Enjoy Family Game Night and Save

Entertainment is not cheap these days. The price of movie tickets has risen steadily for several years. With the increased popularity of even more expensive 3-D movies, going to the theatre can cost an average of $8.06 per ticket. As teens, we may be willing to pay for a single movie ticket every week or two. However, this becomes an expensive habit once we become adults and go to the movies with a family in tow. Going out to eat can also create a significant dent in your bank account. One family meal at a sit-down restaurant can easily cost $50 or more. Dinner, movies, and other weekend activities like shopping at the mall may seem like the family-time mainstays; however, there is a more budget-friendly alternative.

Family game nights have been growing in popularity since the beginning of the economic downturn. By staying home with your family and friends, you can avoid the rising costs of outside entertainment. Board and card games are a much better investment than movie tickets or an evening shopping at the mall because you can get repeated use out of a single game. Game nights can help you save money and develop a money-smart habit that will last a lifetime.

Instead of going out this weekend, stay in and try these activities for a fun family game night at home:

·         Play a favorite game or learn a new one. You can look up new board and card games online. Try selecting several different games to give you variety during your game night.

·         Invent your own game! Design a board or cards, and write the rules. Creating the game can be a fun activity in itself.

·         Learn to make an at-home version of your favorite take-out food (pizza, stir-fry, barbeque, etc.). Recipes and instructional videos can be found on the Internet. You may like your version more than costly restaurant food!

·         Watch a favorite DVD as a family, or find something new from a DVD rental service.

·         Do crafts together. Many crafts projects, such as origami, are free or almost free. You can also check out crafting books from your local library.

Give these suggestions a try. If family game night becomes a weekly tradition, the savings will add up impressively.

Reference:

Cieply, M. (2011, July 31). Charging a premium for movies, at a cost. New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/01/business/media/as-ticket-prices-rise-theater-audiences-shrink.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0.