Budgets are a necessary evil because there is never enough money to go around. A shortage of moolah is enough to set the family back half a year. Then, all the hard work you did will wash away down the toilet. Goodbye scrimping and saving; it was nice to know you!
There is one problem: it’s boring. Staying in on a Saturday night isn’t enjoyable even when you’ve got the big picture in mind. The Holy Grail is to put money aside while having the time of your life.
For those who don’t think it’s possible, take a look at the following.
Look Local
You’re not the only mom who wants to keep the purse strings tight. Every mother in a five-mile radius will have the same idea, which is where the local community comes into play. Your neighborhood, or another one which is close by, should have events such as carnivals and street parties. Some even have drive-in movie nights where you sit in the car and watch from behind the wheel. The point is there are generally lots to do in the local community and the costs are low. If there is an admission charge, it will be low, and the kids should get in for free.
Go Out With Friends
Instead of cooking dinner for the millionth time this year, why don’t you treat everybody and go to a restaurant? Oh right, it’s because it’s expensive. Well, it doesn’t have to be if you go out as a group. As soon as there are ten to fifteen people in your squad, the cost of the meal reduces by a significant amount. Even with a tip, it shouldn’t be more than $15 per person, per meal. Tapas is a great cuisine to split with others because it’s made for sharing and you don’t need many dishes to enjoy it.
Or Invite Them Round To Eat
There’s no reason to eat as a family for every single meal. Although you love the kids, it gets boring when all they want to do is eat, play with their phones, and watch TV. Adults need stimulating conversation and lots of jokes to have fun, which your friends have in spades. That’s why this blog post recommends throwing a dinner party and inviting your nearest and dearest. Everybody can bring a dish, which cuts down on the costs, and you can supply the alcohol. Now that sounds cheap and like a lot of fun!
Bag A Bargain
Another tip from the same blog is to sign up for discount codes and vouchers. It might feel embarrassing at first, but there’s nothing wrong with adding a voucher code to your shopping list. Nowadays, you can do it online so there’s no reason to say it out loud in front of a restaurant full of customers. Being thrifty is about doing the little things to save the big bucks. Whether it’s 5% off or 50%, every little does help.
Plus, you get to go on an impromptu shopping session which is always fun.
