Great Ideas for Families on a Budget

I'm not going to waste your time by writing an extravagant introduction for this article. The reason you are reading this is to find some suggestions on how you and your family can have fun without spending a fortune. So, I'll get right to it.

Below is a list of different ways you can have fun as a family. They are divided into categories and I have included cost estimates for most of the ideas.

Movies

Rent from Red Box or Movie Cube instead of movie rental stores. The movies only cost $1 a day and have new releases every Tuesday. Grab a box of popcorn for about $3 and you have a fun evening for the family for less than $5. Go to the Red Box or Move Cube sites for locations in your area.

Wait to go see movies until they come to the Discount movie theatre. The movies can cost anywhere from $0.50 to $2.50. That's a lot cheaper than paying nearly $10 a ticket at a normal theatre.

Check out movies from your local library. It doesn't cost anything and you usually get to keep them for about one or two weeks.

Games

Check your local Goodwill store for board games. Sometimes you can find games that are in good condition and cost 80 % less than buying new. I purchased the game of Scattergories from the Goodwill, it had all of the pieces, was in great condition, and best of all only cost me $1.50. Board games are a great way to have fun with our families and friends without spending a lot.

Local Festivals, Fun, and Events

Check your city's website for fun and inexpensive events. The city I live in recently hosted a free art festival. It also does community trips each month. Everyone rides in a bus or shuttle and splits the cost of fuel. They visit places like the Wax museum, the beach, and festivals. Find out if your community hosts trips and events like these. It's a great way to have fun, get to know people, and it costs less than a normal trip to the same places.

Indoor pools can be a great way to have a good time without spending a fortune. They're great year round because their sheltered and the water is heated. I used to go with my boyfriend, and nieces and nephews to the pool every Sunday. It cost us $1.50 a person and we could swim as long as the pool was open.

Dining Out

Check the ads in your local newspaper and the ones that come in your mailbox. I recently got a coupon for a buy one get one free meal and another for 20 % off the entire guest ticket.

You may also consider signing up for a free account with couponmom.com or eversave.com. Occasionally I'll get offers for $25 - $50 restaurant gift cards, but only have to pay $4 - $10 for them.

If you have kids you can save money when dining out by going to 'Google maps' and typing "Kids Eat free," followed by the name of your city and state, into the search field. I did this and it brought up four pages of results with restaurants that offer 'Kids Eat Free' deals. Try to eat out only on the days or during the hours that these specials are running.

As you can see, it is possible to have fun with the family without spending too much. I hope that you found these suggestions helpful and that you'll be able to make use of them with your family.