Budget tip/hack of the month
“Enjoying yourself while on a budget and getting out of debt”
I hope you are all recovered from the post Halloween sugar rush. The good news for those sitting down this weekend to finalize their budget is you get an extra hour to do so. 🙂
We all know a budget is telling our money where to go. One of the areas people have a hard time with is cutting entertainment expenses. It is a good idea to cut back while getting out of debt and using the motivation of wanting to go out but not being able, to drive your focused intensity towards your goals. There are ways however to add a little ‘break’ and not ‘break’ the budget. Here are two:
- A majority of national movie chains have discount Tuesday. Most tickets range from $5-$6 all day. It s a great way to see a new movie for half the price (or sometimes more). This is compared to say a Saturday Pm showing at a local National Chain ($12.50) or a one in the major city ($15.99) Be careful to avoid the online fees and buy direct at the box office. Also be mindful of snacks as that can blow your budget. Tip: Large popcorn costs about $8 and comes with a free refill at most theaters. Ask them to give you your refill at the same time (2 bags for $8 is $4 per person and you don’t have to get up during the movie).
- Mystery shop your dining out experience. Mystery shopping is a great way to go out and try new places or even places you like to frequent and get paid to do so. The majority of the time the company will pay you for your meal up to a set amount, others will pay your meal reimbursement plus a fee. Tip: You will have to budget for the initial output of money and you will have to follow the guidelines of the shop and submit all the paperwork to get reimbursed. My wife and I did that a lot while we were getting out of debt. It was fun and something we still do today. Some companies even offer theme park, movies and hotel stays. Google some and see what they have to offer.
Be creative, have fun, be mindful and remember Things Change When Things Change