Financial tune-up: Family fun in Winnipeg for less (or free)

Other than food, fixed costs and services, people are looking for ways to trim costs by finding free or low-cost activities to do as a family.

"There is so much stuff to do here: free skating, free horse-rides on Sunday, tobogganing," said Nadine Chappellaz, who for the last five years has run the website savemoneyinwinnipeg.com.

​"If you invest in good winter clothing, there is so much you can do right outside your door."

The website focuses on topics from sales and deals, changes in child tax credits — anything that affects people's pocketbooks.

Chappellaz says Winnipeg is such a great city for families.

"All summer, splash pads, outdoor pools, the cold ones are free; free days at Birds Hill and other parks," she said.

A quick search online and it's easy to find lots of listings for free things to do in Winnipeg. Here are just a few:

• Skate the river trail at The Forks.
• Spend a day at Assiniboine Park.
• Take in the many murals and displays like the emptyful sculpture downtown and in the Exchange District.
• Go tobogganing at The Forks, St. Vital or Assiniboine Park.
• Take in some horse racing at Assiniboine Downs.
• Take a tour of a local beer brewery every Saturday at Half Pints Brewing.
• Go on a self-guided tour of the Manitoba Legislative Building.
• Watch a movie in the park on a summer's night in front of the Lyric Stage.
• Go cross-country skiing on one of the many ski trails in the city.
• Stay tuned for the opening of the Upper Fort Garry Park right off Broadway.
• Try your hand at Frisbee golf at the Happyland Park in St. Boniface.

For Chappellaz, it's about the balance of taking advantage of free options out there and looking for creative ways to do the same activities for less or on days when things might be discounted.

"There are cheap movie days and then even cheaper second-run family movies on Saturday. To take a family it is like half-price," she said.

There are other options to keep your eye out for as well. Check discount and coupon websites for deals on activities or restaurants. The Assiniboine Park Zoo offered free admission for kids under 12 during the winter break. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is offering free admission on the evening of the first Wednesday of the month.

The City of Winnipeg also offers a handful of times each week when youth can swim for free in public pools.

Family memberships an option

Another thing to consider is memberships for family activities. Some memberships may seem expensive, but there can be good value in getting a membership to the zoo or the Children's Museum if it is something that you are going to utilize often throughout the year.

If grandparents or other family members are unsure if they want to add another toy to the pile of Christmas or birthday gifts, suggest that they purchase one of those memberships. It won't cost your budget anything, and then it is another activity you get to take advantage of. Might be hard to beat the value on that.

Looking for date night options? If you have eligible health benefits, make sure you can get a doctor's note for massages and go for a couple's massage. You'll get pampered, feel better and the night could be mostly reimbursed.

Utilizing some of these free or cheap activities could save money and help to keep you from feeling like you are not having any fun or getting out of the house while sticking to a budget.