Free and Discounted Admission to Nearby Museums

*Always check the appropriate website before you go to find more information about the museum, hours, discounts, location, etc.

Always Free:

Bainbridge Island Museum of Art - Bainbridge Island

Bug Museum - Bremerton

Center for Wooden Boats - South Lake Union

Center on Contemporary Art - Pioneer Square

Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center - South Seattle

Frye Art Museum - First Hill

Kent Historical Museum - Kent

Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park - Pioneer Square

Microsoft Visitor Center - Redmond

Naval Undersea Museum - Keyport

NW Railway Museum - Snoqualmie

Olympic Sculpture Park - Waterfront

Pacific Bonsai Museum - Federal Way

Puget Sound Navy Museum - Bremerton

Washington Park Arboretum - Madison

Applicable Discounts:

Seattle Children’s Museum - Seattle Center

• Donation Only Hour: The last hour of every weekday (4-5pm)
• WA EBT or Food Stamps Card - Show your card at the box office and receive $1 per person daily admission for the card holder, your partner, and your dependent children
• WA DSHS Services Cards: Show your Services Card to receive free daily admission for the individual who is named on the card

Pay What You Wish

• Children’s Museum of Tacoma - Tacoma

• Job Carr Cabin Museum - Tacoma
• Log House Museum - West Seattle

Free Library Museum Passes

• King County Library allows patrons to print free passes from its website. Passes are available for Bellevue Arts Museum, KidsQuest Children’s Museum, and Washington State History Museum. Search Classes & Programs using the keyword “museum” to find available museum passes and dates. Or visit the Free Seattle Museum Pass page on the Seattle Public Library website.
• Bellevue Arts Museum
• KidsQuest Children’s Museum
• Log House Museum
• MoPOP
• SAM
• Seattle Aquarium
• WA State History Museum
• Wing Luke Museum
• More!
• Pierce County Library offers free passes that patrons can check out - 1 pass per museum for 3 weeks. You can check out passes to 3 different museums.
• Museum of Glass
• Tacoma Art Museum
• WA State History Museum

Free First Thursdays of Every Month

• Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture - University District
• Bainbridge Island Historical Museum - Bainbridge Island
• Henry Art Gallery - University District
• Kids Discovery Museum - Bainbridge Island
• Living Computer Museum - SODO
• Museum of Flight - South Seattle at Boeing Field / King County Airport
• Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) - South Lake Union
• Nordic Heritage Museum - Ballard
• NW African American Museum (NAAM) - Central District
• Seattle Art Museum (SAM) - Downtown
• Free first & second Thursdays
• NW Seaport - Lake Union Park
• Seattle Asian Art Museum (SAAM) - Capitol Hill (CLOSED UNTIL 2019)
• Wing Luke Asian Museum - International District

Third Thursdays of Every Month

• KidsQuest Museum - South Bellevue - $1
• Tacoma Art Museum (TAM) - Tacoma - Free!
• Tacoma Museum of Glass - Tacoma - Free!
• WA State History Museum - Tacoma - Free!

Free first Fridays at Bellevue Arts Museum and Kitsap History Museum (Bremerton)

Free first Thursdays & Saturdays at Volunteer Park Conservatory - Capitol Hill

Free third Fridays from 5:30-9pm at Imagine Children’s Museum - Everett

Free first Wednesdays and Third Saturdays at Renton Historical Museum

Free first Thursdays and Sundays at White River Valley Museum - Auburn

Blue Star Museums (Free Admission for active duty, National Guard and Reserve Military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day)

• Bainbridge Island Historical Museum (Bainbridge Island)
• Kids Discovery Museum (Bainbridge Island)
• KidsQuest Children’s Museum (Bellevue)
• Kitsap History Museum (Bremerton)
• Harbor History Museum (Gig Harbor)
• Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture (Seattle)
• Henry Art Gallery (Seattle)
• Museum of Flight (Seattle)
• Northwest African American Museum (Seattle)
• Wing Luke Museum (Seattle)
• Buffalo Soldiers Museum (Tacoma)
• Foss Waterway Seaport (Tacoma)
• Museum of Glass (Tacoma)
• Tacoma Art Museum (Tacoma)
• Washington State History Museum (Tacoma)

Cinema on a Budget

Sometimes it’s fun to see a movie at the cinema and not have to pay a buttload of money for your ticket. Check out this list of local theaters that offer cheap or discounted tickets! In order based on location.

Central Cinema (Capitol Hill/Central District) -- $7 tickets if bought more than 24 hours in advance, $9 at the door. They also feature 99-cent showings during the week. Happy hour prices from 5:30-6:30.

Three Dollar Bill Cinema (Capitol Hill/Various) -- Offer viewings at various venues. Signature event is the Seattle Queer Film Festival held every October. Every first Monday at Re-Bar they host “Cineoke” where you can sing along. $8 - Doors open at 6:30, show 7pm.

Big Picture (Belltown) -- 21+ - $10.50 matinee (before 4:45) & happy hour tickets (Mon-Thurs shows before 6:30 - Drink specials too!). $18 “Bagels & Bloodys Sunday” screening (includes 1 movie ticket, bagels & cream cheese, plus a choice of a Bloody Mary, Mimosa or beer.  

SIFF Cinemas (Lower Queen Anne) -- offer $8 matinee tickets (before 4pm). If you plan on seeing lots of movies there they also have an annual membership ($55) that includes movie discounts, free popcorn, special events, and more.

Majestic Bay Theaters (Ballard) - Matinee prices for $10.50 before 4pm

Sundance Cinemas (U-district) -- All shows 21+ - Cheapest tickets are always the first matinee of the day, plus free or discounted parking. You can also join their (free) Sundance Partners Loyalty Program to earn points toward tickets.

Grand Illusion (U-District) -- $9 tickets (cash or check only) . You can also buy a $30 membership and get $4 off your ticket price for a year.

Varsity Theatre (U-District) -- Matinee (before 5pm) tickets for $8.50, students with valid UW ID (maybe Cornish too??) tickets for $8, Senior tickets $8.50 & Senior Tuesday $6.75.

The Crest (Shoreline) -- $4 weekday tickets

Ark Lodge Cinemas (Columbia City) - $8.75 for all movies before 4pm. Some nearby restaurants/lounges offer a discount when you show your same-day ticket.

Federal Way Gateway Movies 8 (Federal Way) -- $2 tickets, $1 on Tuesdays. Extra $2 for 3D films.

Blue Mouse Theatre (Tacoma) -- Tickets range $3-5

The Edmonds Theater (Edmonds) -- $8 tickets or $6 for shows before 5pm

During the summer, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings Regal Theaters feature $1 G and PG movies.

Lots of theaters offer cheaper tickets during the daytime (matinee) showings. Each theater is different, but it’s worth looking into if you’re looking for a cheaper ticket.

Good luck & enjoy!

Tips for Travelling (Abroad) on a Budget

Save up. If you know you want to travel, or already know when and where you’re going, start saving money specifically for this trip. You’ll want to save as much as you can so you don’t have to worry as much about what you’re spending while you’re gone. Pro tip: be careful about carrying too much cash on you when travelling, you could be in a tough situation if you lose it.

Stay in hostels. While it may not sound like the most fun or private way to stay somewhere, staying in hostels can save you lots of money. Hostels vary from large to small, so do some research to find the ones that will work best for you. Hostels can also provide an opportunity to meet other people you might not have otherwise - who knows, you might find new friends! Pro tip: staying outside of the city limits is usually cheaper.

Workaway. If you’re willing to work your way around the world, Workaway could be a perfect option for you. The idea of workaway is labor - which can vary - in exchange for food and housing.

Couchsurfing or Airbnb. Rent a couch, room, or home/apartment wherever you’re travelling. Prices and spaces vary, so you can find what suits you best.

Study Abroad. If you have a chance before you graduate, think about spending a semester abroad!

Find discounts. I’ll say it again, while you’re a student, take advantage of any and all discounts that you can. Check out one of our previous blog posts for more discount resources.

Get a job abroad. Once you’re not in school, you won’t really have the option to study abroad. However, you could work abroad. If there’s somewhere specific you’d like to spend some time, do some research for getting a work visa in that country. The job doesn’t have to be anything extravagant, but this would give you an option to explore while also having an income. Plus you’ll have an opportunity to meet more people you might not have otherwise!

Volunteer. If you’re not worried about money, but are interested in volunteering and meeting new people, check out Go Overseas for different programs and options.

Good luck, and safe travels!

Discount Grocery Shopping

Tips to Shop

Take advantage of your meal plan. If you live in the dorms, make sure you're making full use of your
meal plan! There's no limit on what you can spend in a day, but you do only have a certain amount for
the semester, so plan accordingly. You can always add money out of pocket onto your card - this goes for
those of you who don't live in the dorms as well!

Make a list. Figure out what you need (and want) before you head to the store. This will help to keep

you focused and you’ll be less likely to wander the store adding things into your cart that you don’t

really need. It can help if you also create a standard 'staples' checklist of things you always want to have
on hand.

Budget. Figure out how much you can spend on groceries and try to stick to it. Do you get paid once

a month? Are you living off of your savings? Figure out a plan that works best for you.

Sign up for EBT. Did you know that if you’re a student with work study, you can qualify for food

benefits? Head on over to the DSHS and apply for EBT, then stop by our office and we can provide

you with documents that prove you’re active in the program.

Shop with your roommate(s). Share the cost of a grocery run by splitting the cost in half or trade off
on grocery runs. Sit down with your roomie(s) and see what would work best for all!

Coupon. Some grocery stores have their own apps that have discounts and coupons that you

wouldn’t get otherwise. If you have store you go to frequently, see if they have one! There are tons

of other apps out there for grocery coupons and even ones that will give you money back after you

upload your receipts. Check the weekly flyers that stores have, look in newspapers for coupons.
(Checkout 51, Ibotta, more)

Buy in bulk & freeze. Dry and non-perishable foods are the best for this (beans, rice, pasta, oatmeal, canned

goods, etc.) If you have some extra space in your living area and you see some sales - stock up! If you have
room in your freezer, you can always freeze items that will expire!

Pack a lunch the night before. Most cases, you probably run out of time in the mornings before you head
to class and don't have time to figure out food to bring. If you do this the night or weekend before, you
won't have to worry about it in the morning!

Shop seasonal. Buying fruits and veggies that are in season will save you some money. When

produce isn’t in season it tends to be more expensive because it has to travel farther to get to you!

Eat before you go! Shopping while hungry is never a good idea because you’ll want all of the things.

You’ll find yourself buying more than you might if you shop when you’re not hungry.

Grocery List Ideas

Fruits

Apples

Bananas

Grapes

Oranges

Veggies

Avocado

Bell peppers

Broccoli

Carrots

Lettuce

Onions

Spinach

Sweet potatoes

Tomatoes

Protein

Beans

Chicken

Deli meat

Eggs

Lentils

Peanut butter

Tuna fish (look for low sodium)

Yogurt (look for low sugar)

Bread and Grains

Cereal (look for low sugar; dry cereal also makes a quick snack)

Oatmeal (look for low sugar)

Rice (preferably brown or long-grain)

Tortillas

Whole grain bread

Whole wheat pasta

Quick Eats

Cheese sticks

Dried fruit

Frozen dinners

Hummus

Popcorn

Protein/cereal bars

Salsa

Soups

Trail mix

Other

Butter (or substitute)

Coffee (making it yourself can save you tons of money—don’t worry, Starbucks will still be there)

Garlic

Honey

Olive/coconut oil

Pasta sauce

Salt & pepper

Tea

Where to Shop

Cash & Carry

Best products: Groceries and produce at case prices (single packages also available on most
items), fresh meat, dairy products, and frozen foods.

Nearest locations: SoDo, Ballard, Mt. Baker

Fred Meyer

Best products: Save more by taking advantage of weekly ad specials and digital coupons on
their website.

Nearest locations: Ballard, Greenwood

Grocery Outlet

Best products: Brand-name groceries and fresh produce. Sign up for “WOW” email alerts to be
notified of unadvertised deals from your local store. They also have occasional $5 off coupons if
you use your phone number at the kiosk during checkout!

Nearest locations: SoDo, Central District, Crown Hill

Uwajimaya

Best products: Regular prices can be high on some product, so take advantage of weekly specials,
and get 10% off as a student every Friday after 6pm!

Nearest location: International District

Trader Joe’s

Best products: Check out their weekly flyer! A lot of things at Trader Joes have pretty good

prices. Keep an eye out for sales and Trader Joe’s brand products.

Nearest locations: Central District, Queen Anne

Big John’s PFI

Best products: Store carries mostly European and Mediterranean imported foods. ½-pound
minimum when buying deli meats (unsliced/no slicer), sausages, cheeses (domestic and
international), and olives. Large variety of bulk dried goods: rices, beans, spices, grains, flours.
Large selections of olive oils, specialty oils, and vinegars. Also chocolate and candy from around
the world.

Location: SoDo

Costco (membership required)

Best products: best value is found on dairy products, organic products, frozen foods, Kirkland
brand products, bulk foods, and perishable foods.

Nearest location: Industrial District