It’s easy these days to
burn through your family’s monthly entertainment budget.
Just going to the movies
or bowling sees you paying admissions and even more if your kids want to eat.
But don’t fall into the
trap of thinking you can’t afford to enjoy these activities.
In this start of an
occasional feature, I’ll offer a look at how I’ve kept my family entertained
over the years. We’ll look at ways you can give your family lasting memories
for less than $50 on a weekend.
Now that my children are
older, I look back at all the crazy events we took part in as they grew up.
We’ve gone to plays, concerts, theaters, sporting events, fairs and much more
that they’ll always remember.
But you’ve got to keep
an open mind and be creative when you’re looking for entertainment for little
or no cost. My kids would sometimes look at me and wonder, “What free event is
she dragging us to now?” They wouldn’t want to go at first but ended up having
a great time.
Events sometimes won’t
turn out so good, but at least you didn’t spend a lot to find out. So turn off
your TV, put your phone on vibrate and enjoy spending time with your family in
a way that won’t stretch your wallet.
In each edition of this
feature, we’ll look at a sampling of free activities and inexpensive meal
options, and remember these events are just as good for grandparents to spend
time with their grandchildren.
Entertainment
■ Your children can make
cool crafts from 9 a.m. to noon on the first Saturday of each month at Home
Depot locations. The kids can imagine themselves as adults wearing the orange
Home Depot aprons that they get to take home.
Lowe’s locations also
offer a similar program on select Saturdays that are usually different than
Home Depot’s, so you and your kids can attend both.
■ Always stop by the
customer service desks at your favorite stores to inquire about in-store
events. Toys R Us usually offers events monthly.
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Saturday, your kids can join Thomas & Friends for a play date with games,
activities and coupon savings. From noon to 2 p.m. March 23, older kids will
enjoy building a Lego Friends Wishing Well.
■ Products you buy will
often have coupons for free activities. My family and I have gone to plenty of
movies with free tickets from cereal boxes or candy.
Tony’s frozen pizza
products are offering free bowling coupons for a limited time. All you have to
do is buy the pizza, and you get not just dinner but a free game of bowling at
any of five area alleys. Musselman’s apple sauce is also offering free bowling
games on specially marked packages.
Eats
■ Through March 19, you
can get half off a large Papa John’s pizza by using the code 50PIZZA when
ordering online.
■ Make your own
kids-eat-free night at Olive Garden by using a printable coupon to get a free
kids meal with each adult entree purchased.
■ Don’t forget dessert.
When you buy one Blizzard at Dairy Queen through March 24, you’ll get the
second for 99 cents.
Freebies:
Free one year Unites States Tennis Association 10 and under
junior membership. http://membership.usta.com/content.jsp?pageName=10UJRFREE
Students with a valid .edu address can receive a free three
month subscription to Microsoft Office 360 +20GB of SkyDrive store. Offer ends
5/12/2013. https://www.officeforstudents.com/default.aspx
$13 in free P&G products from Home Made Simple
https://www.pgbrandsampler.com/pgeds/HMS/brandsampler-login.jsp
Enjoy $10 off two Lobsterfest entrees at Red Lobster coupon
https://www.facebook.com/redlobster
Get a FREE Redbox video game rental when you text: NOWPLAY
to 727272. You will receive a unique code for your Free 1-Day Game Rental. This
expires 5/9
Mr or Mrs. Potato Head on sale at Toys R Us buy one get ½ off
one. Use two $2 coupons at www.coupons.com
for good deal. Great Easter basket stuffer.
Now through March 21st Tiny Prints is offering 10
free graduation invitations just have to pay shipping enter promotional code
GRAD2013 at checkout. www.tinyprints.com
CVS Deals:
Two bags of Easter M&M’s on sale for $6 use $1 Sunday
paper coupon receive $1 extracare bucks- free gift with any Easter Candy
purchase available at the register while
supplies last one per household
Buy $14 worth of Scrubbing Bubbles or Windex products
receive $4 extracare bucks match with $1 Sunday paper Windex coupon and $2
Sunday paper Scrubbing Bubble coupon
Buy $20 worth of Glade products receive $10 extracare bucks
match with $1.50 Sunday paper coupon
Buy Gillette Mach3 razor and cartridges use $5 Sunday paper
coupon receive $5 extracare bucks
Buy one get one free Sundown Naturals vitamins use two $1
Sunday paper couponsMaxwell House on sale $6.99 use $1 Sunday paper coupon
receive $1 extracare bucks
PAAS Easter egg decorating kit $199 receive $1.99 extracare
bucks
Rite Aid Deals:
Buy $30 worth of Aveeno products use $3 Sunday paper coupon
receive $10 +UPs rewards
Buy $50 worth of Applebee’s or Chili’s gift cards get $10
+UPs rewards
Buy one Finish dishwashing tabs get one free use $1.25
Sunday paper coupon
Walgreens Deals:
Buy $15 worth of Scrubbing Bubbles, Glade products 25% off ,
Cottonelle moist wipes and Windex receive 3000 points (equals $3) match with
$1.50 on two Glade Sunday paper coupon, $1 on two Windex Sunday paper coupon,
50 cents Cottonelle moist wipes and $2 off two Scrubbing Bubbles Sunday paper
coupon
Starbucks Ice Coffee 99 cents receive 99 cents register
reward
Green Tea Fat Burner $7 receive $7 register reward
