Comments on: Cheap & Cheerful Weekends

By: kj

kj — Tue, 08 May 2012 02:15:21 +0000

How do I get your blog updates sent directly to my email inbox. I keep forgetting to check back here for your new entries.

By: Cait

Cait — Sun, 06 May 2012 17:54:52 +0000

I volunteer at our local music hall. Volunteers see the show they’re “working” for free, and for certain shows, can bring a guest in free also. The live shows can run $20-$50/head, so it’s worth it!

By: Melissa

Melissa — Fri, 04 May 2012 20:36:02 +0000

To GetReal…thanks for posting the wonderful link! We’ve moved to southern Ontario from Alberta recently, and don’t know much about interesting things to do here. Thus, your post has given me lots of great ideas…

By: psychsarah

psychsarah — Fri, 04 May 2012 19:39:40 +0000

This weekend will be cheap and cheerful for me-last weekend was DH’s 40th Birthday Bash, which was done on a budget, but still pricier than an average weekend. DH is working all weekend, so the little man and I will go for walks, maybe the farmer’s market for the groceries we need anyway, and just play and read books, and then I’m having my mom’s group over with their babies Sunday afternoon to hang out and catch up. It will only cost me the ingredients to bake a simple cake and a few cups of tea m Have a great weekend everyone!

By: The Money Mail

The Money Mail — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:52:41 +0000

We actually just organized a game night last weekend. We had a blast and since we cooked, the costs were very low as compared to going out for dining or even ordering

By: Wendy K.

Wendy K. — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:11:54 +0000

Or, Gail how about a “Princess” night. Watch your show on CNBC Saturday night and dress up as a princess and one can be, well, Gail. Have someone be a princess & confess their spending habits and then let the one being Gail do the jars and have them do fun tasks. The prize won’t be $5,000 (maybe if they have Monopoly money), it could be a “bring a dish” buffet.

By: Amelia

Amelia — Thu, 03 May 2012 23:09:04 +0000

I have a swamp so on Saturday I let the kids get as dirty as they like for as long as they like then give them a long bath since Hubby & I are both home.

By: Cas

Cas — Thu, 03 May 2012 21:30:45 +0000

Should say that during the winter we borrow movies from the library. Free!!! My husband decided one night he wanted to rent a movie from the store and was surprised how many current titles we had already watched, courtesy of the library
We’ve also gone to free events. Recently we went to a local home show. And got free samples of drinks (beer, wine, coolers). We walked around to the booths, talking about our goals and dreams. And, LOVED telling a mortgage broker that their services weren’t needed by us, as we’re mortgage free in a year or less! Best date night ever, lol!

By: KF

KF — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:24:58 +0000

@GetReal – thanks for the reminder for Doors Open!

The flyer has been sitting on my counter since I picked it up at the last James St Art Crawl (another fun free activity) and I haven’t even looked at it. I went to a couple places last year and it was great. I think the Museum of Steam and Technology is on my list as well.

At the Hamilton Library you could sign out HSR days passes (family of four). The day pass gets you in at a discount or for free at a lot of local attractions. I’m not sure if the Library still has that – but a day pass is not too expensive.

By: Zsanett

Zsanett — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:51:26 +0000

We do a lot of home entertaining, mostly associated with board gaming. This weekend will have two couples over to play games and order pizza and people usually bring their own drinks. I also like pot lucks a lot and not just because of the money aspect but because I like trying what other people cook.

Also we are lucky enough to get in a lot of events for free because my hubby is in the theatre community and they always give him tickets to go see a show be it a play, opera, comedy fest. We probably save like $100 / month for not having to pay for those tickets. Mind you we probably wouldn’t be going out so much if we had to pay for the tickets every time.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:16:48 +0000

We actually spend money primarily on weekends. Because I spend so much time commuting back and forth to work I don’t really have the energy to run around and shop all week long. But we are big fans of “Game Night” and normally have one or two of these events in a month. Great times!

By: Laurie

Laurie — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:07:13 +0000

I have a firepit in my back yard…in the summer, i invite friends and family over and we blast the stereo, sit around the fire, cook marshmallows and weiners and have alot of laughs..it doesnt cost much at all..everyone brings their own booze. its also great because people can bring their kids and its a great family night…then i can can cash in the empties and put that into my “entertainment” jar for snacks for the next time…

By: GetReal

GetReal — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:01:37 +0000

Here is the website for Ontario if anyone is interested:

http://www.doorsopenontario.on.ca/Home.aspx

By: GetReal

GetReal — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:33:15 +0000

This weekend Hamilton, Ontario is hosting their “Doors Open” event. More then 50 businesses, organizations etc open their doors to the public FOR FREE. To name a few (on my list) Dundurn National Historical Site, Hamilton Port Authority, museum of Steam & Technology, Children’s Museum, Art Gallery, GO centre & TH&B Railway Museum. We pack a cooler for a picnic lunch and off we go. I do pick places that look more child friendly, or of interest to my kids in particular. Many communities hold these events through the summer.

By: Rosemary

Rosemary — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:30:42 +0000

Planning a potluck for my belated birthday bash May long. Should be fun and great times with boardgames.