Although summer has "officially" drawn to a close, it doesn't mean you have to give up on summer fun. There's still plenty of warm weather left, so taking advantage of these beautiful, early fall days should be at the top of everyone's list.  Here's a list of 7 Cheap Thrills that will spice up anyone's afternoons:

Have a water balloon fight
This is one of the least expensive ways to entertain your kids on a hot day.  Not only are water balloon fights a blast, but they're a great way to cool off.

Play a computer game
When the rain starts falling, kids can go crazy when they're trapped indoors.  But, if they have a game like The Charlie Church Mouse Game they can have fun while learning important academic skills at the same time.  Charlie Church Mouse teaches kids about art and music, spelling, math, money, and reasoning skills, but in a game that's so fun they won't want to stop playing. 

Attend a Gymboree class
Gymboree is a wonderful place to take your kids for some interactive fun.  Gymboree offers dozens of classes for children that spark their imagination and help develop their social skills.  Plus, it's a great way for parents to connect with other parents.

Wash the car
This idea will do double-duty; not only will your kids have a blast squirting each other with the hose, but you'll also get a chore done. 

Tour Your Own Town
With gas prices on the rise, more and more people are staying closer to home.  But, this can still be a blast!  When you stop and think about it, most of us have never fully explored our own town.  There might be tons of fun things in your area that you've never checked out, so being a tourist in your hometown can be a fun way to spend an afternoon.  Research your town's history, visit local parks, tour a local factory, or head to your local museum.  You never know what you might find!

Relax With A Magazine
Ok, so this one is less "thrill" and more "Ahhh"…But, once the kids are back in school you might find you have a little more free time than you did over the summer.  Check out "O" magazine. O gives women plenty of tips on how to slow down, manage their time effectively, and pursue the dreams they've always wanted to get going on. 

Camp Out In The Living Room
This is summer fun at its finest.  Rent a stack of movies, and get everyone cuddled on the floor in the living room.  Popcorn, open windows, SMORE's, and flashlights will get everyone excited to be doing something a bit out of the ordinary.  And, all you have to pay for is the movie rentals!

Although summer is drawing to a close, it doesn't mean that you have to return to "business as usual".  There are still plenty of warm afternoons ahead, so make sure you take advantage of them while you can!