Top 10 Tips for Living Cheap in TorontoAttractions, entertainment, transit, free nights and fun ways to check out the city for cheap.
Times may be tough but Toronto's a city that's packed with free and cheap fun. Even if your wallet's feeling empty lately, you can fill up your days with these 10 tips for keeping yourself -- and your kids -- entertained.
1. Take advantage of the city's cultural neighbourhoods. Take your kids on cultural adventures through the city's very different neighbourhoods, like Chinatown and Little India. Let them pick out food and drinks to try, stores to check out, parks to play in, and more. You can even find small, inexpensive items to return home with as a souvenir. It's a great, cheap substitute for a day trip and with some research and planning before the adventure, it can be full of learning as well.
2.
Take the TTC. If you're used to driving into the city, try parking near a subway station and buying a weekend or statutory holiday day pass. One pass costs just $10 and is good for unlimited rides around the city for one adult and five children under the age of 19, or two adults and four children. Check out the TTC website for schedules, routes and fares.
3.
Think of ways to do the things you love, but cheaper. Try movie nights at bars or indie theatres instead of the big, expensive ones. You might not see the blockbuster films of the moment, but you can still check out a great flick and grab some popcorn. Big fans of the zoo or CN Tower? Try cheaper attractions like Riverdale Farm and Historic Fort York.
4.
Price out your local food shopping. It may be easier to buy all of your groceries in one shot, but it can be a lot cheaper to stop at a few places on your route home. Make a list of the items you buy on a regular basis and then do some price comparisons at your local fruit stands, grocery stores, cheese shops and even drug stores. Or, head to Kensington Market.
5.
Go local and explore your own neighbourhood. Local shops, local restaurants and local bands. There's tons of free music around the city and cheap eats to be found in smaller restos and bakeries around Toronto.
6.
Head outdoors. Check out Toronto Island, bike paths through the Don Valley Trail, walking trails, High Park, The Beaches, Trinity Bellwoods Park and more. They're all fun spots to spend a sunny day. Check out maps of the City of Toronto's outdoor areas here.
7.
Take advantage of free Toronto festivals and public places. Toronto has dozens of free community festivals in the summer, like the Taste of Little Italy and Taste of the Danforth, but also Doors Open, Nuit Blanche, Woofstock and Caribana. Yonge-Dundas Square has free summer concerts on Sunday afternoons, and almost always has some sort of free, themed festivals on weekends.
8.
Keep an eye on the Harbourfront Centre. They regularly have free cultural, music, art and theatre events, and there's free figure skating in the winter.
9.
Many attractions offer free nights in the city. The AGO has free admission on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and there are free times and discounts for children, seniors, and Ontario high school students and teachers. The ROM is free on Wednesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and admission is half-price every Friday between 4:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., and The National Film Board Mediatheque occasionally has free movie screenings, so check their schedule on their website.
10.
Honest Ed's. You can't miss it and there's a reason it's been there this whole time -- it's cheap. Take advantage of it! Check it out.
...Bobby554 Hi bobby... do u have top10 tips in living in calgary.. that would be of great help.. coz im planning to reside there... thank you
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