Frugal Entertainment Tips

Entertainment is one of the easiest budget categories to control. Frugal entertainment options make it easy to have fun for less!

Don't pay full price at the movies. Movie theater ticket prices are getting more expensive all the time, especially with the increasing popularity of high-end features such as 3D and IMAX. Check out my frugal movie tips to see how you can enjoy Hollywood's best without having to take a second mortgage out on your house.

Identify discounts you already have. Some of the cards you're already carrying or services you're already paying for may include discounts you're not taking advantage of. AAA, for instance, offers a number of discounts on a variety of entertainment options, from restaurants to museums and more. Credit cards also sometimes send coupons to cardholders that offer a discount if a shopper uses that company's card for their purchase. Be sure to look at all that extra paper that comes with your bill - there may be some savings in there!

Use coupons. Coupons are not just for grocery shopping. Watch your local newspaper for coupons to local events and consider buying an Entertainment Book next time some kid knocks on your door selling them as a fundraiser. Coupon books give a big return if they include discounts for activities you'll be doing anyway.

Also, consider joining a social buying site, such as Groupon or LivingSocial. Social buying sites offer deals on food, activities and services if enough people purchase each deal in a specified time period. Laughing Wallet's favorite is Groupon.com, which sends you an email each day with that day's "Daily Deal" for your area. We've seen offers of 50% or more off at fun parks, horseback riding stables and other fun places.

Word of caution, though: Any time you're paying for coupons or getting lots of tempting deals delivered to your email, make sure you're actually going to use the coupons and that the deals don't just give you an excuse to spend more than you should. The goal of frugal entertainment is to help you do more with your entertainment budget, not expand the budget.

Dust off your library card. Your local library is a hub for frugal entertainment. Everyone knows you can check out books for free at the library, but did you know you can also check out books on tape, movies and music? You can also read newspapers and magazines on site, and at most libraries you can also surf the Internet, either on library-provided computers or a wifi connection for your own laptop, depending on the library. In addition, most libraries offer some type of youth programming, such as story times and puppet shows. With those kinds of resources, it's easy to stay entertained without spending a dime!

Throw a potluck party. If you'd like to host a party, but it's not in your budget to pay for food, drinks and party favors for 30, host a potluck. Set in advance what you, as the host, will provide - the main dish or all the plates, cups, etc. - then ask guests to each bring one item to share. If each guest only has to bring one large item, you will end up with more than enough for everyone at a low cost to each person.

Host a game night. Board games and cards are cheap investments that can last for years. Whether you're looking to have a family night playing G-rated games like Scrabble or you're looking for a cigars-and-beer poker night, games provide hours of frugal entertainment for a low one-time cost.

Attend non-pro sporting events. Tickets to professional sporting events can be very pricey, but those aren't the only games in towns. See if your city has any minor league or college sports with low ticket prices. And be open. Popular sports like football may still carry a big price tag, but soccer and volleyball may be affordable and just as exciting to watch. No college or semi-pro sports around? Check out some high school games. In addition to sports, schools often have low-priced cultural performances, such as plays and music performances.

Eat out smart. Restaurants can be part of frugal entertainment as long as you're mindful about how you dine out. If you're not paying attention, you can run up a substantial charge without even realizing it until the bill comes! See my frugal restaurant dining tips for some good strategies on eating out for less.

How do you have fun on a shoestring?

Do you know a thrifty way to have fun? Share your frugal entertainment tips with your fellow readers!

Frugal Movies

Frugal Dining

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