# How to save money on having fun

## Hobbies and pastimes

Don't kill time at the mall or a shopping center to avoid the temptation to buy something.

Cancel subscriptions and memberships:

- Get rid of cable TV and switch to watching free videos.
- Stop subscribing to magazines and newspapers and use the Internet.
- If you can't find what you want online, visit your local library or use apps to "check out" library items.
- If you must subscribe to a magazine, pull the discount cards out from waiting room or library copies.
- If you want to keep a subscription, research current specials and negotiate the advertised rate
  - If they refuse, politely reason that you can leave and come back to get the discount.
  - If the rate climbs after a grace period, offer to renew if you can get the prior year's rate.
  - Many times competitors give big discounts for switching over.

Cancel your gym membership:

- Get home workout equipment.
- Make workout equipment with a duffel bag, contractor's bags, truckers' bungees, and pea gravel.
- Make an obstacle course with rocks, ropes, and other common household objects.

## Learning

Learn a new language or create one.

Find new recipes or [become a better cook](cooking.md).

Get better at chess.

Grow a garden.

Take online courses affordably or free.

Get textbooks online for free as PDFs instead of buying them.

Use a free office suite and editing software instead of Microsoft Office or Adobe products.

Use your local library or the internet instead of paying for classes.

## Consuming

Practice meditation.

Start blogging, writing or creating videos.

Read more online articles and free e-books.

Use the library to find books to read.

Instead of buying audiobooks on Amazon, it's cheaper to buy the Kindle book and add the audiobook to it.

Only go shopping when you're not bored, upset, lonely or unhappy

Movies & TV

- Bring an outside snack to theaters, but don't make noise from wrappers.
- Rent movies or stream them at home online.
- Theaters run free and inexpensive films during summer months.
- Avoid the discount movie bin unless it's a movie you've had on your list to buy.

## Visiting places

Organize a self-guided tour around town.

Keep your experience unplanned and wander around.

Get a tourist card for massive discounts and free offers on attractions and transportation.

If you're willing to look, your town may have many low-cost venues:

- Most cities have free concerts.
- Schools and junior theaters with affordable or free plays and productions.
- Museums and monuments often have free days and times.
- Many guided tours in large cities are free.
- Most tourist attractions post the lowest price on their website, but aren't allowed to post it elsewhere.

Parks:

- Look for free entrance days at national parks and beaches.
- Hike in a local park, since most of them are free or low price.

Swimming:

- Find a local community swimming pool to swim for free or cheap.
- Local colleges often have affordable rates for using their pools.

Look into local tourist promotions in your area.

Bowling promotions are extremely affordable.

During the holiday season, drive around and observe the Christmas lights

Many venues have discounted group rates if you can get friends involved.

## Fun with kids

Plan for the expenses and event in advance.

- Children's activities have countless expensive add-ons (e.g., amusement park food, gift shops, etc.), so thoughtfully consider what the *real* experience entails.

Many craft and hardware stores have free children's workshops

Save on childcare costs:

- Recruit the help of extended family.
- Find a college student pursuing teaching or nursing that needs work experience with children.
- Look into employer-provided childcare.
- Send the kids to day camps or overnight camps.
- Send them to sleepovers with their friends.
- Start a babysitting co-op to give freedom to you and several other sets of parents for multiple weekends of the month.
- Some gyms and theaters give free childcare while you're at the facility.

## Creating connections

Find friends who share your values about money.

Create a mastermind group to achieve your goals together.

Invite others into your low-expense lifestyle with local community events or holiday festivals.

Host affordable events with family and friends:

- Invite everyone over for tea.
- Make a movie, board game or card game night.
- Visit a bookstore and read or share experiences with each other.
- Start a neighborhood block party.
- Have video game nights.
- Hold Scrabble competitions.
- Have LEGO nights with children.

When your friends or family make much more or less than you, search for activities you can both do.

- If you make less than them, boldly let them know you would rather not do something because it interferes with your financial goals.
- Try to avoid borrowing money, but if you must borrow, establish a concrete deadline and draw up a contract with an interest rate.
- If you make more than them, keep your thoughts to yourself and only loan money when you expect to lose it.

If you ever loan something to a friend and want to be certain you get it back, take a photo of them with the item when you give it to them