A dinner out, a movie on the weekend, a concert or sporting event you’ve been waiting to see, etc. We all need downtime, and special events to look forward to in our lives.
But how do we keep the fun in life when we’re on a budget?
It’s difficult to keep our finances on track and stay within our budget, especially when kids are asking to see the latest blockbuster hit at the theater or the hottest new video game. We become experts at saying no, but every so often we can say yes to their requests – if we find out how to save money on entertainment.
According to USA Today, Americans spend about $3,000 annually on entertainment. That’s roughly 4% of their budget. That’s more than I personally spend, and probably more that most single moms spend. We want to have our leisure time, and do fun activities with our kiddos, but sometimes it’s hard to find the money in the budget. And we don’t want to ALWAYS say no to our kids, or ourselves.
Here are some ideas to help save money on entertainment, and keep some fun in your budget.
Get a library card: Head off to your local library and sign up for a library card, if you don’t already have one. You can borrow books, audiobooks, games, DVDs, CDs, etc. at your local library FOR FREE! Read just two new titles each month, and you will save on buying or downloading them. You can also get free classes, find out about activities in your area, and maybe get discounted tickets to zoos, museums, and aquariums.
Ditch Your Cable Bill: Cancel the contract with your cable or satellite provider, and switch to subscription services like Netflix, HBO, and Hulu. Instead of spending and average of $80-$100 each month, you can get all three starting at just over $30 per month. Plus, you can have more control over what you and your children watch, and choose more of the programming YOU want instead of being stuck with the channels in the packages your cable provider offers.
Wholesale clubs, such as Costco and Sam’s Club, have an abundance of affordable entertainment. They sell discounted movie and theme park tickets, restaurant gift cards and more in bulk, which is helpful, especially if you’re shopping for multiple people. You’ll also find inexpensive electronics, books, movies and games.
Speaking of Costco, you can cut your Costco membership fee in half by sharing with a roommate. Members receive a free household card that they can share with another person over 18 years old who lives at the same address.
You can also share an Amazon Prime membership with another adult by creating an Amazon Household. Memberships cost $99 annually, and you can share a membership and receive access to free movie and TV streaming, Kindle books, and Amazon Prime free shipping for about $50 a year.
Check out street fairs, concerts in the park or other free happenings in your community. Some museums, zoos and aquariums that normally charge admission will host free-entry days once per month. Check your local newspaper, coffee shop or university for a list of upcoming events. Many stores also have free community newsletter/newspapers/flyers near the exit or checkout stands – keep your eyes open and you might find some great ideas to save money on entertainment.
Check into volunteering at a local sports or concert venue. You might be able to get in to see an event for free, but remember you will be taking tickets or gathering trash so you might not be able to enjoy the event to its fullest. But it might be worth checking into, if you have a venue nearby. For example, we have a minor league baseball team not too far away, and they advertise at the beginning of their season for concession stand workers, ticket takers, groundskeepers, etc.
You may qualify for discounts that you aren’t aware of at movie theaters, theme parks, state/national parks, or restaurants. Ask about possible discounts when you make your purchases to save money on entertainment. Here are some examples of possible discounts:
- Military discount
- AARP
- AAA
- Student discounts
- Senior discounts
Buy things like televisions, video game consoles, video games, movies, tablets, and computers secondhand. Check out WalMart and Best Buy for refurbished items. Also, check into secondhand stores for movies, music, games, etc. We have an FYE nearby, and often shop there to find movies and music. It’s also a great place to take games, movies, and music that you no longer use to get a store credit. My daughter has taken DVDs and CDs that she no longer watches/listens to and then has been able to pick out new (to her) movies and music. It’s a great way to declutter and update your movie collection!
Some restaurants have loyalty clubs you can join for free. Red Robin has their “Reb Robin Royalty” program, which offers specials and free burgers from time to time. You can get a free burger on your birthday, and your child gets a free burger on their birthday. And for every 10 entrees you purchase you get one free. Sign up to get emails from IHOP and you can get free pancakes on your birthday, and your child gets free pancakes on their birthday. Several other restaurants have similar programs, so check in to joining them to get some free food.
Go on off days to get lower admission prices. Going to a movie during the week, or at an earlier time, may save you some money, as opposed to going on the typical Friday or Saturday night.
If you live near a state or national park, check into getting an annual pass. We live near a state park, and have purchased an annual pass for the past several years so we can take advantage of the great hiking and outdoor events at the park.
Organize a potluck dinner. Invite neighbors, organize a block party, organize a movie night or game night. Look at your circle of friends and see if there are people with children similar in age to your own, and see if they want to get together.
Consider forming a Single Mom Support Group. This is a great way to pool resources and find others with whom you can connect and share expenses.
What are some of your ideas to save money on entertainment? Add them to the comments below, and tell us what activities you save money on.
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Joan Merrell is a solo mom to two daughters, a widow, and a security technician at Oregon State Hospital. Oregon native, farm girl and 4H leader, maker of homemade bread and chocolate chip cookies, she balances (more or less) full-time work with caring for a home filled with a teenage daughter, 2 entitled cats, and a hyper German Shepherd. She enjoys gardening and hiking, reading Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti novels, and searches for a few spare minutes to communicate with her grown daughter and son-in-law on her Marco Polo app. Find out more about Joan here.