With a family of five, I am always trying to figure out how to stretch my budget to provide experiences for my children like taking them to a museum. I am also always trying to teach them good money habits and avoid teaching my children money mistakes.
So, I started to try to find resources that would help my family participate in going to a museum on a budget, and not go bankrupt on tickets, meals, and memorabilia.
So, let’s dive into the different ways that you can go to the museum on a budget.
1) Free Museum Days With Kids
Some museum offers free days certain days out of the month. This is a helpful resource if you are looking for museums in the Bay Area of California. It shows a comprehensive list of museums that offer free days.
Here are a few options:
- Conservatory of Flowers – The first Tuesday of each month is free.
- de Young Museum – The first Tuesday of each month
- Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive – The first Thursday is free each month.
Sure, these free days may often be during the week, but it still is a great way to check out a really cool museum with your children on a budget.
2) Always Free Museums
I can’t claim this idea as mine, so I want to provide credit to where credit is due, but there are some museums that are always free. Here are three museums that Living on the Cheap offered that I thought were really cool:
- https://www.si.edu/museums/african-art-museum
- http://www.lamoth.org/
- https://artbma.org/visit/hours.html
This may be more relevant when you are traveling, but check out “free museums with children in {my town}” to see whether there are any near you.
Have I used this? Absolutely, when some of my family was in DC during a wedding, we got to visit some of the amazing museums in Washington DC for free. It was amazing to visit iconic pieces of American history and keep my wallet in tact.
3) Free Museum Passes with a Bank of America
Bank of America believes that the arts matter, and that they help economies thrive. This is why Bank of America provides the Museum on Us program. Even with the pandemic, the Museums on Us will be offered during the first full weekend of the month.
How do you get in? Both debit cards and credit cards via Bank of America have this unique feature.
Have I used this feature? Absolutely, when my wife and I were visiting Chicago a number of years ago, we were able to get into one of the exclusive museums there. It was a blast seeing how we were saving money and getting to experience art and history.
3) Discounted Museum Passes If You’re Under Income Limit
Did you know there is the Museums for All program which is an exclusive SNAP benefit? This means that you are able to get free or reduced admission at some of the hottest museums in California.
Check out the amazing museums that are part of this program:
- https://deyoung.famsf.org/free-reduced-admission
- https://www.exploratorium.edu/visit/reduced-rates
- https://chabotspace.org/
Are you wondering if there are museums that are near you that participate in this program? It couldn’t be easier to find out. You just have to make your way over to the Museum for All website, and go to the “Find a museum”. You can then search for your state and see a map of the locations. Voila.
4) Get a Museum Group Discount
Do you have a family co-op or want to make it a group trip? Some museums offer a group rate that can be offered to the entire group. Even the Walt Disney Family museum participates in group discounts.
Here are a couple of options, but I believe that many museums across the United States offer some sort of group discounts.
It doesn’t hurt to ask even if the museum doesn’t advertise a group discount. The worst that can happen is that the representative says no. The best thing that can happen is that you just saved yourself money and a group of friends’ money as well.
When in doubt, reach out!
I always say, “when in doubt, reach out” to see what the museum in your area is offering. You may be surprised that you can get a discount that wasn’t even advertised if you ask.
Finally, if you have your own tips on how to take your kids to the museum on a budget, and not go bankrupt in the process, please add your tips below.