The 4th of July is Saturday, and it’s time for a frugal celebration! My day will be spent going to a parade, barbequing burgers, and watching the city’s fireworks show. Independence Day is always a lot of fun, and the best part is, it doesn’t have to be expensive. There are lots of great things to do without spending tons of money.

Parades. Lots of cities have parades to celebrate the 4th, and parades are free! To make sure you don’t spend tons of excess money, pack some snacks and drinks along. July is a hot time of year, and if you don’t bring your drinks, you’ll be paying a premium for them at the parade.

Fireworks. What’s the 4th of July without fireworks? My family always stakes out a place where we can see the city fireworks display without being right in the midst of the crowds, so we can get home without fighting traffic. We need to find a new place this year, since we moved to the other end of town.

We’ve never bought fireworks for our own use, and I was surprised to find there are ways to save money on them, even if you’re buying before July 4th. But my daughter’s good friend, and up and coming blogger after my own frugal heart, has written a great article on how to do just that!

Food. The 4th of July is a great time to get together with friends for a barbeque. A simple meal of burgers and hot dogs keeps costs down, and it’s a kid friendly meal. Round out the side dishes by having everyone bring a dish. The frugal possibilities are endless…macaroni or potato salad, watermelon, chips with dip, green salad.

Standard barbeque fare also tends to go on sale right before July 4th, so you can score good deals on all the fixin’s. You might even be able to find a great deal on popsicles for the kids! Or make your own popsicles! That will save you even more money!

Whatever you do on Saturday, have a great time! I know I’ll be enjoying myself, despite the hot weather we’re supposed to have!

So what ARE you doing on the 4th? Any big plans?

Photo by **Maurice**.