We all like to have fun, but the cost of entertainment has gotten so expensive that it can be difficult to find fun that you can afford. Twenty years ago, the cost of a concert ticket to see a national act hovered around $30 for decent seats. Today, you could be paying more than $60 for lawn tickets to a comparable event. Fortunately, there are many inexpensive entertainment options available that are just as much fun but are much easier on your wallet. Here are some of my favorites.
Inexpensive Concerts
If you love to see live bands but hate paying high prices and ticket seller fees, you should check out the concerts of local bands in your area. Local bands generally play at bars, restaurants, and local events like fairs and festivals. In some cases, entry to listen to the band is free because the event planners hope that you will spend money on food, drinks, and merchandise while you are at the venue. In other cases, an inexpensive charge of between $5 and $15 is paid to attend the performance. Your local newspaper or online city guide will list upcoming performances that you may be interested in.
Inexpensive Gambling
Many people like to gamble, but the casinos make it very easy to overspend because that means more money for them to spend on their business. To control their gambling costs, some people are turning to online casinos for their fun instead. The best online casino gambling websites offer players multiple ways to pay and play from the comfort of their own homes. When using an online casino, you don’t have to worry about keeping yourself entertained until others in your party are ready to leave, coping with the weather, or being tempted with alcohol and entertainment to stay longer than you intended.
Inexpensive Movies
With ticket prices hovering near $10 per person and food that is marked up nearly 400 percent, it is no wonder that many people are trying to find more affordable options to see movies they want to watch rather than going to the movie theater. If you do not have to see the movie in the theater, wait a few weeks and pay less than $3 for the whole family to see the movie by renting it from Redbox or paying for a pay-per-view from your local cable company. If being in the theater is the part of the experience you love, try going in the middle of the day when matinee movie prices will cut the cost of your ticket in half or find a second-run theater in your town that plays movies cheaply after they have left the big movie theaters.
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Photo courtesy of givikat