Entertainment On A Budget
Entertainment is what you make it, Some of us need less of it than others, and everyone has their own idea of what it is. But being on a budget doesn’t mean you have to accept less entertainment and leisure activities, just redefine what it is.
Some Questions to Ask Yourself
- How much entertainment do you need in your life? Do you need to do something every night, once a week, once a month? That “something” means besides watching television.
- Are you solo, a couple, or a family? Finding free or inexpensive family outings might take a bit more effort.
- Do you need entertainment outside the house, or can it be at home? It’s easier to find free things to do at home, though if you have kids, that might be boring for them. If you go out, though, the temptation to spend something is greater.
- Will others be involved? E.g., get togethers.
- Do you have an entertainment budget? More importantly, can you stick to it?
Some Suggestions
1. Have friendly nights in. Get together with a few friends and share the cost of a party or movie night. Rotate the host, unless there’s some reason to keep location constant.
Since alcohol is significantly marked up at clubs and bars, drinking at home is of course far easier on the budget. Some clubs even charge an entry fee on certain nights, so you’re saving that as well.
If you’re not fussy, rewatch old DVDs (or VHS tapes, if you have them and a functioning player). If everyone has seen what you have, turn it into a game to see who remembers the dialogue. Or watch what’s on TV. Not very exciting for some, but there are classic movie channels, and the Golden Age of movies truly had some of the best stories.
2. Use the Internet. If you’re reading this, you probably have Internet access. So don’t forget websites such as YouTube.com, Pandora.com (U.S. only), Last.fm, MusicMesh.net and many others that let you listen to free music or watch free videos. Last we checked on Facebook, one guy was wiring his house to have Last.fm-piped music all over.
3. Re-read old books. Or that stack of books you purchased at a garage sale. Good books can actually be enjoyed over and over. If you don’t like what you’ve got, use a site like BookMooch or Read It Swap It (UK). Or go to the library for books you haven’t read. There are also DVDs and CDs at many libraries. You might even find a few computers with Internet access, in case you don’t have that.
4. Check for free events. Most towns and cities have some free events, as do local colleges. Check the free weekly and student papers. Art and photo galleries are typically free, and museums sometimes have a free or discounted period. Open mic nights are common on weekends, at otherwise quiet little cafes.
5. Enjoy nature. Go sightseeing locally, either on foot or cycle. If you have a camera, take some pics. (If they’re really good, you might consider selling your stock photography.) Go with a significant other, or the family, and have a picnic. Or if you feel the need to get really adventurous, and you’re really brave (or just nuts?), take up Parkour, Craning, or a lot of other adrenaline junkie stunts. Just don’t say we didn’t warn you about how incredibly dangerous these activities are: they’re extremely dangerous.
This week’s new discount codes:
We are Kathryn and Captain Frugal two money saving fanatics. Kathryn is a freelance writer living in San Francisco which means that she's had to work hard to maintain a frugal budget. Captain Frugal learned from a young age that a penny saved is a penny earned, he's made it his life's mission to beat "the system" a few cents at a time. "Living the high life is easy!" say's captian frugal, "all you need is a little creativity, to improve your lifestyle and still save money!
