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Fishy Friends
If you are a frequent visitor to the Melbourne Aquarium or Zoos, instead of paying for entry each time you visit, purchase a "Friends of the Aquarium" pass that allows you unlimited visits for about $70 a year - much cheaper than $28 per visit!
- Contributed by Robyn, Endeavour Hills, 8th February 2009
- Contributed by Robyn, Endeavour Hills, 8th February 2009
Is Golf Your Game?
If you love a round of golf but find the membership and green fees a little expensive, skip the member only clubs and play at a public course. With green fees at some under $20 for eighteen holes, you can play a round without breaking the budget. Or, if you just like to swing a club or need to improve your game, go to the driving range.
Tip of the Day, 1st May 2010
Tip of the Day, 1st May 2010
Inexpensive Leisure Activities
Approximate $ Savings: $100 per month
I recently joined U3A (University of the Third Age) to access inexpensive leisure activities throughout the year. U3A offers courses on varying topics, with each class being taught by a U3A member on a voluntary basis. I paid $40 for the year and have joined the Yoga, Bushwalking, and French classes. My only other expenses will be $42 for books for French, and refreshments. An absolute bargain as the Yoga classes would cost $10 to $15 per week elsewhere, and I'd hate to think how much I would need to pay for a language class.
- Contributed by Tania, Ballarat, 27th February 2010
I recently joined U3A (University of the Third Age) to access inexpensive leisure activities throughout the year. U3A offers courses on varying topics, with each class being taught by a U3A member on a voluntary basis. I paid $40 for the year and have joined the Yoga, Bushwalking, and French classes. My only other expenses will be $42 for books for French, and refreshments. An absolute bargain as the Yoga classes would cost $10 to $15 per week elsewhere, and I'd hate to think how much I would need to pay for a language class.
- Contributed by Tania, Ballarat, 27th February 2010
Join a Community Club and Keep the Kids Entertained and Make New Friends
Approximate $ Savings: $30 a week
With 4 sons aged 7, 9, 11 and 13 keeping them busy, fit and entertained was getting expensive. Even if they all brought a friend home (that was another 4 kids at the very least) it added a few dollars a week to the grocery bill for snacks (apples, milk or cordial all add up) and we found that if they had friends over or went to their homes we didn't get to spend time with them. All our boys have bikes so we joined the local BMX club (we have a family membership) and it has been fantastic. We could join as a family and join in club days. We can also visit the track so the boys can ride (we just let them know we'll be there) and we have even had birthday parties at the club track (free as we are members). All the kids brought their bikes and helmets and we supplied the sausage sizzle, fruit, birthday cake and cold water to drink. It costs us under $30 for a party with 20 guests for the whole day! The kids have a ball, we get to spend time with them having fun and we are all a little fitter for the exercise.
- Contributed by Sandra, Kilsyth, 9th October 2009
With 4 sons aged 7, 9, 11 and 13 keeping them busy, fit and entertained was getting expensive. Even if they all brought a friend home (that was another 4 kids at the very least) it added a few dollars a week to the grocery bill for snacks (apples, milk or cordial all add up) and we found that if they had friends over or went to their homes we didn't get to spend time with them. All our boys have bikes so we joined the local BMX club (we have a family membership) and it has been fantastic. We could join as a family and join in club days. We can also visit the track so the boys can ride (we just let them know we'll be there) and we have even had birthday parties at the club track (free as we are members). All the kids brought their bikes and helmets and we supplied the sausage sizzle, fruit, birthday cake and cold water to drink. It costs us under $30 for a party with 20 guests for the whole day! The kids have a ball, we get to spend time with them having fun and we are all a little fitter for the exercise.
- Contributed by Sandra, Kilsyth, 9th October 2009
Museum Memberships
Approximate $ Savings: at least $50 a year, depending on how many times you usually visit the museums / science centres
Visiting museums and science centres are great fun and learning experiences for all the family - great during school holidays and wet weather. I have found that if you join Museums Victoria for a one off fee of $11 and annual fee of $40 you can visit the Sydney Powerhouse, Australian and Maritime Museum, the Canberra Questacon, the Wollongong Science Centre and of course Museum Victoria and Planetarium for free (as well as other places). This is great if you live in these localities and/or it makes a trip away cheaper - noting for example that a trip to Questacon could cost a family (2 Adults and 2 Children) around $50-60 for a single entry, the Australian museum $30 and heaps more. With a membership you can then visit for as long or as little as you want, which is especially handy if you have young children, and not feel that you have wasted money on a trip. The kids love it and you have a cheap, educational place to visit in several cities. Check out the Museum Victoria website for details (http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/mvmembers/join.asp) - they are very friendly staff. You can join no matter where you live.
- Contributed by Bernadette, Seaforth, 17th July 2007
Visiting museums and science centres are great fun and learning experiences for all the family - great during school holidays and wet weather. I have found that if you join Museums Victoria for a one off fee of $11 and annual fee of $40 you can visit the Sydney Powerhouse, Australian and Maritime Museum, the Canberra Questacon, the Wollongong Science Centre and of course Museum Victoria and Planetarium for free (as well as other places). This is great if you live in these localities and/or it makes a trip away cheaper - noting for example that a trip to Questacon could cost a family (2 Adults and 2 Children) around $50-60 for a single entry, the Australian museum $30 and heaps more. With a membership you can then visit for as long or as little as you want, which is especially handy if you have young children, and not feel that you have wasted money on a trip. The kids love it and you have a cheap, educational place to visit in several cities. Check out the Museum Victoria website for details (http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/mvmembers/join.asp) - they are very friendly staff. You can join no matter where you live.
- Contributed by Bernadette, Seaforth, 17th July 2007
Adelaide Zoo
I recently joined the Adelaide Zoo. I have often thought it would be nice to go to the zoo but rarely have $60 to get all of our family (2 adults, 3 paying children) in for the day. I was surprised to learn if we joined up for a yearly membership on a day we did go the admission for that day would be deducted from the yearly fee. A sign up cost of $70 for the first adult and $35 for any additional adults (you could get some friends together here and make the most of even more savings) and $20 for children between 4 and 14 applies. The cost for our family was $165 less the $57 for that day's admission so we paid only $108 for the next 12 months of free admission to the zoo. We will only have to go to the zoo twice to get our money back. We go on a lot of family picnics every year so we now have somewhere really exciting to go for a very small cost over the year. We are also entitled entry to other zoos around Australia, invitations to twilight picnics, Christmas functions, and tours of the zoo.
- Contributed by Kelli-Jo, August 11th, 2004
- Contributed by Kelli-Jo, August 11th, 2004