You don’t have to stop enjoying yourself just because the economy has turned sour and there’s not much money to spend. There are so many ways to have fun with less money. If you’re like most people, you likely can’t afford to spend money on restaurant meals, movies, bars and coffee shops the way you used to. Those years of frivolous spending are probably distant memories. You can go out, but the trick is to know how to satisfy your entertainment cravings without burning a hole in your pocket. Here’s how to slash entertainment costs without losing the enjoyment of life.
Movies
Life would be pretty dull without movies and it might be easy to recall when you were able to see them twice a week at a cinema, or perhaps three if you were swimming in cash. Ten years ago the tickets were not so expensive, but they are now. Instead of going at night catch an early matinee in the afternoon. You can save half the cost. Skip the sweets and popcorn because these are hugely overpriced, and in any case, none too healthy.
Books
Your tax dollars fund librairies, so take advantage of them. There’s an entire world of knowledge inside of a library and it’s free to use. Why not take the kids there and get them interested in a new subject? To cut costs even more borrow DVDs from the library instead of Blockbuster Video. If you must buy your books check out secondhand stores and garage sales.
Television
Few programs are worth watching these days. Having two-hundred channels may seem great, but you can’t watch all of these at the same time. All you really need is basic cable. You might be surprised how much you can save if you get rid of the television altogether. It might seem drastic, but if there’s an internet connection in your house you can watch your favorite shows for free on Hulu.com.
Eating Out
Sometimes you need to eat outside your home because cooking can become repetitive. But, restaurant tabs can add up fast if you’re not careful. One way to keep costs down is to choose an ethnic eatery that offers great value for little money. If you live in a big city, Asian restaurants give big portions for reasonable prices. Skip the drinks and desserts. Both of these are huge money makers for restaurants. If you’re in the mood for something sweet pick up some ice cream or chocolate candies on the way home. If you don’t feel like going out to a restaurant order some take out food. At least you won’t have to pay tips.