The Good Life For Less: Date Night Deals, Family Fun

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- If one of your New Year's resolutions is to save money, you've come to the right place. I've found another great round of deals to keep you entertained this winter. So beat the cabin fever, save those pennies and still plan a date night or fun family activity!

Date Night Deals

Park Square Theatre, located in St. Paul, has a heck of a deal for you date bargain hunters. The first Tuesday preview of any new production costs only $0.99. The theatre's next 'Beer and Blue Jeans' show (as they call it) is on Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m. of 'The Odyssey.' February's show is 'The Diary of Anne Frank'.

Not only do you get to see a play for $0.99, but if you bring your ticket stubs into Great Waters Brewery (located next door), you also get a half-pint of beer for only $0.99.

Another great place to take in show and some grub is at Fusion restaurant in Uptown. They have a date night special every Tuesday night too. For $30 you get two tickets to the Landmark Theater, an appetizer, salad, dessert and a bottle of wine! Click here for details.

Frugal Fun For The Whole Family

Mall of America is making going the movies affordable for families. Every Saturday at 10 a.m. they host a free movie matinee. It is first-come, first-seated until the theater is full. Most are children's films, but if you've ever wanted to see the original Willy Wonka (Jan. 15) or Wizard of Oz (March 5) on the big screen, now is your chance! Below is a list of January showings or you can click here to see the list of all upcoming shows.

Jan. 1- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Jan. 8- Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Jan. 15- Willy Wonka
Jan. 22- Despicable Me

If Saturdays don't work for you, head over to the mall on Toddler Tuesdays and check out free entertainment, events, crafts, characters, and other discounts. Kids eat free at participating restaurants too when you purchase an adult meal. Read more about it here. Stick around the mall and check out the newly reopened LEGO store with a robot towering 34 feet tall!

Another option for families is to head out to the Walker Art Museum for 'Target Free Thursdays' or 'First Free Saturdays'. There is free gallery admission and programs from 5-9 p.m. every Thursday, and also free admission on the first Saturday of each month too. Check out special exhibits, live performances, films and more.

-Alison Lorge is a web producer and consumer blogger at WCCO.