamorous summer. Here are some fun, but cheap, ideas for your not-so-bummer summer bucket list, so you too, can have a not-so-bummer summer!

The first one is a shaving cream fights with friends. This is a fun, but cheap, way to hang out. All you need is shaving cream, and to throw a twist to this, add paint into the shaving cream for something more colorful. You can create teams or have solo matches. A similar idea to this is shaving cream twister. For every dot on the twister mat, you add the corresponding paint color. You can even wear white clothes to tie dye and have a memento of the fun memory.

A picnic is a fun way to meet up with friends. You can lounge in the sun, get a good tan, or just have fun. You can pack any kind of food, drinks, and maybe some board games. It is a fun way to get out of the house. If you live by a lake or beach, you can even go swimming. You can play Marco Polo, Sharks, and Minnows, or even have a handstand competition. And, if you enjoy night swimming, you can go swimming in your pajamas. It is a spontaneous thing and a fun story to tell. If you like to get creative, then bring some art supplies with you. You can paint or draw scenic views, and funny pictures, and gather supplies for a collage. Nature can be a good inspiration if you are suffering from art block.

One of my goals is to ride Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure. You can have a similar goal of riding a roller coaster too. It can be as tall as you’d like, or as slow as you prefer. It is all up to you and how comfortable you are. If you’re not a fan of roller coasters, then you can go on other rides. A good place to go is Six Flags (NJ), Seaside (NJ), Hershey Park (PA), Fantasy Island (NJ), Sesame Place (PA), and Pier (NJ) all places change by that have a multitude of rides that you can choose from. 

You can go to the beach at night. You can watch the stars, or just go on a stroll. But do not swim, it is very dangerous. Especially because you cannot see the conditions of the water and some wildlife (sharks and jellyfish) could be nearby. 

Paint with a blindfold on! Get some paper, paintbrushes, and some paint. You get to see how well your coordination is. Make it a competition with your friends to see who could paint the best. Another idea similar to this is a group drawing. Every five to ten minutes, switch papers with somebody in the group. In the end, then see how the drawings came out. 

Another fun idea is to play laser tag in fancy clothes! You can get old dresses from Goodwill, or use some from old dances (Homecoming, Prom, etc). A similar idea to this is to dress up in costumes and go to a restaurant. Take some pictures while doing it as a way to remember the fond memory you just made.

And last but not least, you can propose to strangers with ring pops. It’s a way to go outside your comfort zone and make someone’s day. All you need to do is find a big bag of ring pops and go outside. You can go to a store, park, etc. Anywhere will do. But always be cautious of strangers!! 

If you do any of these ideas, make sure to take pictures so that you can make one big album or scrapbook to view whenever you want. If you don’t do any of these ideas, then you can just add them to a bucket list or recommend them to a friend who would like them.

Happy Summer!!