I built a fun, cost-effective backyard for my kids. It’s helping us save money by avoiding family summer vacations.

Since moving to our house a few years ago, my husband and I have spent hours working on the backyard, making it more fun and functional. From adding a garden to a massive play area, it’s a space that the whole family can enjoy.

It’s been a ton of work — and there’s still plenty to be done — but it’s a growing work in progress that my two kids (ages 6 and 8), my neighbors, and I can all enjoy together.

The real added bonus is that we don’t have to spend a lot of money on family trips this summer to have fun.

Our chicken coop and garden benefit the whole family

One of the first things we did after moving in was have the trees trimmed. It was boring and expensive, yes, but it was past due. It gave us peace of mind that branches wouldn’t fall onto the roof or cause damage. We also live in an area that sees a lot of wind, so stick or branch damage can be an ongoing concern.

We got a deal, so we only spent about $3,000 on tree trimming.

Next, we have a chicken coop that my husband built. Our neighbor drew up the plans, and we spent about $1,000 on lumber and parts for the coop. I stained and painted it.

We’ve had our chickens for over two years, and they still lay eggs daily; we enjoy eating them or giving them away to friends. I also let them roam in the backyard to eat bugs and help keep the insect population to a minimum. The coop is also a hot spot for the kids, serving as their “jail” during playtime.

Our garden is about 30 by 20 feet and is a whole-family event. Our boys help plant, weed, and water it multiple times a week, and I also spend time on it while the kids are outside playing.

The rest of the backyard is filled with fun activities for the kids

The kids have a ninja course — a birthday gift from their grandparents. Though we didn’t buy it, it’s worth every penny. It’s a kid magnet, and they spend hours swinging, lifting themselves, and burning energy on that thing.

We also inherited an antique monkey bar set from a neighbor who moved. It was her mother’s at an old schoolhouse. It’s an incredibly thick metal and set deep in the ground. We joke that it will be standing long after all of us are gone.

Then there’s the playground set that came in the yard when we bought our house. There are also a few flower beds, which are used strictly for digging. Instead of fighting off kids and chickens, we simply store the bulldozers and cars in these areas, which is nice because it keeps them out of the yard. Everyone is happy that way.

Seasonally, we will set up a large inflatable water fountain or lay down tarps and douse them with dish soap for a water slide.

We’re avoiding costly summer travel thanks to our backyard

We still have plenty of projects planned, but it’s nice to have plenty for our kids to do all summer long without even having to leave the house.

We’ve saved hundreds by not having to take day trips and instead having fun in the backyard. That means no gas money, eating out, or activity fees.

With inflation and the higher cost of living, this was the perfect time for us to tighten up and avoid summer travel.

To help keep it fresh, we switch up activities like baseball, bike rides, having friends over, and intermittently getting out our water toys. One day they’ll run through the sprinkler, and later that week, they can make mud pies. They also have activities to help fill in the gaps, like swimming lessons and free movies at the local theater, which are sponsored by businesses.

Helping them spread out ideas and mix up activities is a key part in ensuring the backyard stays fun and doesn’t get boring — while helping me save money.

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