Guidelines
For entertainment purposes, you’ll want to stay in the 5-10% of your after-tax income for entertainment purposes. Some experts state that you can go higher such as 20-30%.
This can include vacations, clothing, eating out, gifts, and entertainment. This will give you more flexibility when it comes to planning out vacations and cheap entertainment.
Creating Your Budget
Once you come up with your budget, you can start to set money aside each month from your paycheck. This is the money that you can take out after retirement, your mortgage, shopping, etc.
1. Cut Cable
Instead of paying for expensive cable subscriptions, consider having a TV antenna installation. This way you can explore different free stations in your area, and not have to worry about paying for unnecessary channels.
2. Use Happy Hours
For entertainment expenses, go to restaurants and order drinks during happy hour. They often have deals on drinks and meals for less.
3. Couponing
Before you head to the grocery store, check out the coupons for the week, and base your meals on coupons. You can find coupons for different fun events in your area, such as kayaking with your family.
Check out sites such as Groupon to find deals in your area. If you’re going on vacation, you can find deals in your vacation spot as well.
4. Libraries
Avoid spending money on DVDs, books, etc. Head to your local library where you can take out your favorite books for free.
5. Tours
If you’re traveling with your family, consider taking a tour by foot, and look up the history online about the area. This will save you on spending money on a tour.
6. Museum Passes
Groupon can also let you buy museum passes as well. They often give you discounts for different attractions when it’s a family attending it. You can also use it for a gym membership for you and your family.
7. Scavenger Hunt
Take your children to the park to keep track of your family finances. Consider packing their lunches to spend a few hours there. You can even create a scavenger hunt.
If you’re interested in creating a scavenger hunt, first decide where and when the event will be. Next, decide what type of scavenger hunt it’ll be.
For scavenger hunts at national parks, consider having the participants take pictures instead of finding items. Think about the prize that they’ll win at the end. Consider having the gift pertaining to the event, such as a barbie doll for a barbie themed scavenger hunt.
The items they can find can be items you hide, or different items in the area such as statues, park benches, flowers, etc. Keep the age group in mind as you’re planning the event.
8. Ask for Donations
Reach out to your local library and see if they have old magazines they don’t need anymore. Magazines are great for craft project ideas.
9. Download Crafts
Search online for free downloadable crafts for your family. You can also reach out to others who can be volunteers in finding free activities for you and your family.
10. Request Help
Ask your staff for assistance in planning activities. Once you plan an activity, you can have them help with different events such as making quilts, choir performances, etc.
In order to maintain your entertainment budget, consider having free musical activities instead of expensive ones. One fun game you can play is musical bingo.
Have your children sing along as they play bingo. You can find free downloadables online that you can print as well.
Another fun game is to play name that tune. Have them listen to different songs and guess the correct name of the song.
You can also have a prize at the end for the different games. If you’re short on cash, consider going to a local dollar store for inexpensive prizes.
11. Shopping
Instead of heading to the mall, consider consignment or thrift shops in your area. This is a great way to save money on a budget and teach your children the value of money.
If they’re interested in something more expensive and are old enough, tell them how they’ll need to save up by getting a part-time job. For younger children, consider having them do chores around the house and receiving money from it.
12. Gas Prices
In order to drive to different places, gas prices can wrack up fast. In order to save, consider filling up earlier in the week instead of at the end of it.
Gas prices tend to be cheaper earlier in the week. Consider buying a grocery membership at a local grocery store where you can save on gas as well.
How To Have Family Fun on a Budget
Now that you’ve explored different options for family fun on a budget, you should have a better idea of how to have fun without breaking the bank. Would you like to read more lifestyle and general content? Check out our other articles on our site today!
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