Save money on entertainment

11. Time your visit: Many theaters, museums, galleries, zoos and parks offer special discounts, such as standing room only or pay-what-you-can nights. Some even offer free admission on certain days of the month.

If you don't plan on spending a lot of time at big attractions, such as amusement or water parks, you might snag a twilight discount -- usually 30% to 50% off -- for showing up a few hours before closing.

12. Think used: Buy used, and you can get your books, games, DVDs and compact in nearly new condition for a fraction of the price. For instance, we recently found a used copy of a $15 best-selling book for $3.64 on AbeBooks.com with free shipping -- a savings of 76%. Other places to buy used include Amazon.com, eBay and Craigslist.

Or try swapping entertainment. Sites such as TitleTrader and SwapTree help you trade your used books, movies and music with someone who wants them. The services are free, but you'll have to pay for postage to ship your swaps.

13. Head back to campus: College campuses are a trove of quality entertainment options, including student musical performances, film festivals, art exhibits, theater productions, dance recitals, sporting events and more.

The best part: Many are free or incredibly inexpensive to attend.

14. Get in touch with your community: Pursuing a new hobby or interest will keep you entertained for months -- or even years -- to come. But joining a team or taking a class through a private business can be pricey.

Instead, take an art class, learn a foreign language or join a sports league through your community recreation department or local community college. You could save hundreds of dollars.

15. Get out more: There is plenty of free and cheap entertainment to be had at the hands of Mother Nature. Go hiking, picnicking, bird-watching, fishing, kayaking or camping. State and national parks are inexpensive and set the stage beautifully.

And when you want to get active, forget that $40-a-month gym membership. Instead, buy a good pair of running shoes, or dust off your bike. Or check out the prices at your community recreation center.

Save money on health care

16. Bypass doctors: For routine problems such as a sore throat, ear infection or flu shot, consider your local drug, grocery or retail store. Many have walk-in clinics staffed with nurse practitioners or physician assistants that can treat your ailment for less money than a doctor's office or urgent care center.

For instance, in Minnesota, a visit to a retail clinic costs $110, on average, versus $156 for urgent care and $166 for a family physician, according to a study by the Rand, a nonprofit think tank, which priced three procedures. Several insurance companies cover retail-clinic care.

17. Use the ER properly: The average emergency-room visit in the Rand study cost $570. If you have a serious, life-threatening problem, the ER is the right place to go. If you don't, save your money and go to a doctor's office.

18. Compare drug costs: Different stores charge different prices for the same drugs. Call around to shop for the lowest price, or try DestinationRx to find prescription- and nonprescription-drug prices online and in your own neighborhood.

For instance, we searched for a 30-day supply of Plavix (75 milligrams) in the Baltimore suburbs. Prices ranged from $150 at Costco to $165 at a big grocery store. A $15 savings per month adds up to $180 per year.

19. Don't skimp on coverage: One of the costliest mistakes you can make is to buy an insurance policy with inadequate coverage. These policies may look attractive because they have low premiums and deductibles. But a maximum benefit of as little as $50,000 to $100,000 per accident or illness could leave you with tens of thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses.

A better way to lower your premiums is to buy a high-deductible policy with a coverage limit of at least $1 million. If you buy a policy with a deductible of at least $1,200 for single coverage or $2,400 for family coverage in 2009, you can also make tax-deductible contributions to a health savings account and use the money tax-free for medical costs in any year.

20. Know your policy's rules: How well do you know your insurance coverage? Each plan may have different requirements about visiting out-of-network doctors, getting preapproval for procedures, getting referrals to specialists, etc.

Follow your insurer's rules, and you'll be less likely to be surprised by a denied claim.

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