We love our families. We love spending time together. But why does it seem that everything is so daggone expensive?! Shouldn’t it be easier to get in quality time? Shouldn’t there be a more affordable way to enjoy each other without dropping a $50 bill at the movie theater? Of course it should. That’s exactly why I wanted to share five of my favorite ideas for a frugal family night.
Movie Night: Of course it’s fun to catch a flick as a family. From blockbusters to cartoon characters, everyone enjoys the magic of Hollywood. But even if you go during matinee hours when the ticket price is cheaper, it’s easy to rack up a big bill quicker than you can say “extra butter.” Think outside of the cineplex box. Stay in, pop some popcorn on the stove, and watch a favorite old DVD or stream Netflix or Amazon. Or perhaps hit the library for a free rental. If you have a few extra dollars you, you might consider a Redbox rental. I use insideredbox to find the best codes to save. If you do choose to head to the actual theater, see if you have a discount theater. Indianapolis two Cinemark theaters that are a little more than a dollar (although there are discount days with cheaper ticket prices). Read Making Your Trip the Dollar Theater More Affordable for some additional ideas (like weekly coupons, birthday freebies, and more).
Themed Dinners: Miss the ambiance of dining at a restaurant? Bring a little of that home by theming dinners in with your family. Plan your meal ahead of time and choose a fun theme – Italian Night! Fiesta! Drive-In! Make the meal special with decorations (you can make them yourself or get everyone in on the action) or costumes. Tie on an apron, get a note pad, and don some roller skates to serve dinner for the drive-in. Bust out a chef hat and hang an Italian flag. Shake some maracas or wear a sombrero. Use Pandora to select a station with music perfect for your meal, like 50s Rock-n-Roll for the drive-in. A few simple trips to the dress up trunk and a quick flip of a switch will turn a ho-hum meal into something your family won’t soon forget.
Game Night: A board game is a great investment for your next family night. Take the whole family to the super center to make a selection together. Bring home your game and let the fun begin! For the price of what you’d pay for an entertainment destination for one or two people, you can purchase a game that will bring hours of fun for decades to come. Whether you purchase an electronic game or a more traditional favorite, play a game with your family!
Park It: Anytime we’ve attempted a kid-centered entertainment attraction, something always goes horribly wrong. The food is meh, there’s some sort of drama with other families, and I spend most of my time wondering what sort of plague will catch after my five year old comes out of the ball pit. We leave overstimulated and grouchy. Anytime we visit the park, the exact opposite occurs. We have a great time moving in the outdoors, we’re pleasantly exhausted, and we usually make a new friend or two. Pack a picnic, swing on the swings no matter how old you are, and chase each other in circles. Even if you just take a walk or a bike ride around the neighborhood, or simply kick or throw a ball back and forth in the front yard, getting active as a family will draw you closer to one another. Best of all, you won’t have to spend a dime.
Library: We spent oh-so-many hours at our local library while paying off over $127K in debt. From books and movies to special programs and play spaces, your library has much to offer. If it’s been awhile since you’ve visited your branch, spend a few minutes on the website seeing what’s available for your family. I almost always reserve books online for our local library so that I can focus my time in on playing with the kids or helping them look for new reads. From preschool programs to movie nights to special speakers and more, our local library blessed us with free family fun time and time again.
Yes, it takes a little creativity to entertain your family on a limited budget. However, the time you spend together is more important than the dollars you spend on each other. Put on your thinking cap and maximize the minutes you’ve been given to make memories.
How do you kick back with your family without overspending?
Gain inspiration to pay off debt! Check out Inspiration to Pay Off Debt: 30 Days of Encouragement from the Queen of Free
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My girls (11 and 13) take turns doing the Theme Dinners sometimes and it is so much fun to see what they come up with. There is always some kind of Spotify playlist along with “costumes” that they match with the theme. It’s nice to have a night off from cooking and good for their creativity! Italian and Mexican seem to be the easiest for them, but sometimes they will do something like “Breakfast for Dinner” as well.