Save Money on Entertainment

Here's a piece from MSN Money that lists six ways to save money on entertainment expenses. Their suggestions:

• Wait to the last minute
• Seek out less-hyped venues
• Work or volunteer
• Take advantage of discount days
• Go with a group
• Use your assets

Not a bad list, but why pay anything (or much) to be entertained? Granted, we have kids and focus more on family-related fun (not shows and the like), but here's what we do:

1. Go to the park. We have a park about five blocks from our house that the kids love. And it's free.

2. Join a cheap pool. The high school in our neighborhood just opened a new indoor pool. It's beautiful, and only costs $1 for kids and $2 for adults for as much fun in the water as you can stand in one day.

3. Rent DVDs versus see the movies. A trip to the theater now costs $30 for four of us even if we don't get anything to eat/drink. For that price, we can (and do) rent several DVDs. Ok, so we don't see it on the "big screen," but the "big screen" is way over-priced. Besides, I like to recline on the couch during a movie and when I last checked my theater didn't have couches. :-)

4. Play games. Our family likes to shoot baskets, ride bikes, play catch (football, baseball) and so on. Not only is it free (once you have the equipment, of course) but we get exercise to boot.

5. Complete puzzles. My wife can get 500-piece puzzles for 50 cents at the local thrift store. It takes us several days to complete one, but as we all enjoy working on it together, it's a fun family time.

6. Read a book. We often get books from the library and I read them to the entire family (usually after I'm done eating dinner and the kids are still working on theirs.) It's like seeing a movie only better -- since I throw in some made-up stuff every once in awhile to see if they are paying attention. :-)

What do you do to save money on entertainment costs?

Comments

[Rick]

Take advantage of free days at the museums.