How to Survive Spring Break on a Budget

Spring Break is coming around the corner, which will leave many stuck at home with absolutely nothing to do, all the while their classmates share photos on Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat of their adventures in Disneyland, New York, and Florida. It can be easy to feel trapped in this fairly small town, especially when on a budget, but there is plenty to do around Salem without spending too much hard earned cash.
It may be a bit cliché, but thrift shopping is always a fun way to pass the time, even if one has no money to spend. Trying on weird and wacky clothes with friends or even alone can be a great way to pass the time. Have a movie montage moment. Take crazy selfies and flood Snapchat. Those who left the state to be off in some amusement park or big city will wish they were there for the fun.
There is also Northern Lights, the movie theater in South Salem. Tickets are only $3, but make sure to go before four p.m. because that is the cut off for anyone under twenty-one. Unless someone in the group is above the legal age, no one will be permitted inside the theater. Once it hits six thirty, however, no minors are permitted at all. They show movies that just left theaters, art films, and sometimes have throwback nights. It is the perfect day activity to pass the time.
“Northern lights is a lot more convenient because it’s cheaper. And, people may prefer to see movies a little bit after release,” Olivia McBride ‘16 said. “They also deliver food during the movie which is cool.”
If it gets a little too late for Northern Lights, there is always Cueball, a place in downtown Salem to play pool and billiards. They are open till one in the morning on most days, but close an hour earlier on Sundays.
Another option is pizza and games. There are two recommended places in Salem to do this: Donatello’s, which is right next to Northern Lights, and then Pietro’s in North Salem. Both have their positives. Pietro’s has laser tag and glow in the dark mini golf. Both are fairly cheap; laser tag is only $8 per person while the mini golf is $5. Pietro’s also has an arcade with plenty of games and tickets to win. Donatello’s, on the other hand, leans more on arcade games, but they do have Thursday night karaoke.
“It’s [Donatello’s] really family friendly. A lot of kids go there. I just went for a birthday party there for my cousin, and she liked it even though she’s small,” Emma Woods ‘16 said.
The cheapest thing to do over Spring Break, though, is nothing. Stay at home, lounge in pajamas, and watch Netflix for a whole week straight.