Here are 10 awesome Austin attractions that are on our to-do lits for under $10 per person!

1. Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum – Learn “The Story of Texas” with three themed exhibits: Land, Identity, and Opportunity. The Texas Spirit Theater takes audiences on an epic journey through the history of Texas while the IMAX shows educational films and the latest releases. Museum admission ranges from $4 to $7. Texas Spirit admission ranges from $4 to $5. IMAX admission ranges from $5 to $7.
   

   Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum

2. Barton Springs Pool – At 68 degrees year-round, this natural spring covers three acres and is over 18 feet deep at it’s deepest. It’s known for drawing locals, visitors, and quite a few characters on hot Austin afternoons. This is one of our favorite places to float, relax, and people watch. Admission ranges from $1 to $3. Parking is $3 on weekends.
   
   

   Barton Springs Pool

3. Congress Avenue Bat Bridge – Over 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats live under the Congress Avenue Bridge in the heart of downtown Austin. Locals and tourists gather at dusk to watch the bats make their grand exit in search of food. Peak bat season is mid-August and you can call the Bat Hotline at 512-416-5700 x 3636 for estimated flight times. Since the weather has been so warm, there’s plenty of bat-watching left to do this summer and admission is FREE!
   

   Congress Avenue Bat Bridge

4. The Blanton Museum of Art – With the largest collection of art in Central Texas, The Blanton Museum of Art at The University of Texas features over 17,000 works of art in it’s permanent collection. The new complex opened in October of 2003 and houses gallery space, a cafe, museum shop, classrooms, and an auditorium. Admission ranges from $5 to $9.
   

   The Blanton Museum of Art

5. Texas State Capital – Widely acknowledged as one of the most distinguished state capitals, The Texas Capital is located smack dab in the middle of downtown Austin. It is the largest, state capital building at 667,000 square feet and is situated on 22 acres with numerous monuments to explore. Self guided tours are permitted during business hours and guided tours are available throughout the week. Admission is FREE!
   

   Texas State Capital

6. The Zilker Zephyr – Zilker Metropolitan Park is considered the prize jewel of Austin parks and is home to the beloved Zilker Zephyr. This miniature train takes passengers on a leisurely 25-minute ride through the park and past Barton Creek and Town Lake, and Rides are $2.75 for adults and $1.75 for kids. Parking is $3 on weekends.
   
   

   The Zilker Zephyr

7. The Umlauf Sculpture Garden – Located near Zilker Park, the Umlauf Sculpture Garden features over 130 sculptures by 20th century American sculpture, Charles Umlauf. Umlauf and his wife spent much of their life in Austin where he taught at the University of Texas at Austin. His work is displayed in museums across the country, including the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC and the Metropolitan Museum in NYC. Admission ranges from $1 to $3.50.
   

   Mother and Child by Charles Umlauf

8. Zilker Botanical Gardens – Over 300,000 people a year visit the Zilker Botanical Gardens to enjoy and appreciate the Isamu Taniguchi Japanese Garden, Mabel Davis Rose Garden, Doug Blachly Butterfly Trail, and many other beautiful examples of horticultural beauty. Keep an eye out for weekend plant sales where you can purchase some amazing items for your own garden. Admission is FREE! Parking is $3 on weekends.
   

   Spring Flowers at Zilker Botanical Gardens

9. LBJ Library & Museum – Dedicated to Lyndon Baines Johnson in 1971, the LBJ Library is one of only thirteen presidential libraries, housing 45 million pages of historical documents, including those from LBJ’s entire public career. The library hosts a slue of prominent speakers throughout the year while the museum features permanent White House and First Lady exhibit as well as hosting temporary, traveling exhibits. Admission is FREE!
   

   LBJ Library & Museum

10. University of Texas at Austin – Who doesn’t love to relive their college days and spend an afternoon on campus? With the University Coop, an impressive selection of restaurants, and the UT Tower, there is lots to see and do. Tower Admission is $6.

Have you visited Austin? Do you live in Austin? What are some other must-see Austin attractions?

1. The Library – A Fantastic Tool for the Budget Minded
2. Family Fun Memberships that Save
3. New Year, New Budget: Get Organized

Everyone loves to visit at least once in their lives, right? But what can a frugal traveler see in NYC for free and still truly “see” NYC? It will blow your mind the amount of free things people can do in the City. Let me take you for a tour around the “concrete jungle.”

Everyone has heard of it, everyone saw it in the movie Big with Tom Hanks and all of use New Yorkers roll our eyes when a tourist asks us about it, but secretly we love this store too. Who wouldn’t? It’s FAO Schwartz – the world’s best toy store! It’s located on Fifth Avenue and 58^th Street. It’s free to “window” shop, but be prepared, depending on when you decide to visit…..you’ll be among what seems like millions in the store! However, it’s worth it – this store is a NYC trademark and visiting NYC without going is like having a Sundae without hot fudge! Just not right!

Getting a feel for the people that live in NYC is very easy to do by just walking through the streets at any time of day, any day of the week. It’s fast paced and full of sounds, sites and scents (some pleasant, like the pretzel street vendor, some not so pleasant, which you can discover all on your own). At some point or another, you will pass by someplace and a performance spontaneously breaks out in front of you…..more than likely, dancers or a musician. It can happen on any street in NYC, so enjoy it, they are totally free.

Ever heard of a little movie by the name of Sex and the City? I thought so. They filmed right at one of the most beautiful libraries you will probably ever enter, The New York Public Library. It’s located at Fifth Avenue and 42^nd Street and is guarded by Patience and Fortitude (those are the lions you pass on your way in). Totally free to enter, look around and soak up the architecture and history. Walk up the same stairs Carrie Bradshaw walked up!

After you come out of the library, hit Bryant Park at Sixth Avenue, right between 41^st and 42^nd streets. Great place to relax, soak up the sun and take a little break from all the walking around NYC. Plus, it’s a great place to people watch! Really see what New Yorkers are like – you’ve got “the suits” and the “sunbathers” all together, never giving each other a second look!

If you are lucky enough to be in NYC during the summer, check out a movie aboard the Intrepid! They have free movies on certain days during the summer. They show them on the flight deck. Totally free, just have to bring your own food, blanket and beverages.

Many who come to NYC, visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral. You don’t have to be Catholic to appreciate this place. You just have to walk around and take all the beauty in….it will inspire you with it’s architecture and design. It doesn’t cost anything to visit the Cathedral, so take it all in for free.

There’s always Rockefeller Center, where you can wander around and watch people skate down below, or take pictures. South Street Seaport is always a big draw for many tourists, just to walk around the unique streets and enjoy the food, shopping and taking in the water view. Central Park is an amazing place to visit, walk around and see many landmarks you might recall seeing in a few scenes of a few hundred movies!

Got kids? Willing to leave NYC and hit Brooklyn? There is an amazing new park you can visit that is completely free! It’s the Babylon of New York playground at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6 (Atlantic Avenue and Columbia Street, Cobble Hill). It has four sections: Swing Valley, Slide Mountain, Sandbox Village and Water Lab. There’s so much to do there, it is crazy to miss the chance to visit. But only if you have kids, they won’t let you in without a child! Sorry. That much fun, there had to be a rule, right?

Enjoy experiencing New York City the frugal way!

1. Free Summer Fun
2. Keeping Cool for Free this Summer
3. Shopping Etiquette

Cheap But Romantic Dates

1. Make a bucket list. Have you ever wanted to go skydiving or climb a mountain? You might be surprised to find out your beloved does too. Sit down together and make a list of all the things you want to do before you ‘kick the bucket.’
2. Watch people on the go. You and your date can go to the park or any other public place and have loads of fun watching homo sapiens act silly in their natural habitat. You can even make up stories about their behavior.
3. Visit a public garden. Public gardens are romantic, with sweet smelling flowers and loads of beauty there is no better place to take a date.
4. Museum free admission days. Almost all museums have a free day each week or month. Take these times to explore all of them, even those that you might not think you would normally enjoy.
5. Dance anywhere. Dancing even if it is not slow dancing is incredibly romantic. Take your partner by the hand and dance anywhere even if the music is only in your heart.
6. Dessert or coffee dates. Instead of dropping a bundle on dinner meet your date just for coffee, a beer, or dessert. It will take the pressure off conversation and your wallet.
7. Build a fire. You can go to the beach or just your backyard and enjoy a warm cozy fire and great conversation.
8. Volunteer your time. There is probably no date that will make you feel better then giving back to your community.
9. Feed the birds. Grab a loaf of bread and take your beloved to the park or pond. You will get a chuckle out of watching the ducks nibble at bread and you won’t have to spend much money at all.
10. Attend local events. Festivals and parades hosted by the community are often free. As long as you avoid vendors you can get to know your date and your neighbors for no cost.
11. Test drive luxury cars. Even if you never plan on owning one it can be fun to test drive a few, just don’t get sucked in to a sales pitch.
12. Be an invited guest. Instead of shrugging off party invitations say yes plus one and take your date.
13. Go shopping at thrift stores or yard sales. These are the best places to get cheap deals and have fun laughing at the crazy things people buy.
14. Take a hike. Nature is beautiful and romantic you can pick up seashells or wildflowers for your beloved or just snap some photos and enjoy each others company.
15. Attend an open mic night. All sorts of bars and coffee houses have open mic poetry nights, you might even write a little something to read to your date.
16. Host a board game night. Invite over some other couples and play board games, you’ll be surprised at how much fun they can be with a big group.
17. Enjoy free concerts. There are probably more in your city then you think.
18. Try on clothes. Like test driving cars this is a fun and inexpensive way to have fun.
19. Visit every park in town. You might be surprised at how many undiscovered gems there are in your neighborhood. Take a ride on the swing set for added fun on your cheap but romantic date.
20. Go to student sponsored events. The local college probably has loads of student events that are cheap if not free to attend.
21. Go to the arcade. For some nostalgic fun for $20 or less play old video games and have some laughs.
22. Do it yourself. Fix or build something together you’ll have fun with something to show for it.
23. On a clear night look at the stars.
24. Attend art gallery openings. They are usually free of charge.
25. Go to public access lectures or classes.
26. Cook a meal. There is not better way to someones heart then through their stomach.
27. Go on a free factory tour. At the end you will usually be rewarded with a free sample, making a sweet end to your date.
28. Do crafts together. Scrapbooking, pottery, or even paper and crayons can make for a fun evening.
29. Exercise together. Go for a run or take a yoga class you will feel good and get to know each other a lot better.
30. Go to open houses. Even if you are not in the market for a home it is fun to look and imagine what you would do with a new space.

It is easy to find cheap but romantic dates. Just look around your community and you will surely find all kinds of ways to entertain your beloved without emptying your wallet.

This article was written by William Eve. Between surfing and supporting his favourite football team Liverpoool, William writes articles about saving money, investment and real estate for a mortgage comparison website, Home Loan Finder.

1. Money Saving Monday: Budget Date Night
2. Budget Date Nights
3. Date Night on the Cheap

Of course, even without the House Party goodies, a game night in is great for frugal fun. A few snacks, drinks & board games you already own will be enough to entertain your friends throughout the evening.

Since this was a House Party, though, we had the chance to try a brand new game—the latest Trivial Pursuit game will be in stores later this summer. My party kit arrived a few days before the event and included:

• Trival Pursuit: Bet You Know It
• Taboo
• Catch Phrase
• Wheat Thin crackers
• Triscuit crackers
• Hershey’s Pieces
• Coupons, coupons and more coupons (Do they know me, or what?)

I added my standard party fare of chips, queso and cocktails—Pina Colada Punch in homage to the beach trip I was taking the following week (more on our budget vacation later!). Once everyone arrived, we settled around the table, where I had set out my new Hasbro games. I wasn’t sure we’d ever get around to playing once we started chatting, as frequently happens with my House Parties, but we decided to give the new Trivial Pursuit a shot.

Three hours later? We had played all three games! And, shared more laughs than I’d had all month. Much of that is the company, sure, but Bet You Know It lends itself well to an evening with good friends. Most Trivial Pursuit games leave me feeling a little (okay, a lot) moronic, but this is much different than any other. It allows you to play a bit to your strength, earn chips by knowing your friends well & buy the pieces that stump you with the winnings.

There is still plenty of your typical Trivial Pursuit fare—you circle the board in pursuit (oh, ha ha! I never noticed that before.) of filling your pie with 6 colored wedges. And, the colors & categories are apparently the same as always. Gotcha Baby happens to be an expert at colors & categories so we never even needed to consult the chart. I suppose it should come as no surprise that she was the big winner of the evening!

We also played Catch Phrase & Taboo—these games were not new to me, but I somehow didn’t own them. Both are always good for laughs. Although, the Taboo buzzer is extremely irritating at best. Unless, of course, you get to buzz an opponent! Catch Phrase is electronic—it’s part Taboo, part Hot Potato and a whole lot of fun.

Plus, it’s part of this month’s board game deal at Amazon. Get a free Sorry Revenge card game when you spend $25 on participating Hasbro games. And, as always, you get free shipping with a $25 purchase! There are a lot of great games on the list. What’s your favorite?

1. How To be Frugal on Friday Night and Still Have Fun
2. Date Night on the Cheap
3. Give Money By Playing Games

Relating being drunk to having fun is not only kidding yourself but also a very expensive habit, that can quickly turn into a serious debt problem.

Frugal is the new kind of fun

While you got smashed at the bar ogling chicks with long legs, others got their act together with frugal themed Friday nights. The best part of their transition is the fact that these guys love the new way of spending a weekend evening with good mates while saving money for a better lifestyle.

If you think about it, there are a lot of ways one can spend a night out (any night as a matter of fact) without needing to spend any money (or very little indeed). Somehow we have lost the meaning of being social. Instead of engaging into meaningful conversations, we end up plastered, and scream obscenities at passersby when we finally manage to let go of the bar counter.

Host a game night

No, not a drinking game. I’m talking about old-fashioned board games. Games such as Scrabble and Monopoly. Games nights are fun, cheap and emotionally satisfying.

As long as you provide some nibbles and drinks (or even better, get your friends to bring their own), you should be well armed to have a great night with heaps of entertainment.

Attend a local live music gig

Many local restaurants, coffee shops and bars feature live music gigs from artists who live or grew up in your neighborhood. Attending such an event is usually quite cheap because you can basically suckle the one drink all night while jamming to the beats.

If you feel frisky, you can even hit the dance floor and get a beneficial workout at the same time.

Showcase an alternative movie

If you are sick of watching the same old superficial movies, why not rent an alternative movie from your local movie store? French, Italian, Russian and German movies with subtitles are usually of very high quality, and they will make you think rather than put you asleep.

Invite a bunch of friends and spend the evening watching & discussing the various aspects of the movie.

Head to the park or beach for a yummy moonlight picnic

Who said you had to go for a picnic in the daytime? If you get together with some great friends you can enjoy a night out under the stars (weather permitting of course), while munching your way through the various assorted goodies on offer.

If every person brings something home-made you can end up with a sumptuous selection of food that will feed you all night long. Bring a Frisbee or ball and let loose.

With a bit of imagination a frugal night out is very much possible

As you can see from the above examples, there are many ways to be frugal on a Friday night. You will be surprised at how much fun can be had when looking for better ways to spend a night with friends. Many of these activities will keep you entertained for hours. Frugality is something that should make you proud, not embarrassed.

This article was written by Timothy Ng who is a regular writer and part of the team at Credit Card Finder, a 100% free Australian credit card comparison and application service. Visit the Credit Card Finder website for more information on saving money, or subscribe to their RSS feed for more practical articles.

1. Hasbro Board Game Night: Frugal Fun & Games
2. Date Night on the Cheap
3. Money Saving Monday: Budget Date Night

Where can one get books, movies, games and programs in one place and for free, or a small fee? If you don’t know the answer, you have not been to your local library recently. Libraries are the BOMB when it comes to those of us on a budget. Many local libraries are not just places to take books out anymore. You can find tons of movies on DVD. In some libraries they are even lending out Blu-Ray movies. Kids and adults have access to computers with free Internet. Some libraries even have toys to lend out.

Adults can find career centers at many libraries, which offer assistance in finding a new career, or how to interview properly to land a new job and resume writing assistance. There are also chances to take those “dreaded” defensive driving classes that lower you insurance rates – you know the ones, take all day and normally happen on the most beautiful Saturday of the season – for much less than it would cost through your insurance company’s classes.

Teenagers can find SAT Prep courses offered at the local library, which many libraries do not charge for or charge a much smaller fee than those chain places, like Kaplan, that offer the classes. Parents can find classes for their little ones to take them to, or to participate with them at the library which cost nothing or far less than Mommy & Me! There’s knitting, learning a language, support groups, fairs, movies to see, computer classes to learn how to print address labels, or learn how to use Microsoft programs like Word and Excel. So much can be found at the library for all ages, even senior citizens.

The Library is an often forgotten resource in many neighborhoods, but is such a great help to many of us who just want to be frugal and tap into the free “stuff” we pay taxes to have! If you have not experienced the library in the summer and you don’t have air conditioning in your home……another great way to spend some of the hottest days of the summer is at the local library. Better than heading to the mall where you will be tempted to BUY things. The library—look into it! November Sunflower recommends it!

1. Free Summer Fun
2. Keeping Cool for Free this Summer
3. Free Things to Do in NYC

When it comes to planning a fun birthday party a little imagination beats a lot of expense. Your child’s party can be fun to plan and host with these suggestions,

Keep It Simple. Your child’s birthday party isn’t about showing off to the neighbors and trying to impress your friends and family. It’s about celebrating one of the most important days in your child’s life. Don’t worry about serving expensive foods. Provide juice and healthy snacks instead. Apple slices and grapes aren’t just healthier than pizza, they’re a lot cheaper too.

Keep It Safe. While inflatable castles and pony rides can be fun, they’re also expensive and potentially dangerous. Look for activities and entertainment that engage the imagination and channel your young guests’ energy safely. While a professional magician can keep kids happy they tend to cost a good penny. Consider hiring local high-school aged amateur magician. Just be sure to see the act before you book it.

Keep It Short. The younger the birthday child, the fewer guests. If you have a toddler, just invite a handful of kids. Make your party as short as possible for younger children. It’s not only cheaper but the parents will appreciate it.

Focus on Fun. Don’t try to plan a perfect party, it will never happen. Just think of ways to make your child and his or her friends happy. Stumped on ideas? Ask your babysitter to come by and help run some games.

Timing. If you can, consider planning your child’s birthday party during the week instead of the weekend. Plan the party during winter recess or summer vacation on a weekday and you’ll save money on party rooms and party entertainment. Be sure to ask for a mid-week discount.

The biggest money-saver is time. By planning early you’ll have time to make your own decorations, cakes and activities.

Brian is a magician in New York City who entertains at countless birthday parties every year.

1. Money Saving Monday: Party Planning
2. Guest Post: Inexpensive Gift Tags
3. Budget Birthdays

Proper debt management etiquette would tell us that when struggling with juggling our bank balances, the luxuries go right out of the window. Yes, that includes your morning Starbucks, deli bought lunches, impulse purchases and the new jacket you really want but don’t really need at all.

You could argue that a social life is a luxury, to an extent. Yes, flashy nights out, expensive cocktails and dinners at high end restaurants with friends are extravagances that come firmly into the ‘luxury’ category. But surely debt shouldn’t mean that you essentially have to become a hermit until the day you day you paid off the last penny?

No, it doesn’t mean that. A social life is absolutely doable on a tight budget. Here are a few ideas!

Nights In

Grab your friends, get a cheap bottle of wine and cook up a storm at home. Home cooked food is far, far cheaper than restaurant meals and you and your friends can have just as much fun chatting and relaxing at your house. Plus, you can’t sit in a bar in your PJs, can you?

Free Events

There is usually always some sort of free event taking place relatively close to you. For the British, wherecanwego.com is a great way to find the free events taking place near your home. If you live anywhere else, typing “free events,” plus your local area name into the search engines will probably return results. These events can range from poetry readings, to music concerts, wine and cheese tasting events and pretty much anything else you can think of. But as well as saving money, trying something new like this might just be a refreshing addition to your social life!

Drinks with Friends

So nights in and free events are great, but sometimes all you want is to go for drinks with friends, right? Can you still do that and balance this with paying off your debts? You bet you can! Of course, it isn’t something you can do every weekend, necessarily, but as a treat once in a while, certainly. Why not arrange to meet up during Happy Hour at your favourite bar and make the most of the cheaper drinks deals that are on?

Movies

Yes, so movies at home are great, but the cinema can be unrivaled in terms of an experience. It is possible to get your hands on free movie tickets though. For those of us residing in the UK, seefilmfirst.com has regular cinema ticket giveaways. For US residents, the movietickets.com newsletter often sends out free movie ticket offers. Sign up for it!

Just because you need to tighten your belt and start managing your spending better does not mean you have to become a hermit, give up all your friends and live a long and lonely life! Far from it. It simply means being more creative in how you spend your socialising time!

1. Blissfully Frugal Entry: Confessions of a Social Networking Cheapskate
2. Blissfully Frugal Entry: Blissful, Simple Life
3. How To be Frugal on Friday Night and Still Have Fun

In addition to stay-at-home dates, with a little creativity, you can enjoy budget date nights outside of the house. The hubby and I have been very proactive about dating for the last year or so. We have gone through a destruction and repair phase, and have placed a high priority on date night—even if it isn’t always cheap. However, we have utilized coupons and a few unique opportunities to fit the alphabet dating project into our budget. Along the way, we’ve discovered a few inexpensive (and often free!) ideas:

• Bookstores: In addition to the simple pleasure of walking hand in hand through the aisles of books with my hubby, bookstores often have added events such as poetry readings, local musicians or open mic nights.
• Coffee Shops: Neither of us are coffee drinkers, but hot chocolate sure is nice (and low cost) on a cold, winter’s night. You may also find the occasional event here, too.
• Museums: Our local art museum is 100% free! We have also explored the Children’s Museum—sans children—on our previously purchased membership.
• Local Parks: From trails to bird watching to scheduled events, your local park can be a source of free entertainment for couples, in addition to families.
• Geo-Caching: We had such a fun time on our geocaching date, that we’ve considered adding it into the queue again! If you don’t have a smart phone or gps, you can go treasure hunting together with a low-tech Letterboxing outing.
• Video Arcades: Not free, but we’ve spent hours on a single roll of quarters. It’s low key, sometimes competitive and a lot of fun.

We love to hear about your tips, tricks and frugal living ideas each week. Join us on Money Saving Monday to share your frugal tips for surviving winter—how do you stock up on winter supplies, hats, coats, gloves and what do you do when you’re stuck inside?

1. Date Night on the Cheap
2. Budget Date Nights
3. Money Saving Monday: Vacations

One of the best things about hosting a Superbowl party is that the entertainment is already figured out for you. However, there are a few free & inexpensive things you can do to provide options for the non-sports fans who may attend. They’ll really make your party stand out! Besides, everyone knows the real show is between the game—what iconic ads will we see this year? Are you ready to play in the AdBowl? Register in advance, then come back to vote on your favorite Superbowl commercials after the game. They even have printable worksheets and a FREE iPhone app so you can play along during the game! If you’re looking for more printable Superbowl games, there are several fun ones here. Python even has anti-football “girly” games (of course, this girl loves her Colts!), including Super cookie bake-off!

We love to hear about your tips, tricks and frugal living ideas each Monday. This week kicks off our new “For the Love Of…” series. We’ll be offering advice on doing the things you love, on a budget. Join us on Money Saving Monday to share your budget tips for date night—it’s important to stay connected to your significant other so how can we plan frugal dates?

1. Money Saving Monday: Party Planning
2. Money Saving Monday: Vacations
3. Money Saving Monday: Cleaning