Free Culture

Museum visits. While some museums don’t charge an admission fee, others can cost $20 and up (more than a movie!). Take advantage of free days, half days, and nights that take place weekly or monthly at various institutions throughout the United States.

What’s the Catch? The free-admission times tend to attract large crowds; expect long lines and less of an opportunity to get up close and personal with a Cézanne.
Find Out More: Check out the websites of your local museums.

Music Together, Music for Aardvarks, Gymboree. These three companies all offer a complimentary peek at exactly what baby music classes entail (hint: plenty of drumbeating, rattle shaking, and scarf throwing). It’s a great way to introduce your little one to the experience before shelling out $135 to $255 for a full term (generally 10 to 12 weeks).

What’s the Catch? Many parents have been taking classes together for a while, so they can be quite chummy. As an observer, you might feel left out and too shy to participate fully.
Find Out More: www.musictogether.com, www.musicforaardvarks.com, www.gymboreeclasses.com.

Kids’ Night on Broadway. Once a year (this year it was in late January), children ages 6 to 18 can experience the Great White Way for free with a full-paying adult. There are also Kids’ Nights for nationally touring shows throughout the year.

What’s the Catch? Tickets go very fast, especially for the most popular shows.
Find Out More: www.kidsnightonbroadway.com.

Tip: To find out about free movies and concerts in your area, go to Yahoo or Google and type in the kind of entertainment, “free,” and the name of your city.

Free Gyms

Health-club trials. LA Fitness, Bally Total Fitness, the Sports Club/LA, and Gold’s Gym have a range of free-trial offers, from one day to two weeks, for prospective members, as do many other gyms throughout the country. Rules vary.

What’s the Catch? You often have to tour the health club with a sales representative, which sometimes takes as long as an hour. Some gym companies may require you to prove nearby residence with a driver’s license.
Find Out More: Go to the gyms for details.

Free Photos

Adorama, Dotphoto, Kodak, Snapfish. In addition to photo sharing and online albums, these popular services provide 15 to 50 free prints when you sign up.

What’s the Catch? You have to pay for shipping, which usually isn’t more than a few dollars.
Find Out More: www.adorama.com, www.dotphoto.com, www.kodakgallery.com, www.snapfish.com.