Finance Roll

Have you tried to take the whole family out to a major league baseball game lately? The cost of tickets, parking AND food could easily top $200 for four or five people! I honestly don't see how big league teams are making it during tough economic times. And I don't understand how anyone with a family can go to those games. I like watching baseball in person much more than only watching on TV -- but how to get around this "little" issue of cost?

I've got some ideas here that could solve that little problem for you and also help you to conserve and save money, and consequently help the status of your family and household budget. This is just one of a number of financial strategies that I'll be rolling out for you that should help you learn how to budget just a little better and help your personal finance picture improve. Good goals for us all!

A great baseball option that can provide an afternoon or evening of inexpensive and high quality action is your local high school, college or university. When they were young, we often took our children to the University of Hawaii baseball stadium and everyone enjoyed themselves for a fraction of what going to see the Islanders would cost. And parking and getting into and out of the stadium was sure a lot faster, and cheaper.

The University of Hawaii had recently built a new baseball stadium, which was not so big that we couldn't see the kids where ever they wandered. We'd give them food money so they could buy whatever they wanted to eat and they had a great time. We got a chance to see good baseball for a lot less than it would have cost to see the Islanders play. And high school games could be cheaper still.

Now the Islanders weren't, and still aren't, big league, but college ball was definitely cheaper. It can still cost a lot less to go see minor league teams play than big league teams, and a lot of those minor league teams and stadiums are making a big effort to make low-cost entertainment and food options available to families. Be sure to check minor league ball in your area as a lower cost baseball option.

If your son or daughter plays Little League, watching their games as your baseball "fix" can result in huge savings over professional games. Little League games can really be exciting and are often filled with some quality ball playing. The entertainment value, when you factor in the humorous and off-the-wall plays that Little League often features, is also a fun factor. And bringing your own food can save you money over paying concession stand prices.

Yes, there are definitely options available for you to take your family out to watch some exciting baseball for a lot less than it would cost you to go to a big-time stadium. Take some time to check around and see what you can find that will give you a chance to create some quality time for your whole family to spend together and still enjoy watching a great, All-American game.

I hope these ideas have put you on the right track to considering small things that you can do, which can add up to big amounts, to improve your personal finances and help to protect your precious family financial resources!