If you were born before 1990, you might fondly remember the low-tech vibes of a simple ’90s Canadian summer.
An early evening swim at the community pool. Weekend picnics in the park with sandwiches you made at home. Quick trips to the video rental store for a summer movie night in the basement, especially if you didn't have air conditioning.
Hangouts on your front porch as you worked your way through a box of popsicles, waiting for the radio DJ to finally play the song you want to add to your mixed tape.
The vibes were fun, easy, and best of all, naturally low-budget.
Canadians are feeling the pinch when it comes to spending this summer. According to results of a new TD survey, 35% of Canadian respondents plan to spend less this summer. Among those who are cutting back, 44% said high fuel costs are influencing that decision.
Of the Canadians surveyed who plan to travel this summer, 76% said they intend to stay within Canada, with 55% planning to explore their own province.
Even with budgets top of mind, Canadians are getting creative and finding ways to save their summers. In the survey, 36% of respondents said they plan to spend on low-cost alternatives, including DIY options or second-hand items.
Seventy-nine per cent of respondents said they plan to support local or Canadian businesses this summer, with 48% saying that it’s a stronger priority than last summer.
When scrolling, social media can make it seem like everyone’s having a #EuroSummer. And Gen Z might be especially susceptible to screen-induced FOMO. More than a third of Gen Z survey respondents said social pressures influence their spending, more than double the national average.
"Social media is tricky because it can convince us we’re missing out on dozens of experiences,” said Jeet Dhillon, Senior Portfolio Manager, TD Wealth.
“But you can budget and get clear on your priorities and still have a summer that doesn’t derail your financial plans.”
Here are 11 ways to have a nostalgic, budget-friendly summer inspired by the ’90s:
Plan a road trip in your home province
Ana Caracaleanu, who runs an after-school academic program for kids in Toronto, plans to take her 10-year-old daughter to Ottawa.
“She’s learning a lot about Canadian geography and history, so we thought it would be the perfect time to take her to the capital,” said Caracaleanu.
The family drives an electric vehicle, so she hopes the actual cost of making the five-hour drive will be relatively low.
When they get to Ottawa area, Caracaleanu’s family will be taking advantage of the Canada Strong Pass to get free admission for their daughter to the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau.
The Canada Strong pass is a temporary federal government initiative that gives Canadians access to some museums, parks, camping, and other experiences for free or a reduced price.
Plant a container garden
Tending some plant babies on your balcony or your front stoop can be a fun and affordable way to add joy to your life this summer. Start small with a few low-cost pots, recycled containers, or items you already have, like buckets or jars with drainage holes on the bottom.
If it’s your first foray into gardening, consider choosing easy-to-grow plants like herbs, cherry tomatoes, or lettuce. Swapping cuttings with friends or neighbours can help stretch your budget further (and make new friends with people who garden).
Take a photo walk
All you need for a photo walk is a smartphone, a free afternoon, and maybe a friend or two. Before you head out, assign each person a colour, shape, or theme to look for, and then see how these show up in your neighbourhood.
Keep your eyes peeled for murals, flowers, storefronts, clouds, buildings.
At the end, compare your favourite shots or make a shared album. If you’ve got the extra cash and really want to pretend it’s the ’90s, buy some disposable cameras for your photo walk, get your film developed, and meet up later in the summer to see how the photos turned out.
Go thrifting
If you need a new outfit for a summer wedding or supplies for starting that balcony garden, before buying brand new, try buying second-hand first. Hit up your local second-hand stores, keep an eye out for yard sales in your neighbourhood or join “Buy Nothing” groups online where neighbours give things away for free. Part of the fun of thrifting is you won’t always know what you’ll find.
Take advantage of your library card
A library card can be your passport to summer reading... and so much more. Scan your local library’s website to find out if there are any perks available to cardholders.
Toronto Public Library cardholders, for instance, can access free passes to museums, galleries, and major attractions such as the Toronto Zoo, the Royal Ontario Museum, the aquarium, and more. Passes can go quickly, especially to popular venues, so be sure to confirm when passes become available (at press time, it’s at 2 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month).
Some other libraries offer free cooking classes (Edmonton), parking permits at provincial parks (Ottawa), classes, events, and more.
Do your own nails
“When I was about five, my mom and I painted our nails sparkly pink,” said a TD colleague in Corporate and Public Affairs.
“Later that day, we went to a local amusement park. As we were sitting on a ride, we watched as our nails shimmered in the sunlight. This simple moment became a core memory for me and one I’d love to recreate with my kids.”
Manicures are pricey, so save at the salon by doing your own nails. For an added boost, choose a colour that brings you joy — be it a simple natural nail colour, or sparkly pink. You might just create some memories in the process of sticking to your budget.
Find water at the beach, a public pool, a splashpad, or your own backyard
When it gets hot and you (or your kids) get cranky, go find some water. That could mean running through the sprinkler in your backyard, hitting up an outdoor pool or splashpad after work to escape the humidity, or heading out on the weekend to the nearest lake, river, or ocean.
Eight public outdoor pools open in Calgary over the summer. Kitsilano Pool in Vancouver is a heated 137-metre saltwater pool located next to Kitsilano Beach. Admission for two adults from the same household is $7.94 plus tax, and the pool is open until 8:30 p.m. each evening (always double check the website to confirm fees and operating hours). In the City of Toronto, leisure swim at public pools is free.
Do a search in your city or town to find public pool schedules and admission prices.
Take a hike or stroll through nature
Pack your own snacks and water and hit the trails. In Toronto, you’ll find plenty of outdoor spaces and parks where you can wander for free.
If you’re planning a day trip to Banff from Calgary to summit a mountain, see if you can carpool to save on gas, and pack lunch and snacks to avoid splurging on gas station chips or drive-through burgers.
Ride your bike
A bike ride is great exercise — and often an efficient way to get around. If you’re comfortable with it, hop on your bike to meet friends for a picnic in the park instead of taking a rideshare. In Toronto? Take your bike on the ferry over to the Toronto Islands so it’s easier to explore once you get there.
And while cruising the streets on a bike might make you feel like you’re a kid in the ’80s or ’90s again, make sure to wear a helmet because it’s 2026.
Not a bike rider? Make it your mission to use public transportation to get around, or the old heel-toe express.
Listen to free music
Free, outdoor concerts are a summertime highlight. From intimate park concerts to massive, free music festivals, outdoor music is abundant all season long. Even if you don't know any of the artists playing, use free concerts as your opportunity to explore new genres and music styles.
If a concert's popping up at a park, pack some snacks and head over with a group of friends, or spend time solo enjoying music under the sun or stars.
Spend time with the people you love
Before school ended, Caracaleanu asked her daughter to make a list of what she wanted to do over the summer. At the top of the list are two wishes, neither of which are fancy nor expensive.
“She wants to go to the splashpad with her cousin and have some churros,” Caracaleanu said. “And she wants to stay out late on a summer night with her grandma and listen to crickets.”
Families headed to Europe will undoubtedly treasure the experience, she said, but so will kids who get meaningful moments with their extended family.
“Weekends with grandma and grandpa can be as memorable as the Eiffel Tower.”
About the TD survey
This TD survey, conducted using the Leger Opinion panel, ran from April 17-27, 2026, with a nationally representative sample of 1,500 Canadian adults. The results have been weighted by age, gender, and region (and in Quebec, language) to match the population, according to Census data. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of 1,500 has an estimated margin of error (which measures sampling variability) of ±2.5%, 19 times out of 20.