A Simple Guide to Recession Recreation

They say "All work and no play makes Jack a dull a boy," and recently a couple of my Savings.com colleagues took that saying to heart. This week Sheryl and Sara went to a class at the Trapeze School on the Santa Monica pier.

Here's some video of Sara flying high:

Unfortunately for many of us, the recession has meant cutting out or cutting back on fun. But as Sara and Sheryl demonstrate, there's no reason that has to be the case. All it takes it a bit of effort and creativity to find some cheap thrills so you can still have some recreation during the recession:

The big trend these days is the "staycation" and the Money and Shopping blog at Consumer Reports has some great tips for the best staycation ever. Staying home can save you money on airfare, lodging and food, but unless you live in a metropolitan area with plenty of things to do, it can end up being a bit boring. You can either revel in the lack of activity and schedule yourself an in-home spa retreat (Check out our Bliss and SpaLook coupons to save some cash on spa products!) or use your shopping savvy to plan a bargain vacation using our travel deals.

If you're a movie fan, going to matinee screenings can save you some cash. Or set up a Netflix or Blockbuster account and wait until the film comes out on DVD.

Eating out is a luxury that often gets slashed from a tight budget. But gourmands don't have to give up on good food during the recession! The trick is to band together and form a gourmet group to take turns in providing Michelin star worthy meals for each other. Over at Party Bluprints Blog, there's a bunch of great ideas and recipes like Italian Dinner Party for a party of eight that costs only $8 per person. Try scoring that deal at a fine restaurant! We've also got Restaurant.com coupons where you can save up to 60% off gift certificates for local restaurants.

School's out and that means keeping kids entertained. While in the past this meant swimming pool memberships and trips to amusement parks or the beach, that might not be possible in today's economy. Over at the Bargainist there are some great ideas for free summer fun to keep your crew amused during the summer.

Those are just a few ideas on how to survive the recession with giving up your own personal "playtime." Let us know your ideas on how to keep the good times rolling when you're not rolling in dough...