If your summer budget has no room for a vacation this year, there are lots of fun ways to make your "DFW Summer Staycation" one to remember without breaking the bank!

Summer Staycation Guide Tips

Here are some tips on how to get started and how to plan ahead to save some extra cash:

What do THEY want to do? Ask the kids to brainstorm a list of ideas that they want to do for a vacation.

What do YOU want to do? Parents should get a voice in this as well! There are so many resources to find ideas…from local magazines (Ad Pages) to free fun websites, including MyDFWMommy.com- just check out our around town section!

Make a Plan. Sit down as a family and plan out your week. Use coupons, entertainment deals and free activities to stretch your dollar.  Take advantage of restaurants that offer free meals for kids.  Using these savings tactics might allow you to splurge and get a hotel for one or two nights during the week to make you feel as if you really have “gotten away”.

Try Something New! Use the “out-of-the-box” thinking to come up with something new and fun for the family.  Hiking in a cave, going on a scavenger hunt, zip-lining, visiting thrift shops. The ideas are limitless!

Quality Time. Some of the best times are right down the road at your local park.  The key is giving kids what they want and that is time with you. Fish with them, ride bikes, fly a kite, play in the stream, have a picnic and chat with them.

Here are some ideas in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to get you started. Plus, don’t forget to visit Groupon and LivingSocial for discounts on local things to do with the family!

For local attraction discounts, check out Pogo Pass, a family based entertainment pass, that gets pass holders into some of the best venues in Dallas. Head over here and use code MYDFWMOMMY and get 60% off (you’ll pay $49.98 instead of $124.95). Just Hawaiian Falls and the Fort Worth Zoo are over $40 by themselves! And don't forget about CityPASS. It has just come to the Dallas area and is a booklet of admission tickets to the best attractions in a single city. You’ll save up to 50% compared to combined regular box office prices!

Other great resources include the Entertainment Book and GoldStar for half-price entertainment events!

And of course, remember to take advantage of all the Kid’s Summer Free Events!

Finally, if you want to stay close to home, check out our city spotlight of great things to do in area suburbs, many of which are FREE!

Things to Do in Arlington, TX ~ City Spotlight
Things to Do in Carrollton, TX ~ City Spotlight
Things to Do in Frisco, TX ~ City Spotlight
Things to Do in Garland ~ City Spotlight
Things to Do in Grand Prairie, TX ~ City Spotlight
Things to Do in Grapevine, TX 
Things to Do in McKinney, TX ~ City Spotlight
Things to Do in Plano, TX ~ City Spotlight

DFW Summer Staycation Guide!

Texas culture

GeO-Deck at Reunion Tower, Dallas ($16 adults; $8 for children ages 4–12; free for 3 and younger.)

Fire Station No. 1 Museum, Fort Worth (FREE)

Fort Worth Stockyards, Fort Worth (FREE)

National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, Fort Worth ($10 adults; $8 for ages 3–12; free for ages 2 and younger with a paid adult.)

National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum and Hall of Fame, Fort Worth ($6 adults; free for ages 5 and younger.)

Old Red Museum, Dallas ($8 adults; $5 ages 3–16.)

Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, Dallas ($16 adults; $13 for ages 6–18; free for ages 5 and younger.)

Southfork Ranch, Parker ($9.50 adults; $8 seniors; $7 children age 5-12; kids 4 and younger free.)

Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, Fort Worth ($5 adults; $3 ages 3-12; $4 seniors and students; under 3 free)

West End Historical District, Dallas (FREE)

Western Currency Facility, Fort Worth (FREE)

Science Museums

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, Fort Worth ($15 adults and $11 children.)

Perot Museum of Nature and Science at Victory Park, Dallas ($17 adults; $12 seniors; $11 children ages 2–17; free for children younger than age 2.)

Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, Grand Prairie ($16.99 adults; $8.99 children age 4-12.)

Sci-Tech Discovery Center, Frisco ($8; free for ages 2 and younger.)

Art Museums

Amon Carter Museum, Fort Worth (FREE)

Arlington Museum of Art, Arlington ($8 adults; $5 students; free for ages 12 and younger.)

Crow Collection of Asian Art, Dallas (FREE)

Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas (FREE)

Irving Arts Center, Irving (FREE)

Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth ($16 adults; $12 for ages 6–11.)

Meadows Museum at SMU, Dallas ($10 for adults; free for ages 11 and younger. Free Thu after 5pm.)

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Fort Worth ($10 adults; free for children ages 12 and younger.)

Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas ($10 adults; free for children ages 12 and younger.)

Historical Museums

Chestnut Square Historic Village, McKinney ($5 adults; $3 children suggested donation; varying fee for Living History Days and other special events.)

Dallas Heritage Village, Dallas ($9 adults; $5 ages 4-12; $7 seniors 65 and older; children younger than 4 free.)

Dallas Holocaust Museum, Dallas ($6 adults; $4 children)

Heritage Farmstead Museum, Plano ($2 per person; guided tours: $5 adults; $3.50 students ages 5-18; kids ages 4 and younger free.)

International Museum of Cultures, Dallas ($5 adults; $4 children, students and seniors; kids age 3 and younger free.)

Log Cabin Village, Fort Worth ($5 adults; $4.50 ages 4–17.)

Transportation Fun

DART, Dallas area (Ticket prices vary; single ride fares start at $1.75.)

Forest Park Miniature Railroad, Fort Worth ($3 adults; $2.50 children 1-12 and seniors 65 and older.)

Grapevine Vintage Railroad, Grapevine ($10 adults; $9 seniors 55 and older; $6 children 3-12.)

Interurban Railway Museum, Plano (FREE)

McKinney Avenue Trolley, Dallas (FREE)

Museum of the American Railroad, Dallas ($5 adults; $2.50 ages 3-12; children younger than 3 free; $7 guided tours)

Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth (Ticket prices vary per event.)

Trinity Railway Express, Dallas-Fort Worth (Fares start at $5 for a daypass.)

Astronomy Centers

Noble Planetarium, Fort Worth ($5 adults; $3 children and seniors; $2 museum members.)

Oscar E. Monnig Meteorite Gallery, Fort Worth (FREE)

UNT Sky Theater, Denton ($5 adults; $4 UNT employees and seniors; $3 UNT students and children 12 and younger.)

UTA Planetarium, Arlington ($2 film tickets; FREE admission.)

Aviation Museums

Cavanaugh Flight Museum, Addison ($8 adults; $6 seniors and military; $4 children age 4-12; kids age 3 and younger free.)

C.R. Smith Museum, Fort Worth ($5 adults; $3 seniors 55 and older and children 2-18; kids age 2 and younger free.)

Founders Plaza Plane Observation Park, DFW International Airport (FREE)

Frontiers of Flight Museum, Dallas ($8 adults; $5 ages 3-17; children younger than 3 free)

Vintage Flying Museum, Fort Worth ($8 adults; $5 kids age 13-17 and seniors; $3 kids age 6-12; kids age 6 and younger free.)

Animals, Farms & Petting Zoos

Dallas Zoo, Dallas (Jun–Dec: $12 adults; $9 for ages 3–11.)

Fort Worth Zoo, Fort Worth ($12 adults; $9 for age 3–12 and seniors; kids 2 and younger free.)

Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Glen Rose (Varying prices depending on type of tour by car, guided tour, etc. and time of tour either weekday or weekend starting at $13.95.)

Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch, Pilot Point ($10 adults; $8 children age 3-12 and seniors 65 and older; kids 12 and younger free on public tour days)

Fritz Park Petting Farm, Irving (FREE)

Grisham Farms Petting Zoo, McKinney ($5 per person 18 months and older.)

Nash Farm, Grapevine (FREE)

Trinity River Farm, Fort Worth (Pricing varies; reservations required for lessons.)

Aquariums & fishing

FREE Fishing at All Texas State Parks

Bass Pro Shops, Grapevine (FREE)

Cabela’s, Fort Worth (FREE)

Children's Aquarium at Fair Park, Dallas ($8 adults; $6 children ages 3-11; free children 2 and younger.)

Dallas World Aquarium, Dallas ($15.95 adults; $8.95 children; under 2 free)

Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, Athens ($5.50 adults; $4.50 seniors; $3.50 children age 4-12; kids 3 and younger free.)

Theaters & Music

Artisan Center Theater, Hurst ($16-$7; Artie's Playhouse shows $5.)

Bass Performance Hall, Fort Worth (Varies by show.)

Casa Mañana, Fort Worth (Varies by show.)

Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts, Richardson (Varies by show.)

Circle Theatre, Fort Worth ($20-$30 per ticket.)

Creative Arts Theatre & School, Arlington (Varies by show.)

Dallas Children’s Theater, Dallas (Varies by show.)

Dallas Summer Musicals, Dallas (Tickets start at $15.)

Frisco Area Children’s Theater, Frisco ($10 adults; $5 kids age 10 and younger and seniors 65 and older.)

Grapevine Opry, Grapevine (Tickets start at $15.)

Hip Pocket Theatre, White Settlement ($20 adults; $5 for ages 12 and younger.)

Kids Who Care, Fort Worth ($20 adults; $17 kids age 15 and younger; $12 groups of 10 or more.)

McKinney Performing Arts Center, McKinney (Varies by show.)

Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas (Varies by show.)

Plano Children’s Theatre, Plano and McKinney ($8 in advance; $10 at the door.)

Rover Dramawerks, Plano ($20 Friday and Saturday evening shows; $16 Thursdays and matinees.)

Theatre Arlington, Arlington ($22 regular adult admission; $10 tickets to all youth performances.)

Teatro Dallas, Dallas (Tickets start at $15.)

WaterTower Theatre, Addison (Varies per show and educational programming.)

Winspear Opera House, Dallas(Varies by show.)

Water Fun

Burger’s Lake, Fort Worth (Admission is $12 per person ages 7 and up; $5 ages 1-6.)

Dallas Classic Gondola Cruises, Las Colinas ($146 for two people.)

Eagle Mountain Lake, Fort Worth (FREE)

Fort Worth Water Gardens, Fort Worth (FREE)

Gaylord Texan Paradise Springs, Grapevine (Included with stay- room rates vary.)

Great Wolf Lodge, Grapevine (Included with stay- room rates vary.)

Hawaiian Falls, Garland, Mansfield, Roanoke and The Colony ($22.99 for Big Kahunas taller than 48 inches; $15.99 seniors and kids under 48 inches; free for kids 2 and younger.)

Hydrous Wake Parks - Hydrous Wake Parks offers cable wakeboarding for beginners and experts alike in Allen, TX and Little Elm, TX.

Keller Pointe, Keller (Daily guest fee $17 family; $7 seniors)

Lake Arlington, Arlington (Daily permit fee is $5; annual fee is $25 or $12 for seniors.)

Lake Benbrook, Fort Worth (Day use costs $3 per carload. Camping fees vary from $30-$100.)

Lake Grapevine, Grapevine (Permit fees vary.)

Lake Joe Pool, Cedar Hill (Permit fees vary.)

Lake Lavon, Wylie (Permit fees vary.)

Lake Lewisville, Lewisville (Entry fee is per vehicle: $10 for non-residents; $3 for Lewisville residents.)

Lake Mineral Wells, Mineral Wells  (Permit fees vary.)

Lake Ray Hubbard, Rowlett (Permit fees vary.)

Lake Ray Roberts, Pilot Point (Permit fees vary.)

Lake Worth, Fort Worth (FREE)

NRH2O Family Water Park, North Richland Hills (Admission is $25.99 for those taller than 48 inches; $20.99 for anyone shorter.)

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Arlington ($25.99; $19.99 for little tykes under 48 inches tall; 2 and younger free.)

Trinity River Kayak/Canoe Expeditions, Dallas area (Rates vary from $50-40 for kayak; $55-50 for canoe.)

Wet Zone, Rowlett (Adults: $8.50 residents, $10.50 nonresidents. Children under 48 inches: $7.50 residents, $9.50 nonresidents. Free for ages 2 and younger.)

White Rock Lake, Dallas (FREE)

Ice Skating & Roller Skating

Kids Skate Free Program

Dr Pepper Star Center, Euless, Farmers Branch, Frisco, McKinney and Plano (Public skating at all locations: $7 adults; $6 children 3-12; kids 3 and younger free; $3 skate rental.)

Galleria Ice Skating Center, Dallas ($8 public skate session admission; $3 skate rental. See Web site for varying lesson pricing information.)

Ice at the Parks, Arlington (Public skating: $6 admission; $3 skate rental.)

Polar Ice House, Grapevine (Public skate: $8 adults; $7 children; $4.50 military; $3 skate rental.)

Interskate, Lewisville (Public skating: $6 admission; $4 skate rental.)

Skatetown, Grapevine (Public skating: $6 admission; $3 skate rental.)

Lone Star Sports and Event Center, Denton (Public skating: $5 admission; $4 skate rental.)

Amusements Parks & Entertainment Centers

Kids Bowl Free Program

Adventure Landing, Dallas ($10 admission for all-you-can-play days every Monday and Thursday; $9 “Super Saturday” admission.)

Alley Cats Entertainment Center, Arlington (Ticket package prices vary.)

Bowlmor Dallas, Addison (Prices vary by day of the week and time.)

Celebration Station, Mesquite (Varying ticket package prices, starting at $4.99 per person.)

Cowtown Cattlepen Maze, Fort Worth ($5 admission for ages 5 and older. Kids age 4 and younger must be accompanied by an adult with free admission for the child.)

Dyno-Rock Climbing Center, Arlington ($10 climbing pass; $6 full rental of shoes, harness and chalk bag).

Just For Fun Watercraft Rental, Grapevine/Lewisville (Hourly and daily prices vary per watercraft.)

Katy Trail, Dallas (FREE)

Lone Star Park, Grand Prairie ($5 general admission.)

Main Event, Fort Worth, Frisco, Lewisville, Grapevine and Plano (Ticket packages start at $9.95.)

Medieval Times, Dallas ($60.95 adults; $36.95 kids age 12 and younger; free for children under 3.)

Top Golf, Allen, Dallas and The Colony (Admission starts at $3; see Web site for varying prices based on day and number of balls.)

Sandy Lake Amusement Park, Carrollton ($5 admission to swimming pool (kids age 3 and younger free; $2 per person age 3 and older; 50-cent tickets for amusement rides and paddle boats.)

Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington (Full price admission is $64.99; $49.99 for kids under 48-inches tall. Free for ages 2 and younger.)

Strikz, Frisco (Ticket package prices vary.)

Summit Climbing Gym, Dallas, Carrollton and Grapevine ($20 for day pass plus harness, shoe and chalk bag rental; $14 day pass; $5 shoe rental; $3 harness rental; $3 chalk bag rental.)

Sports

American Airlines Center, Dallas (Price depends on event)

AT&T Stadium, Arlington(Price depends on event)

AirHogs Baseball, Grand Prairie (Tickets start at $6)

Dr Pepper Ballpark, Frisco (Tickets start at $7.)

LaGrave Field/Fort Worth Cats Baseball, Fort Worth (Tickets start at $5.)

Pizza Hut Park/FC Dallas Soccer, Frisco (Tickets start at $20.)

Rangers Ballpark/Rangers, Arlington (Game tickets start at $6.)

Horse-back Riding

Benbrook Stables, Benbrook ($45 private 45-minute lesson; $40 per hour-long trail ride.)

Dallas Polo Club, Red Oak (Varying pricing information determined by season and age.)

Marshall Creek Ranch, Southlake (1.5-hour trail rides and ride-alongs are $50 per person.)

Park Lane Equestrian, Dallas (Varying pricing information determined by season and age.)

Prestonwood Polo & Country Club, Oak Point (Varying pricing information determined by season and age.)

Storybook Ranch, McKinney (1 hour beginner ride starts at $35.)

Windmill Stables of Spring Park, Richardson (Varying pricing information determined by season and age.)

Nature 

Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve, Southlake (FREE)

Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Fort Worth (FREE)

Cedar Ridge Preserve, Dallas (Suggested donation of $3 upon entry.)

Connemara Meadow Preserve, Allen (FREE)

Dallas Arboretum, Dallas ($15 adults; $12 seniors; $10 children 3-12.)

Dinosaur Valley State Park, Glen Rose (Adult Day Use: $7 Daily; Child 12 Years and Under: Free)

Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, Cedar Hill (FREE)

Elm Fork Nature Preserve, Carrollton (FREE)

Fort Worth Botanic Garden, Fort Worth (FREE)

Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge, Fort Worth ($5 adults; $2 ages 3–12.)

The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary, McKinney ($9 adults and $6 for children ages 3–12.)

River Legacy Living Science Center, Arlington (FREE)

Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden, Dallas ($3 for timed ticket plus admission to the Dallas Arboretum: $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 3–12.)

Texas Discovery Gardens, Dallas ($8 adults; $4 for children ages 3–11; free for children 2 and younger.)

Trinity River Audubon Center, Dallas ($6 adults; $4 seniors ages 60 and older; $3 children ages 3-12; children younger than 3 free. Free admission every third Thu.)

Play ball!!!!  The Texas Rangers home opener is April 4th and I am so pumped for the 2016 season! MyDFWMommy is committed to sharing ways to save in the DFW Metroplex and I’m sure many of you have plans to attend a Texas Rangers game at Globe Life Park in Arlington this year. Are you looking for discounts and deals to the Texas Rangers game? Here are some tips to saving on tickets, parking and food!

Texas Rangers Discounts and Deals

Texas Rangers Home Game Schedule

Of course, if you want to go to a game, you will want to know who the Rangers are playing against. Here is the 2016 Rangers Schedule schedule,  or click here to download a handy printable schedule.

Ticket Specials (go here to buy tickets)

KRLD 1080 MATINEE SPECIAL

Get away from the work week with KRLD and the Rangers on April 6. Save 50% on Corner Box, Upper Box, and Upper Reserved seating areas, or sit in the Cholula All You Can Eat section for just $34. Use coupon code: KRLDMATINEE to redeem this offer.

COCA-COLA FAMILY PACKS

Save up to 49% with Coca-Cola Family Packs including four tickets, four jumbo hot dogs, four Coke soft drinks, two Kid's Zone wristbands, and one souvenir program. Two locations are available:

• Upper Reserved - $69
• Lower Reserved - $113

TEN DOLLAR TUESDAYS

Fans can get $10 Upper Reserved and Upper Box tickets, and $10 parking for most Tuesday home games. Fans purchasing online also get the chance to add on a $10 Meal Deal that includes a hot dog, soda, and peanuts or popcorn. Meal Deal is available to online purchasers of the Upper Reserved and Upper Box sections only, and will cut off 48 hours in advance of the game. $10 Tuesday package is valid for all Tuesday games except April 26. Offer also available via phone and at the box office.

Additional persons may be added (one program per four tickets, one Kid's Zone wristband per two tickets). Offer is available for all Sunday through Thursday non-premier regular-season games except April 4, April 25 - 27, June 26, July 10, and October 2. Offer is subject to availability and cannot be combined with any other offer.

OZARKA ONLINE TICKET THURSDAY

Tickets for all Thursday home games are half price in Upper Reserved, Upper Box, Lexus Club Terrace, and Lower Box. Use coupon code: OZARKA to redeem this offer. Offer is subject to availability and cannot be combined with any other offer.

TAKIS THURSDAYS

Fans who bring a Takis bag to the box office, or use the online coupon code TAKIS will receive $35 all you can eat tickets or a BOGO ticket in the Upper Reserved section. (Free Upper Reserved ticket with purchase of a full-priced Upper Reserved ticket.)

FIREWORKS FRIDAYS

Enter coupon code FIREWORKS and get $14 Upper Reserved tickets for Friday night home games on April 15, April 29, May 27, June 3, July 8, August 12, August 26, September 2, September 16, and September 30. Offer also available at the box office, or via phone.

DR PEPPER CAN SPECIAL

Enter coupon code DRPEPPER or present your Dr Pepper can at the box office to receive $12 Upper Reserved tickets, $17 Upper Box tickets, and $25 Lexus Club Terrace tickets. Offer is valid for Sunday-Thursday non-premier home games April through July, excluding April 4, April 25 - 27, and June 26. The offer also available via phone.

All you Can Eat Seats

Spend $48 per person and chow away!  Group discounts are also available. Or, fans who bring a Takis bag to the box office, or use the online coupon code TAKIS will receive $35 all you can eat tickets.

• Cholula All You Can Eat Seats are located in the upper home run deck
• Tickets include all you can eat grilled chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn, nachos, and soft drinks
• Pricing for groups of 20 or more ranges from $38 - $50
• Food service begins when the gates open and ends at the end of the 7th inning, or 2.5 hours after the first pitch
• Individual tickets start at $48

MyDFWMommy was established in August of 2009 as a Dallas Coupon Blog.

Laura Thornquist is the author behind the website and is dedicated to educating our fantastic community about great deals, must-attend events and great living in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Laura loves to find a good deal, but she doesn’t consider herself “cheap”. She just likes to stretch her dollars so she can splurge on her family when she wants.  She’s also a wife, mother and a business woman.

She is dedicated to helping readers learn how to stretch their dollar so they too can enjoy all life has to offer! Laura is a wife of 21 years, mother of two GREAT kids, ages 18 and 10, and author of MyDFWMommy.com.

She also has a marketing, television news and sales background. She was hugely impacted by the economy in late 2008 with job losses and transfers. That’s when she discovered a new frugal way of living. After learning valuable savings strategies, Laura couldn’t help but share! It has changed her life and she’s committed to helping others pinch pennies in times of need!

Laura is also a daily contributor and “fronts” her savings segments on WFAA in Dallas/Fort Worth. She’s provided content on Good Morning America and has also been featured on GMA. Other media includes the local Fox, CBS, and NBC TV stations along with several local newspapers. Prior to entering the social media market, Laura was a news anchor for over 20 years in markets such as Denver and Kansas City.

Wow, cable can be expensive!  The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says the average American spends around $65 a month — nearly $800 a year — on cable. We spend much more in our home! The NDP Group says it’s more like $90 a month, and estimates it’ll hit $200 by 2020. But there are indeed, many ways to save on cable bills!

But there are a ton of options to make cutting your cable bill very easy, thanks to the new streaming services available!  It can be confusing, so here is some information on deciding which option is best for you!

It really comes down to how many channels you want, which channels you watch and when you watch them.

Here are some options at “cutting the cord” and saving well over 50% off your cable bill.

Get an Antenna– The modern equivalent of the old-school “rabbit ears,” which can cost under $10 and gives free access to network content. Here are some of my favorite choices for antenna’s. It’s not on-demand (unless you get a recording device), but for live events like the Super Bowl this is a great option.

Sling TV ($20 per month) Did you know the average household gets 200 channels, but only watches 18 of them. If that’s you, and you want to be up to the minute, then check out Sling TV. Sling allows you to live stream 20 channels, like ESPN, CNN and The Food Network. You’ll have access to movies, too.

PlayStation Vue ($49.99 per month) The new PlayStation Vue live streams TV, and offers 50 channels, movies and recording/playback functionality. It requires a PlayStation (PS4 or PS3 ). Right now the service is offered in DFW, Miami, New York City, Chicago and Philadelphia.

Amazon Prime
 ($8.25 per month) Similar to Netflix and Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime offers TV shows, movies and original series, but – instead of a month-to-month commitment – you sign up for a $99 one-year membership.  Right now you can get a 30 day trial for FREE!

Hulu Plus ($7.99 per month) If you can hold out a day for your favorite shows, then Hulu Plus offers a variety of popular shows the day after they air. You’ll have access to movies and original series as well.

Netflix ($7.99-11.99 per month) Hate ads?  Neftlix is your choice. Netflix has seasons of network cable shows, movies and original series, like Orange Is The New Black and House of Cards.

Time.com has a great article on deciding what kind of watcher you are and planning alternatives from The Basic Cable Junkie, The Prestige TV Grazer, The Serial Binger to Sports Fans.

For example: For Sports Fans

If you want—or need—to see a significant number of your local teams’ games, I’m going to stop right here. This is one area where streaming services can’t yet fully deliver. Local games are generally exclusive to regional sports networks, and you’ll still need cable for that. There’s also the issue of some online services being a little more unstable than die-hard fans might like.  HOWEVER, there are often ways for you to watch online!  We watch our sons games through a school program live online when we can’t be there in person.

However, if you’re a more casual sports fan or a supporter of an out-of-market team, cord cutting is still a worthwhile option. Sling TV will give you ESPN and ESPN 2 in addition to a handful of basic cable channels for $20 a month, and for another $5 you can get even more sports options, including ESPN U, ESPNEWS, and the SEC Network. Add in an indoor TV antenna and you’ll also have access to network sports.

For supporters of teams outside your local area, some sport-specific streaming options might also be attractive. Each major sports league offers some sort of online viewing option for somewhere in the neighborhood of $110 a year, with the caveat that local games are blacked out. (NFL fans can pay only $69.99 to watch any team they like, but must make do with replays.)

The Plan (option 1): Sling TV with sports package and an indoor TV antenna.

Price: $308.50 per year ($25.70 per month).

Savings: $490.82 per year ($40.90 per month).

The Plan (option 2): Sling TV with sports package, indoor TV antenna, and one sport-specific streaming package.

Price: $418.50 per year ($34.88 per month).

Savings: $380.82 per year ($31.74 per month).

You could buy about 12 additional seasons of television before cable becomes less expensive.

We all have our own favorite “places” to shop.  And most have our own ways to save when shopping.  As part of our Ways to Save Series, we are talking about loyalty programs. There are lots of great ones available, many we are all familiar with, such as grocery stores, drugstores, gas stations and chain restaurants.

Then they are some NOT SO obvious and can be a really great resource to help you save!

Vehicle Service Rewards

Nissan owners can sign up for the One to One Rewards program.  When you make service visits or shop with the company’s retail partners, you earn you points, which you can use for maintenance and service at your local Nissan dealer. Other dealers including Honda and Chevrolet offer similar programs.  Check with your LOCAL dealer too!

Taco Bell

If you love Taco Bell, you’ll want to check out this program! Taco Bell Explore is a rewards-based game that’s part of the company’s app. Members get sent puzzles based on their social media activity, and completing a puzzle makes them eligible to win prizes like free food, beverages, and their own personalized booth at Taco Bell.

IKEA

You can join the IKEA FAMILY program (it’s free to join). Members get free offers such as coffee and tea, cheap food offers, 30 extra minutes at Småland (the children’s play- and babysitting-area), 90-day price protection, and discounts on select merchandise.

7-Eleven

7-Eleven’s 7Rewards is also app-based. Members get rewards for buying drinks such as coffee or a Slurpee. You simply scan the bar code on your drink purchases, and the seventh one is always free.

Ace Hardware

Ace Rewards operates on a points system, where every dollar spent earns you 10 points. For every 2,500 points, you get a $5 reward. Other perks includeAce Hardware coupons, in-store savings, and 1,000 points just for signing up.

Pampers Rewards

If you haven’t joined Pampers Rewards yet, just go here to join and you will get 100 points just for signing up. Signing up allows you to participate in the Pampers Rewards Program which offers points for purchasing Pampers products and allows you to trade points in for free prizes!

Kellogg’s

Kellogg’s Family Rewards allows you to connect your store loyalty card to earn points when you buy eligible products, or upload your receipts for verification. You then use those points to get items in the Kellogg’s rewards catalog.

GNC

A GNCGold Card membership gives you everyday savings of up to 50% in-store, as well as online savings, price matching, and other members-only and partner offers. Cost: $15/year

Lids

If you like sports team apparel, you might want to check out Lids Club. A mall hat retailer, Lids offers club members tiered memberships based on points, and members receive a 20 to 25% discount on hats, 10 to 15% discount on apparel, and other perks. Cost: $5/year

Lancome

Love LANCÔME? Get 15% off your first purchase and gain access to members only benefits, the latest news via email on skincare, make up and fragrance collections and exclusive rewards from their loyalty program!

Leap Year occurs on February 29th every four years.  Leap Year is happening again for 2016, and The Hard Rock Cafe has something super cool for the 200,000 plus people who were born on this special day... FREE FOOD!

On Monday, February, 29, leaplings who stop by participating Hard Rock Cafe locations around the nation with a valid photo ID will receive a free entrée from Hard Rock’s Leaplings Eat Free menu.

Legendary Burger™ – Certified Angus Beef® patty topped with smoked bacon, Cheddar cheese, a golden fried onion ring, crisp lettuce and vine ripened tomato, served on a toasted brioche bun with Hard Rock’s seasoned fries.

Twisted Mac, Chicken & Cheese – Cavatappi macaroni tossed in a three-cheese sauce with roasted red peppers and topped with Parmesan parsley bread crumbs and grilled chicken breast.

Veggie Leggie – grilled Veggie Leggie patty topped with a grilled Portobello mushroom, zucchini, yellow squash, roasted red pepper and served on a toasted bun with mayo, leaf lettuce, sliced tomato, grilled sweet onions and a side of Hard Rock’s seasoned fries.

Hickory-Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich – hand-pulled smoked pork with hickory barbecue sauce served on a toasted brioche bun with Hard Rock’s seasoned fries, cowboy beans and citrus coleslaw.

Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken & Ham Sandwich – grilled chicken and thinly sliced ham, topped with smoked bacon, melted Jack cheese, Dijon mayonnaise, honey mustard, iceberg lettuce and a slice of vine-ripened tomato, served on a toasted brioche bun and a side of Hard Rock’s seasoned fries and citrus coleslaw.

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad – Romaine lettuce tossed in Hard Rock’s house-made Caesar dressing, topped with garlic croutons, shaved Parmesan cheese and grilled chicken.