cheap fun

16 Ways to Host an Oktoberfest Party on the Cheap

Nick Wharton — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 11:00:34 +0000

Oktoberfest is well-loved by Germans and beer-drinkers everywhere, and for good reason. The long-held festival celebrating Bavarian culture is a riotous good time with special brews, food, games, and music.

If you didn't get your plane ticket to Munich this year, you can still have a great time at home by hosting your very own Oktoberfest. Read on for some tips on how to throw a fun party — on a budget — that your guests will be talking about until next September.

1. Make It BYOB

One sure-fired way to save money on any party is to make it a BYOB affair, and that's never more true than during Oktoberfest. It's a festival centered around beer, so if you want to save some serious cash, have your guests bring their favorite brews. Bonus points if it's a German or Oktoberfest variety.

2. Or BYOS (BYO Stein)

It feels just plain wrong to drink a crisp beer out of anything but a stein during Oktoberfest, but buying each guest their own mug can really add up. Make your party truly unique by having everyone bring their own stein and filling it up for them when they arrive. This is an especially fun idea if you plan to make it a yearly gathering.

3. Or BYOS! (BYO Sausage)

Rather than have your guests bring along beer, ask everyone to bring their own sausage to throw on the grill. You'll save money on meat, and will get a fun assortment of sausages to share, too.

4. Bake Homemade Soft Pretzels

Nothing goes much better with beer than pretzels, and soft pretzels are the traditional accompaniment during Oktoberfest. If you have the time and enjoy baking, homemade soft pretzels are cheap and taste way better than the store-bought version.

5. Serve Hard Pretzels

Although soft pretzels are more traditional, hard pretzels will do in a pinch, and are about as cheap as snacks get. Scatter bowls all around so that guests have something salty to munch on.

6. Sew Your Own Dirndls and Lederhosen

If you have a knack for sewing, why not make your own Oktoberfest costumes? Dirndls can cost a boat load, but with a little know-how, you can look authentic on the cheap. Just do an Internet search to find free or cheap patterns for dirndls and DIY lederhosen. Many patterns allow you to use existing clothing or leftover fabric, saving even more.

7. Put Together Makeshift Dirndls and Lederhosen

If you're not a sewer or don't want to throw down a wad of cash on something you'll wear once or twice a year, then make an easy facsimile. For the men, don khaki shorts, a button down shirt, suspenders, and tall socks. For the ladies, a full skirt, puffy blouse, frilly apron, and an optional corset will do it. It's nothing a trip to the thrift store shouldn't fix.

8. Order T-Shirt Costumes

For the least amount of effort but real campy fun, don a dirndl or lederhosen t-shirt for the occasion. A quick online search will turn up dozens of cheap options, and are sure to be a conversation starter.

9. Make Your Own Edelweiss Hats

Create your own traditional edelweiss hats out of construction paper and few other craft supplies, and decorate the tables with them. They'll make everything festive, and guests can wear them for photos.

10. Use a Free Playlist

When planning your Oktoberfest fest, don't forget music. Luckily, free services like Spotify and Pandora have you covered with German-themed playlists and stations. Put one of these on and do your best to sing along.

11. Buy Your Beer in Bulk

When stocking up on beer for your party, buy bigger lots of one or two great beers rather than buying smaller amounts of different kinds. For example, 12 and 24-packs are typically cheaper per beer, and sometimes you can find good deals on kegs. No matter what beer you choose to serve, be sure to shop around. Costco has terrific deals on beer — and you don't need to be a member to buy it.

12. Throw an Afternoon Party

The official Oktoberfest takes place over 16 days and nights, and the daytime festivities are decidedly less rowdy (but still festive). To save money on beer and food, host your party in the afternoon. Typically, your guests won't drink or eat as much if the celebration isn't at night or during a mealtime.

13. Serve Homemade Apple Strudel

To finish your shindig on a sweet note, whip up a batch of apple strudel. Thanks to frozen puff pastry, the classic dessert is easy to make and more cost effective than visiting a bakery.

14. Host a Sing-Along

For cheap entertainment, lead everyone in a classic sing-along or two. Provide lyrics to a popular German drinking song so that everyone can follow along, be sure to toast with a hearty "Prōst!" afterwards.

15. Use Printable Decorations

Yet again, your party savior is the trusty Internet. Seek out printable decorations and put your printer to work creating blue and white banners, table decorations, and more.

16. Mix Up Flavored Mustards

An assortment of mustards is the perfect accompaniment for all of the sausages and pretzels at Oktoberfest. Instead of buying different kinds of gourmet mustards, buy one big container of brown mustard and flavor it yourself. Add honey for a honey mustard and horseradish for spicy. Get creative and make your own custom flavors!

Are you hosting Oktoberfest this year?

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This article is from Nick Wharton of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Best Money Tips: Cheap, Fun Things to Do With Friends

Amy Lu — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 20:00:07 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some great articles on fun and inexpensive things to do with your friends, how to make the most of perfume and other scents, and good-looking lunches to bring to work.

10 Fun Hobbies You Can Take Up for Free

Ashley Marcin — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 16:00:14 +0000

In the new year, many of us choose to take up new hobbies to fill our free time and extend our skills. I recently looked into taking a pottery class, for example, but the $600 price tag sent me scrambling elsewhere to find some less expensive fun. Sure, a good number of fulfilling activities cost a pretty penny, but there are plenty of others you can start for free.

1. Exercise

Forget gym memberships. All you need for a great workout is yourself (and maybe a pair of shoes). You can walk or jog around your neighborhood. The web has a wealth of free workouts you can perform in your living room. Also investigate the gyms and fitness clubs around you to see if they run free weeks or classes you can try before you buy.

2. Read

All you need to become a frugal bookworm is a card to your local library. Even if your local stacks don't hold all the books you want to read, you can usually request to get most anything you want through interlibrary loans. So, sign up for Goodreads, research some books in whatever genre appeals to you, make a list, and slip into your reading glasses.

3. Write

If you'd rather write than read, look around the web for different writing challenges that "push your boundaries" and allow you to explore different topics and styles. You might also start a blog to share your words with the world (or keep it private, or for friends-only). Many regions also have writers' groups that allow you to meet up with like-minded people and get feedback on your work. Check your library, bookstore, or community calendar for details.

4. Play an Instrument

Venture into your attic and find your trumpet from high school marching band. Stop singing only in the confines of your car. There are a number of community groups — bands, orchestras, choruses, and other ensembles — that allow you to re-learn your instrument and perform in concerts. I was a member of a local philharmonic for years, and I loved having an excuse to play my violin after a 10-year hiatus.

5. Act

The same goes with community theater. Audition for lead roles or hang out with the extras in the chorus. Whatever part you play, acting allows you to meet new people, explore your creative side, and just have a lot of fun. You don't even need experience! Just search "community theater" and the name of the city where you live to find groups near you.

6. Learn a Language

Have you ever wanted to speak another language? I mean, beyond those few years of Italian you were required to take to graduate college? I sure have. A few years ago I taught myself French using an app and some free online language resources, and I was surprised how much fun it was (and useful, too!).

7. Listen to Podcast

Move over, TV and books, I've become seriously obsessed with podcasts since Sarah Koenig's Serial came out. Now I've moved on to This American Life and other free radio programs and podcasts I can stream or download. I love how these programs teach me things about myself and the world around me. I can listen to them while I lay in bed or go for a jog and change subjects to suit my mood.

8. Volunteer

Doing good feels good and is certainly a thoughtful hobby to take up and enjoy. You can serve food at your local soup kitchen, help build houses, or visit the elderly. The need is great and the opportunities are endless. To find volunteering gigs near you, try sites like VolunteerMatch that sort by location and interest.

9. Explore

Take a hike — literally. Pack yourself a lunch and head out on a local trail. A friend of mine in the Adirondacks tries to reach the summit of a new mountain every couple weeks. You can also try geocaching, which allows you to hunt for different objects or locations using GPS coordinates.

10. Begin Again

Then there are those hobbies of years past — you have all the stuff sitting in a box somewhere. For me, it's knitting. I have countless skeins of yarn and a few different sizes of needles, assorted books, and other supplies. All I need to do is use what I have and pick up where I left off. For you, this might mean dusting off a chess set, unearthing oil paints, or rolling out that old yoga mat.

Do you pursue and free or frugal hobbies? What do you do?

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This article is from Ashley Marcin of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 Frugal, Non-Depressing Ways to Spend NYE

Amanda Meadows — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 12:00:11 +0000

New Year's Eve can be a dreaded holiday for both singles and frugal families. We all have friends who are jetting off to Vegas or going to the hottest boutique hotel's $250-a-head bash, but you don't have to!

Here are five frugal, non-depressing ways to spend NYE:

1. Host a Champagne Potluck

This is a fun and less spendy way to host your own NYE party. Simply get those delicious and cheap hors d'oeuvres from Trader Joe's, or make your own cheap-to-make puff pastry treats. Each person you invite brings different a type of bubbly: champagne, cava, prosecco, sparkling rose, anything. Have a tasting party right up until the ball drops! And the best part? Lots of leftover champagne for you!

2. Play a New Year's Eve Movie Marathon

Looking for a more casual way to host? Get all your pals together and marathon some favorite movies that feature New Year's Eve, like Trading Places, When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless In Seattle, Bridget Jones' Diary, The Cutting Edge, 200 Cigarettes, About a Boy, and more. Have fun drinking and heckling the movies together. Bonus: time one of the viewings to match up with the actual midnight countdown.

3. Attend Your City's Free Celebration

If you live in or near a major city, find out if your city has a "first night" or another kind of NYE celebration. For example, Los Angeles has a well-known free celebration that attracts thousands. Simply Google "NYE celebration [your city]." Take a lyft or public transit to the event (because parking will be a nightmare) and have fun! Have a family? This is might be your most cost effective option. Single? Bring a wingman/woman with you for maximum fun.

4. Hit the Ice Skating Rink

This is a great way to have fun with other people without dealing with public drunkenness. Bring your family or invite some friends to a fun winter tradition like ice skating, another great winter staycation trick. If you don't live near an ice rink, try a classic roller skating rink instead! The per-person cost is similar to bowling, which is also very frugal.

5. See the Stars

Tired of the crowds, stress, and faux-glitz of New Year's Eve? Take a friend and hit the road to the nearest place away from the city, where you can see the stars. There's even a meteor shower happening during NYE. Bring your own treats, refreshments, blankets, and camp out. Reflect on the past year and discuss your goals for next year. Have your own countdown to midnight with sparklers and a thermos toast. It will be a special, quiet NYE you won't forget.

How will you be spending NYE?

This article is from Amanda Meadows of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

11 Things You Can Do in Philadelphia That You Can't Do Anywhere Else

Alaina Tweddale — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 17:00:04 +0000

Philadelphia is nestled snugly between the nation's capital and New York City, the largest city in the U.S. Like a middle sibling that's often overshadowed by its other siblings, it's no wonder the city of brotherly love is often overlooked or — even worse — gets a bad rap.

Despite the fame and illustriousness of its east coast neighbors, this surprisingly large city (it's the fifth largest in the nation) has plenty to boast about. If you're looking to spend a day (or five) in town, check out these 11 things you can only do in Philadelphia. (See also: Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards)

1. Recreate Rocky Balboa's Run Up the Steps

Join the tens of thousands of visitors who trek up the 72 steps to the entrance of the world class Philadelphia Museum of Art. From the top step, you can enjoy one of the most breathtaking views of the Philadelphia skyline. It's no wonder this gorgeous landmark that has been named the second most famous movie location in the entire world. Once inside, enjoy more than 300,000 works of art, including those from the Renaissance, American, Impressionist, and Modern eras. (See also: 9 Fun and Affordable Vacation Ideas)

2. Hang Where the Country's Forefathers Once Dined

Tour a hidden piece of Philadelphia history at Hamilton's Mansion, a forgotten treasure tucked away inside the Woodlands Cemetery in University City.

Constructed in 1770, the house boasts what may have been one of the finest neoclassical interior spaces of its time, along with sophisticated servant's quarters that were among the first of their kind. "When touring the home," says Marla McDermott, Chief Experience Officer and Lifestyle Concierge for Iheartphl.com, "it's surreal to think that you're standing on the same original wood plank floors where guests like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin once dined. You just can't do that anywhere else."

3. See the Strangest Medical Oddities Ever

If you've ever wanted to see what a jar of pickled human skin looks like, well, now you can. At the Mütter Museum of Medical Oddities at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia you can see this and more, including a display of 139 skulls that were collected by a Viennese anatomist in the 1800s; 1300 jars of bottled body parts, cysts, and tumors; and even small slices of Albert Einstein's brain, carefully preserved in glass slides.

4. Visit One of the World's Finest Collections of Impressionist Art

The Barnes Foundation houses the vast private art collection of self-made millionaire Albert Barnes. From 1912 until his death in 1951, Barnes collected 19th and 20th century French masterpieces from the most daring artists of the time, including Cézanne, Renoir, Monet, Picasso, and van Gogh. "If you're going to check out only one museum in Philadelphia," says McDermott, "the Barnes Foundation is a can't miss."

5. Walk Through the Inside of a Giant Beating Heart

Inside the Franklin Institute Science Museum you can walk through a beating model heart that's large enough for a person the height of the Statue of Liberty. Also explore a host of permanent and rotating exhibits, including Circus! Science Under the Big Top, 101 Inventions that Changed the World, and a rooftop observatory.

6. Get Spooked at the World's First True Penitentiary

(And yes, it's haunted.)

The now vacant Eastern State Penitentiary revolutionized the penal system in 1829 with this imposing prison built to house criminals in solitary confinement. "It's design was so innovative for it's time that it was the inspiration for Alcatraz," says McDermott. "The prison also once housed famous criminals like Al Capone and Willie Sutton." Closed since 1971, the prison is now open to tour, year-round. If you really want to get scared, visit in October for Terror Behind the Walls, one of the most terrifying annual haunted houses you'll ever visit.

7. Take a Stroll Down America's Oldest Residential Street

People have been living on Elfreth's Alley in Old City since 1728, making it the oldest continually inhabited residential street in the nation. The National Historic Landmark consists of one cobblestone-lined alley that is flanked by Georgian and Federal-style homes and provides a glimpse at how the 18th Century working class smiths, glassblowers, and furniture builders once lived.

8. Eat the World's Best Cheesesteak

Philly is famous for loading up a freshly baked hoagie roll (See? Where else will you get a hoagie roll but in this fine city?) with thinly sliced rib eye steak and then smothering it with heaps of fried onions and, depending on where you dine, either cheese whiz or melted provolone. Like all fine things, you'll find variations on the original, but this is the gist. Dalessandro's in Roxborough is a favorite but explore for yourself with this list of top cheesesteak shops in the city. Resistance is futile so come prepared with an elastic waistband. You've been warned.

9. Visit the Nation's First Zoo

The Philadelphia Zoo, opened in 1874, sits on 42 acres in the middle of the city and is home to 1,300 animals, including many that are rare or endangered. The zoo features a 2.5 acre primate preserve; Big Cat Falls, where visitors can stand eye-to-eye with 12 endangered big cats, separated only by a pane of glass; and a miniature African plain featuring white rhinos, reticulated giraffes, zebras, hippos, and gazelles. Throughout the zoo are statues of endangered animals, constructed completely out of legos. Peacocks and Peahens also roam the zoo freely.

10. See the Birthplace of Our Nation

Philadelphia served as the backdrop for much of our country's battle for independence, and we have the landmarks to prove it. Visit Independence Hall, where the Constitution and Declaration of Independence were created. The first continental congress met at Carpenter's Hall and the American flag was sewn at the Betsy Ross House.

11. Get In Touch With Nature

It's a little known secret to city outsiders but Philadelphia is home to the largest landscaped urban park in the world. There are 9,200 acres of nature across 63 parks, making it easy to access from almost anywhere in the city. You can go for a stroll, pack a family picnic, or grab your fishing rod for a day in the stocked creek. "Few things beat spending a beautiful afternoon riding along the scenic Schuylkill River Trail, then looping around to Martin Luther King Drive," says McDermott, "Especially on weekends from April through October, when the road is closed to auto traffic." Rent a bike or segway and start exploring.

Do you know and love Philadelphia? We want to know your favorite spots! Share the love in the comments below.

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This article is from Alaina Tweddale of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

8 Things You Can Do in Denver That You Can't Do Anywhere Else

Beth Buczynski — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 11:00:05 +0000

I moved to Colorado to attend graduate school, and fully intended to return to my home in the Southeast upon graduation. That was eight years ago. (See also: 9 Great Cities for Job Seekers)

In my opinion Denver's a dark horse among American metropolises. It's clean, easy to get around, chock full of fun things to do, and just a short drive away from the most beautiful mountains in the country. Looking for quick, affordable getaway? Keep reading for activities you can only do in the Mile High City.

1. Smoke Legal Weed

If you haven't heard by now, Colorado is the first state to legalize marijuana for all adults over age 21 (although other states, like Washington, are joining the club). There are now approximately 100 legal weed stores in the Denver metro area hawking marijuana buds as well as THC-infused edibles of every shape and flavor. Been a while since you inhaled? Let one of the many cannabis tour guides do the driving for you.

2. Eat at a Restaurant Started by a Pal of Buffalo Bill

Henry H. "Shorty Scout" Zietz was a member of Buffalo Bill's infamous band of straight-shooting band of scouts. In 1893, Zietz opened the Buckhorn Exchange, a bar and restaurant that catered to cowboys, Native American chiefs, miners, railroad builders, silver barons, and anyone else brave enough to live in the Wild West. The Buckhorn Exchange is now in its second century of existence, and still holds the first liquor license ever issued by the State of Colorado.

3. Rock Out at Red Rocks

I've seen concerts in stadiums, iconic music halls, and even on a cruise ship. None hold a candle to the experience of attending a performance at Red Rocks amphitheater. This outdoor venue is both a geological wonder and a musical masterpiece. Known around the world for walls made of massive red boulders and superb acoustics, even a band you hate would sound good here. (See also: 25 Incredible Places You Must Visit Before You Die)

4. See the Cliff Divers at the Real Casa Bonita

Before I moved to Colorado, I thought most of the places mentioned on South Park were fictional. I was wrong. Not only is Casa Bonita a real Denver restaurant, everything Cartman loved about it is real too: the treasure cave, the cliff divers, and yes, even the delicious sopapilla.

5. Stand Exactly One Mile High

The official elevation of the City of Denver is 5,280 feet — exactly one mile. Of course, the elevation varies in different parts around town. If you want to be a mile high (and you're not interested in the legal weed mentioned earlier) just head to the State Capitol building. The 18th step leading into the building is exactly 5,280 feet above sea level.

6. Visit 22 Craft Breweries in the Same Day

If you love to drink good beer from craft breweries, Denver should be the number one destination on your travel list. There over 20 top notch breweries in the downtown Denver area, from national brands like Blue Moon, to Colorado-only favorites like Breckenridge Brewery. Many of these breweries also offer tours in addition to tap room tastings. (See also: 10 Great Reasons to Drink Beer)

7. Take a Train Up the Rockies

No trip to Colorado is complete without at least peeking at the majestic Rocky Mountains. You could spend all day hiking to the top of a nearby peak, or you could cheat by letting a train do the work. There are eight scenic railroads in the Denver area, and all of them will show you a side of the mountains people rarely get to see.

8. See a Cattle Drive

Although it's grown up and modern now, Denver is a cow town at heart. Once a year, the city embraces its ranch hand roots by welcoming the National Western Stock Show. This 14-day event features a full-sized rodeo, livestock auction, a cow parade, and plenty of 10-gallon hats.

Know any other special to Denver activities? Please share in comments!

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This article is from Beth Buczynski of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

18 Awesome Things You Can Do This Weekend for Under $10

Mikey Rox — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 15:00:04 +0000

Is your wallet a little deflated this weekend? Turn that frown upside down with this list of 18 awesome things you can do for under $10 — many of which are completely free.

1. Float Down a River

Round up a few of your buddies and head to the nearest river for an afternoon of pure relaxation as you float your cares away. Grab a tube (you can pick up a decent one for less than $10 at your local discount store), pack snacks and drinks for the trip, and set sail. Keep in mind, however, that you'll end up far away from where you started, so it's important that you park one vehicle on each end of your route. Unless, of course, you want to make the several-mile trek back on foot. Also make sure to scout the river first… rapids and waterfalls mean hospital bills over $10.

2. Learn How to Juggle

If you've ever envied a circus performer — and let's face it, who hasn't? — now's your chance to make it to the Big Top. There are plenty of tutorials online that will teach you how to juggle, but this particular video will have you mastering the skill in 5 minutes.

3. See a Morning Movie

Movie theaters are charging higher prices than ever to see your favorite Hollywood flicks — notwithstanding 3D and IMAX prices even — but you can still see a first-run film at many theaters, like my personal favorite AMC, for less than $10 per ticket if you attend a screening before noon. Check your local theater for policies and prices.

4. Build a Birdhouse

Give your feathered friends a new home by building a birdhouse that you can hang in your yard. According to Instructables, you can erect this tiny retreat for just $2, leaving you with plenty of cash to spring for the birdie hot tub.

5. Take a Dip in the Community Pool

If it's a sweltering summer day, cool off in your community pool, generally for just a few dollars' admission. Some are even free, particularly in major cities. You'll have to deal with a bunch of screaming kids, but that's par for the course — and beggars can't be choosy.

6. Relive Your Childhood Saturday Morning

Recently I've started TiVoing some old-school Saturday morning TV shows — like Smurfs, Looney Tunes, and The Jetsons — so I can relive the weekends of yesterday just like I did back then: in my undies, eating Cookie Crisp from a bowl of cold milk, and laughing at the loveable characters that made my childhood memorable.

7. Throw a 'What-You-Have-On-Hand' Potluck

Don't have enough dough to go out to dinner tonight? Throw a potluck where you and your friends only make what you already have in your fridges, freezers, and pantries.

8. Embark on a Photo Safari

Arm yourself with your camera (or camera phone) and head to an area in your town known for its picturesque views and wildlife. Afterward, upload your pics to social media so you can share your finds with your friends.

9. Set Up a Yard Sale

A yard sale is worth the $10 investment to make a few signs and flyers to place strategically around your neighborhood to draw shoppers. I also recommend promoting the sale in the local paper (if it's free) to bring in a broader range of customers. If you have any money leftover, pick up donuts and juice for shoppers to help sweeten their deals. I just had one a few weeks ago and walked away with $150 and much less junk. (See also: Have Your Best Garage Sale Ever)

10. Contribute to an Internet Meme

We all love the viral videos of the Internet — and there's no reason you can't be part of one. Research a popular and current meme and record yourself as you participate in it. Upload it to your favorite social network and see what happens.

11. Host an At-Home Film Festival

A different spin on the movie marathon, an at-home film festival consists of indie and under-the-radar films that are screened in your living room. Ask each attendee to bring their favorite DVD from this genre, along with snacks and drinks, and settle in for a day of culture.

12. Hold a Paper Airplane Contest

See who can construct the best paper airplane by taking your aircraft to the nearest park or other open area and holding a contest. Categories can include best design, length of flight time, distance, and other creative criteria.

13. Build a Bedroom Fort

Gather up all your blankets, bridge them from your bed to your bureaus (and whatever else you'd like), and pretend like you're 10 years old again. This activity is best when it follows your Saturday morning cartoon binge-a-thon.

14. Set Up a Makeshift Slip-and-Slide

You can pick up the brand name Slip 'N Slide, but you can save yourself $10 by lubricating a tarp or other long, thin plastic sheet with water and oil or soap for hours of wet and wild fun.

15. Practice a Few Card Tricks

Right after you learn how to juggle, tap into your inner magician by learning a few card tricks to impress your friends. Here's a video tutorial to get you started.

16. Engage in a Bubble Battle

The Bubble Battle is actually a popular event held by Newmindspace in New York City in the summertime wherein thousands of people gather in Times Square to blow bubbles. I've been and it's really cool and makes for great photos. To recreate this event with your friends, pick up several bottles of bubbles — and maybe even a bubble gun — so you can battle it out at the location of your choice. I would recommend someplace public, so you can bring joy to others through your bubbles.

17. Ask Your Friend to Take Their Dog to the Park

If you don't have a dog of your own, ask a friend if you can take theirs to the local off-leash dog park. Not only will you have a couple hours of fun playing with the pooch and his pals, but your human friend will appreciate that his or her best buddy is getting additional exercise.

18. Go Faux Shopping

When I was in college and broke, I would occasionally go to the local Walmart, fill up a cart with things that I wanted, and then abandon it. Granted, it's probably not the politest thing to do, which is why I'm not recommending that to you. (Although, riding bikes and playing with the toys in Walmart is still pretty fun.)

Rather, you can upgrade this experience so no one is inconvenienced by trying on clothes at your favorite stores, testing out electronic gadgets, and otherwise engaging with display items (that's why they're on display, after all) at your local mall or shopping center. Sometimes, it's good to get back to the simple things in life.

Do you have more awesome activities that we can do this weekend for less than $10? Let me know in the comments below.

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This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

15 Fun Nights Out for $5 or Less

Ashley Marcin — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 11:36:34 +0000

After all my fixed expenses are accounted for in my budget, there's not a ton left for the extras. Over the years, I've grown accustomed to entertaining myself on the cheap. And it's easier than you might think to find things to do. It just takes a little research and a lot of creativity, but you can certainly spend $5 (or less) and have an enjoyable time out. You may even learn something new! (See also: How to Beat the Sunday Night Blues)

1. Get Your Sweat On

Looking for a healthy way to spend Friday night? Search around to find yoga studios and other fitness establishments in your area. Many offer complimentary or low-cost classes to first-timers. Make plans with a friend to stretch and strengthen your muscles, and then grab a smoothie afterward. Just be sure to call ahead and ensure there's enough space in the class you want to attend (as well as if there are any potential hidden charges).

2. Check Out Some Art

Many communities large and small offer once-monthly (or sometimes weekly) art walks highlighting local painters, sculptors, photographers, musicians, etc. The one in my area is called "First Friday," and it's free to attend. If I'm on a budget, I skip a meal out and opt instead to grab a drink with a friend. Then we stroll along the streets and take it all in. (See also: How to Make Art on the Cheap)

3. Scope Out Local Festivals

The same goes for all those open-air concerts and festivals happening in your hometown. As we get into the spring and summer months, there are more and more free events held by cities and towns, cultural groups, churches, and many more organizations. In our area alone, we have festivals celebrating Italian, Greek, and Ukrainian cultures and cuisines; Jazz, Classical, and Folk music; Chocolate, Strawberries, Garlic, and other local foods; and much more. These events often take their low admission costs and toss them back into the community.

4. Listen to Music

In my city, we are lucky to have a state university with a solid music program. The events calendar is teeming with student recitals that are free and open to the public. Many of these concerts are during the daytime hours, but every so often there are evening offerings as well. I've seen everything from a solo soprano to a small jazz ensemble perform, and I love knowing that I'm helping students practice their craft for an audience.

5. Sing a Tune

If you'd rather make music than sit in the audience, a rousing night of karaoke might be for you. Many bars offer this type of event for free, so the rest is up to you for how much you want to spend on drinks and food. I like to eat something beforehand and then grab a beer and some free popcorn (or whatever other type of complementary munchie is on the bar). (See also: How to Have a Cheap Night Out)

6. Challenge Your Mind

One of my favorite activities is heading with my husband to our favorite bar and getting a team together for trivia night. If we get enough people, we can split a pitcher of cheap beer and even a pizza, making it a very affordable night-out option. The best part? We learn some fun, useless information and — if we come in first — we win gift certificates or cash to afford free eats the next time we want to play.

7. Soak in Some Screen Time

While this one might not be specifically for you night owls, when I became a parent, my definition of "night out" also came to encompass the afternoons or whenever we can secure babysitting. Though traditional matinees might come in over $5 a person, local colleges and universities sometimes have cinemas on campus that are open to the public with lower ticket rates. We used to live in Ithaca, NY, and daytime weekend movies at Cornell Cinema came in at just $5 a person. We saw some really interesting stuff there we might not have heard of otherwise. (See also: Watch Movies in the Theater for Free)

8. Make It Social

Are you a member of a local club or organization? If not, you should see what's available in your area. Where I live, there are groups focused on hiking, running, photography, parenting, and just about anything else you can dream up. And many of these groups host free or low-cost events for members. Just recently I took a 90-minute Hot Yoga for Runners workshop through our club for less than half the normal price, and I got to spend time with my friends to boot!

9. Pack a Picnic

When the warmer weather hits, I love to come up with a fun menu of packable foods and head to a local park for a simple picnic. It's an intimate way to spend an evening, but definitely a nice change of pace if you're inside all day long. Don't forget a blanket, candles, and utensils. Since there aren't any costs besides food, you can get as creative as you'd like and even use up items from your pantry to make it free.

10. See the Sights

Many areas have museums that offer either free or inexpensive admission. Even if there is a higher cost associated, check out the museum's events calendar to discover special discount nights — most have them at least once a month. If you're a history nerd like me, you can spend hours wandering around. While we often take these places for granted, it's incredible to see the different exhibits on display. (See also: Free Things to Do in Any City)

11. Go Literary

Along these same lines, many educational institutions, libraries, and book stores offer free poetry and prose readings by writers from the local community to the international scene. Again, it's all about checking out those event calendars and getting there early to grab a spot in the crowd. Grab a coffee with a friend afterward to discuss.

12. Volunteer

There are lots of great causes and organizations that need help morning, noon, and night. Consider getting a group together — or heading out on your own — to give the gift of your time. You might meet some awesome people and form long-lasting friendships in the process. Plus, it's free.

13. Sample Local Flavor

Head to your local brewery, winery, or wherever else serves up samples and tastings, and get a flight of their current offerings. If a flight is too expensive (prices range wildly across the country), grab a pint or glass of something you've never tried before and sip slowly to savor. Some of these places have specials too, so be sure to ask around and make some mental notes.

14. Kid Around

Remember bowling, mini golf, ice skating, and batting cages? All this stuff we found fun as kids can be just as entertaining now that we're adults. The cost for a bowling game at our local alley is an incredibly low $2 a person with a $1 shoe rental. Add a pitcher of beer at $2 a person, and you've got yourself quite a nostalgic night.

15. Use Your Perks

Depending on where you work or go to school, many companies and institutions offer free or discounted rates for the various local establishments in the examples above. Find out what perks are due to you, and you can certainly whittle down your entertainment costs and start doing more for less with your evenings and weekends.

Obviously not all these activities are priced the same in every location, so I'd love to know what fun activities you fill your time with for less than $5 a person. Even better — what nights out have you enjoyed for free?

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This article is from Ashley Marcin of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

15 Free Ways to Entertain Kids for an Afternoon

Mikey Rox — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 10:24:31 +0000

School's out for summer, and you know what that means — tiny people will be terrorizing your house on a daily basis. But that doesn't have to happen. With this list of free activities for kids, you can keep the tykes occupied and satisfied, all without going broke. (See also: Summer Freebies and Bargains for Kids)

1. Snap Photos at a Nearby Park

Most kids have access to cameras these days — whether it's mom or dad's point-and-shoot or the one on their phones. Facilitate an appreciation for photography by planning an afternoon at a park where you'll hike the grounds and snap photos of plants, trees, animals, and people. If you can find a park with a stream, pond, or lake, you'll find even more interesting critters to capture, which is sure to put a smile on the little ones' faces.

2. Search for Plants and Insects to Identify

When I was a kid, I loved to find caterpillars or lightning bugs and put them in jars as pets. The problem with that, of course, is that they die soon after from neglect or stress. Instead of hunting down bugs to enslave, consider embarking on a mini-safari with your smartphone. Armed with the Bug & Weed Identifier by Spectracide, you can snap photos of interesting insects and plants and find out what they are instantly. This is a great way to instill an appreciation for nature while sneaking in an educational activity while school's out.

3. Volunteer to Beautify a Neighbor's Yard

If you have a neighbor who's elderly, disabled, or otherwise can't tend to their yard, offer to bring the kids over to help mow the lawn, pull weeds, plant seeds, rake leaves, sweep the porch, and perform other tasks to make your neighbor's day a little brighter. Not only will this activity enhance your neighborly bond, but you'll have the chance to teach your kids why it's important to give back to their community.

4. Go on a Geocaching Adventure

When planning this article, I put a call out on Facebook for free activity ideas in which my friends with kids participate. Several of the ideas are on this list, but this one is perhaps the most unique. I had never heard of Geocaching before, but I'm totally in love with it now.

For those not familiar with the concept, Geocaching is a free real-world outdoor treasure hunt, in which the participants use GPS, usually on a smartphone, to hide and seek containers called "geocaches" or "caches" anywhere in the world. Wikipedia explains "a typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook where the geocacher enters the date they found it and signs it with their established code name. After signing into the log, the cache must be placed back exactly where the person found it. Larger containers such as plastic storage containers or ammunition boxes can also contain items for trading, usually toys or trinkets of little value." You can expect to find plenty of caches in more populated areas, but there are likely a few near you even if your location is more remote.

5. Bowl at Your Local Lanes

This is another program to which I was alerted by a Facebook friend, and I almost couldn't believe it was real. After checking into it, however, I found out that it's totally legit — and probably one of the coolest and cheapest ways to spend a steamy (or rainy) summer afternoon indoors. All you have to do is visit KidsBowlFree.com, find the participating bowling center near you, and register your children. Once you're registered, your kids are eligible for two free games of bowling every day all summer long. That's right — EVERY day ALL summer long. Can you believe it? Almost too good to be true, but you'll soon be happy it is.

6. Make Refreshing Summer Treats

I recently picked up ice-pop molds that I'm having fun with this summer — currently they're filled with lemon-flavored iced tea — and that's just the tip of the iceberg of what you and your kids can create in the kitchen for free (or nearly so) this summer. If you have a garden full of fruits and veggies — or access to fresh berries (perhaps in a wooded area nearby where you can pick them) — turn them into tasty treats like citrusy -ades, fruity shaved ices, or refreshing flavored waters.

7. Get Wet at a Local Splash Park

Many areas — especially urban ones — are installing splash parks to keep kids cool during the sweltering summer months. I once visited one in Boston's Copley Square, and even as an adult I had a great time. If one of these neat "H2Oasises" is near you, suit up the kiddos and enjoy a day of soggy fun.

8. Plan a Neighborhood Parade

Can't afford a trip to Disney this summer? Gather up the other neighborhood moms and kids and work together to recreate the theme park's famous parades by creating floats and dressing up in costumes that you'll parade up and down the street for the entire block to enjoy.

9. Perform Skits or Short Plays

I spent a lot of time at my grandparents' house during the summertime, and I fondly remember many afternoons spent rehearsing a self-produced a play with my friends. Our play was based on Pippi Longstocking — probably not so popular with today's youth — but there are lots of other kid-friendly themes from which to choose based on current pop culture trends that will keep them busy for days on end as they write the script, design props, memorize lines, and choose costumes. When the show is ready to go on, get the rest of the parents together for a night out at the community theater.

10. Throw a Dance Party

Afraid your kids aren't active enough this summer? Subtly introduce exercise into their routine by throwing a dance party where they can bust out their best moves with their friends while the parents enjoy a brief respite. Maybe with an adult lemonade or two.

11. Plan a Book-to-Film Movie Marathon

Pique your child's interest in summer reading by encouraging him or her to read a book that inspired a movie — there are endless titles from which to choose, so you can cater to every personality — with the promise of a movie-watching party with popcorn and candy once they're finished the book. You also can flip the script, and plan a movie day when you'll watch films inspired by books that you'll have on hand for your child to dive into after the screening.

12. Visit a Local Dog Park

If you have a dog of your own, you can make a family outing of visiting the local dog park so Fido can enjoy playtime too. But even if you don't have a pet, there's no reason why you can't visit the dog run so your little one can run and play with the neighborhood hounds. Before you head off, however, discuss the proper way to handle other people's pets along with other safety rules.

13. Teach Necessary Life Skills

This idea is more geared toward older kids who are capable of a higher level of responsibility — tweens and early teens, specifically. They may not like this activity very much, but they'll thank you eventually for teaching them how to wash their own clothes, change a flat tire, build a fire, cook a meal, and perform whatever other life skills you can impart to them.

14. Take a Trip to a Cultural Institution

Check into your local institutions — botanical gardens, zoos, science centers, and art museums — to see if they offer free days during the summer. If they do, this is a great way to get out of the house while staying cool and learning something new. You also may want to look into Bank of America's Museums on Us program, which provides free admission to participating museums to cardholders on the first full weekend of every month.

15. Set Up a Homemade Water Park

When it's too hot out to move, bring the water park to your own backyard by setting up sprinklers, kiddie pools, and slip-and-slides for the kids to splash around in. Get creative by letting the water run down your backyard-playground slide and make water balloons so you can have an all-family wet-and-wild battle.

Have even more free afternoon activities for kids? Let me know in the comments below.

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This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

10 Old-School Things That Make Summer SUMMER!

Jennifer Holder — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 10:36:32 +0000

The summer fashion trends seem to be leaning toward the '90s (ugh, clogs), which means I'm constantly reminiscing about my summers growing up. It's nice to remember not having to worry about money or my future. In fact, the only thing I worried about was that dreaded day when school started again. (See also: 50+ Ways to Have Free Outdoor Fun)

Summer when I was young was easy, carefree, and most importantly, FUN. Below are some of the frugal, old-school things I miss about summer, which I hope to enjoy again in these next few remaining months before fall arrives again.

1. Sprinklers

Considering the temperature and the (most likely) dying grass outside, there are probably lots of sprinklers in your neighborhood. And outside businesses. And in parks. Head outside and get wet. Or maybe you can find out from your local government how to open up fire hydrant for some relief. Bathing suit not required, but don't prance around in your birthday suit like your parents might have let you do when you were five. That's a little thing called "illegal."

2. Swing Sets

Um, hello! Playgrounds are the best thing ever (SLIDES!), but swing sets really take the cake. Competing with your best friend to see who can go the highest? Trying to swing AROUND the pole? Jumping off and doing a somersault? These are the things that I miss most. I still love swinging, and it actually is a great workout for your legs (sorry to bring it back to adulthood worries).

3. Popsicles

When it's blazing outside and your water has already turned too hot to drink, a cool, refreshing popsicle is just the ticket. And luckily, popsicles have become popular among the "hip" crowd, so you can generally find them at festivals, food truck circles, and markets for cheap, or just make them yourself.

4. Jump Rope

Jumping rope (jump roping?) really is the best workout ever (again, I apologize for reminding you that you're still an adult). Also, it is super fun to attempt to do the same tricks you did when you were only half your current size. Definitely buy a cloth jump rope for this one, and make sure it's your size!

5. Bikes

Boom, easy. Bikes are good for the environment, they're cheap (as long as they don't get stolen), and they'll give you amazing calf muscles. I unfortunately am unable to ride a bike (I had to ride with training wheels until the 3rd grade, and although I miraculously managed to forgo them eventually, I have since then lost my balance again), but I applaud and support those who can, specifically by minding the road. Most cities have developed a bike share program too, so riding a bike has never been easier.

6. Hula Hoops

I've always had a hula hoop, but I was never able to do it correctly. When I lived in New York, I took a "lesson" from a guy in Central Park. (Track him down! He's cheap and taught me well!) From then on, I was hooked. I currently have a hula hoop in the backseat of my car that makes everyone ask me if I'm a hippie and go to shows that involve glow sticks. No, I don't, but I do like going to the park and pretending I'm a kid again.

7. Backyard Camping

When we were little, my parents let my brother and me camp in the backyard because we both desperately wanted to go out into the wilderness, but we were too young. Camping in the backyard might be the best thing in the world, because you feel invincible away from your parents while simultaneously being able to use an indoor toilet. It's funny to me now that they let us do it, simply because we lived in the country and there were coyotes that roamed around in our yard, but I'm so glad they let us because it prepared me for many camping trips in the future. (That isn't true; I don't camp.)

8. Summer Camp Revisited

Speaking of camping, how about CAMP? Don't you miss camp?! Counselors waking you up at the crack of dawn, jumping into a lake from a tire, arts and crafts all day...those were the good ole days. And although it'd be near impossible to do a camp for grownups, shirking all responsibility, it's possible to get close. Rent a cabin with friends, think of some fun crafts, and relive your childhood.

9. Backyard Games

Instead of just having a grill out or backyard party, why not involve some old school games? Red rover, badminton, kickball, and Frisbee can all be easily played and still be fun (especially if drinking is involved). Plus it's a fun and cheap way to hang with friends. If you don't have a backyard, head to the park. Maybe you can find some swings, too!

10. Boomboxes

What happened to the '80s, where you could carry around your music on your shoulder and loudly display your right to party? I say, revive it. I'm not one to listen to other people's music on public transportation, but at the beach? Sure. Why not? While you might not still don roller skates and a high-waisted bikini, you can still play your tunes loudly and proudly.

What are some old school summer-time things you miss?

This article is from Jennifer Holder of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Ask the Readers: What Summer Activities Do You Love?

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:37:08 +0000

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Carmen, Lynda, and Janice for winning this week's contest!

Summer is almost here! It's the season of beach trips, barbecues, and outdoor concerts under the stars. And heat waves, sure, but we'll save that topic for another Ask the Readers. This week, it's all about the fun stuff!

What summer activities do you love? Do you prefer to be under the sun or out of the heat? Does your family have any summer traditions — road trips, pool parties, or outdoor dinners? What special activities have you planned for this summer?

Tell us about the summer activities you love and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — here's how you can win!

Mandatory Entry:

Post your answer in the comments below. One commenter will win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

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You can tweet about our giveaway for an extra entry. Also, our Facebook fans can get an extra entry too! Use our Rafflecopter widget for your chance to win one of the other two Amazon Gift Cards:

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Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Monday, May 27th at 11:59 pm Pacific. Winners will be announced after May 27th on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
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You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Good Luck!

Tell us about the summer activities you love and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

This article is from Ashley Jacobs of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

25 Ways to Boost Creativity

Mikey Rox — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 11:00:31 +0000

Even those who go, go, go all day long can run into creative walls every once in a while. And once you’ve been knocked down, it can be hard to get back up again — despite what 90s annoyance Chumbawamba professes. So to help you reclaim your creativity in the event that you’re at an intellectual impasse, here are 25 tips on how to boost your creative brainpower. (See also: How Less Creativity Can Make You More Creative)

1. Listen to Music

Turn on your favorite tunes and get lost in melody. Don’t just listen to the music though. Hear it. Digest the lyrics and imagine in your head the scenes they set.

2. Meditate

Turn down the lights, power off your devices, and become one with yourself again. Meditation helps increase creativity by creating a condition for insight, easing artistic anxiety, and improving attention and concentration, among other benefits.

3. Doodle/Draw

Even if you’re not a particularly good hand artist, you can doodle endlessly and without a real purpose to help clear your mind of some of the clutter that has accumulated.

4. Daydream

This is one of my all time favorite pastimes. Daydreaming allows us to escape the burdens we carry and facilitates open-mindedness. There are no restrictions when daydreaming, which is why this tactic can be useful when you need a creative boost.

5. Keep a Notepad by Your Bed

I often wake up in the middle of the night — either from a dream or for a bathroom break — with something on my mind. If I don’t write it down immediately, I will likely forget it by morning. To preserve these creative surges, even when I can’t or don’t want to do anything about them in the moment, I keep a notepad next to my bed to jot down those dream filled ideas, words, and thoughts for later.

6. Skim Through a Magazine

Visual aids can often help in the creative process, so skimming through a magazine relevant to what you’re working on may help. For instance, if you’re looking for design inspiration, page through a home improvement publication. If you want to make a delicious meal for houseguests, look through a cooking magazine. There are magazines for virtually everything you can think of, so you should be able to find something that piques your creativity rather easily.

7. Have a Cocktail

Some of my best ideas have come after a few glasses of wine. In fact, if it weren’t for alcohol, famous writers like Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, and F. Scott Fitzgerald would have never had a hit. To inspire your creativity, throw a few back (in moderation) and wait for the ideas to start flowing as freely as the moderately free flowing booze.

8. Take a Nap

When you’re overwhelmed and overworked, it’s hard to be creative. Sometimes all you need is a nap to get your mind back on track.

9. Visit a Museum

Museums burst at their seams with creative excellence. Take a leisurely stroll through an art gallery or educational facility to see what those who have come before you have created to ignite ideas of your own.

10. Browse the Internet

If your brain is drained, spend 30 minutes browsing funny videos, reading articles, looking at pictures, or otherwise searching for the most outlandish things you can find. Just don't overdo it.

11. Play Video Games

Another great way to relax your noggin is to engage in a round of video games (or board games even). Some games can energize their players (especially Wii or Kinect games that make you move), and they can assist in improving your problem-solving skills.

12. Make a List

Whenever I have to come up with creative taglines for advertising copy, I take out a sheet of paper and write down all associated words and words that rhyme with those words, and I search for idioms that have relevance to the concept at hand. This technique unlocks ideas which lead to more ideas that I never would have thought of otherwise.

13. Decorate to Inspire

If you have an extra room in your house, decorate it to inspire you. Paint it a bright, energetic color; hang artwork that evokes emotion; and keep within reach those items you need when you need a creative insurgence — like coffee and your iPad.

14. Brainstorm With Another Creative

You know the old saying — two heads are better than one. When yours is running on empty, join forces with another creative to get your brain back in the game.

15. Get a Massage

Take a load off your back and your brain with a soothing massage that will help you relax. While you’re lying there for those 30 to 90 minutes, let you mind rest and wander.

16. Read a Book

You can’t help but visualize people and places when you read a great book. So when you feel like you’re experiencing a block, pick up your favorite story and escape to where your imagination and the prose take you.

17. Exercise

What else do you have to do on the treadmill besides watch the clock? Use that time to think about your projects and how you plan to approach them when you’re all buffed up. Thinking while working out also helps the minutes go by a little faster, which for someone like me, who hates the gym, is a blessing.

18. Eat Brain-Boosting Foods

Want a sharper mind bursting with creativity? The answer may be in what you eat. Put down the burgers and donuts and instead stuff your face with healthy, brain boosting foods like fish, soy, greens, and berries.

19. Follow Your Curiosity

The only way your creativity will know no bounds is if you let your curiosity run wild. One of the ways I expand my horizons is through Wikipedia. It never fails that when I look up one topic, I click on 20 other related links until I’m so far from my original topic that I forgot what I searched for. The result, however, is that I’ve just learned a ton of stuff that will influence my creativity, even if I don’t know it yet.

20. Set Aside Time

Sometimes you have to schedule time to think. If you find that you don’t have enough time during the day and your creativity is suffering as a result, it’s time for a break. Schedule a half hour where you can put all your distractions aside and relax. This brief respite will help you destress and think more clearly when you return to work.

21. Take Risks

When you take risks, you open yourself up to new experiences — and new experiences contribute to your overall creativity. So the next time you go back and forth in your mind about "should I or shouldn’t I," just do it. You’ll thank yourself later.

22. Think Outside the Box — Literally

It may sound like a cliché, but sitting outside a physical box has shown to enhance creativity.

23. Have Fun With Children

Who better to help you open your mind that children? Children have no stress; their lives are simple. So it only make sense that their imaginations run wild 24/7. Get in on some of that action by having fun with a few of the kids in your life so you can free your mind like one again.

24. Ponder the Future

What’s great about thinking about the future is that it’s yet to be written. In your version, you’re the author, which means there are endless possibilities. Tap into your creativity by thinking about life 20 years from now. And think big, for goodness' sake. Your future will be what you make it.

25. Manage the Mood

Is your environment preventing you from being as creative as you’d like to be? Change that. Remove those distractions and make your thinking space conducive to creativity. Maybe that means turning up the music or opening the windows or shutting off the lights. Whatever you need to do to think clearly, do it.

What do you do to boost your creativity?

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This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Why You Should Allow Yourself Splurges

Xin Lu — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 11:24:32 +0000

Do you feel guilty when you spend money? Do you sacrifice things you enjoy in order to save as much as possible? If you are well on your way to reaching your savings goals, then you are seemingly in control of your budget and finances...or are your finances in control of you? An occasional splurge is not necessarily a bad thing. Here's why. (See also: 21 Frugal Ways to Reward Yourself Right Now)

Positive Reinforcement

When you are already cutting down debt and meeting your savings goals, you should give yourself some positive reinforcement. Being responsible with your money should be fun, too. When you let yourself have that massage or video game you wanted, you may become even more motivated to earn and save more. If saving money becomes hard labor for you, then you are probably less happy than you might otherwise be, but that does not have to be how you live.

Break Your Routine

Most of us have a daily routine that is fairly set in stone and that can sometimes make life quite monotonous. When you allow yourself to spend a little money on something that you normally wouldn't, your life might just get more interesting for that day. I have found that the non-routine days are usually more memorable, and having those memories is definitely worth the money spent.

Some Splurges Have Long-Term Benefits

Some splurges can benefit your life for the long-term. For example, I have found that some more expensive brands of handbags and shoes simply last longer than the cheap ones under $15. Other examples of splurges with long-term benefits include an upgraded mattress or better window blinds. There are many things that you could splurge on and use for years to come.

Price and Availability Are Never Constant

A few years ago my husband and I took a trip to China, and it cost around $900 per person. Now a similar trip costs $1,600 to $2,000 per person due to the rapid inflation of everything in China.

It is hard to predict how fast the prices of things you want will go up, so sometimes it is actually cheaper to enjoy what you want today. Worse, the product you want can completely go out of stock when you wait too long, and that defeats the purpose of saving and enjoying the fruits of your labor.

Ultimately, the money you make is meant to be spent. As long as you are not falling deeper into debt and hurting your savings goals, it is completely OK to enjoy your paydays and treat yourself a bit. I think everyone should have a "fun fund" to spend without guilt. I love to splurge on good food and short-term trips because I think having those experiences makes my paycheck more real than just a number in a savings passbook.

Have you splurged recently? How did you feel about it?

This article is from Xin Lu of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Cheap Thrills That Actually Satisfy

POPSUGAR Smart Living — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 10:32:24 +0000

Cheap thrills sometimes get a bad rap, but there are plenty of budget-friendly activities that would satisfy any adrenaline junkie's needs. Nearly each one has different levels, whether you're a beginner or a pro, and you can try most of them out at a local gym, at the club, or in the great outdoors. Have a look, and get your rush on!

Paintball

Get your competitive juices flowing by hitting people with paint and getting them out. Costs vary depending on the quality of the paint and how many balls you order, so if it's your first time trying out the sport, keep things simple.

Improv

Getting up in front of large groups is a big fear-inducer for many people. Feel the rush by taking an improv class at a local comedy club. Who knows? You might discover a hidden talent.

Mountain Biking

Riding a bike may sound like a fun way to exercise, but mountain biking is no easy feat. Off-roading onto tough terrain requires special mountain bikes that you should rent instead of spending upward of $500 on your own. If you have adrenaline junkie friends who have bikes you can borrow, all the better.

Ropes Course

Get transported back to gym class and tackle a local ropes course. Some gyms and outdoor facilities offer access for reasonable prices, but you can always create your own by jumping over orange cones and charging up the stairs.

Big-Kid Slides

You don't have to pay to go to an amusement park for heart-pounding rides. Outdoor parks and even malls have giant slides that twist and turn and are just as fun for adults.

Rock Climbing

There's nothing like feeling accomplished after completing a challenging task, and rock climbing is a big challenge. Save by taking a group instead of private lessons for the outdoor adventure. One of the cheapest ways to rock climb, however, is to go to an indoor climbing gym and pay for a day pass.

Surfing

Like several other outdoor activities, the good thing about surfing is that mother nature provides much of what you need. Once the waves are up, all that's left to rent is a surfboard and a wetsuit. Try to get a friend, or even a friend of a friend, to give you lessons. If all else fails, you can always try it yourself using tips from YouTube.

Sledding

One of the most inexpensive and fun activities is playing in the snow. Grab a plastic sled (or something comparable), take a deep breath, and head down the hill!

Do you have any favorites?

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From whipping down hills to walking out on a stage and making up everything on the spot, discover cheap thrills that satisfy.

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This article is from POPSUGAR Smart Living of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Cheap Ways to Spend a Night Out

Meg Favreau — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 10:36:41 +0000

While I love entertaining at home and attending events at friends' houses, sometimes, I just want to go out in the evening. Well, that doesn't have to mean dropping lots of cash to be entertained. Below are 15 great ways you can affordably leave the house. (See also: 7 Free Ways to Get Out of the House)

Also, a note about bars and coffee shops — you'll notice that I've included a fair amount of things that take place at those venues; they offer some great, free entertainment. You do need to buy something to spend time in them, but remember — just because you're in a bar doesn't mean you need four fancy mixed drinks, and just because you're in a coffee shop doesn't mean you need an extra-large latte and a brownie.

1. Attend Gallery Openings

A lot of buzz goes to First Fridays (or Second Saturdays, or Third Thursdays), nights when shops and galleries stay open late, often offering free food and drink. But many galleries have other openings that are not associated with these events, and they'll also often feature extended hours, free refreshments, and entertainment. Check your local event listings.

2. Got to a BYOB — or BYOF — Establishment

If you want dinner and drinks, one way to save a bit is to go to a restaurant that lets you bring your own alcohol — or a bar that lets you bring your own food. And don't think that BYOB means fancy food — depending on your local laws, it might be possible to find a BYOB in your area that serves inexpensive fare like burritos or sandwiches.

3. Have a Board Game Night at a Bar or Coffee Shop

Take the classic frugal entertainment out on the town. As long as you don't go overboard in order drinks, this will still be a frugal event.

4. Take a Walk

It's a classic for a reason — it's healthy, invigorating, and a great activity for chatting with friends.

5. Do a Scavenger Hunt

The prevalence of digital cameras and camera phones makes it easy to have a photo scavenger hunt. Gather some friends or family, make up a list of photos people have to get (such as "a pretty flower" or "shaking hands with a stranger"), and split into teams. The first group to get photos of everything wins — plus everyone has great photos to share.

6. Go to the Preview of a Play

When new plays are about to open, they'll sometimes have "previews" — shows before the play officially opens where the performers work out kinks in front of a live audience. These tickets are often discounted. You can also look into rush tickets — available a few minutes before a show if it hasn't sold out, these tickets are usually drastically cheaper than regular ones. Rush tickets are sometimes available only to students; ask the theater if they offer them and, if so, what their policy is.

7. Take Advantage of Daily Deal Vouchers

I feel like they've gotten kind of a bad rap recently, but daily deals vouchers from companies like Groupon and LivingSocial can still net you some pretty awesome discounts for things to do outside the house. I bought trapeze classes through LivingSocial earlier this week!

8. Go Stargazing (or People Watching)

Which one you do is based largely on where you live — in the city, you can't make out those stars as well, and in rural areas, you probably don't have as many people to watch. Wherever you are, set up a blanket or plop down on a bench, and watch the world go by.

9. Attend an Open Mic

Whether it's for music or comedy, plenty of bars, coffee shops, and comedy clubs offer free nights where anyone can perform — or watch.

10. Check Out Secondary Stages

Some theaters have more than one stage. And while their secondary stage shows might not be as prestigious, they can also be plenty of fun — and a lot cheaper.

11. Do Karaoke

Don't worry if you can't sing — karaoke is about spirit!

12. Take a Cheap Night Class

Several businesses, schools, and organizations offer night classes — and many of them are exceedingly affordable. Whether you want to learn to knit, shine up your language skills, or become a better cook, there's probably an evening class out there for you.

13. Compete in Bar Trivia

Bar trivia is only as expensive as the food and drinks you buy, which means you can make it very cheap indeed. Search online for "bar trivia" and the name of your town to find out what establishments in your area have trivia nights.

14. Go to an Arcade

Or, even better, if there's one in your area — a retro arcade. Recently, my boyfriend and I went to an arcade with lots of vintage machines. They were still $.25 each, and we played about a half-hour of pinball for just $1.00.

15. Join a Club

Whether it's a book club, a knitter's circle, or something else entirely, joining a club (or forming one with your friends) is a great way to get out (and possibly meet new people).

What are your favorite ways to get out of the house on the cheap?

This article is from Meg Favreau of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

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