When you’re trying to save money, it can be hard to find fun things to do as a
family. Fortunately, there are many options to keep within your
budget. 

First let’s go over your free options. Going to the park,
lake, beach, etc. are all good options. Lots of fun, good exercise for the
entire family and don’t forget the sunscreen. Fly a kite, play tag, push the
kids on the swings. Even be a kid yourself and go down that slide. Why
not? 

Weather not cooperating? Know if your local museums have free
days. Also be aware of any free concerts or plays being held in your
area. 

Ok, now let’s spend some money. Lots more options here for
you to consider. 

* Rent a movie rather than go to the theater.
These days, you have the option of going to your local video rental store or
getting DVDs through a service such as Netflix, assuming the $20/month
membership is reasonable for the number of movies you watch. I’ve seen some
video stores in my area have a similar sort of deal for video games, which may
be far more affordable than buying games if your kids tire of them quickly,
meaning within a month or two. 

* If you really want to see that
movie while it’s in theaters, go to a matinee or find a discount
theater. 

* See plays at the community college. 

* Watch
high school or college sports rather than professional. 

* If you
just have to go out to eat at a nice restaurant, remember many places serve
cheaper lunches than dinners. 

* If they fit into the budget, annual
passes are a much better deal than individual day passes for zoos, amusement
parks and so forth. If one level of membership offers free parking while you
have to pay for parking on the lower level of membership, consider buying one
membership at the higher level and the rest at the lower. This will allow you to
save on parking without paying a higher price for all the memberships. My mother
used to rotate which park we went to each year so we never tired of the
membership. 

With these tips, it should not be difficult to keep
your family entertained even on a tight budget.