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Teresa

Teresa Mears is a publisher, writer and editor who was raised to be frugal. She became a website entrepreneur after 30 years as an editor at newspapers ranging in size from the Portland (Tenn.) Leader to The Los Angeles Times and The Miami Herald, where she worked most recently. She moved to Florida in 1980 because it was the only place she could get a job during that recession and has lived in South Florida since 1985, in Miami, Hollywood, Tamarac, Wilton Manors and Fort Pierce. She is co-owner and CEO of the parent network, Living on the Cheap.

Oh, those sweet, sweet cinnamon rolls! After much anticipation, Knaus Berry Farm has reopened for the season, in a new location — and we are thrilled to share the news. The Redland farm has been selling delicious strawberries since 1956, when it was a roadside stand. Through the years, the farm has added all sorts …

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Jungle Island’s Luminosa attraction will be open November 14, 2025, through March 7, 2026/ Luminosa includes giant lantern exhibits, featuring mythical jungle wildlife, submerged Atlantis, ancient Asian dynasties and legendary Latin culture. Luminosa takes guests on a journey through 13 acres, using light to explore mythical kingdoms. Hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday …

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The treasures of our national parks have a lot to offer, including hiking, biking, boating, canoeing, hunting, fishing, wildlife photography, birding, plus exploring native flora and fauna, and hopefully also finding peace of mind. So, if you’re a fan of wide, open spaces, where you only hear the sounds of nature, then the National Park …

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We all like to introduce our children to new experiences, and there are lots of things to do with kids in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. We have organized the best free or cheap things to do with kids on our events calendar. If you’re looking for places to take visitors in South Florida, …

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South Florida has many excellent theater productions, but tickets are sometimes expensive. We’ve found a number of ways to get discount theater tickets in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. You can find theater ticket deals from a number of sources, including Groupon, Ticketmaster, Culture Shock, Cultural Connection, Golden Ticket and the theaters themselves. If …

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The Adrienne Arsht Center offers a free tour every Monday and Saturday at noon. The tour lasts approximately one hour. No reservations are required.  Tours depart from the lobby of the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House. You might even see some production happenings if the timing is right. Highlights of the tour include: …

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Broward County has many fall festivals, from Coral Springs to Hallandale Beach, from Pompano Beach to Pembroke Pines, and everywhere in between, including Tamarac, Plantation, Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale. At Broward’s fall festivals, you can buy pumpkins for carving, listen to live music, play games, go on hayrides and celebrate the change of seasons, as …

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One of the best deals around in Miami is through an organization called Culture Shock Miami. Through Culture Shock, students 13 to 22 (and their guardians) can get discount tickets to numerous cultural performances in Miami for only $5 each. New tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. the first of every month, so be …

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It’s impossible to think about Halloween without thinking about all our favorite scary movies. And then there are the not-so-scary Halloween movies for kids, which are often great fun for adults as well. As we prepare to celebrate Halloween, we have compiled a list of free and cheap Halloween movies being shown in South Florida …

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The Coral Gables Historic Merrick House Museum offers guided tours most weekends, on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. The home, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, will take you back to the Roaring Twenties. You’ll get to view 14 rooms and over an acre of …

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Night owls who love movies will want to get in on discounted late-night movie screenings at the Coral Gables Art Cinema. Offered at 9 p.m. Saturdays (though the starting time sometimes varies), the “After Hours” series offers quite a selection of films to enjoy. Click the link above to see the upcoming lineup of movies. …

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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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