Doing the Fair on $20
Wednesday afternoon I experienced the York Fair for the first time, and I had the challenging task of trying to "do the Fair" on $20.
As I mentioned in my earlier post, I had gotten a bunch of suggestions from people abut what I had to try.
So I drove to the Fair. Found parking across the street (-$6) and then headed in. I got lucky and happened to pick the day that had free admission from noon to 3 p.m. so I didn't get stuck paying the extra admissions costs.
I did a loop, making sure I checked out all my different options for lunch. I wasn't in the mood for a hot dog, although there were a few places I could have gotten one for a buck. One stand was selling steak sandwiches for $5, and it had quite the line, but I passed on that too.
I finally settled on a simple peanut butter milkshake (-$4) and a small fry (-$2.50). A real healthy lunch, I know, but let's be honest, if you're trying to eat healthy, the Fair isn't the place to go.
I'm not one for games of chance, but I walked around checking out the options. I debated playing the game where you throw the ping pong ball into a cup of water and win a goldfish, but kept walking because I had no where to put the potential fish when I went back to work.
I didn't ride the rides either, but most cost between $3 and $5 depending on the number of tickets they required.
So far I'd spent $12.50 and still had money left in my $20. However, if I would have had to pay admission, I would have spent $18.50 and wouldn't have had much left over. Because it was just dumb luck that I happened to pick free admission day, I decided to call it quits after the $12.50.
I ate lunch. I walked around. I felt I got a pretty good Fair experience. And I did it all on a budget.
Cathy · September 10, 2008 5:20 PM
The peanut butter milkshakes are yummy.
Jen · September 10, 2008 9:27 PM
What, you don't think Donna would like you keeping a pet goldfish on your desk?
Jo Ott · September 10, 2008 9:37 PM
I stuffed a $20 in a pocket before leaving home, paid the six bucks to park and made the rounds. I walked and walked some more, but since this was my second day at the fair I skipped a lot of sights. I had an extra $25 to purchase three of the fair's "official" vehicles for someone and it wasn'my money and so headed under the grandstand. Monday I missed going into the Memorial Hall--or whatever it's now called--so this was my second stop. Very disappointed. Many of the usual displays, including WGAL-TV were missing this year. But did get a free bag of Lay's chips to hold off hunger pangs til lunch at 1. A stop off at the Dems. tent to purchase an Obama bumper sticker, three games of "I Got It" and I was on my way to Little Richard's for the once-a-year hot sausage sandwich. Yum! A potty stop in Toyota Center before heading to the car parked nearby. I left the fairgrounds with exactly $1.86 in my pocket and had to stop at Giant at Delco for milk before heading to 83 and home. The half gallon of milk cost $1.83 so I got home with .03 in my pocket!
Yeah, you can do the fair on 20 bucks easy, providing it's on a free day and you don't buy anything but food.
fatherknowsbest · September 11, 2008 1:47 PM
YOu can't do it with a family on $20
just cant at any fair
Karen · September 12, 2008 7:43 AM
$6.00 for parking, $6.00 for the ticket to get in, and there's food and drink for under $8.00. Then there's hours worth of exhibits and entertainment for free to enjoy. Then there's the people watching. Oh yeah, I forgot the $20.00 worth of gas to get you there! Oh well, maybe next year.