Family Fun Night
Instituting a family fun night once a week is not only frugal but it makes fun, family memories along the way. Have you seen the cost of cinema tickets lately? Even for an average size family, going to the movies can cost you a bundle! Not only is there the cost of admission but also a couple tubs of popcorn, some drinks and that oh-so yummy box of Milk Duds. What are some frugal ways you save money on family movies? Do you take advantage of Netflix? Maybe Redbox is your favorite go-to place for a one night rental. Of course there is the library, that’s free (as long as you remember to return the movie on time and don’t incur a late fee!)
Our family fun nights are on Fridays. After a busy week we like to unwind with some unscheduled activities and just relax. Usually the kids choose 2 board games to play (one usually ends up being Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders for the 4 year old). One of our favorite games of all time is checkers. You’d be surprised at the sibling competition that arises!
After we finish the board games we usually make a couple big bowls of popcorn and if it’s an extra special night we make hot chocolate or vanilla steamers to go along with it. We take our treats into the living room and settle in together with blankets and cuddle time (with a few instances of spilled popcorn as well). We watch our family movie together and when it’s done the kids head to bed. What a great way to end a busy week! Instituting a family fun night in your home is a sure way to save LOTS of cash and have just as much fun (maybe more!).
What kinds of games do you like to play as a family? Do you already have a family fun night in your home, what kinds of things do you do?
Along with the games and movies, our family enjoys a little campfire with marshmallows now and again. Now that we have teens, the family fun night habit ensures we have at least one evening together. I think the memory of those evenings will set the stage for our children to institute their own special nights when they have families of their own.
Molly says: I agree! And you can’t go wrong with marshmallows…we’ve been known to “roast” them over the gas stove burner in the middle of winter for “indoor smores.”
We just recently had a roasted hot dog evening. We needed something fast and easy for supper and the outside fire was just heavenly. We used paper plates and had no dishes to wash. Woohoo!! My 8 year old thought we had gone a little crazy (since it was a school night). I’ve been reading 15 Minutes Outside and got the idea from there. It was an awesome evening and all we did was stand around a fire for a bit.
If its a good night we will pitch up a tent in the back yard and cook all our meals outside. Or if its raining we will put up a small tent on the inside. But one of our favorite things to due in season is go to a drive in movie theater and see two movies for the price of one. We bring our own snacks and save half the cost of a sit in theater for a family of seven.
a read-aloud night is fun. Get a great book and read it aloud with lots of drama =). Or, get several joke books or purchase some old readers digests at your local library bookstore. everyone takes turns reading jokes aloud…nothing like hearing all your darling children’s laughter.