By Laura Woods, Contributor
Summer is the most carefree season but that doesn't mean you have to relax your budget to enjoy it. There are plenty of free things to do this summer that allow you to make the most of warm weather.
If you're trying to determine how to avoid spending money over the 14 weeks of summer, read the following 30 tips to have the best summer ever while sticking to a tight budget.
Read More: 101 Ways to Save Money This Summer
1. Trade Happy Hours for Backyard BBQs
"Host a potluck barbecue at your place and get the troops together for some backyard fun," said Kendal Perez, a savings expert from CouponSherpa.com. "Make it a regular event by rotating hosts so one person doesn't feel the burden of hosting all the time."
2. Choose a Photo Safari Over Shopping
"Plan a photo safari in your town or a nearby city and hit the streets with your smartphone, selfie-ing your way through landmarks with your bestie," Perez said.
3. Take a Day Trip to a Nearby Nature Area
Get your friends and family together for a day trip to a local nature spot. "Whether it's a mountain, lake, beach or nature trail, experiencing the outdoors for a day won't make it seem like you're missing out on all of the fun," Perez said.
4. Enjoy Free Community Activities
"The summer represents a great opportunity to enjoy free activities and goodies with your friends and community," said Perez. "Free outdoor concerts, art walks, fitness classes and kids' crafts are all available for free at some point during the summer. Check your city, county or community's recreation guide for free events and activities."
5. Observe Celebratory Days
"There seems to be a national day of every single day throughout the year," Perez said. "While some are quirkier than others, many restaurants jump on the food-related ones to push their wares."
For instance, on Talk Like a Pirate Day on Sept. 19, Krispy Kreme will give out free doughnuts -- and free dozens for those who dress like pirates.
6. Find Free Fitness Classes
"Many studios offer a free day or week of yoga to new students, so you and a friend can get these passes and try different classes together without paying anything," Perez said. "Also, retail stores like Lululemon offer free yoga classes, and Athleta offers free classes in yoga, Pilates, circuit training, community runs and more."
The average cost of a yoga class is $10 to $20, so if you attend one each week of summer, you'll save $140 to $280.
7. Enjoy a Free National Park Visit
Just 127 of the country's 408 national parks typically charge an entrance fee, so find a free one and plan a visit. Admission is free at all parks on Aug. 25 to observe the National Park Service's birthday.
8. Get Free Restaurant Food
"Sign up for restaurant e-clubs to get coupons for free appetizers, meals or desserts," Perez said. When you sign up for Chili's email club, you get free chips and choice of salsa, guacamole or queso when buying an adult entree.
"DelTaco Raving Fan eClub offers two free grilled-chicken tacos, and California Pizza Dough Rewards offers a free small plate," said Perez. "Many of these programs offer free food on your birthday, too."
9. Visit the Library
"Your local library is a great resource for borrowing video rentals, video games, e-books and audio books free of charge," Perez said. "A digital platform called Hoopla makes this seamless, so check if your library has it."
10. Seek Out Free Alcohol Tastings
"Some specialty liquor stores across the country