Having Fun on a Budget
In my post on Monday, I talked about the challenges of telling my clients that they need to spend less while also assuring them that they will not miss out on the fun that they are accustomed to. Most of them don't believe me when I tell them that their social lives can and will remain in tack while spending less money.On today's podcast, I am talking to my friend Stefanie O'Connell, author of The Broke and Beautiful Life who also blogs at The Broke and Beautiful Life about various ways that people can have fun while staying on a budget. As a struggling actress living in New York, Stefanie is definitely familiar with the challenges of maintaining a social life on a dime.
What we are drinking
Stefanie - Vodka with fresh squeezed lime juiceShannon - Pineapple infused vodka (All you need is some cheap vodka and a fresh pineapple. Combine the two in a airtight container and let sit for at least a week. Serve over ice or with other mixers.)
Podcast Notes
The number one way that you can save money while having fun is planning in advance. With a few extra steps, you can search for a deal on just about anything you would want to do.
Stefanie likes to use Groupon or Restaurant.com for finding dining out options
Stefanie suggests using online resources to find free events or opportunities in your city, including a Google search, a Twitter search or aggregating sites like Brokelyn and The Skint
Shannon likes the app Happy Hours for finding great cheap places to drink with friends
You should put together a tribe or group of friends who are all looking for deals and money saving activities, it spreads out the research and saves everyone money
If you want to save money on fitness, you can utilize introductory membership opportunities like Class Pass or Fitness Passbook
You could also search "donation based" fitness options like yoga, dance classes, CrossFit, etc.
When you're going out with a group, you should put parameters on your evening like how people will pay or how much cash you will bring with you
Always think about the opportunity to stay in and have friends over for potlucks, wine tastings or game nights