Workplace Money Coach
As someone who is very conscious of my spending habits, I have always appreciated that living in the Sarasota/Bradenton area offers a tremendous amount of activities that I can enjoy with my family that do not require a lot of money. In fact, my top five favorite summertime activities don’t require a line item on your budget at all. They are FREE. So, gather up the family or call a good friend and enjoy some summer fun without disrupting your plan to reach your next financial goal.
- Enjoy the beach at any time of day.
There is no question that the greatest thing about living in the Sarasota/Bradenton area is the world-class beaches that line our coast. People travel from all over the world to enjoy our beaches and my family has made a pact that we never take it for granted. From early morning to sunset, our beaches offer great people watching, serene beauty to help you destress, a great environment for taking a walk or reading a book, and picnic areas to gather with friends and family. The beaches offer an entire day of fun at no cost to you. You simply cannot beat it. - Take a Stroll on the Riverwalk in Downtown Bradenton
Bradenton hit a home run when they designed and built the 1.5 mile Riverwalk Park through the city’s most beautiful landscapes. Head on over for a walk and you never know what you might find on any given day. There might be an art show or live music. The playground and splash park are centrally located and the skate park offers a unique experience for bikers, skateboarders, rollerbladers and scooters. - Enjoy a picnic in a beautiful green space
Sarasota and Bradenton offer some incredible dining options but they can be pricey budget busters. Switch it up a little bit and plan a picnic with friends and family at a local park. Most of the green spaces offer shade in the form of a pavilion or trees and many have grills available, too. Call up some friends, pack up the cooler, bring along some yard games and leave the wallet at home. - Spend an evening at a local art walk
You don’t have to have an art degree to appreciate the incredible art galleries that call this area home. Plan on spending an evening at one of the area’s many art walks. Better yet, see if you can visit three or four different art walks before the summer is over. Here are a handful of art walks that you can enjoy:
- Village of the Arts – Bradenton - First Friday of each month
- Towles Court Art Colony – Sarasota – Third Friday of each month
- St. Armands Circle – Longboat Key – galleries open seven days a week
- Holmes Beach Art District – Anna Maria Island – Second Friday of each month
- Palm Avenue Gallery Walks – Sarasota – First Friday of each month
- Take a hike…in a good way!
I would venture to guess most people don’t associate the Gulf Coast as a place for hiking but au contraire mon frère. Manatee county offers a variety of hiking trails that highlight our local environment separate of the concrete jungles and residential neighborhoods. Grab your dog, get outdoors and enjoy a hike at one of my three favorites: Robinson Nature Preserve (Bradenton), Emerson Point Preserve (West Palmetto) or Little Manatee River Trail (Wimauma).
About Shane Robson-Smith and Workplace Money Coach
Shane Robson-Smith is a Certified Personal Finance Counselor and founder of Workplace Money Coach. He wants to see you live your life to the fullest and believes that the key to doing so is learning how to use your hard-earned paycheck as the fuel for reaching your financial life goals. Manatee County Government Employees are eligible for a discounted rate for financial coaching, and can learn from Shane at a variety of financial workshops offered throughout the year - visit manateeyourchoice.com/financial for more information.
