The summer is a season many families look forward to. Their children are out of school, and there is so much sunshine welcoming family activities. Unfortunately, these are also some of the reasons families dread the summer. Now, they need to find activities to entertain their children, and the expenses can really add up. Here are three tips to save money on your family activities this summer.
Tip #1: Sign Up For Memberships
Signing up for memberships, even paid memberships, have their advantages. You get great discounts to your favorite local attractions such as the museum, zoos, and fun parks. Even if you may only intend on going to this attraction once a year, for a family of four, an annual pass can still save you money. Some come with discounts to the gift shop, parking, or food court passes.
Tip #2: Keep Up with Online Groups and Activities
Facebook and Twitter can be used to get your hands on amazing discounts as well. Keep up with family friendly pages that promote giveaways to attractions (local and across the country) and free events. Once you are fans on their pages, you will get information in your news feed of what is going on. Be sure to go directly to their website and check out any family-friendly activities on their event calendars. A few places to start checking out include:
- Your local radio station website
- Visit http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/ and enter your destination
- Do a search on Google for “Free Activities in Your City Name”
Tip #3: Get Up Early
If you are off from work during the week, instead of hanging around the house all day, have your family up and ready to hit the early movie matinee or other early morning events. Call your local movie theater and see if there are discounts for kids to get in. You may also want to sign up for any perks program they offer which could lead to snack freebies. If there is a drive-in movie theater, then that is even better since they are typically cheaper. Check them out at night and bring snacks from home.
The above three ideas are just a few ways families can save money this summer and you can find more here. Signing up for memberships, checking out online offers, and getting out of the house while others are at work are the best ways to get your discounts in on your family adventure.