Want to stay on budget while in Vegas? The answer is
simple! Plan, plan, and plan some more.
My parents made it a point to put so much aside of their
paycheck to gamble with. They divided it up and made it to be so much a day. Once it was gone, they were done. Another point
to look at is, say you start with $20. Once they won more than that back, they put the $20 back into there pocket, and now
they were playing the rest of the night on the Casinos money. Then when they lost it all, they realized that they really hadn’t
lost anything, because they still had the money they came in with. You should also remember that the House usually wins. So
look at it as flushing the money down the toilet.
If you are going to do some gambling, don’t forget
to get a club card. Every hotel is different, but Chains will sometimes have 1 card for all there properties. Some give you
points for every dollar you put in, some give you points for pay outs. Rack up the points and use them for Free Merchandise,
Meals, Etc…. Some local favorites are The Coast Casinos and Sams Town. Once you are signed up, you will receive offers
in the mail for future visits. Some have Scratch Off specials, etc……
Planning ahead of time will make your trip to Vegas
with Kids a more efficient and more enjoyable. Remember Arcades can be just like slot machines and turn out to be very expensive
for kids. I have a lot of friends who come into Las Vegas, and only see the strip for the fun things, and don’t put
even a penny into a machine, or on a table. They enjoy the dining, shows and see nothing but the hotels pool during the day.
For a break they go to the movies, or take a drive away from the city to see the National Parks like Valley of Fire or Red
Rock Canyon. You can take short hikes into the canyon, which are not really hard and easier for younger children. Just remember
the water, and you will be fine. Remember the further you hike in, the further you have to hike out too. Younger children,
tire faster sometimes.
Another tip-Don’t be embarrassed to use coupons!!!
Can’t emphasis that enough!!! There are a lot of FREE Magazines on the strip, like “What’s on”, “Las
Vegas Magazine” or “Showbiz”. They all have coupons, and they are usually 2 for 1, So much money off, or
buy this and get that. These are great for eating cheap and seeing shows.
I will also highly recommend http://www.kshp.com
better know by locals as Kshop radio. Located on the
1400 AM channel during certain hours of the day and Saturday. On kshp.com you will find a list of items that they offer for
50-75% the regular retail price. They also have a travel show with significant discounts. The only catch is you have to call
in during the time the show is on, and you have 1 week to pay and pick up your gift certificates, or have them mailed to you
for a minimal charge. I use these when I really want to do something that is usually expensive, and they are being offered
on the show. Every week there are additions and deletions. I also use this when I have company in town. Give it a listen and
take a look. They have a sister affiliation in Chicago also. They have food, hotels and shows on and off the strip.
