***free Entertainment***

[MRAHoffman]

Hello fellow "frugalista's". I thought that it would be nice to have a thread to go to listing as MANY ideas as we can think of to entertain ourselves/family not only now (during these sad economic times) but, always that DOESN'T COST ANY MONEY. We are in for what appears to be a long haul and the more ways we can think of to pass the time, the better. I'll have to post my ideas later as my break is over. Take care and God bless.

[perSue]

well many ideas that have been recommended to me are going to the library with family/friends, you can rent videos, games, music, and the obvious books. maybe read with/to your family each night from a book.

there's always going to a nearby park... keep warm by playing soccer, football, frisbee or just 'catch'.

check out for this time of year the different places one can go to walk through neighbourhoods, parks, etc. to look at holiday lights & decorations.

get together with neighbours/family - the more the less expensive. do a dinner, a cookout or a potluck. nothing fancy, just food and friends/family to catch up with.

you can organize something in your neighbourhood for the kids... maybe a toy swap or book swap - based on age.

what about hosting a movie or music swap with other adults? this way you dont have the "same old boring movies" to watch.

or what about staying home playing board games or card games

make some cocoa/coffee/tea, play with the kids and have snacks.

sit in a circle or whatever shape you make with your loved ones and tell stories over a hot drink and snacks. talk about whatever, news, family goings-on, or just whatever comes to mind.

get together in groups of friends or a group you're a member of (be it church, work or another type of 'group' (ie, bookclub)), and talk about doing something different... like volunteering, making crafts (for kids), a bake sale, etc.

Make cookies at home with your family.
(or other desserts!)

Take your pet for a walk - most dogs enjoy colder weather & playing in snow!

If you have snow, build a fort, have a snowball fight, make snow-angels.

that's all I got for now... coffee break!

[madhen]

This particular time of year is great for taking late night drives or strolls and looking at Christmas lights. My little town does it up big, and it is worth a drive just to see the houses of the people who have WAY too much time on their hands!

[mmy2grls]

In snowland we have sledding. I plan to do a lot of sledding with my kids this winter and afterwards we can have hot chocolate.

We also take turns reading to each other which helps my oldest with her reading skills.

My town offers some free entertainment, does cost gas to get there, but we have lots of fun.For example we always go to this tree lighting ceremony. It's usually very cold out and they have a bonfire, kids run around playing with each other, and they have free hot chocolate and cookies.

[Patty A]

How about an indoor camp out.
An afternoon tea party.
Play dress up, they all love that.
Board games is always a winner.
Make bean bags and a toss game out of old tin cans.
Or let them bowl the cans with the bean bags.
Play card games, or build card houses.
More ideas to come!

[Momto2Boyz]

We have an semi-annual neighborhood snowball fight! We usually do it on New Year's eve (though last year, had to postpone due to lack of snow). It's great, we do it with all the families who have kids and even some that do not. We usually start the week before, and we start making snow forts in the front yard for cover and start stockpiling our snowballs. Two years ago, we started doing one in June too. One neighbor fills his giant chest freezer with snowballs in the winter, and brings them out for the kids in June. It is so fun!

We do lots of indoor activities this time of year. Movie night, board games, caroling (my kids love this one), we do it at home, where no one can hear me sing!

The kids and I also do a lot of crafts. And a SAHM friend and I get together one day each month and craft which is nice, so we don't start to feel lonely!

We also have bass fishing tournaments on playstation 2. I'm not a huge video game fan, but I enjoy doing this with the hubby and kids. It's always fun to see who can catch the most or the biggest "virtual" fish!

We play cards with the nieghbors a lot. This is fun, becuase in the summer we sit outside together many nights a week, but hardly see each other during the winter, becuase it is so cold outside.

We try to have a girls night in, a few times each winter. We rotate houses and bring a dish to share and play scene it or some other board game, gossip and have lots of fun with no kiddo's running around!

Our park district has open gym after school and on Sat mornings. So once in a while I take the boys over there to play basketball in the gym and run off some energy.

Off the top of my head, those are the main things I can think of!