Buy season passes
One great way to save money in your entertainment fund, and thus free up some money on a monthly basis is to invest in season passes, or memberships to places you like to frequent. If you have children, you may want to get a pass to a zoo, or a water park, or something else that will entertain them.
Let's look at some examples of how buying a season pass or membership will save you money every month:
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Example one: Season passes
In the summer it is nice to go to the pool. Around the country, an average pool entrance fee is $5 for adults, $3.50 for children. The summer is typically 3 months long, or 90 days. Most people like to visit the pool at least once a week, often more. If you have a family of one or two children, this makes every visit about $12 to $15.50. A summer pass will typically cost you $150 for the whole family, it often gives you access to other things as well, such as the recreation center facility, gym, walking track, etc. If you go to the pool ten times in the summer you will likely spend more than you would if you were to buy a pass. If you buy a pass, you will likely visit the pool more frequently then ten times that summer. Each of those times you will spend less because you will be doing something that is already paid for, rather than spending money to do something else.
If you were to get a pass to a water park, it would be even less. An entrance fee to a water park is typically $20-$40. A season pass for the same park would typically be less than $120. This means if you go more than 3 times, you will cover the cost of the pass, and save yourself countless dollars on things that you are not doing instead. Every time you go to the water park you are not going to a movie (cost $7.50-$8.50) you are not playing miniature golf ($3-$7.50) you are not out shopping at the mall.
Example two: Memberships
A one day pass to Disneyland costs $94. A year pass can be purchased for just under $400. Even if you only visit the park quarterly, you cover the cost. However, if you make a habit out of visiting the park, enjoying the magic, and taking in the parades, shows, and rides, you will save money.
The idea here is not to recoup the cost of the memberships. The idea is to spend a little more upfront so that you have something already paid for to fill your time. Then, when given the choice to spend an additional amount of money, or go to a place that is already paid for, the choice becomes far simpler, and you free up money to put toward your cash reserve.
