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How Baseball Fans Can Get the Most Value for Their Dollar at the Ballpark

By U.S. News & World Report

The calendar has flipped to April, and for many people across America, that means the start of baseball season, which often leads to warm afternoons and evenings spent at the ballpark catching a game.

Unfortunately, spending lazy afternoons and evenings at the baseball stadium can add up to a pretty big expense, even if you partake in just a game or two. Everything adds up, from transportation to tickets, food and beverages. And before you know it, your wallet is empty.

Here are seven smart strategies for keeping the cost of baseball games in check while still getting the most value out of baseball season.

[See: 12 Ways to Be a More Mindful Spender.]

Buy tickets at the ticket window in advance. The cheapest place to consistently buy tickets is at the team ticket window ahead of the game, ideally well in advance so you don’t have to deal with sellouts. At the window, you typically pay face value, whereas if you buy elsewhere or online, you’re hit with a bunch of markups and fees. If you know you’re going to attend a few games this summer, stop by the ballpark early in the year and buy your tickets directly from the team all at once. Some teams even offer a discount if you buy a five-ticket or 10-ticket package.

[See: 6 Ways to Treat Yourself on a Budget.]

If you must buy online, do your homework. Many teams have online ticket sale promotions where they offer a discount if you sign up for a team newsletter, or they offer some sort of discount code. You’ll want to check both the team’s official ticket sales as well as resellers such as StubHub for coupon codes and other promotions. This is usually the best option if you can’t actually get to the park.

Go to cheap games and buy cheap tickets. In general, weekday games are less expensive than weekend games, so if your schedule allows, go to weekday games. There’s less of a crowd, and you can often move into much better seats later in the game. The ushers generally don’t care after the first few innings when it’s obvious that other seats won’t get filled.

Don’t park near the ballpark. Parking near a ballpark might be convenient, but it’s also expensive. Virtually every major league ballpark (and most top-level minor league ballparks) is near a mass transit stop, so take advantage of that. If you live near mass transit, just take it directly from your house to the game. If you don’t live near public transit, consider finding a cheap place to park away from the ballpark — maybe at a friend’s home or another convenient and free place to park away from the ballpark — and take mass transit to the ballpark and home. Not only is it going to be cheaper, there’s also no risk of driving while intoxicated if you choose to have a beer or two at the park. You also don’t have to deal with post-game driving conditions, which can be disastrous, and you’ll likely save some miles on your car to boot.

Tailgate before and after the game. If you’re meeting friends at the game, consider tailgating. Meet at someone’s car and bring some food and beverages along with you to share. Grilling a few hot dogs and having a few beers before the game at someone’s car is far less expensive than doing it inside the park. This may require one person to drive and pay for an expensive parking spot, but you can simply split that person’s parking cost and consider that a “tailgating fee.” Giving someone $5 to pay for his or her tailgating spot, a couple of beers and a hot dog before the game while you hang out with friends is far cheaper than paying those costs inside the park.

[See: 10 Big Ways to Boost Your Budget — Without Skimping on Your Daily Latte.]

Bring your own food and water bottle. Many ballparks allow you to bring in some outside food items, and virtually all parks allow you to bring in an empty water bottle. Just fill the bottle at a fountain, and you have plenty of water to drink for free. Loop an empty water bottle through your belt loop to carry it easily, or put a few treats right into the empty water bottle so that the trip through security is easy. Be sure to read what the rules are at your ballpark for bringing in outside food.

Buy souvenirs online before or after the game. If you want a shirt, a jersey or a ball, buy them away from the ballpark. Purchase them beforehand if you want (or your kid wants) an autograph. Buy them later otherwise. Many online vendors offer all kinds of souvenirs at a far lower price than one would find in the ballpark.

Baseball games can be a lot of fun, but the costs can add up if you’re not smart about them. Use these strategies to keep the fun while also keeping a lot of cash in your pocket.

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How Baseball Fans Can Get the Most Value for Their Dollar at the Ballpark originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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