Top money-saving tips every sports fan should know

Your passion for sports can be costly, but why should it be? With these simple ideas, it’s a breeze to save money and enjoy sports.

• If you enjoy participating in a sport, join a local club or team. Membership at local level isn't expensive and you will have access to the club's equipment and coaching.
• Traditional sports, such as hockey and baseball, are played at a variety of levels across the country.
• Check with your colleagues at work, you may find that your office has enough persons interested in playing part time to create a team. You may even have friends who've made the same inquiry at their place of work.
• With a few telephone calls or emails, a small work league could easily be set up.

• Many arenas will offer a discount for a group sale.
• You and a friend or a group of friends can purchase a subscription and divide the season's tickets.
• Take advantage of any and all promotional discounts.
• Modern stadiums and arenas are de­signed so well that even the nosebleed seats have good sightlines — you're just farther away. You can still experience the fun of a live game at the lowest stadium prices that are available.
• Skip the stadium fast food and bring the homemade variety instead.
• Avoid the most popular events, such as finals, and instead attend one of the earlier events in the sporting calendar. Tickets for an early-season game will cost hundreds of dollars less than during the playoffs.

Many public swimming pools are free or charge a small fee, although swimming lessons cost more. You can also join your local swim team, where practice sessions are likely to be free.

• Running is free if you simply don a pair of sneakers and run around your local park.
• For little extra cost, you could join a running club and benefit from discounts, as well as the social aspects and the competition.

• Walking is an effective means of exercise that can help everyone lose weight and improve general health.
• Start off slowly, then pick up the pace and increase the distance you cover to your stamina.
• Walking can be an enjoyable outing for the whole family.
• Best of all, with the exception of having to purchase good shoes, walking does very little damage to the wallet.

• If you're a student, you can join the university or college riding club for cheaper riding deals.
• If you're an experienced rider, contact local livery stables and private horse-owners. Many people don't have the time to exercise their own animal and would welcome an experienced, trustworthy rider.
• Some local stables will give free lessons in exchange for regular help from a volunteer, and other riding schools will give you a reduced rate if you pay by the month for weekly lessons. It's always worth asking.

• If you book a scuba diving course while you're on holiday, you might save up to 25% of the cost of a course in Canada.
• Avoid school holidays to bag a bargain, and be sure your centre is certified by PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) to ensure expert instruction.

Sports fans are passionate about what they love, but that passion can get expensive quickly. But if you hunt for deals and take up activities with low costs, you can save money and still enjoy the sports you love.