First Person: A Painless Entertainment Budget Makeover

One of the easiest ways to trim some fat from the household budget is to tone down the cost of weekly entertainment. There is good news, though: You do not have to give up having fun in the process. Gather family or friends for a potluck board game night. Take advantage of local movie theaters that offer a discount ticket day -- generally Tuesdays. Think brunch. I love treating my family and grandchildren to Sunday brunch. No -- I am not cheap, just frugal.

Brunch is not only less expensive than dinner; the variety of food is extensive so you get more bang for your buck. The food choices are great for kids. Brunch is definitely cost-effective. Consider these other low-cost or free entertainment options to help save money on entertainment.

Pot Luck Board Game Night

You do not necessarily have to go out for a night on the town in order to have a good time. When was the last time you played a rousing game of Scrabble or Monopoly with family or friends on a Saturday night? It takes effortless planning and costs far less than meeting for drinks and dinner.

Each person attending game night can contribute something to the cause. To ensure fairness to everyone's budget, set a limit on the cost to make the potluck item. Make budget-trimming fun by challenging your game night guests to a dollar limit of say $10. Do not cringe at $10.

I can make a tempting baked ziti dish for eight, complete with garlic bread for $10. Pasta is inexpensive, and comes in an amazing variety of shapes and color. Pasta salad is a cheap potluck item that can feed a crowd. On the Web, check out some economical recipes for cheese stuffed meatloaf or corn and black bean salads. How far can you stretch that $10?

Sunday Afternoon Movie Collection at Home

If you happen to own a fabulous movie series or know a friend that does, you just saved a bundle on entertainment spending. Sunday afternoons were made for watching a movie collection with friends or family.

My all-time favorites are "The Godfather," and "Planet of the Apes." Throw in some low-cost snacks like popcorn, trail mix or salsa and warmed tortilla chips. Mulled cider works for a family gathering. Let the kids make a batch of cookies and invite their friends over for a Sunday movie day viewing of "Harry Potter" or the "Lord of the Rings" series. Locally brewed beer works for a movie day get together with friends. You can pool your money to share the snack and drinks expense equally. Just like your college days.

Weeknight Dinner and Buffet Specials

Many people go out for dinner only on weekends. However, if you want to boost your personal finances by cutting entertainment costs, you might consider doing dinner out on a weeknight. To entice customers and generate business during slow times of the week, most restaurants offer discounted specials.

I check my newspaper for just these kind of deals. Several restaurants within my area in Massachusetts have Monday and Tuesday night dinner specials. Often the cost is only 6.99 for a complete meal. You cannot beat that! Check your local newspaper for weeknight specials. You may be pleasantly surprised.

One of my preferred local restaurants offers a terrific Wednesday night buffet for $15 per person. The buffet theme changes each week, so it is always fresh. My husband and I enjoy a great meal including dessert for $30.

Dinner and a couple of drinks at the same restaurant on a Saturday night, runs us about $90. That is a difference of $60. Yikes! As you can see, a weeknight buffet is a super way to save money. Besides, a buffet is super casual and a fun atmosphere.

Free Billiards - VFW and American Legions

Many people are unaware that local VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) centers and American Legion halls welcome the public. For no cost, you can play pool there or join the old timers in a game of cards. Beer is inexpensive, too. Not only will you save a good chunk of entertainment change -- you will get lessons in history from the people who were actually a part of history. Cheap beer and history lessons. What a bargain!

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