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If you want to cut costs in 2020 and beyond, here’s one of the first places you should look at in your budget: Entertainment.

What does entertainment include? Things like eating out, going to the movies, visiting amusement parks, and anything else you spend money on to keep yourself amused.

When going through this quick guide, it’s important to realize no one is suggesting you should stop having fun. Instead, this guide is meant to give you insight into how to enjoy yourself while keeping more money in your pocket.

Free Forms of Entertainment to Help You Stack Savings

Take Advantage of the Seasons

You can find free fun year-round, but during certain seasons or months, your options can multiply.

In the winter, for instance, you can:

• Put up Christmas decorations.
• Attend a community tree lighting.
• Look at light displays.
• Sing Christmas carols with a group.
• Use the snow to ski, build snowmen, and so on.

In the summer, meanwhile, you can do things like:

• Hit the pool, beach, lake, or river for a swim.
• Suntan.
• Watch a Fourth of July fireworks show.
• Go for walks in parks or around your neighborhood.

As you can see, each season has its version of no-cost fun, and the same is true for spring and fall.

To see what events are happening near you, snag your local newspaper, check out local news stations’ pages on Facebook, or join Facebook Groups in your community.

Visit Your Local Farmer’s Market

You don’t have to buy anything to attend a farmer’s market. You can meet people there, listen to live music, window shop, and taste free samples to pass the time.

With all the samples you can consume, you could consider the farmer’s market as a complimentary alternative to eating out.

Exercise at an Outdoor Gym

Some local parks have gym equipment you can use to get lean and mean without paying a penny.

The fresh air offers an excellent alternative to a stuffy gym, and you can’t beat that free membership either.

Learn About Your City’s History

Does your city have a historical society? Search for one online, because if it does, you can get the lowdown on where to go to learn about your location’s past.

Go to a Museum

Going to a museum can give you a day filled with education and entertainment.

Some grant-funded museums will charge no admission. You could still visit others for free, however, on certain days of the month or via free passes from your local library.

Go to the Library

Speaking of the library, it’s an unsung hero when it comes to free entertainment. Sure, you can do the usual and check out books for free, but today’s libraries offer much more than that.

Rent free audiobooks to teach you new skills or stories. Read your favorite magazines in a relaxing setting without having to pay for them. Rent DVDs at no cost. And, if you’re lucky, your local library may even let you rent instruments for free.

In short, visit your library. You’d be surprised at how often you’ll come back to it when you’re feeling bored at home.