Making the Most of a $100/year Entertainment Budget

If you’re looking to cut back expenses one of the first things to go is usually your entertainment budget. But here at Less Debt, More Wine we’re firm believers in finding ways to keep enjoying life, that cost less. 

In this post, we’ll break down different ways you can enjoy a $100 budget. Whether it’s $100/year or $100/quarter. By following these tips, you can get the most out of your entertainment budget for less than $100.

How to Use a $100/year Entertainment Budget

If your goal is to spend no more than $100 a year, then that gives you $8.33/month. There are lots of different ways to use that money.

If you love watching movies and tv shows, then you’ll likely want to enjoy some type of streaming service.

Pick Just One Streaming Service

Pick a streaming service, and aim to only subscribe to one at a time to keep your spending low.

With the number of streaming services available today, it can be hard to keep to just one. Services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu offer a lot of content for a relatively low monthly fee. But which service should you choose?

Netflix: Costs $8.99/mo which if you do the math, is more than $100/year. However, there is a way to save yourself some money via Netflix gift cards. I’m not suggesting you ask for gift cards as gifts. Rather, stores will occasionally put gift cards on sale. Additionally, if you have a Target RED card, you will automatically get 5% off. 

So you can bring that $108 bill down a bit.

Hulu: Costs $6.99/month or $69.99/year if you choose to pay annually. Leaving you with $30 in your entertainment budget for the year.

Paramount+ (formally CBS All Access): Costs $4.99/month or $49.99/year if you choose to pay annually. Only taking up half of your entertainment budget for the year.

Take Advantage of Local Museums

If you love watching shows and movies then that can easily use up your entire entertainment budget. But if streaming is not your thing consider getting a museum membership.

Museum membership can be a great deal. People who are members of their local museums often have free or discounted access to the exhibits that are on display. They also get to go to special events such as lectures and interactive presentations that often give members exclusive access to new exhibitions before they open to the public.

If you’d rather spend money on streaming, but still want to enjoy going to the museum occasionally, there are ways to make it happen. Museums will often hold “free” days, mark your calendars to make sure you don’t miss them. 

If you missed a free day, check with your credit cards, sometimes they offer benefits like free access to museums. For example, Bank of America offers Museums on Us which gives you access to various museums for free, the first full week of every month.

Low-Cost Ways to Save Money on Entertainment

Entertainment doesn’t always need to be a recurring cost. Spending money once on something can lead to many hours of entertainment down the road. Here are just a few:

• Digital Antenna to watch live (local) television
• An Amazon Fire Stick to access free streaming app like Pluto TV
• Puzzles
• Board or card games
• A bike

Free Ways Save Money on Entertainment

While Netflix and museums are great, chances are you have other things you like to do, like reading or listening to music.

Libraries 

Libraries are a great place to get free items. If you have a library card, you can take advantage of their many services. Some libraries offer books, movies, music, and more. Some even offer the advantages of borrowing without you having to leave home. Allowing you to check out digital copies of books for your e-reader or even stream some movies.

Meetups

Meetups are a great way to meet new people, learn new skills, and find local resources. The site Meetup.com is a great place to find nearby events happening in your area. One of the most popular events is “Free Things To Do.” These are usually free activities that take place outdoors during the summer months. 

Volunteer At A Playhouse

Love going to plays, but hate the cost? Consider volunteering as an usher. 

Volunteering at a playhouse can be a rewarding experience. You can see plays for free and also get a chance to meet new people and have a behind-the-scenes look at what goes on in a playhouse.

How to Use a $100/quarter Entertainment Budget

Obviously having a $100/quarter budget gives you a lot more wiggle room with $33/month to work with as a budget. Here are some ideas on how to use it:

• Continue to stick to one streaming service, and switch it up as need be.
• Subscribe to Amazon Prime and get access to Prime Video, Prime Reading, and tons of other money-saving advantages.
• Check out Groupon for experiences
• A play or concert every quarter
• Enjoy restaurant week in your city
• Get access to even more books with Kindle Unlimited

Bottom Line

Even if your entertainment budget is small, you don’t have to live your life small. There are tons of ways to save money on entertainment without sacrificing anything.