Take advantage of the seasons
Each season offers a number of inexpensive ways to be entertained. Many orchestras and bands have concerts outdoors in the summer and charge little or nothing at all for admission; all you need is a blanket, a cooler, and some bug spray. In the winter, consider going sledding, or go out for hot chocolate instead of a whole meal.

Don't throw away your junk mail
Most people are tempted to toss the packets of coupons they get each month in the mail straight to the trash, but they're worth looking through before tossing. Often, these coupons contain buy one get one free passes and discounts for bowling alleys, miniature golf courses, restaurants, events, and more.

Be a smart diner
If you love to go out to eat but don't love how pricey it can be, consider going out for breakfast or lunch instead of dinner. Oftentimes, lunch and breakfast menus are much cheaper than dinner menus. The portions are typically smaller too, so you don't end up wasting as much food. Or, you can just go out for dessert.

If you love to go out to dinner, however, there are still a number of ways to save money. Consider ordering water instead of soda; you'll save about $3 per person. In addition, you can skip dessert, or split it.

Go out earlier
If you want to go out to the movies or the theater, see a matinee instead of an evening show. You can save several dollars per ticket by going to a matinee; if you're going with your family, you can save more than $20 just by going a few hours earlier.

Form a babysitting group
Babysitting can eat up a huge chunk of your entertainment budget. If you have friends with kids your age, consider forming a babysitting group, where couples trade off watching the kids each weekend. For example, one couple could watch the kids on Friday while the other couple goes out, and on Saturday, they can switch.

Call ahead for special deals
Zoos, planetariums, and museums often have days where admission is discounted or even free. Call certain places you would be interested in visiting and ask them if they have any specials. In addition, you can ask to be placed on their mailing or email lists so you can automatically know when you can visit for less.

Take advantage of family passes
If you live close to a zoo or other type of museum your family enjoys visiting, consider purchasing their annual or family passes. If you plan on visiting more than once, a family pass can actually be cheaper, and many times they include parking as well.

You don't need to empty your wallet every time you go out; these are just a few ideas of how you can save money on entertainment.