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Mary Lou Cruz

Mary Lou worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel for 21 years. She was a special sections writer in the advertising department for 7 years and worked in the newsroom for 14 years. Before her newspaper career, she worked in the airline and travel industry and has lived in Brazil, Puerto Rico and vacationed in more than 25 countries. Motto: "Learning to live a frugal lifestyle is both an art and a science." She can be reached at marylou@miamionthecheap.com.

There are plenty of activities at Loggerhead Marinelife Center, 14200 U.S.-1, Juno Beach. Admission is free, however some of the programs do have participation fees. Here are some popular ones, especially for fall that are free for all ages. Free Friday Hikes Fridays at 10:30 a.m.; free for all ages. Juno Dunes Natural Area Hike: …

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There’s music in the air, so get ready to gather and groove to weekly and monthly entertainment. It’s free music and more on The Lawn at CityPlace in the heart of West Palm Beach. For a complete listing of performers and more details, visit cityplace.com/cityplace-live-music or visit this page for a list of recurring weekly events. …

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Fall festivals in Palm Beach County If you know of a free or cheap Halloween event or fall festival we should cover, please email the details to news@southfloridaonthecheap.com. You can also enter your events of any price range at our community calendar. Pumpkin patches, fall festivals, Oktoberfests and Halloween events in South Florida Pumpkin Patches …

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The City of West Palm Beach is once again offering an essential service for downtown visitors who prefer two wheels to four, and never need to worry about where to park their bikes. Bike Valet WHEN: Saturday, October, 2025, through May 30, 2026, (except Feb. 14 and March 28). WHERE: 143 N. Narcissus Avenue, West …

Read More about Free Bike Valet through May, downtown West Palm Beach Saturday mornings

The West Palm Beach GreenMarket returns to the Great Lawn on Saturday mornings, October, 2025, through April, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Features include a mix of unique and diverse offerings in food and art, from seasonal produce, roving entertainment and live music, to popup workshops and competitions.   Visit WPB GreenMarket City …

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The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum is continuing to waive general admission fees and opening its doors to the public for Free Fun Saturdays on the first weekend of the month, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Families can peruse the exhibits, but also enjoy a fun craft-based activity from 2 to 3:30 p.m. General …

Read More about First weekend: Free Fun Saturdays at Boca History Museum

The Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach was founded more than 40 years ago, but the challenges it faces today have not only been compounded by the effects of recent climate change but also by the increase of red tide and toxic blue-green algae on sea creatures and ocean ecology. Situated on one of the …

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The popular and free Southern Cross Observation Deck is open in Miami-Dade at Bill Sadowski Park. The public is invited to visit with amateur astronomers from 7:30 to 10 p.m. each Saturday, weather permitting. A sense of wonder and discovery draws our eyes to the night sky. When you gaze up at the night sky, …

Read More about Free stargazing in the park in Miami-Dade

There’s always something happening in Boca, so we’ve compiled a list of some popular free and cheap events to bring to your attention. Many are recurring, so we’ve provided links to calendars you can also search to get more details and the best updated information. We’ve also included a list of some of the main …

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Boynton Beach is a thriving seaside community that is welcoming and active for residents and visitors alike. It offers a variety of cultural and community activities year-round. Many are hosted at the Arts & Cultural Center, the public library, at Oceanfront Park, and at various other sites sponsored by the Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency …

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Living on the CheapSouth Florida on the Cheap is a member of Living on the Cheap, a network of websites published by frugalistas, journalists and consumer advocates. Find practical advice on saving money on groceries, travel and shopping, plus tips from our experts on how to live the good life for less at Living on the Cheap.

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