10 Ways To Have Fun On A Budget

Being on a budget doesn’t mean “no money” and “no fun”. Remember, a budget just helps you see where your money is going or will go. If you’re like us, having fun every month is inevitable, but this doesn’t mean you have to spend a whole lot of money or spend at all. There are creative ways to have your cake and eat it too. Here are a few ways we’ve done this:

1) Search discount sites

Don’t be like me (Tiffany) and search Groupon and Living Social for whatever deals pop out at you. Look specifically at the entertainment or food discount you want. Filter the results so you get a targeted list like you do when shopping online or at the store (it’s easier said than done, I know). This will keep you from buying what you don’t need. It may take time to find exactly what you want – patience is the key. For deals on multiple items, consider splitting the cost with someone who shares the same interests.

2) Save in advance

This takes patience and diligence as well. Say you’d like to attend a concert in a few months. First, you’ll need to find out the price, quantity you’d like to buy (if paying for a family member or friend), seat selection, and parking, rideshare or public transportation cost. We encourage you to sign up for discount sites and price alerts so you can hop on a deal if you have the money to do so at the time without neglecting your “bare necessities” (basic food, shelter, transportation, and clothing).

Then you’ll want to determine how long it’ll take for you to save up that amount. If the concert is 5 months away and the total cost (including service fees, tax and delivery) is $60, stow away at least $12 a month for 5 months. We also recommend setting aside at least $30 more just in case the cost changes or you want to buy items at the event (in this case, it’s $18 a month instead of $12).

Keep in mind: Tickets could be sold out at any time during this waiting period. Avoid using a credit card or buying prematurely if you fear you’ll lose out on a ticket. If you think you’ll have “miss out anxiety” like me at times, consider approach #3 below.

Bonus: Check Ticketmaster’s discount site for 2 for 1 tickets to select events and StubHub for legit ticket resales.

3) Create a fun fund

We used to create a fun fund to save up for entertainment every month. Whatever money we didn’t use would roll over into the next month. Or, we would set aside a specific amount each month in addition to that month’s entertainment costs so we’d have extra money just in case something else caught our attention down the road. It was great to use because we were able to spend spontaneously even it if wasn’t in that month’s budget. You can do this with any type of budget item – vacations, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.

4) Home Get-Togethers

We’ve had a blast doing this over the years. We’ve both hosted and attended home get-togethers. This is a great opportunity to get to know your family and friends in an intimate setting, enjoy home-cooked or catered food, play games, watch movies, etc. Everyone usually has a hand in it cost-wise and is assigned something to do or bring. The host has most of the responsibilities, like keeping things flowing and making everyone comfortable, so consider if that role fits you. This role can also be shared or passed around to others over time.

5) Get out into nature

God provides us something that is both free, liberating and fun – nature. Get out and take a walk or run around your neighborhood or local park. Also, your local outdoor shopping complex is a great place to walk and sightsee, but leave your money at home to avoid unnecessary spending. They also may occasionally have free concerts and movies.

6) Rent a movie

Jason is a movie fanatic like his mother. Ask him on any given day what he wants to do to relax or have fun and he’ll be sure to mention TV or a movie. I, on the other hand, can stand in a room (as I am now) with the TV off without even considering turning it on (the exception being watching This is Us!). Watch your DVD or borrow a friend’s, see a free movie from your cable provider or rent a movie from sites like Redbox, Amazon Prime or YouTube Movies. You can also catch a matinee movie or attend discounted movie nights at your local regular or dollar movie theater.

Bonus: Sign up for a library card from your city and/or county library and you may get access to free DVDs and movies online.

7) Sign up for volunteer and paid opportunities

Want to attend all or part of an event for free? Sign up as a volunteer or seat filler. Jason and I were seat fillers for a popular awards show and had a view of Mary Mary preparing backstage and artists such as Smokie Norful performing onstage. We also sat right behind Lecrae. We saw the show from start to finish. Be aware though that you can only see celebrities, not interact with them unless they interact with you.

Also, consider signing up for the artist’s or event’s email list in advance so you’ll be notified of early bird pricing and discount codes or dates. You can also enter contests if you’re comfortable sharing some personal information, which may get sold to marketers. I once won a radio contest to see Monica sing.

8) Google free events and activities

The internet is a powerful tool. If you want free or discounted things, ask Google (or Siri for all you Apple fans like Jason; #TeamAndroid over here). It may take some digging, but it can be worth it. Some of the ways you can search for events are:

1. Google “free events in (enter name of city or state)” on the internet. If you’re in the Atlanta area and have or interact with children, sign up for Hulafrog and Atlanta on the Cheap.
2. Visit discount sites in your city or state of residence or visitation
3. Search for free day events (e.g. your local zoo, museum, etc. may host days where the public or a certain group can attend for a discount or for free)
4. Search discount codes online, in community magazines and newspapers and from event partners and sponsors

9) Reach out to friends and resources

Have a friend who works at the venue or company that’s hosting the event? Perhaps they can tell you how to legally get in for free or at a discount. Don’t take advantage of them. Consider how you’d like to be asked if you were in their shoes. Someone once told us to “ask for what you want but be able to accept no”.

Also, check with your utility providers, insurance company and any other providers you use to find out about customer discounts and freebies. For example, companies like Gas South (Atlanta) offer discount and free access to events to its customers.

10) Meetup.com

I love this site. It’s a great opportunity to connect with others in your area who share a similar passion as you. You can create or join as many groups as you’d like. I once joined an adult cheer group that connected me to an adult cheer team and quickly realized that I wasn’t nearly as flexible as I used to be, but I had fun while it lasted! Some of the groups require a membership fee or a cost to attend an event, but many are free. I encourage you to check out Meetup in your area.

There are several other ideas out there, but these are the ones we’ve done. What are your ideas for having fun on a budget?

Wallet Coach
(Tiffany)