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If you are on a strict budget for the purpose of paying off debt or maybe saving for a large purchase, you probably feel as though your entertainment opportunities are limited. Often, things like eating out at restaurants, going to movies, and even family vacations are the first to go. As Americans, we like leisure and entertainment. And we have expensive taste. It is estimated that the average family of 4 spends $10,000 on leisure activities each year! Even more is spent on shopping and salons. But for some of us with tight budgets and large families, we need alternative entertainment options. We need to get creative. Just because the budget doesn’t allow for trips to the beauty parlor or painting the town every weekend, doesn’t mean we can’t have any fun! After all, the whole reason we do things and go places is for the experience. Who says the experiences have to break the bank?
When my husband and I were first married, we didn’t over spend on entertainment, but we did indulge occasionally. We only spent cash and we do have some great memories. Now that we are striving to pay off our house in the next year (on one income- as a family of 6), we have needed to make some changes to how we think about our leisure options.
Eating Out
This is one that was hard for me to accept. I love eating out. Trying new foods and enjoying time as a family. But…. let’s be honest. Eating out with kids can be expensive, not to mention stressful. We have decided that eating out is not as much a priority as it once was for us, so we limit ourselves to 1-2 times per month. If we do eat out, we try to use coupons or choose a restaurant where kids eat free.
A creative option is to create the “experience” of eating out right here at home. Here’s how it works: Choose a favorite restaurant that you might be craving and google a copycat recipe. You can typically purchase enough ingredients to feed your entire family for less than the cost of one meal at the restaurant. Set the dining room or outdoor eating area complete with music, candles, fancy glasses, etc. Prepare the meal together as a family. But save the dishes for tomorrow. This allows you to enjoy the time together as a family, but not feel so bogged down by all the work.
If you miss eating out with friends, invite them to a meal at your house-potluck style! In other words, everyone brings a dish or two to contribute and you enjoy fun fellowship for a fraction of the cost of meeting at a restaurant. Another fun idea is to have a progressive dinner. Get three families together, dress up if you enjoy that, and take turns going from one house to another. Start with the appetizer, then move to the main course and finally enjoy dessert at the last house. This is a creative way to go out without overspending! (Potential savings- $3,000/year)
Movie on the Big Screen
The cost of seeing a movie at the theater is more than it is worth for me. It has been over a year since I have indulged in this type of entertainment. You could argue that I am not really a movie-watching kind of girl, and that would be partially true. But the reality is, it just isn’t a priority for me. You don’t have to wait long until those movies are on DVD and your local library will have them available for FREE! So, how can you take a free movie and turn it into a movie theater experience? Use a projector. A projector will give you the big screen feeling in the comfort of your own home (or yard or garage). A white sheet or plain wall is all you need. The one-time cost of the projector will pay for itself after only 2 uses! In our home, when we do have the rare movie night, we prefer movie theater popcorn to make the experience truly authentic. This Gourmet Coffee
Coffee. It’s such a simple pleasure, but is so expensive from the local shop. If you have given up your morning coffee stop in order to put that money toward something else, you may want to find a new way to enjoy your favorite drink. Instead of making an extra stop, why not make it at home? Set up a little coffee station in your kitchen or dining room with different coffees, mugs, reusable cups with lids, and even fancy add-ins. Buy these things on sale and you will be surprised how much you save while still having the feel and taste of gourmet coffee. And instead of meeting a friend at a coffee shop, you can invite them over for a relaxing chat, good Pandora music in the background and a variety of options from your coffee bar. (Potential savings- $2,000/year)
Vacation Destination
Vacations can be expensive. People often choose to forego a vacation if they have other priorities at this time in their life. When you can’t go away on a vacation, you may be able to change your destination to another location. A stay-cation is a fabulous idea for families who want to spend some time doing fun things together, but don’t want to spend too much money. By staying close to home, you save on travel expenses, lodging, meals, and more! We did a stay-cation when we were building our house and found it relaxing to do local things we wouldn’t normally do. We took a boat ride, visited a wildlife park, saw local historical sites and more. Check your town’s attractions. I bet you can find a few interesting places to visit for day trips. We also set up a tent in the backyard. You could go on a family bike ride, rent a canoe and take a trip down the river, or do some miniature golfing with discounted tickets from Groupon! There are many ways to enjoy down time with your family while on a budget. It’s not the destination, but who you spend the time with, that makes it special. (Potential savings-$4,800/year)
Beauty Salon Solution
I enjoy getting my hair cut and styled. I also like having nice nails, but I cannot fathom spending the equivalent of a week’s worth of groceries on one trip to the beauty parlor. Again, just not a priority for me. Instead, I actually cut my own hair at home during this tight budget time. I also watch Youtube and check out Pinterest for different styles or braids to try on my long hair. This keeps it interesting without costing me a dime. As for nails, I have some very talented family and friends who willingly paint my nails when I have a special occasion. These are not necessities and can be things to cut out if you are looking to save more money. It can be fun to get a group of girlfriends together for an evening of pampering using homemade face masks or foot soaks. Everyone can bring their nail polish and paint each other’s nails. The opportunity to get together is often appreciated even more when it doesn’t cost too much! (Potential savings- $2,000/year)
Shopping Spree
Shopping is a fun pastime, but can often be costly. It’s difficult to buy a new outfit for less than $50. I find it helpful to avoid clothing stores altogether if this is an area where you are trying to limit your spending. Don’t even let yourself be tempted. With some more creativity, you can find some different options to change up your wardrobe without going over budget. One of my favorite ways to get some new articles of clothing is by shopping at yard sales. I have come across some amazing deals and found quality clothes for next to nothing! You always want to inspect closely for stains or holes, but it is worth your time to find a few steals. I also look for shoes at yard sales because they are often in very good shape and cost only $2 per pair. We purchase almost all of our kids’ clothing at yard sales since they grow so quickly and play outside often. Second hand stores are great places to find new-to-you clothes and accessories also. Another fun option is getting some friends together who are about the same size and have a closet swap. Everyone chooses items that she no longer wears and wants to trade for something new-to-her. This is a free way to get rid of unwanted clothes and add a few options too. (Potential savings- $1,800/year)
Being on a budget and maintaining your leisure activities or updating your closet is possible when you get creative! You must determine your priorities and remember that you can’t have EVERYTHING you want. Consider allowing yourself one or two of these fun things per month in order to keep some fun in your life without compromising your savings goal. Always set these priorities ahead of time in your budget.
What creative ideas for family time have you come up with while on a strict budget?
