I’ll admit, today’s question has a bit of purpose behind it. I’d like to start an ongoing series, if you will, about frugal fun. Since I know Simply Frugal readers enjoy having fun, and most likely on the cheap, I’m quizzing you for your brilliant frugal fun ideas!
I’m wondering: What’s your idea of frugal fun?
We pay an annual Residential Fee in Calgary which includes access into our Community Centre. There is tennis courts, hockey/basketball rink, soccer field, spray park, kids park, picnic tables and a gymnasium for indoor sports/activities. Our kids love going there and it’s free as long as you’re a member of the community.
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Camping,once you have all the things you need(that i get real cheap from canadian tire money or gift cards from club sobeys points) its pretty cheap week.swiming and kayaking and just playing games.
Its a nice frugal peaceful week
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The movie theaters has half price days on Tuesdays. I don’t order any of the food/drinks so its just the price of the ticket. I like to do that and then after go for a Second Cup Italian Soda for $1.
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Geocaching! Not only do you enjoy the outdoors but it’s a treasure hunt for the kids. Always a hit with our family!
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Family walks threw local parks and letting the kids play on the play structure! Gives us family time
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Movies on Tuesdays but also if you’re a student you can get movies for $7 at the Carlton Cinema anytime.
I also like to just grab a coffee using my reusable cup, you can save quite a bit after a while (most places like Second Cup and others will give you a small discount around .20 or so) and you’re also saving the environment of another paper cup thrown away! (so you can even do this with the Italian Soda and see if they’ll give you a discount, I haven’t tried this).
McDonalds has all soft drinks – and iced coffees – any size for $1 this summer.
The Art Gallery of Ontario is free on Wednesday nights from 6-8:30pm
The ROM is 1/2 price on Friday nights – so is the Gardiner Museum (if you’re under 30 it’s free).
Cheers!
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Ice skating in the winter is free
!
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pic nic on the beach or the park
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Here are some things that the boyfriend and I do…
~Couples Night In (we make a receipe we have never tried before and put in a movie)
~If we are having a group of firends over we try to make it a pot-luck or BYOB so we are not covering 100% of the food and beverage expenses
~We try to use gift cards that we have on our date nights (ie: cocktails and appetizer followed by a walk along the lakeshore)
~Take advantage of really cheap GroupOn, Travelzoo, Wag Jag offers! We have several $10 “adventrues” that we bought within the past 8 months that we are going to use before the end of the summer
~Walk through the local farmer’s market (here in TO we have some great ones) but the key is only bring $10 – $20 cash and leave the debit and credit cards at home! You get to work your way through all those free samples – YUM!
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Geocaching (aka treasure hunting) is great family fun and gets us out for fresh air and exercise. It’s also a great way to discover new places!
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Our local outdoor pool has free public swims all summer long. After the kids lessons, we have a picnic then hop back in the pool for an hour together. Free, fun and time spent together!
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My city has free concerts on summer Sunday evenings, and free family movies and music in a park on Friday nights. The concerts– even when the music is “younger”, are usually attended by an older crowd, It puzzles me that more families and younger people don’t take advantage.
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I like to sit at the park and watch the kids play. We have a wonderful park with a play ground and water feature that the kids can run through to cool down. Just watching the innocence is quite calming.
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Silver City weekend morning movies for $2.50 (oldies but goodies). Easy bike rides. Check out http://www.letsgobiking.net and http://www.colleenrides.com/2010/04/best-vancouver-rides-for-kids-and.html
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We love heading down to our local beach early on a Sunday morning (before it gets too crowded) and getting a big breakfast at our favorite diner. It’s yummy, cheap and fills us up for a fun day of playing at the kids splash pad and then taking a leisurely walk along the boardwalk.
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