photo credit: cyclone bill

Going to the movie theater on a regular basis can turn into a very expensive way to spend your time. First, movie tickets can run almost as high as $10. When you purchase a drink and snack, you can expect to spend as much as $20 for each person. That’s a hefty hunk of change for two hours of entertainment. Fortunately, there are some ways that you can manage your movie habit instead of allowing it to manage you.

Movie Night at Home – However you look at it, watching movies at home is always going to be cheaper than going to the theater. Nothing beats the thrill of finding one of your favorite movie classics on television. Why not make a night of it and enjoy your good fortune? Introduce your favorite flick to a friend and let him return the favor on your next movie night.

Rental Movies or Pay-Per-View Movies – When you just can’t stand the thought of having your movie night interrupted by the commercials that are so prevalent on television, you can still enjoy a movie in the comfort of your own home. Renting a move from a rental chain like Blockbuster or watching one of the pay-per-view movies available on most cable or satellite television systems is still a lot less expensive than taking your whole family to the movie theatre.

Discounted Movie Tickets – If you decide that you simply can’t do without the atmosphere found in the movie theater, make sure that you take advantage of any applicable discounts when you purchase your ticket. If you qualify for a senior citizen or student discount, don’t be bashful about reminding the cashier.

Check out Earlier Movie Times – Another great way to see your movie at the theater without blowing your entertainment budget is to visit the theater during matinee times. Matinee shows are usually several dollars less than the same show will cost during the evening hours. Make sure that you check with your preferred theater, though, to find out when their specific matinee times are.

Coupons – Many discount books, such as the popular Entertainment Book, will feature coupons that offer discounts on movie tickets. In addition, if you regularly attend the theater you should investigate any rewards programs that the theater might have. Sometimes you can get free snacks or even a free ticket after a certain number of visits.

photo credit: Manassas Cakery

When you’re lucky enough to be invited to share a friend or loved one’s special day, you want to show your gratitude and warm wishes by purchasing the happy couple a gift. If you’re on a tight budget, though, giving an extravagant, over the top gift is out of the question for you. How can you give a great, thoughtful gift without doing irreparable damage to your budget?

There are plenty of gift options that allow you to bestow a special gift to the newlyweds while still keeping your budget in mind. Check out these suggestions:

Handcrafted Gift – If you have a special talent or skill, you already have all of the tools you need to create a special gift for the happy couple. Commercial artists can design and print customized stationary. A knitter can create a warm throw for the couple to snuggle under. Just make sure that your creation is comparable to the items you’d buy in a boutique store, not a local street fair.

Several Small Items – Although you can’t afford to get the bride and groom that new blender they registered for, you probably don’t want to get them a single spatula either. Instead try grouping five or six small items together to create one thoughtful, but affordable, gift. You can even tie a ribbon around the times to make them more festive.

A Framed Photo – If you’ve know the soon-to-be newlyweds for any amount of time, there’s a good chance that you have a picture, or two, of them that they don’t have. Frame and mat this picture for a sentimental gift.

A Gift That Ages Well – Newly married couples plan to be together for the rest of their lives. You can honor that plan by giving a gift that will be there to celebrate with them. Ask an expert at your local wine shop to make a suggestion for a bottle of wine that will age well.

A Family Recipe – Choose a recipe that has been handed down in your family for many years. Write or print the recipe onto a pretty note card. Including any non-perishable ingredients and special tools, such as a pastry blender or a garlic press, will make this gift especially memorable.

When choosing a wedding gift, you should remember that the bride and groom won’t care what you spent on their gift. After the wedding is over, all the happy couple will remember is that you took the time to not only attend their wedding but also to select a meaningful gift for them.

photo credit: Herkie

High school graduation is an important time in any teenager’s life. It certainly requires a celebration for you, the graduate, and the rest of your friends and family. Graduation is the culmination of many years of hard work for all of you.

Although you want to give your graduate the party he’s earned, with college expenses looming, you may not want to spend all of your savings on this event. With a little creativity, however, you can have a bash that will be the envy of all of the other graduates and still have the cash to send your graduate to college in style.

Saving money on food and drink at your party by skipping the meal entirely. If you plan your graduate’s party in the afternoon, well after lunch and before dinner, you can get away with serving snacks and a few sweets at the party. Snacks like chips or pizza rolls are easy to buy ahead of time, when they’re on sale, and preparation is a breeze.

If you feel like you really should serve more than snacks at your graduate’s party, hamburgers and hot dogs prepared on the grill are a low-cost option. Be sure to check out warehouse shopping clubs for great deals on these meats. Bakery outlets are a great way to save on buns.

Saving money on the location of your graduate’s party is easy, too. If you have a large yard, you can have the party there. Otherwise, a park shelter is fun for everybody and usually not too expensive. Take care, however, to reserve your shelter early since many other families may be planning their celebration for the same day.

If an outdoor party isn’t what you had in mind, try to find an inexpensive space to have your party. Smaller gatherings may fit into your own home. If that won’t work, think about organizations you belong to that might have a space available. Churches and homeowner’s associations sometimes allow members to use part of their buildings for these types of events.

Graduation party décor doesn’t have to be over the top. The focus of this party is the success of your graduate, not floral arrangements or tablecloths. You can purchase napkins or paper plates in your graduate’s school colors. If you’re having an indoor party, you can deck the place out in memorabilia from your graduate’s years in school. You know you’ve been saving all kinds of programs and pictures over the year; now you have the perfect way to put them to use.

Finally, if your graduate has befriended another member of his class for his entire high school career, you may want to join forces with the friend’s family and plan a joint celebration. Chances are that these two graduates have shared every other important part of high school. Why shouldn’t they celebrate its completion together, too?