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Having Fun Without Spending a Fortune

Saving money on entertainment doesn't mean you have to go to bed early every night. You can really save money and still have a good time.

After a hard day at work, everyone needs some down time, but be careful about spending your money on the extras. Check out the ideas below for ways to cut back:

• Go to high school sporting events
• Your local high school would love to have you in the stands cheering the team to victory. You get to support the kids in your neighborhood, and you'll be able to do it for a couple of dollars or even for free.
• Rent movies instead of going to the theater
• Going to the movies can cost a small fortune if you figure in the cost of popcorn and sodas for your entire family. Why not rent a new release or your favorite comedy and enjoy it in the comfort of your own home? You might even invite your friends to watch with you. Ask them to pick up sodas on the way, and you'll save even more money.
• Cancel pay channels on your cable service
• Basic cable is expensive enough without adding on special features, like movie channels. Do you really watch all those channels anyway?
• Check out the library
• Reading books is a common way to spend free time, but buying books can get very costly. Why not read for free at your public library?
• Cancel subscriptions to magazines, book clubs, and music clubs
• Subscriptions and clubs look great because you get such a good deal at first. It's not uncommon to have a magazine subscription and never have time to read the magazine. If you regularly buy club items, you're spending much more money than you would if you occasionally bought a book or cassette. You'll also save on the shipping and handling fees if you cancel.
• Host potluck dinner parties at home
• Inviting your friends for a potluck dinner means you only have to shop for and prepare one item. Everyone brings a dish, and everyone gets a full meal. You don't even have to leave a tip.
• Use a free Internet Service Provider (ISP)
• Some Internet providers charge you as much as $19.95 a month just for the privilege of getting online. That'll cost you over $200 a year. Did you know you could have this service for free?

Finding other ways you can save money will help you gain control of your finances. Remember, just practicing some of these ideas occasionally will help you save money. For further information about managing expenses, see related articles listed in our Library.