Last week here in the windy city we had what everyone agrees
is the happiest day of the New Year: the first warm day. And simply put, it was
awesome. The weather crept up to and flirted with 60 degrees. Children were
running and playing in parks, adults were running along the lakefront with only
one layer and hundreds if not thousands of people dug out their shorts and
sandals from their closets to mark the occasion.
Now while we are still weeks (maybe a month more
skeptically) away from consistently warm weather, these early 60 degree days are
warning signs. For many here in this beautiful city it’s a warning sign that
beach season is around the corner and it’s time to whip the winter flab into
spring and summer muscle. So for us winter warriors who go to the gym year
round, we will certainly be annoyed at the influx of people occupying our
weight machines. But by and large for me, the prospects of warmer weather mean
that it’s time for me to envision a fun and active warm weather season that
doesn’t impede my financial plans.
Fortunately Chicago is a huge city with tons of low cost
options during the spring and summer that have been very friendly to me during
my frugal fury fighting days, and which even at this stage in my financial game
plan, I still enjoy and love. So here’s a few ideas in and around Chicago that
I use to enjoy the warmer weather that still help keep the cobwebs in my
wallet.
Aside from street festivals,
movies in the park is my next favorite thing to do in the city during
the summer season. There’s a plethora of city parks and neighborhoods that host
these events. My wife and I make a date night of it and bring a picnic dinner
to enjoy the show. We’ll either pickup take-out or make a meal at home and
bring it to the venue to enjoy great (and free) movies under the Mid-West night
sky.
I’m more of a music guy myself, so an after work date with
my wife in the loop is definitely in order. During the summer there is a summer
music concert series at the famed Millennium Park. My wife and I will usually
grab a quick Subway sandwich meal after work, and with our blanket in tow enjoy
great sounds in the loop for free.
Lake front Picnics
If you can’t tell from some of these themes I’m quite the
foodie. But to commemorate one of the first warm days here, my wife and I
grabbed some bread from our local French bakery (roughly $5) and then stopped
into a nearby Chinese restaurant for a large Hot and Sour Soup ($3), chopped up some celery and carrots at home, and headed
for the lakefront to enjoy a weekend afternoon picnic. I loved being outdoors
with my wife, talking, connecting and eating French bread with Chinese soup and
taking in the views of Lake Michigan. Seriously, it’s the little things in life
that make me smile! J
Community Groups
Although we primarily have used these through our church,
but these days with things like meetup.com and the like, it’s a lot easier now
than a decade or so ago to meet up with people with similar interests for an
outing. Through the years church’s that we have been a part of hold book club
like get togethers weekly. The fellowship and friendships are amazing and the
group participation definitely helps lighten the burden financially. In groups
we have been apart of, food and beverage responsibility is passed from person
to person each week so that the host and group doesn’t carry the burden of
feeding a dozen people every week. It’s nice, simple and very easy to work into
the budget.
Okay, so this one is a shameless plug for my favorite tea
lounges in the city. But great places like this host free concert series’
without door cover. At Loose Leaf, all that is asked is a donation for the
performers playing the night you drop in. No cover + great music will always =
a positive in my book.
So that’s just a few of the things we do in and around this
city when the weather picks up. So enjoy the warmer weather and happy spring
and summer frugal finding to all of you!
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