International Cinema Festival of India

It’s the first expenditure that is cut from every budget when trying to save money. Entertainment. It’s a small pleasure, a light luxury, but makes life worth living. Thankfully it is absolutely possible to have frugal fun, and trimming entertainment expenses doesn’t have to mean an automatic renunciation of a social life. There are so many fun free things to do and enjoy. If thinking about how to save money on entertainment, the tips below can help you secure a substantial savings yet still ensure you enjoy a good time.

Take advantage of your local library. The library is full of entertainment resources that are absolutely free to cardholders. Instead of purchasing books, magazines, dvds and cds, why not just borrow them instead?

Trade movies with friends. Organize movie nights at your house and trade flicks with pals. A social night and movie swap will save you having to rent or buy new films and is still a good (and free) way to spend a night with friends.

Buy cheaper show tickets. Ticket prices for plays, performances, live theater, operas and movies tend to be much more expensive the weekend and during the evening, so avoid those periods. If you simply cannot resist viewing live entertainment, try and buy matinee, preview or dress rehearsal tickets to save on the spectacle.

Host dinner parties and potlucks. If you’re used to going out for dinner with friends, host dinner parties at your place and have everyone bring something or cook together as a group. Not only will you improve your cooking skills and learn excellent homemade recipes, but you can still mingle and sample various foods for a fraction of the cost. The ambiance is potentially far more informal and fun than a restaurant.

Get craftsy. Arts and crafts are excellent entertaining options to explore, and many local community centres offer free crafts shows or lessons. If you have children, take up a craft or form of art together and make it a bonding experience.

Play sports and take advantage of local parks, beaches, campsites and nature. Natural environments, full of fun options are still free or nominally priced. Kick around a ball, go for a hike and camp and relax at the beach and enjoy the great outdoors.

Check out free cultural events or special festivals in your town. In both summer and winter, municipalities often offer free shows or special events of some sort. Your next ticket to free concerts, fairs and workshops and exhibits could be free and just around the corner.

Play board games. Games in general are very entertaining and many dollars are dropped at the arcade. While video games are fun, why not rediscover the endless fun and competition of classic board games?

Go for dinner or drinks or dessert but not all three. Eating at restaurants is fun and entertaining, but not exactly economical. If you can’t resist eating out, curb the urge to do all three in one sitting. One night go for a drink but eat at home, or splurge on coffee and cake later in the day but skip the alcohol. If you decide to eat out at an establishment, opt for a lunch instead of dinner and weekday instead of weekend to save a few dollars.

Register for discount cards and loyalty programs. Lots of entertainment venues offer discount programs so you can redeem your points for a free admission. Pool halls, cinemas, amusement parks, theatres, tours and bowling alleys usually have some kind of discount and collector program available.

Sign up for email notifications and look for coupons on line. Your local bowling alley, bars, restaurants, tours, arcades, cinemas and amusement parks may offer special coupons online or email alerts about bonus savings night, so have savings emailed right to your inbox for cheap fun.

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