Thrifty Mommy

Saving on Entertainment

by Karen on July 16th, 2008

The following is a guest post.

Summer break is almost over. Are the kids getting restless? Or maybe the better question is whether the parents are getting restless. Keeping everyone busy on a budget can be a challenge anytime of the year, but especially during the summer. Here some tips to help you save on entertainment for the rest of the summer and throughout the year!

Research.
This doesn’t have to be a lot of work. I regularly check the event calendars on our state, state parks and library websites. These are full of free and low cost events for all ages. We also get a free paper that lists quite a few events.

If there is someplace you want to go, check their website first. You can find coupons or you may find days  that are discounted or even free. For example, by checking the website I found our local art museum is free on Tuesdays and offers free kids classes on Saturday. Another museum near us is free on Thursday nights.

Sometimes the website will have deals you can’t find anywhere else. I learned of a local theater’s free movie camp (kids movies in the AM) on the web site. I haven’t seen this advertised anywhere else, not even at the theater itself.

Go early. Go late. Don’t go on the weekends!
In other words go when it is not busy. Not only is it more enjoyable, (in my opinion!) it is cheaper. Movies offer matinées, restaurants have early bird specials, some museums and amusement parks offer after 5 specials. (and with little kids do you really want to spend the whole day at the amusement park?!) We used to have a minor league ball park near where we lived. They offered lots of family specials and discounted tickets during the week to try to fill the park.

During the week you can find great deals at restaurants Does going out to eat count as entertainment? In this house it does. We love to go out to eat. During the week there are often specials where kids eat free. There is a local Italian type restaurant here that offers Two for Tuesday, buy one pasta dish and get one free. Get to know the daily specials and what days kids’ eat free at your local restaurants.

Buy the Membership.
To the museum, to the zoo or other places your family loves. The cost of a membership or season pass often is paid for in two visits. Plus many memberships can be used at other like organizations all over the country.

What I really love about memberships is we can pick up and go whenever. We do not have to plan for it in the budget or even plan to spend a full day. We can go to the museum for an hour and not feel like we are not getting our money’s worth. We can go when the budget is tight and we have no cash. By the way, memberships are great family gifts to give and receive!

Pack a lunch!
If you are not taking advantage of cheap dining as mentioned above, save yourself a ton of cash and pack enough food and drinks for the day. The food at places like the zoo or amusement parks is so over priced! At the zoo we could easily spend more than our membership cost in food and drinks for the day.

So enjoy  the rest of the summer with the kids, but keep it in your budget.by researching, going early or late and during the week, buying the membership and packing your lunch!

Thanks to Stephanie for this article!  You can find her at Stop the Ride! where she writes about living simply and frugally and reducing debt by using online earning opportunities.

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