A Fun, Affordable Night in with the Family

Instead of spending money on dinner and expensive movie tickets, create your own restaurant and movie theater at home.

Make a menu and set the dinner table. One person will be the cook and one will be the waiter/waitress. Your family will order drinks and appetizers and then choose what they want for dinner as if you were all in a restaurant.

After dinner, turn your living room into a home movie theater. Make tickets for the movie and have a showtime. Once you are ready to settle down, switch off all the lights, get the whole family together, and start your favorite movie. You could even make homemade popcorn and share movie-sized boxes of candy that can be bought for $1 at local convenience stores. But the best part is that you can wear your PJs and cuddle!

Make s'mores and turn off all the lights in the house. Bring sleeping bags and pillows into the living room and sit in a circle with a flashlight. The person with the flashlight will tell the first scary story. Each person in the family will have a chance to tell a scary story that can be made up or from a favorite book.

Microwaveable S'mores Recipe

• 1 large marshmallow
• 1 graham cracker
• 4 squares of chocolate candy bar

Instructions: Split the graham cracker in half and place the chocolate squares and marshmallow in the middle of one half. Put the other half on top to make a sandwich. Microwave for 30 seconds.

Pick a culture for the night. For example, if you choose Spanish culture, your family would cook an authentic Spanish meal, watch a Spanish movie, learn a few words in Spanish, play music, and dress up. Let your imagination run wild. This is a great way to teach your kids about different cultures and to have fun while doing it.

Turn off all the lights in the house and pretend that you have just lost power for the night. Light some candles and pull out your favorite board games, playing cards, blankets, and pillows. Enjoy some great games and tasty snacks, and laugh the night away with the entire family.

If the weather is nice, transform your backyard into a Hawaiian luau with tiki torches, some leis, and a couple of pineapples from your local grocery store. Many of these items can be purchased relatively cheaply at discount stores. Light the tiki torches, fire up the grill, and enjoy your luau. This luau can also be held indoors minus the tiki torches. Your entertainment could be Dad hula dancing after dinner.