Frugal Entertainment for the Whole Family

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Frugal Entertainment for the Whole Family By Fisher Swanson 

Here are some frugal entertainment ideas for the whole family.

Board Games

Board games are a great investment. If well taken care of, they
can easily last a generation. You can often find them at garage
sales for a dollar or two, even the new board games. Every
family should have some basics like cards, dominoes, chess, and
checkers.

Movie Night

Rent a movie, pop some popcorn and entertain the whole family
for a couple hours. Take turns picking out what movie to watch.
You can order DVDs or videos from the library for free.
Sometimes there is a wait but many libraries allow you to place
holds online and receive notifications when your items are
available.

Discount Movie Theatres

Most areas have at least one movie theatre that runs older
movies for cheap prices. All you have to do is wait until the
movie has been out a for a few months and it will eventually
show up at one of these theatres. Ticket prices can be even less
than a matinee and are sometimes double features. Drive-in movie
theatres can also be great bargains.

Minor League Sports

If your area has a minor league team they can be a lot of fun to
watch and much cheaper than their major league counterparts. The
minor league stars of today are often the major league stars of
tomorrow.

Playgrounds, State Parks and Local Parks

Most parks are free, especially if you are not camping. Pack a
picnic lunch or bring some barbecue. Try out different parks in
your area until you find your favorites. Bring a frisbee and a
dog!

Support the Arts

High school plays, talent shows and community theatre are
generally inexpesive and a lot of fun. You will be surprised at
how much talent there is in your community. Churches also have
plays and programs that are open to the community even if you
don't attend that church.

Watch for Free Days and Free Events

Many museums, zoos and aquariums have free days. This is often
one day per month such as the first Tuesday or last Friday.
There are a lot of museums that are fun and have areas tailored
towards kids. In art museums the ancient cultures exhibits are
often fun for kids.

Open Houses, Openings and Festivals

Sports teams often have a free open house before the season
starts. Also make note of free festivals and events in your
communities. Check your local paper and chamber of commerce for
upcoming events.

Zoo Membership

If you have kids who love to go to the zoo you should consider a
family membership. It can be a great value if you plan on going
often and have a zoo nearby. Similar memberships are available
at museums and aquariums as well.

Farmers' Market and Swap Meets

You don't have to spend much money to have a good time at your
local Farmer's Market. Most communities have them on Saturday or
Sunday every week during the Spring, Summer and early Fall. You
can buy some great vegetables for less than you pay at the
grocery market and usually there is something fun for the kids
to do.

Library and Bookstore Events

Next time you go to the bookstore or library pick up an events
calendar. They often have live music or book readings that might
interest your family.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Keep your eyes and ears
open and you will find many more opportunities to have fun with
your family without spending a lot of money.

Fisher Swanson is a regular contributer to the Daily Thrifty
Tips newsletter at ThriftyFun.com. ThriftyFun publishes
information about thrifty living. Send an email to
dailythrifty-on@thriftyfun.com to subscribe to The Daily Thrifty
Tips newsletter. http://www.thriftyfun.com 

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