Evergreen guide · Family savings
How to go out as a family in LA and Orange County without breaking the piggy bank
Going out with the family shouldn't feel like paying extra rent. Between tickets, parking, food and cravings, a "simple" outing can eat up the week's budget. But living in Los Angeles and Orange County has a huge advantage: there are more free and cheap plans than in almost any other city in the country. You just have to know where to look.
Here are 7 strategies that actually work:
1. Make the free events calendar your best friend
Every week there are concerts, festivals, outdoor movie nights and community fairs with free admission in LA and OC. The trick isn't luck: it's checking the calendar before the weekend and planning around what's free. At holasavings.online we publish the roundup every week.
2. The picnic beats the restaurant
Food is what makes any outing most expensive. A picnic at the park, the beach or a museum's gardens turns a restaurant expense into a fraction of the cost — and the kids love it even more. Lunch from home, a blanket, and you're set.
3. Museums on their free days (and hours)
Several LA museums have free admission all year and others open free on special days — like LACMA on the second Tuesday of each month. Check our free museums guide and plan your visits around those days.
4. Move the family by train on weekends
The Metrolink weekend pass costs $10 and gives you unlimited rides on Saturday or Sunday across its entire system. For events downtown, in Orange County or even at the beach, it's cheaper than gas and parking — and kids love the train.
5. Outdoor movies in the parks
During the summer and September, Los Angeles County parks screen free movies for the community: you bring your blanket and watch movies under the stars without paying for a ticket or movie theater popcorn.
6. The beach is still free
Sounds obvious, but many forget it: a well-planned beach day (your own umbrella, a cooler with food and water, arriving early for parking) is the cheapest family plan in Southern California.
7. Libraries are free community centers
LA and OC public libraries offer storytimes, workshops, classes and activities for kids and adults at no cost. Stop by yours and ask for their monthly calendar: you'll be surprised.
The golden rule
The savings aren't in not going out, but in planning before you go out. Ten minutes checking the free events calendar on Thursday night can save you hundreds of dollars a month — and the family won't even notice the difference, because the best memories are rarely the most expensive ones.
Frequently asked questions
- Where do I start? Check the free events calendar on Thursday night and plan the weekend around what's free.
- What costs the most on an outing? Food: a homemade picnic turns the restaurant expense into a fraction of the cost.
- Do free museums require reservations? Some do (The Broad, Getty): book before you go. See our free museums guide.
- Is the Metrolink pass worth it? Yes: $10 for the weekend with unlimited rides on Saturday or Sunday — cheaper than gas and parking.
PILLAR GUIDE · MORE FREE PLANSSee the free events guide →
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