How do you save money but still have a good time?
We’ve got a question this week from Bankwest asking: ‘Do you only go to the movies on Tuesday?’ They’re obviously referring to Cheap Tuesday – the one day of the week where you can get into the flicks for sometimes only $5 – $10. When you’re on a strict budget, it’s these sorts of tricks that help you save money without sacrificing the fun side of life.
It made me think about other ways to enjoy life while still putting some money away. There are heaps of tips on Answers. I love XoxoxoxoX’s idea for pinching pennies at work:
…Buddy up with couple people at work and rotate to bring lunch. It is like family cooking at home, more people eat together actually save money… More
Washdcwhc has some great tips for reducing bills at home:
Do you have a lot of small appliances around that house that are always on? I cut my electronic bill almost in half by unplugging all the clock radios and night lights. I also bought some of those florescent bulbs that look a lot like a regular bulb. These things use 80% less electricity than regular bulbs. You would be surprised, but these small things add up. More
Elle says rethinking grocery shopping can save money:
We make sure to go grocery shopping only once a week so that we don’t spend as much on food. I notice that a few trips to the market become costly versus one trip to the (supermarket) saves us about 100/week. More
Chegg says it’s as simple as knowing what you’re spending:
The biggest thing that changed my spending habits and saved me money in college is that I started tracking what I was spending. It sounds so simple, even I was surprised at what a difference it made! I used an Excel spreadsheet, but you could just as easily write it down in a notebook or use an online service like Mint.com. Know where your money is going, and you’ll start to see where you can save money! More
I’m definitely going to try MSAD’s idea!
Have 80′s movie night. You can buy cheap older movies….so flash back to your favorite 80′s movie and invite your friends over. Everyone can chip in for the cost of pizza. (Caddy Shack, Footlose, Say Anything, Real Genius, The 3 Amigos, Pretty in Pink are all 80s movies). Encourage your friends to wear their best 80′s attire. More
What about you? What ways do you save money but still have a good time? Leave your tips below!
Caitlin
Community Manager
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Relevant question – My answers:-
1. Cook and eat at home using recipes covering cooking on a budget to prepare nutritious meals.
2. Mince is an alternative meat not only for spag bol, lasagne, but also shepherd’s pie, savoury mince (I always vegetables to mine). Make lots of meatballs.
3. Stew up cheap cuts of meat and add vegetables for a good meal on a budget.
If vegetarian just add beans instead of meats.
4. Grow your own herbs and vegies in a pot in a sunny spot and save heaps of dollars e.g tomatoes, chives, basil, oregano, lettuce or salad mixes, carrots, beets, zucchini, etc.
5. Shop for bargains at opportunity or thrift shops (second-hand stores) and save heaps.
6. Look for free community events like music in the park.
7. Listen to Jazz on Sundays usually held at a bar but you don’t have to drink alcohol.
8. You can drink water or soft drink that you take with you just be discrete so as not to piss off the publican.
9. Set up a car pool each weekend to go somewhere with your friends.
10. Have a picnic somewhere or a bar-be-que at a community park. Invite your friends who should bring their own food and drinks and too bad for them if they don’t bto.
11. Take a net to play volley ball. Or take frisbee to throw around.
12. Take the dog for a walk and meet fellow pet owners and make new friendships.
13. Look at your local library for their events usually freebes.
14. Go to a trivia night and take some friends (car pool or walk AND take your own snacks and water and save money).
15. Have a garage sale to get rid of your clutter by cashing it in.
16. Form a swap group (clothes/fashion, music, books, magazines, games, crafts, etc some of these can be found in thrift shops cheaply. All you do is recycle and make a new network of friends).
Ask your guests to bring a plate of food and drinks to share, which will cut costs and make everyone get out and about thereby minimising isolation.
17. Pool together – have a theme party at a local community hall. Just remember to be responsible and not annoy the neighbours with loud music and drunken loutish behaviour. Be cool and remember to clean-up after yourselves so you don’t get a bad reputation.
18a. Walk instead of catching public transport if it is not too far and get fit and healthy at the same time.
18b. Join a walking group for fitness and companionship.
19. Look for your local city council community events programs.
20. Visit historical sites or join a group who are into these things.
21. Local churches may also have community events.
22. Volunteer for some charity and meet new people and do a good service to help them out.
23. Join a local theatrical group and have fun.
24. Join a gardening club and learn to be self sufficient.
25. Join a green group and learn to be a responsible citizen of planet earth
26. Join a tree planting group to replenish our environment.
27. Join a recycling group to clean up your neighbourhood or waterways.
28. Go to http://www.wwf.org to find a their links to environmentally friendly groups you might be interested in participating with for global living.
29. Join a yoga or meditation group
30. Join a dance group and learn something new while having fun and getting aerobic exercise.
Hope these suggestions help broaden your views.
Regards
If you really want to save money, slap a cop across the chops.
You’ll get three weeks to a month in the slammer, unemployment will still roll in and there’s nowhere to spend your cash in the big house.
Joke: don’t try this at home.