Most of us work hard all week and look forward to a little entertainment on the weekend. Even though we are retired, our week consists of meetings, classes and volunteer work. So we are ready to do something different on the weekends! (I’ll sneak some photos in of our drive to the coast last Sunday)
Our community has a lot of events to take part in and clubs to join. So we have a lot to choose from. Most of the plays, musical productions, movies, seminars and lectures are ‘donation’ only so you can pay what you can afford.
But there are other ways to ‘create’ your own entertainment. We check movies out of the library, and still have date nights! It’s still fun to get dressed up and ‘go out’ and there are lots of things to do that don’t cost very much. We enjoy going out to eat and the movies…and the museum. But we find ways to do it economically. Of course for the ‘over 55’ group, we can get discounts and that helps.
What are some of the ways you enjoy entertainment without breaking the bank? I’ll add some of your ideas to this post as they come in! I would love to find out how you save money! We can’t work ALL the time! ; )
Maybe we should get our fishing license!
Ricki Jill mentioned checking magazines out from the library! I do that, too! And in the lobby we have a table for ‘free’ magazines! Great tip, Ricki! Thanks!
And Lilybets mentioned a picnic…I love that idea! Karen mentioned free movies and I googled ‘free movies’ and found Hulu and some others where you can view movies online. A great source!
Ginger has a great bit of info that we can use! When you rent Redbox movies, reserve them online and they are even LESS AND they send you a promo code for free movies after you rent so many.
Please join all of the other Thrifty living ladies…or “Frugal Five” for their posts on this subject!
Brenda of Cozy Little House
Claudia of Mockingbird Hill Cottage
Elaine of Sunny, Simple Life
Jen of Muddy Boot Dreams
It’s almost the weekend…..have FUN !!!
I’m linking to Katherine’s Corner ! ♥
38 comments:
I am enjoying y'all's series. I can entertain myself at the library for HOURS!!! I love it. I am also happy that our library is finally letting us check-out periodicals. This should help me save on buying magazines. They put them in these neat little plastic bags to help protect them, too! *nice*
xo,
Ricki Jill
I love fishing and taking care of my plants, or going to buy other plants...or doing a pic nic in a green place.
How lovely to be retired and enjoy doing so many lovely things!
I enjoyed my visit!
The library is definitely top on our list too. We visit every Saturday after gymnastics classes. We are fortunate to have beautiful woods behind our property and the outdoors has become a major form of entertainment. Can't wait to see what others enjoy doing too!
I forgot about checking movies out of the library! Good idea! And we need to use our over 55 discount more. I guess I'm having problems admitting I get that discount!
xo
Claudia
I was reading Claudia's post a little while ago and mentioned 2 sites that have free, legal online movies. One sit has fun old radio shows as well.
We are sticks in the mud rarely going anywhere or doing anything. It helps to live in the same town with relatives who share their movies with us . Our library is closed for renovations so we aren't even able to use it. We have so few of the resources that a retirement community has.
Great tips. I had no idea the library had magazines!! Go figure. I use Redbox for movies. They are $1.25 for a one night rental and if you reserve them on-line they are $1. After you rent so many they send you a promo code for free rentals!! Love them.
Like you two we can be outside almost all year which is great for entertaining little ones. We can walk up the street to a nearby park so we do that on quiet days when she needs to get out. My older ones of course need to be driven to most things but they take advantage of our church's youth programs and they are free and also positive for the kids. We do volunteer so we feel we give back to.
Sounds like fun! Always enjoy your sun shiny photos here!
Great ideas! I use the library for books and they have movies you can check out also. I also have Groupons and those can save me lots of money on movie rentals and other offers. I only buy if it's a really GOOD deal and I can use it.
We love to go to the movies and we try to make it to the first show of the day - usually $4 here! Much better than $10 at night. We also buy discount tickets at Costco. We eat at restaurants that we have coupons for or have rewards cards with. Of course, your visit to one of Florida's beautiful nature parks is a great way to spend a day without spending a lot. Ann
What a great post! OH my, there's so many things to do! Love going to dinner, like going to our ranch and to the beach. Enjoy getting together with friends, love visiting the grands! I'll have to think some more!
Enjoy your weekend!
As we are moving closer to retirement age, it's good to read about your positive attitude on keeping busy and having fun.
It used to be when my husband and I went on little getaways I was looking for all of the cute shops and places to spend money. Now the first thing we do is inquire about nearby places to take a nice walk or short hike. We have found some beautiful spots this way ... free of charge.
great photos, sounds like a full and busy life you have.
We are retired as well, do most of the same things as you do, our library is a wonderful resource for movies, audio books, magazines, much the same, I think the most important thing is to love life.
We get our movies at the library. There is always a great selection. My extended family has a potluck/game night 3 or 4 times a year. Since we live 1 1/2 hours away, it would cost more with gas, but we try to go when we can spend the night and then my sis and I can hit the thrift stores the next day!
Really enjoying your series!
I'm definitely thrifty...I make everything I might want....I cook at home all the time.....we ride our bikes everywhere..and picnic at the park near the canal...and look at the sun glistening on the water's surface! It's so peaceful and gorgeous!
As a family I would say that sitting around together at the round kitchen table with a still life setting in the centre set up for all of us to draw, has got to be the best way we 'entertain' ourselves around here. Hubby and I give the kids lessons and tips...and then we all have the memory of building a drawing in our sketchbooks ..... you can't get any cheaper than that! In fact, in my books, it's pretty RICH!
ciao bella
Creative Carmelina
I have so much to do and entertain myself right here within my own house and with the internet I am NEVER bored! I also walk and do yard work and garden in the summer. Our library is small and doesn't always carry the books I would like to read so I still treat myself to books and magazines occasionally but I never go out to eat and there's no shopping here to speak of. I also crochet, knit and quilt and I do like quality yarns and fabrics so that's where my spending money goes. I don't subscribe to cable but I do watch PBS and I have lots of videos and DVD's if I want to watch anything. I also get tapes and movies from the library and listen to audio mysteries when I'm doing needlework if I don't have to concentrate too much. I tend to do my own maintenance on the house and I'm a DIY'er. This is a great series! Thanks!
One of the thriftiest forms of entertainment is to read great blogs like yours! Thanks for all the tips!!!
Good tips again. You are a busy retired couple. So nice that you can and enjoy to give back by your volunteering.
Great post! My local library never allowed anyone to borrow magazines. They had to be read IN the library. I assumed that's how all libraries were until I found out differently! :(
We're getting a huge, brand new library, though, that should open really soon. Maybe they will change their rules then! I LOVE libraries and book stores. I could browse for hours!
Some really great ideas! You live in a lovely community, lots of fun things to do it seems!
Our library has FREE or DISCOUNTED passes you can obtain if a member to visit different local attractions or museums around NH! Pack a picnic or tailgate lunch for a fun "date" or family outting!
I like these tips for frugal living. I am a librarian so know about the free goodies at libraries, and my dh and I often check out DVDs, PBS mysteries are great and the price is right, free.
When we go to movies we usually pick matinees, which are very reasonably priced, about $6. We buy the You're Invited book of entertainment coupons each year for $10 and the money goes to the library.
We stream movies on our computer frequently. I do buy books but from garage sales for fifty cents-I love my books and keep them for a while then donate them. We are both homebodies and do not go out much at night but that is fine with us. We have a circle of friends in our neighborhood and we rotate having suppers and good conversation with them. We walk to each others houses.
I love that tip about the magazines, never knew that. You and your hubby are so cute, and so very active. I hope to be the same way when we retire Diane!
And I can see that you two have fun and are always entertained! Thanks for the ideas at the end too!
Brenda
Living frugally is a challenge, but even more satisfying, I think, than spending a lot of money :)
Thanks for more tips!!
I enjoyed reading all the suggestions. We use the library for books, magazines and movies. Breakfast and lunch are much cheaper to eat out than dinner. Joining a club for $15 dollars a year means meeting people with shared interests and good programs. If it is a garden club, there is the chance to work in the sponsored "public spaces" gardens.
Hi there, yes, it seems that everyone loves the free Public Library. I certainly use mine, I had better as I just recently retired from there, LOL I take out DVD's by the armload and I have an E-reader and our library allows me to download "books" for free. Love all your photos. Have a great weekend dear lady. Hugs, Chris
http://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.com/
I really enjoyed your photos and today I shutdown the computer and took a drive and a landed at the library for a few hours, it was a wonderful stress free afternoon and I spent no money, of course, I needed gas, but just a little LOL.
I have enjoyed reading all the tidbits of information here!!
Your right, entertaining doesn't have to be expensive. However it does depend in some part on where you are and how mobile you can be.
We're in a cultural backwater (which we want to be so out of this time next year!) and we really could use a car to get around. Public transportation only takes you so far.
Happy Friday!
Ali x
Not sure how it is in Florida, but in some states, fishing licenses are free for senior citizens! Check into it! Fishing is one of our main recreational activities, and to be honest, I can't say it's the cheapest form of entertainment, because you do have to get some equipment. But, once you get it, you can use the same rods and reels for years and years of fun.
I had no idea that you can reserve redbox movies online! That is GREAT!
I like getting together for a campfire and enjoying friends--no cost but a lot of fun.
Oh I love the sky photos,I enjoy taking photos of the sky too. Let's see my hubby and I are always looking for new things to do.. We like to go out to eat at one of our favorite Mexican Restaurants, its a place that over looks the marina and we can watch the boats, the best part is we go before 6pm and therefore get to use a 2 for 1 coupon. :) So we get great food for less cost and enjoy the marina, After we are done eating we take a short stroll on the boardwalk alongside the water and walk off some of the food we just ate. Its always peaceful to listen to the wind blowing through the sail boats and hearing them clang and watch the gulls and sometimes we even get to enjoy the vision of a seal or two. Just one of our favorite Friday evening "date night" times out together. :)
So many great ideas fo saving money but still having fun. We go fishing down on the docks. Mostly he fishes and I bring my camera!
I order everything I want to watch or read from the library. Our library also has a large magazine section and free magazine & free book exchange section. I read,do photography, watch first run movies for free from the library, garden, excercise outdoors daily and do home projects. I am never bored and spend no money on entertainment. Our museums have free days and we live near a beauitful beach which is free to enjoy. We do not eat out as we are vegatarians and make better/healthier food at home which we enjoy as a hobby. Its a life our grandparents enjoyed and if you are lucky enough to figure out that happieness is not from material items or what you "do" then you have the ticket to a happy life. We drive a 6 year old car that gets 40 MPG while our neighbors are struggling under payments for their oversize gas guzzleers and oversize McMansion house payments. Our house payment is 300 a month and we live simply in a small 2 bedroom we love that is organized and clean. Instead of wasting money on material posessions or doing activities that cost, we save. LIfe is beauitful! Do without more, do less, build a life around your home and loved one and you will be so much happier. You can budget, enjoy the finer things which are family, home, garden, reading and love life.
These are some great ideas, Diane. We should make more of an effort to have date nights too. We seem to get in a rut with work and everything else life throws at us. You're right, you can do it without breaking the bank.. we just need to work harder at it.
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