Fit in a Fun Friday – Summer Activities on the Cheap

This guest post is contributed by Jena Ellis, who writes on the topics of Online Certification Courses. She welcomes your questions and comments at her email Id: jena.ellis20@gmail.com.

Most American families are on some kind of budget these days. There’s a budget for food, gas, living expenses and especially luxury items like entertainment. But why does fun have to be sacrificed for the sake of maintaining our ever shrinking wallets? The good news is – it doesn’t! There are tons of inexpensive and even free activities to explore that will keep you and your family sane and entertained all summer long.

For a dash of culture, consider taking your family to a local museum. Many offer family discounts, periods of free admission or do not charge admission at all. In Houston, for example, both the Holocaust Museum and the renowned Menil Collection are esteemed cultural centers that do not charge an entrance fee. They are open most days of the week and often even provide you with a free tour if you’re interested. Stay as long or short as you would like while beating the heat outside and learning something new.

For a natural twist, take a drive to the beach, lake or state park. While you might spend a little to fill up the gas tank, you can save money by packing a picnic lunch and bringing your own water bottles and snacks. Also, avoid the popular, overly crowded sections of beaches and lakes that can often charge parking or entrance fees and opt instead for a more secluded section that is free and just as nice. For even more fun, bring along Frisbees, footballs or volleyballs, and challenge other family members to a friendly game. Once again, fun entertainment and great family bonding for free!

If you have a little extra money in your entertainment budget, there are many options that won’t break the bank. For example, many sports teams, both professional and amateur, are offering discounts on tickets due to poor sales and the poor economy. From package deals that include dinner and admission, to group rates and even a fireworks show, sports teams are doing more to entice more families to attend their events. Take advantage of these deals and you’ll be the one that scores big with your family or friends. Other places are also offering discounts on their tickets for the same reasons, poor sales and the state of the economy. Many theatres and performing arts centers are offering patrons half priced tickets for matinees and other less popular show times. The production value is still of high quality, but attending a play at 2 pm on a Sunday, rather than 7pm on Friday evening can save you a bundle.

If you like the movies search your local paper for a selection of discount theatres. While the movies they show are several weeks away from being brand new, they can provide you with a chance to catch a flick you meant to watch but missed and for a lot less money. Many discount theatres offer dollar days or half prices on matinees and even senior and student discounts on already inexpensive tickets. With such cheap tickets you can even splurge for the soda and bag of popcorn.

So get creative with your family’s summer activities. Just because you’re living on a budget doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the fun. Get out and about while saving money and be proud of yourself for accomplishing both at the same time!

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