subject: Tips On Money Saving Family Fun [print this page] There are many ways to beat the high cost of entertainment. Obviously there are the free entertainment ideas such as a picnic in the park or a day hiking your favorite trails. However, there are times you should take your family out for an evening of fun. You can have an "evening on the town" and still keep within a tight budget.
One way to have family fun is going to the movies. Regular theaters are often expensive just to get in and if you buy snacks it can get very expensive for a family on a budget.
An answer is to go to a matinee when the prices are cheaper. A better answer is to go to a second run theater if there is one in your town. Second run theaters get popular movies after they have been playing for a while. When the movie goes on its second run you can see it for half or less of the normal movie price.
Second run theaters often have better prices or even specials at the snack bar. You see the same movies that were recently popular and save a lot of money too.
Another family fun night out is going to an arcade or pizza place with arcade games. Some pizza places specialize in arcade games and family fun combined.
How about taking the family to a local sports game? Minor league, college and even high school games can be exciting and fun. The great thing is they do not cost a much as a major league sports ticket. This is even more fun if your children or friends are on the home team.
Do you bowl? You could take you family to a local bowling alley and have the time of your life for a lot less than dinner at a fancy restaurant. Most lanes have a snack bar and you can have dinner an entertainment too. As with every activity you should check when your bowling alley has specials.
Many communities have concerts in the park. Usually these are free. Just bring a blanket and your own snack foods. Some places have well known name bands and singers appear at these events. Watch your local newspaper to see when these events are planned in your area. You may have to drive to the next town for some events, but the drive may be well worth it to see one of your favorite groups for free.
Your local newspaper is a great source of events you can attend on a budget. Check the day you paper lists "local event" and see which ones would interest your family.
One inexpensive activity you might not have thought about for a long time is high school plays. If your community has plays put on a school the cost of admission is usually low and you can see some talent that one day you may see on Broadway or on the big screen. Many talented actors started out in high school.
So, use your imagination and think about what your community offers in the way of fun and exciting family activities that are free and low cost. Your family will love you for your creative answers to exciting evenings.
