Day 28: Make Entertainment Affordable

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This post is part of the 31 Days to Radically Reduce Your Expenses series. Visit this page for even more ways to slash costs and eliminate unnecessary spending! 

Don't miss these 7 ways to save money on entertainment costs, including how to afford those special outings!

Even though I am very much a homebody, I still enjoy the chance to “get away” and focus on something other than work or the never-ending laundry pile. Visits to the beach, long bike rides, nights out at the movies, and days spent at county fairs or shopping 5th Avenue in Naples are stress-relievers for me, and if I’m being really honest, I need those little refreshers so I can be productive in all the other areas of my life!

But who has the money to take a special jaunt each weekend? Not us! And so, we work extra hard to save up towards the things we do want to fit into our entertainment schedule and budget. This means looking at alternative options to afford special outings, as well as finding creative ways to entertain ourselves at home.

If you need a few ways to save money on entertainment too, these 7 ideas are a great place to start!

How to Make Entertainment Affordable:

1. Decide What’s Most Important to You  – When you go out as a family, what do you enjoy doing most? Is it traveling to different places, seeing a movie, or spending the day at a nearby theme park? Unfortunately, we can’t do everything, so determine what is a priority for your family, and put most, if not all, of your Entertainment budget towards that. You do have an Entertainment budget, right? If not, you need to start.

2. Use Reward Programs – One of the reasons I love Kellogg’s family rewards {and not just for the free $5 Starbucks gift cards I get every few months!}, is because you can “unlock” extra savings. I’ve been able to save us 50% on zoo fees and other local attractions, and my latest score was a free movie ticket. Regal Theaters also has a loyalty card that collects points toward free popcorn or a movie.

3. Take Advantage of Coupons and Member Discounts – No matter the attraction, check each businesses’ website or Facebook page for coupons. Joseph and I recently saved $2.00 on an entrance free to a local pumpkin festival just by showing a photo of their Facebook promotion on our phones when we arrived! Likewise, if you’re a student, teacher, military member, or belong to AAA or AARP, ask if there is a discount off ticket prices or entrance fees just for showing your card.

4. Consider an Annual Family Pass – If you live close enough to a theme park, you might benefit more from purchasing an annual pass, especially if you have kids and would like to visit at least twice a year. Last time we were at Busch Gardens, a day pass was $90….a person! Annual passes are much more cost-effective, and become even cheaper the more you visit.

5. Check the Community Calendar for Free Events – Don’t forget about all the free events available in your community. Check your town website {or the surrounding areas} for the community calendar and put a few activities on your list to do as a family. Many are free, but the ones that do cost are sometimes only a few dollars a piece. And don’t forget to visit your local library for even more fun and savings!

6. Take Your Own Food – Many attractions offer food stands, venders, and all sorts of concessions peddling the latest and greatest greasy food. While I think it’s okay to splurge on outside meals if you’ve budgeted for them, we prefer to save by packing our own sandwiches and snacks. The price of food at these places are almost double what they cost at regular fast food chains, and I don’t know about you, but I have a really hard time paying for them when I know there is a cheaper alternative!

7. Make it a Night to Remember at Home – Just because the word entertainment automatically makes you think of a day or night out, it doesn’t have to be that way. Play a family board game, do a puzzle together, or watch a rented movie and pop homemade popcorn on the stove. Have a cookout in your backyard, or a fun picnic on the living room floor. The possibilities are endless if you take the time to be creative!

Today’s Challenge:

Check your community calendar for a budget-friendly activity and schedule in some extra time together as a family. Prepare some sandwiches and snacks before hand to take with you, and if there is an entrance fee, don’t forget to check Facebook for a coupon! Share with me a picture of your special day on Instagram or Facebook using the hashtag #ReduceYourExpenses!

{Go to Day 29: Reduce Everyday Household Spending}

If monthly payments are taking control of your budget, you don't want to miss this 31 Days Series to Radically Reduce Your Expenses.

Don't miss these 7 ways to save money on entertainment costs, including how to afford those special outings!

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6 Comments

  1. I like sitting down once a month or so to put interesting community events in a calendar. If I make sure to go to the affordable events, I satisfy that social itch.If you wing it, there’s not always something affordable to do when I really get restless.

  2. Great tips! I know we always check for coupons on FB pages or websites before we go anywhere. And often places have loyalty programs, so we support those places over ones that don’t (like our local movie theater). I’ll be pinning this for myself and anyone else who needs some great ideas! Thanks for sharing!

  3. Great tips! I found out last year that outside food is allowed at the Rogers Centre (where our beloved Blue Jays play) so I’ve been bringing my own snacks. I can’t believe how many times I’ve bought in to their $7 popcorn!

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