16 Ways to Save Money and Still Have Fun
Keeping a budget and having fun don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Here’s some tips on ways to save money while having fun, for everyone in your family.
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Having fun can get expensive, which is why so many dread trying to keep a budget – if you’re low on cash, fun and entertainment are likely to get cut out of your budget first.
Although that may seem like a wise choice, it may backfire in the end.
Why?
Think of it as a restrictive diet – You may keep it up for a little while, but in the end, you’ll end up binge eating your way to an even higher weight.
In the case of your budget,
If you don’t leave any room for fun and for doing the things that make your life worth living to you, you’ll end up giving up.
So I compiled a series of tips and ideas for everyone in your family so you can factor in loads of entertainment into your life, without blowing off your budget.
By the way, if you want to get more money saving tips delivered to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter! As a way to say thank you, I’ll also send you my Free Quick Start Guide to Budgeting. Get your copy here!
For the Parents
When it comes to having fun with the kiddos, it can get expensive quickly – especially if you have a numerous bunch!
Here’s some ideas to save money with the brood, while still having a blast.
Use Coupon Books
In many school districts, when kids get good grades, they get a coupon book or other incentive for discounts in the area.
Not an option in your area?
Check out the local parenting magazine or search for a kid’s fun pass for your area.
Many locations offer a coupon book that you can purchase for a small price ($13 in my region) and gives you free or discounted kids tickets to various local attractions.
- If you’re in the New Hampshire/MA area, check out The Fun Pass
- If you’re in the South Florida area, learn more about the Kid’s Fun Pass
- For other major cities like Boston, Chicago, LA, Washington or NYC, check out the Kidpass
Get Seasonal Passes
If there’s a particular museum, zoo, or other venue that your kids really like, consider getting seasonal, or annual passes for it.
Keep in mind though that this will only save you money if you find yourself visiting the place multiple times per season or year.
Since I live in Florida, for example, I normally go to the Orlando parks several times a year.
I used to spend a fortune on park tickets, until I realized that an annual pass pays for itself within the same, or less, number of visits per year than I normally make.
I always wait until they have some kind of sale, or I call their customer service department when my pass is about to expire and I check out what deals they can offer me.
Try a City Card
If you live in a major metropolitan area, there’s probably a Go City Card or a CityPass for your area.
These cards allow you to bundle your favorite attractions for one low price.
These cards are especially useful when you’re traveling and visiting a city for a limited amount of time, but they also work great during the summer or spring break if they’re offered in your local area.
Use Groupon
If you’re not making use of Groupon for outings with the kids, you’re missing out!
I often buy a multi-visit package to the local indoor inflatable park or a similar venue for my son.
I end up paying a fraction of the price and he gets to have several fun-filled afternoons.
However, make sure to read the fine print!
Make note of expiration dates and other restrictions, such as times or days the discounts can be used or if you need to bring a certain number of children.
Make Use of Free Resources in Your Area
Many times when we think about entertainment, we completely forget about the free resources that are at our disposal all around us.
Here’s some ideas to find the best deals:
Check out the local library, park, community center, and even the local supermarket!
They often have free or extremely discounted classes, book clubs, activities, and opportunities to socialize.
In my area, the local supermarket offers cooking classes and tasting events for nearly free.
One of my favorite resources is the local library. They often have workshops and other free events on the weekends that are informational, and fun!
Grab the kids or a couple of friends and have an awesome time learning something new for free.
For the Movie Buffs
Love going to the movies but hate overpriced popcorn? I’m right there with you.
Growing up, my dad and I used to go to the movies every Saturday at 2 pm.
It was our tradition, and I continue to share my love for movies with my kid even to this day.
While movie outings can cost an arm and a leg, here’s some tips so you don’t have to pay full price for that movie ticket!
Go on Discounted Days
Most movie theaters offer discounted movie tickets on a certain day of the week.
Instead of going on peak times, you could save a ton of money by going on a Tuesday for example, since the theaters will also often offer specials on the food during those days.
Go to an Early Showing
Matinee discounts can add up quickly, especially if you have a large family. Plan to go early, usually before 3 pm, and save some serious cash.
Get Ticket Books
If you plan on using 10 movie tickets during the year, and you normally visit the same theater chain, consider getting a multiple ticket book from the theater’s website directly, or from Sam’s Club, if you have a membership.
They normally come out at about $8 or so per ticket for a regular ticket, or a little more for a premier ticket which includes concessions or allows you to see a movie during the first couple of days after it’s released.
For the Foodies
If you love eating great food, and saving money, here’s some ideas to have your cake and eat it too.
Sign up for Rewards
Is there a particular restaurant you visit regularly? Inquire about any rewards program they may have.
Many restaurants offer a variety of perks just for signing up to their email list or rewards program.
Check out this article from Spoon University for a list of 21 restaurants nationwide that offer rewards programs.
Use Credit Card Points
Make use of any credit card that rewards you for eating out.
However, I only recommend doing this if you already have such a card and you’ve already worked out the cost of the dinner into your budget and your credit card payment the following month.
In other words, adding to your debt just for the sake of using reward points is not a good idea!
Get Restaurant.com Gift Cards
Restaurant.com has an extensive network of local restaurants around the country, and you can normally get about twice as much value as the price you pay (You can get a $25 gift card to most restaurants for only $10).
On a side note, gift cards to Restaurant.com are a great way to beef up a frugal gift at a great price.
I once got all my coworkers a nice decorated Christmas mug from the dollar store but included a $25 Restaurant.com gift card to each.
They each got a $25 value but it only cost me $11 per person, including the mugs.
Take Advantage of Kids Eat Free Programs
Bringing the kids along? Be sure to ask the local restaurants if they offer any discounts for the children. Many restaurants offer free kids’ meals on specific days of the week. My favorite? Denny’s Kids Eat Free Tuesdays.
Use Discounted Gift Cards
Raise.com is a highly rated gift card exchange site that offers gift cards at significant discounts.
Just be sure to read the fine print for any restrictions on how you can use the card, and check the card balance within the 1 year warranty they offer, that way, in the rare case there’s an issue, you’re still covered by their one-year warranty.
Related Posts
Helpful Hints to Save Money When Dining Out
12 Ways to Travel With the Family Without Going Broke
Money Saving Secrets Theme Parks Don’t Want You to Know
For the Traveler or Thrill-Seeker
Have a couple of days off? Make them count without breaking the wallet with these money-saving ideas!
Discounted Experiences
See the world or have the adventure of a lifetime on a dime by getting discounted adventures through Viator.
Some of the amazing discounted experiences I’ve found through Viator include kayaking and a helicopter tour.
They were memorable experiences that I was able to get on a dime.
To book your tour, visit them here.
Try a Staycation
If a vacation to a far locale is out of your price range at the moment, try a staycation.
Here’s how my son and I go “all out” on our staycations:
- We pick a location about one hour away from home by car and play our “road trip” playlist on Spotify – a curated list of songs we normally enjoy on long trips.
- We get a Groupon or discounted tickets to see a new local attraction. It can be a local zoo, museum or beach that we’ve never visited before.
- We follow our road trip routine. Every time my son and I take a road trip to Orlando (side note: Our favorite place on earth! I seriously should consider moving there) we have a routine – we get up early and have breakfast at Dunkin’ Donuts before we head out, and we stop at a service plaza on the Turnpike to get a snack. We follow this same routine even when we’re on a staycation, complete with a stop at the local Turnpike service plaza, if available.
Some of the best trips my son and I have taken have been to cities close to home to watch the sunrise or just sit by the ocean.
These activities don’t cost a thing, but they make lasting memories.
Out of all the theme parks and other attractions we’ve visited over the years, the free trips are the ones my son remembers the most.
When you factor entertainment into your budget, remember that it’s not the amount of money you’re spending that matters, as much as the quality of time you get to spend with your loved ones.
Life is short – make the best of it!
What is the best way you save on entertainment? Share in the comments below!
