The March issue of Kiplinger's Personal Finance features loads of ways to trim expenses on food, medicine, utilities, travel, investing, transportation and more. The article, Save $50 a Day, also offers ways to cut entertainment costs, so you can have a little fun without feeling guilty.
According to the article, one way to guarantee that you're getting the lowest price on event tickets is to shop multiple sites (RazorGator.com, StubHub.com and TicketsNow.com) because price differences can be dramatic. Here are three examples (prices are for two tickets):
Event: Cleveland Cavaliers versus the Atlanta Hawks, in Atlanta. Best Price: StubHub, $115. Comparable Seats: Ticketmaster, $214.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
SAVINGS: $99
Event:Orchestra seats at Broadway musical West Side Story. Best Price: Ticketmaster, $258. Comparable Seats: RazorGator, $605.
SAVINGS: $347
Event: Taylor Swift concert at the Staples Center, in Los Angeles. Best Price: StubHub, $350. Comparable Seats: TicketsNow, $550.
SAVINGS: $200
Here are some other tips for saving money on entertainment:
Time your visit right. Many theaters, museums, galleries, zoos and parks offer special discounts on certain days of the week, such as pay-what-you-can nights. Some even offer free admission on certain days of the month. You may be able to get discounted theater tickets by waiting until a couple of hours before the performance to buy them. Some theaters sell "rush" tickets at a fraction of the price because they would rather sell the seats at a bargain than let them go empty.
Take advantage of campus offerings. If you live near a university, take advantage of student theater productions, art show, film festivals, sporting events and more for free or at rock-bottom prices.
Use member discounts. You could score discount tickets to amusement parks, sports arenas and other events through clubs and associations you belong to, such as AAA, AARP, a credit union, an alumni or professional association, or even your job.
-
What the Comcast Cable Spinoff Means for InvestorsComcast has announced plans to spin off select cable networks and digital assets into a separate publicly traded company. Here's what you need to know.
-
TJX Stock: Wall Street Stays Bullish After EarningsTJX stock is trading lower Wednesday despite the TJ Maxx owner's beat-and-raise quarter, but analysts aren't worried. Here's why.
-
Five Reasons You Shouldn't Shop on Amazon Prime DaySmart Buying Think twice before getting lured into buying a bunch of stuff you don't need just because it's on sale.
-
Five Ways to Save on Vacation Rental PropertiesTravel Use these strategies to pay less for an apartment, condo or house when you travel.
-
How to Avoid Annoying Hotel Fees: Per Person, Parking and MoreTravel Here's how to avoid extra charges and make sure you don't get stuck paying for amenities that you don't use.
-
Best Cash Back Credit Cards November 2024Smart Buying Trying to compare the best cash back credit cards? Unlike most reviewers, we include cards from small banks and credit unions, as well as from large issuers.
-
How to Spend $1,000: Find Cheap (or Free) Online Courses to Build Career SkillsSmart Buying There's a huge array of skill-building online courses that can level up your career for under $1,000.
-
MoviePass is Relaunching. Should You Sign Up?Smart Buying The subscription discount movie card company has a checkered past and an army of disillusioned former cardholders. If you want to try the reboot, you’ll need to hurry.
-
HBO Max Is Offering Huge DiscountsSmart Buying Looking for a streaming service deal? Warner Bros. Discovery is cutting the price of HBO Max.
-
Are You Streaming Too Much? What the Discovery+/HBO Max Mashup MeansSmart Buying Fewer original scripted series? Maybe. And maybe it’s time to unsubscribe.
