Fun Ways to Trim the Family Entertainment Budget

Summer is the time for everyone in the family to take a breather from their normal hectic schedule. As relaxing as it is, it also leaves many hours to be filled. Movies, amusement parks and restaurant meals can quickly bust the family entertainment budget. Here are some fun ways to keep that budget in check, while also keeping everyone entertained.

Backyard Camping. You don't need to spend money on gas and campground fees to enjoy a family camp out. Set up those tents in the backyard, light the fire pit and settle in for an evening of ghost stories and roasting marshmallows. Begin your "trip" right after dinner and enforce a rule of only going in the house to visit the bathroom. Set up a scavenger hunt in the yard and play card games in the tent. Enjoy this simple and enjoyable activity once or twice during the summer and your family will scarcely miss the yearly trip to the campground.

Pool the Neighborhood Talents. Have a friend on the block who loves to knit or crochet? Is there another one who is a whiz at photography or wreath making? Set up a rotating schedule where everyone shares their skills and talents with the group and introduces the younger ones to a potential new craft or hobby. Not only is this a great opportunity to try your hand at a new pastime, it is a also a very inexpensive way to gather with friends once a week.

Yard Sale or Toy Swap. Have an overabundance of video games, dolls, movies or paperback books? Weed out the ones your family has already enjoyed and sell them at a yard sale. Use the proceeds to stock up on new entertainment items for the year. Gather a few families at your home and invite them to bring a bag of unused and unneeded toys and games. Lay out all the treasures on your dining room table and allow the kids to choose one "new" item for one they give up. This is a fun and quick way to rid your home of items your family no longer gets any pleasure from, but will surely delight others.

Cut the Cable. Many families choose to turn off their cable television service for the summer. While this may not seem like a very fun way to cut costs, there is great opportunity here to increase the family fun time. Be creative with the afternoons and evenings that are not wasted on mindless television. Learn a new skill such as sewing or knitting. Indulge in a family craft time and create wonderful scrapbooks from vacation photographs. Take a nature walk every day and delight in the birds, rocks and flowers you come upon. Play board games and put together puzzles. Read books aloud and discuss them. Break out the old vinyl records and reminisce together. Use the time that would normally spent gathered in front of the television to enjoy a new hobby or rediscover an old one.

Think "Used" Not "New" Looking for a pool, bicycle, sporting equipment, camping necessities or beach toys? If you have always purchased these items brand new, you may be surprised at how much you can save, without sacrificing quality by buying gently used pieces for entertainment. Scour the newspapers, online auction sites and notices in grocery stores. Visit thrift or consignment shops in your area to see what items you can purchase for a song to entertain your family. In addition to larger pieces, you can also save a bundle on video games,movies and books. Look past the minor dings, dents and scratches and enjoy the savings while the kids have a blast.

Embrace Twilight Hours. Most amusement parks, museums and recreation centers offer a discounted admission price in the late afternoon and early evening. The added bonus to visiting these facilities after the main part of the day is the thinned out crowds. You may need to hustle a bit to see all the attractions before closing time, but the financial savings can often be well worth it.