Family entertainment fends off boredom for all family members, but many options cost a lot of money, especially for larger families. Frugal family activities provide entertainment without draining your bank account. Affordable options exist both at home and in the community. The personalities of your family members and local availability of venues influences the best options for your family.
Family Passes
Most museums, zoos, amusement parks and other family entertainment venues offer yearly family passes. The pass allows all family members to visit the venue as many times as you want during the year. The cost varies depending on the venue, but they often work out as a frugal option if you plan to visit the venue frequently. In many cases, the cost of the yearlong pass for the entire family would be covered by only a few visits at the full admission price. To determine if buying a season pass is a frugal option, calculate the total cost for all family members to visit at the regular admission price. Estimate how many times you would ideally visit the venue. Multiply the cost of admission for the family by the number of times you might visit. A total significantly higher than the cost of the family pass means the pass is a more frugal option.
Nature Walk and Picnic
A walk through a state park or other local nature area adds a fitness aspect to family entertainment. The kids get a chance to see various plants and wildlife that they might not see on a daily basis. Pack a picnic lunch to turn the walk into a daylong event. The picnic blanket provides a comfortable place to take a break from the walking and nature exploration.
Gardening
A family garden requires minimal investment but saves money in the long run on your grocery bill. Basic gardening tools are inexpensive and can be reused each year. The vegetable plants and seeds along with any fertilizer you use are recurring expenses each year. Many types of berries, tree fruit and asparagus come back each year making them an even more frugal option. Even young children can help with gardening chores such as planting seeds, weeding and harvesting the vegetables. The harvested vegetables provide more entertainment when you cook them as a family.
Camping
Camping offers a more frugal option for an overnight getaway. Camping spots are often significantly less than a night at a hotel. The natural location offers plenty of exploration and entertainment for kids of all ages. Hiking, fishing, swimming and cooking food over the campfire are a few options for additional entertainment while camping. Borrowing tents and other camping supplies from family or friends makes this even more frugal.
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