Last modified: Friday, June 5, 2009 1:23 AM EDT Save money but have fun this summer BY CARMEN VIGNONI ATTLEBORO HIGH SCHOOL Graduation is tonight and the question at hand is: What do I do with my summer before college? The answer is: Balance work with having fun. Try to work and save as much money as possible to buy items needed for college and to help pay for tuition. However, the downside to this is finding a job is in these hard economic times. Some opportunities for a new job may appear in the local newspaper. Also, look at any places being built or renovated. For instance, Wal-Mart is remodeling and is hiring. Also, some businesses try and save money by not advertising they are hiring, but instead post job opportunities on their doors. More importantly, though, have some fun. There are several things that can make a summer fun and eventful. Spend time with friends whom you may not see again once college starts. Plan day trips to places you've never visited. Go to as many concerts as is affordable. There are several good artists playing at the Comcast Center in Mansfield, and in Providence and Boston. Movies on a rainy day are always a safe bet. Dave and Buster's, the adult version of Chuck E Cheese, at the Providence Place mall is good for another rainy day. One sure-fire choice is going to the beach. Scarborough, in Narragansett, R.I., is always a popular destination. Another fun thing to do is back-to-school shopping. Whether it is clothes, electronics, or dorm necessities, shopping is always enjoyable. Go on that last family vacation if your family goes on an annual one. Amusement parks are always fun. Some semi-local ones are Six Flags, Canobie Lake, and Water Country. Also, make sure you go to all the carnivals in the area, because there is nothing like a good carnival. Playing video games is always fun when there is nothing to do. There is a new paintball place in Plainville if you're feeling adventurous. They are only open on Saturday and Sunday. There are plenty of things to do to make this last "free" summer memorable. The most important and obvious is to spend some time with your family, because once the fall comes, time together will be limited.