For some, entertainment can feel like a guilty pleasure, especially when adding up all those fees and admissions. According to the Department of Labor, the average U.S. consumer spends $2,827 to keep themselves entertained every year. Surprising? Maybe not. But there are definitely ways you can continue to enjoy those movies, theme parks, restaurants and concerts you love without matching the national average. Try these low-cost solutions to reduce your spending without sacrificing the fun.
Cheap Eats
- Try Restaurant.com. This delicious little site lets you purchase $25 gift certificates to thousands of restaurants for far less than face value. From fine French cuisine to the closest burger joint, there are tons of options to choose from. Just use the search fields to narrow the list of eateries by zip code or state. Once you’ve made your picks, print out your certificate and present it up front for a guilt-free dining experience. But the best thing about these certificates is that you could pay as little as $3 for $25 worth of food when you use Restaurant.com coupon codes. You’ll save up to 80% on eating out.
- Use the Entertainment Book. Don’t pay full price for meals when you can find over 200 discounts on everything from fast food to fine dining in this handy, little coupon Bible. The Entertainment Book is tailored to restaurants available within individual cities, so if you know you’ll be in Austin, then by all means, buy an Austin Entertainment Book before you head for the Lone Star State. You’ll find two-for-one deals and 50% off coupons in there, too, so you’ll see substantial savings next time the waiter drops that check on your table.
Cheap Fun
- Buy a Go Card or Explorer Pass. We know sightseeing can get pretty pricey, so plan ahead. These money-saving cards act as your ticket, so you get you automatic, free entry into dozens of attractions, including theme parks, museums, zoos and tours. Just decide on a destination and purchase a card for Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Orlando or 10 other hotspots. With the Go Card, all you have to do is choose how many days you need, and the card gets you into as many of the included attractions as you want for the number of days you selected. The Explorer Pass lets you choose three of your favorite attractions, but you have up to 30 days to use them. The best part of all of this is that these cards basically pay for themselves after only a two to three attractions, so you’ll end up saving up to 50% compared to the cost of all those individual admission fees.
- Find cheap tickets. If you don’t think you can afford those posh seats to see “Wicked” at the theater, the front-row spot for the Lady Gaga concert or 50-yard line tickets to see your alma mater, think again. Of course it sounds expensive, but not when you do a little research. Event ticket websites like RazorGator can save you a good chunk of change on that show you can’t wait to see. Always look for ticket offers and coupon codes first, and pay attention to which sites have a buyer’s guarantee. Many sites offer a marketplace where you can buy or sell tickets so if something comes up at the last minute, you can still sell them and make your money back. Just search by zip code and narrow your field. You might be surprised at the awesome event ticket offers you find.
