Everybody wants to save a few bucks on a night of fun. The less you spend on the entertainment, the more you have for snacks, alcohol, or a cab ride home.
* Drink at home. Bars and restaurants jack up the price on alcohol - even for a bottle of domestic beer! Have a nightcap after you return to your place, or just plan an evening in with your friends. Even better: you don't have to worry about a designated driver, or paying for a cab ride home.
* Buy tickets to events well in advance. This requires some planning, but it can be worth the savings. For example: concert tickets are generally more if you buy them "at the door" (if you can even get them that late in the game). However, you can save a decent chunk of change if you plan in advance, purchase the tickets, and tuck them away until it's time to go.
If you're a frequent concert-goer, you can purchase tickets online. This usually leads to a "frequent buyer" program of some sort, which rewards you later with discounts - or even the first shot at buying tickets for upcoming events.
* Speaking of events ... see if you can get more people to go with you. Group discounts can apply to amusement parks, pro and semi-pro sporting events, and even the circus. The number of people you need to qualify as a group depends on the venue's rules, but you can always call them for more information.
* If you practically LIVE in the movie theater, call your local newspaper. Your local publication just might need a movie critic. If you can write and feel comfortable doing it, you can get free movie tickets - something that no film fan could turn down.
Note: The same applies to concerts at large or small venues. You can also be a photographer at the events.
These gigs probably won't replace your day job. You might not be paid much, if anything. But if you get discounted - or even free - admission to a movie or show you wanted to see anyway, it's worth the effort.
* Spend more nights in than out. Yes, it's fun to go catch a concert or movie every weekend. Sure, there are some activities - ice skating, bowling, or whatever - that never get boring for you or your friends.
But think about it this way: if you sometimes rent a DVD and settle in at home with take-out food, you're saving money that you can put to use for the big, fun events.
For example: if you're a frequent concertgoer, you can limit the number of shows you attend in the next, say, six months. If you save the money you would have spent on tickets, food, and the like, you might have enough to take a small road trip to see a show.
For example: if you live three or four hours from New York City, you can save your money and take a road trip there to see a new tour kick off.
* Pick up the pizza before you settle in for the night. Delivery is convenient, but there are usually extra charges involved. Because the pizza place only delivers within a very close distance from their shop, you know that you won't have to drive long - or waste much gas and time - getting it yourself. In fact, you can probably have a friend pick it up on his or her way over to your place.
There are literally thousands of ways to save money without being bored halfway to insanity. Pay attention to your spending habits when you go out. Look for ways that you could save money. Every situation, every person, is unique, but the tips listed above should get you started on the road to having fun without breaking the budget.
