Estimated Monthly Savings: $200
Remember when you were in high school, and you were learning how to make a budget in Econ? You probably figured out the basics (rent, food, phone bill, etc.) on your own, but your teacher may have thrown you for a loop when they asked about your monthly entertainment budget. After all, how much money were you reserving for things like Netflix, movie tickets, concert expenses, new books, and all those other things we spend money on when we relax, decompress, and have fun?
We all need entertainment… but there are ways to get it for less. Here are three ways to do just that.
Tip #1: Use Your Library
Most of us have a local library, and while we hated going there when it was time to do research papers, we’re adults now. That means all the great resources the library offers are at our fingertips! Free books, free movies, and if your local library doesn’t have something, you can request it from another library who does. Add in the fact that more and more libraries allow you to download ebooks straight to your phone, tablet, or Kindle, and you might be able to get access to these resources without even leaving the couch!
Tip #2: Nix Your Cable
If you’ve been paying for cable, or satellite TV, then you might want to reconsider your choice. This is particularly true if, if the channels you get, you only actually watch a small handful of them. You will, generally speaking, get more bang for your buck when it comes to a streaming service like Netflix, Hulu, or Crunchyroll if you’re an anime fan. You could subscribe to two or three of these services for the price of the cheapest cable packages, and if you only need one, then you’re saving a lot of dosh every month.
Tip #3: Check Your Local Government’s Calendar
While it might be entertaining to see the mayor and an alderman get into a fist fight at the next budget meeting, that’s not what this tip is about. Most local governments have some kind of event calendar, and most of the time these events are open to the public. From fairs and festivals to art shows, plays, and outdoor movie nights take a spin around the local government website to see what, if anything, is going on. It might be worth checking out, and your wallet will thank you.
