Inexpensive Things To Do With Your Military Family
April is the Month of the Military Child, so it’s a great time to go out for family-friendly activities. With long hours and complex schedules, it’s important for service members to make time for their children. Growing up as a military child has its challenges, so don’t forget to make your children feel special. You can have fun and save money with your family both on and off base.
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Inexpensive Things to Do With your Military Family
April is the Month of the Military Child, so it’s a great time to go out for family-friendly activities. With long hours and complex schedules, it’s important for service members to make time for their children. Growing up as a military child has its challenges, so don’t forget to make your children feel special. You can have fun and save money with your family both on and off base.
Be sure to check with your installation’s Morale Welfare and Recreation Program for special events and promotions. Here are some inexpensive things to do with your military family:
1. Go bowling on base!
Your military installation likely has a bowling alley, take advantage of it! Bowling is a fun activity for all ages. Your kids can try to bowl a perfect strike, and you can enjoy drinks and good appetizers while you play. Bowling usually costs about $10 per person, which isn’t bad. The bowling center near you might also have an arcade.
2. Hole-in-one! You can go golfing.
Golfing is not usually cheap, but the golf courses on base usually have great prices. You can take your family out for open course play or play in a tournament. If your children don’t necessarily want to golf, you can also rent a cart and drive around the course. Let’s call it, sight-seeing. Watching other people play golf is also really interesting. You can also sign up for classes and take private lessons or go to the driving range! Also checkout kidsbowlfree.com to find free bowling!
3. Be on the lookout for events that celebrate the military child.
Military installations across the globe host lots of fun events in April each year. These events serve to celebrate the Month of the Military Child and bring military families together. Your base might throw a carnival or festival. There might even be giveaways for children, like cool toys. Check with your base to find out what events are happening in your area.
4. Visit a museum.
Take your military family out to see art or historical exhibits at a museum. Some museums offer free to service members or military discounted tickets. You and your family can visit any of the 17 free Smithsonian Museums or the Zoo in Washington, D.C. for free. You can also visit one of the many Blue Star Museums, which have been offering free admission to active duty service members since 2010. Locate a Blue Star Museum near you!
The 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York offers free entry to active and retired service members if you bring your military ID. If you live in the South, take your family to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. Active duty service members can enter for free. Retired and veteran service members can enter for $10.
5. Dinner and a movie anyone?
Who doesn’t enjoy a great movie coupled with incredible food? Your military base might have a movie theater that offers free or discounted prices. Take your family out for a blockbuster film! Check your base website for information on ticketing and movie show times. Plus, most public movie theaters offer a military discount. Be sure to bring your military ID to get a cheaper ticket.
Take time with your family to prepare a delicious meal together. Cooking is a great way to bond and spend quality time while saving money. The Family Dinner Project offers lots of great recipes and inspiration for your military family to enjoy! You’ll spend a fraction of what you would pay to take your family out to eat when you make dinner at home. Don’t forget to save room for dessert! You and your family can bake cookies together as well.
You can have fun with your military family and show them how important they are to you without spending a fortune!
Let Military Saves help you save money so you can feel confident about your finances. It all starts when you make a commitment to yourself to save. Take the first step today and take the Military Saves pledge to save money, reduce debt, and build wealth over time. Military Saves will keep you motivated with information, advice, tips, and reminders to help you reach your goal. Think of us as your own personal support system.