Money Smarts Blog

What can you do with $20?

If you asked us on a normal Saturday, we might say, “Not much.”

So, we decided to put that theory to the test.

We challenged three of our team members and their families to spend a Saturday or Sunday having as much fun as possible with just $20. No sneaky credit cards. No backup budget. No “well, technically we had a gift card.” Just $20 and a little creativity.

The results? Turns out, family fun doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. In fact, sometimes the best parts of the day cost absolutely nothing.

The $20 Challenge Rules

The goal was simple: Pick a day, stick to a $20 budget, and make some family memories.

And our families quickly discovered one important thing:

Food can eat your budget faster than your kids eat French fries.

Here’s how they did it.

Jen Z.: Find the Free Fun

Jen, her significant other Phil, and their two daughters headed to Milan for a Touch-A-Truck event at Camden Park.

The event itself? Free.

The planning was pretty simple, too. Jen spent the week before their outing searching Facebook for free community events. And apparently, there are a LOT more options out there than you might think.

“There are a lot of free events in the area if you look in the right spot.”

With their $20 safely in their pockets, they decided to let the kids choose the treats.

They spent their budget on Kona Ice and hot dog kids' meals from a food truck while Jen and Phil ate at home before heading out.

And the day's biggest hit? Fire trucks and fire hoses.

The girls loved getting to use the fire hoses attached to the trucks, proving once again that you can hand a kid a hose and create approximately 47 minutes of entertainment.

The biggest surprise for Jen was how quickly food costs can add up. The hardest part wasn't finding something fun to do. It was staying focused on what they actually needed instead of adding a few extras along the way.

Her biggest tip?

Be open-minded.

Jen expected the Touch-A-Truck event might not be very popular. Instead, it was packed with families who apparently had the exact same idea.

Ryann: Let the Weather Do the Heavy Lifting

Ryann, her husband Cole, and their daughter Brynn took advantage of a beautiful Saturday and packed their afternoon with water, sunshine, a playground, and a little fast food.

Their first stop was the aquatic center, where a staff shortage meant limited amenities but discounted admission. The kiddie pool was open, and for Brynn, that was plenty.

Cost: $8

Brynn got in free because she was under 4, while Mom and Dad each paid $4.

Next stop? The park.

They played on the playground, explored the creek, and enjoyed some good old-fashioned outdoor time.

Cost: $0

Then came the real budget boss battle: lunch.

The family headed to Wendy's with the remaining $12. They ordered a kid's meal for Brynn and used the restaurant's value options to stretch the rest of the budget.

Lunch: $11.74

Total for the day?

$19.74.

Not too shabby.

Ryann said the biggest surprise was realizing just how many things families can do together that cost absolutely nothing.

Her advice for anyone attempting their own $20 challenge?

Plan ahead.

Knowing what activities you'll be doing and what they'll cost before you leave the house makes it much easier to avoid accidentally blowing the budget before the fun even starts.

And her family's favorite part?

Simply being outside and spending time together.

Jenn P.: The $19.08 Family Adventure

Jenn and her family took a slightly different approach.

Instead of spending the day running from activity to activity, they spent most of their Saturday at home and turned ordinary things into activities.

And they managed to pack A LOT into their $20.

First up: homemade waffles for breakfast.

The whole family got involved. Joey and Dad made the waffles while Mack and Mom handled the table, drinks, and toppings.

Waffle mix: $2.91

Then they headed outside to check on Joey's wildflower garden, a summer project she's been tending all season.

Wildflower mix: $2.24

After that, it was time to cool off.

The family headed to the Galesburg Splash Pad for about two hours of water and playground fun.

Cost: $0

Lunch was a backyard picnic using food they already had at home.

Because, as Jenn put it, the fun part of a picnic is really the picnic, not what you're eating.

Cost: $0

Then things got creative.

Jenn used ChatGPT to create personalized coloring pages for the kids. Mack got a picture of himself on his aunt's farm with his best bud pups, Murphy and Ruby. Joey got an underwater scene filled with turtles, dolphins, and fish.

Cost: $0

Next came a backyard scavenger hunt, with the kids splitting into teams: girls versus boys.

Cost: $0

Then they flew kites.

Two kites: $6.22

For dinner, the kids made their own pizzas using pizza kits.

Pizza kits: $4.32

And they wrapped up the night with a backyard fire and roasted marshmallows.

Marshmallows: $2.60

The grand total?

$19.08.

And perhaps the best part was that the challenge gave the family a reason to slow down.

Between sports, activities, and a busy family schedule, finding a Saturday when everyone was actually free was one of the hardest parts.

But once they did, they realized they didn't need to go anywhere fancy.

They just needed each other, a little creativity, and $20.

So, What Did We Learn? Three families. Three completely different approaches. One $20 budget. And they all came to pretty much the same conclusion:

Free doesn't mean boring. Community events, parks, splash pads, creeks, backyard games, and outdoor adventures can provide hours of entertainment without opening your wallet.

Food is where budgets can disappear. All three families noticed how quickly food can add up. Eating at home before heading out, packing lunch, or getting creative with inexpensive options can leave more money for activities.

A little planning goes a long way. Check Facebook and community calendars for free events. Look up admission prices ahead of time. Decide what you want to do before you leave the house.

You don't have to leave home. A picnic in the backyard. A scavenger hunt. Coloring pages. A kite. Homemade pizza. A fire and marshmallows. Sometimes the adventure is sitting right outside your back door.

And maybe the biggest lesson? The $20 wasn't really the point.

The challenge gave each family a reason to slow down, get creative, and spend intentional time together.

Because when you take the pressure to spend money out of the equation, you might be surprised by how much fun is still left on the table.

So, could your family have a full day of fun for $20? We think you should find out.

Your challenge: Start with $20, make a plan, and see how far you can stretch it. Then tell us what you did!