Uncommon Cents

It seems that many people have lavish entertainment budgets–cable television, Netflix (of which I am a stockholder), movies–they’re all fun but they cost dollars, sometimes lots of them on an ongoing basis. What can be done to be entertained for less money?

Outdoor activities–yes, this varies by locale, but here, the beach is free, running trails are free, public pools are free, bike paths are free–you name it. Yes, for some of those activities there are other costs, like shoes or bikes or surfboards, but $10 for a movie versus zero for using a running trail is $10 in favor of the run.

Public libraries–reading seems passe sometimes, but the public libraries not only offer that time tested activity and many more. DVDs, videotapes, CDs of music and audiobooks, magazine swap tables, and even online services are what the public library has to offer. Don’t neglect this wonderful resource for your entertainment purposes.

Internet content–if you’re already paying for your Internet access, you have access to a huge amount of free content, from old movies and television shows to podcast safe music to online games. These cost nothing more than the electricity to run your computer and your Internet connection.

Games and puzzles–online or not, board games and puzzles (think Scrabble and Sudoku) are burning up hours of people’s time. Yes, they’re fun, they keep your mind sharp, and they’re a form of competition. Have a great time with those.

Those are a few examples of things people can do to try to cut back on their entertainment budget. There’s no reason entertainment needs to be tons of your budget; cut back with the dollars and keep having fun.

Tags: Budgeting, Frugality, Social aspects

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