Who doesn’t like saving money? I know that I do! However, that can be a challenge as you want to be able to enjoy life and if you never spend money on anything life can get boring awfully quickly. As with many other things in life, there is some sort of balance to be had and the same is true when it comes to trying to save money yet have a life at the same time.
It can take a little bit of effort to find ways to save money?on the things that bring you joy in life, but it is most definitely possible. Instead of just locking yourself in your house and putting every free dollar into the bank, consider the following three tips for living a frugal lifestyle and still having some fun at the same time.
#1 ? Look for Affordable Activities
Doing things with your spouse or kids can get expensive in a hurry. For example, if you buy tickets to a concert or sporting event, you could be set back a couple hundred dollars in no time at all. However, if you look for other activities that won?t be as expensive, you can still have fun as a family and save money at the same time.
Looking for parks in your area is one good option to get out of the house and explore nature for little or no money. You can pack a lunch and spend the day outside walking on trails or spotting wildlife. Even if the park has an admission fee of a few dollars, it is likely to be much more affordable than other activities you can find around town.
#2 ? Save Money By Skipping the Drinks
Do you like to go out for a nice dinner from time to time with someone special? There is nothing wrong with that at all. However, it can get expensive if you aren?t careful. One good way to save money and still have a nice evening is to skip the drinks when you place your order.
Drinks are significantly marked up at restaurants, and they can easily add quite a bit more to the bill by the end of the evening. ?By just drinking water, you can save money and still enjoy a tasty meal at a nice restaurant. I know it may feel like it detracts from the experience of having a meal out, but I’d much rather save money on drinks as opposed to adding empty calories and having a higher bill to boot.
#3 ? Vacation Closer to Home
You don?t have to ditch the idea of taking a vacation just because you are trying to save money, but you can modify your plans to make the trip less expensive. Transportation is one of the more expensive parts of every trip, so planning a getaway closer to home can cut into the cost significantly. Rather than paying for gas to drive several hundred miles, or airfare to go across the country, staying within a couple hours of home will make a vacation seem much less costly.
With a little research, you should be able to find a fun place to go that will offer plenty to do without breaking the bank. Just because a vacation doesn?t take you all across the map doesn?t mean it won?t be one that you remember for years to come.
What are some frugal things you do to save money yet still have a life? What is one thing you refuse to pay for so you can pocket the money instead?
Photo courtesy of: 401(k)calculator
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We love finding museums or other locations that we can get into for free or a suggested fee. We recently went to the Museum of Natural History and because we went after 4pm, we all got in for free. It’s fun to try to “beat the system” while entertaining yourself.
We do as well Shannon. That’s awesome you were able to get in for free. We have a few museums here in Omaha, but nothing like you do on the East Coast but we take advantage where we can.
We rarely drink when we’re out at restaurants. I hate paying $8 for a drink I can make at home for 50 cents!
We’re the same way Holly. It drives me nuts to pay that much to know that I can have the same thing for a fraction of the price at home.
We avoid paying late/overdue fees whenever possible. On a general note we avoid fines. It’s a total waste of money. We will also be taking a small vacation this year only a few hours away. Should be much cheaper than vacations we’ve done in the past.
I agree Liz, they’re largely just a waste of money. You can’t beat a cheap vacation, albeit one you still have a great time on. 🙂
You know, I’m not sure I have something that I would refuse to pay for because anything could be worth paying for given the right circumstances. As far as ways to save money and have a good time. I think hiking is one of the best ways to go!
That’s a great point Josh! I think it largely depends on the situation, assuming you have the cash to pay for it of course. 🙂 Hiking is a great option, though we don’t have too much opportunity to do that here in flat Nebraska. 😉
I love hiking as well. I think is one of the cheapest ways to enjoy nature, get some exercise, and kill a few hours of your time. We also love to go to the park and have a picnic. All we need is a blanket, a few snacks, and a book and we’re set for a few hours.
Same here Aldo. That’s the best of both worlds – being outside and getting cheap entertainment.
The free museum days that Shannon mentioned is definitely something I do on occasion. There’s actually a lot of free events in San Francisco, during the summer’s there’s a lot of street fairs which is really nice. Then there’s always First Friday Art walks.
The way that I save on vacations is that I travel to places where my money can be stretched a lot further. From San Francisco a flight to NY is probably pretty similar to Mexico but once I’m in Mexico everything is a ton cheaper than NY. A lot of places in Central and South America are like that, getting there is the only expensive part but if you are on vacation for a few weeks then only having to spend $10 a night for where you sleep is going to save you more money in the end.
We have a good bit of that here in Omaha as well, though I’m sure less than what you’d have in SF.
That’s a great point Zee! I’m all about stretching your dollar especially on vacation. We’re actually thinking of somewhere in South/Central America in a few years as my in-laws live in San Diego and we could fly out of there and they can watch the kiddos.
Everyone complains about the cost of big city living, but one of the best perks is all the free and affordable activities. You just need to do a little research.
Totally agreed Stefanie. I saw a lot of that when I lived in Chicago and to a lesser extent here in Omaha. You just need to be willing to be flexible and do a little work to find the great deals.
I almost always drink water when dining out. Unless it’s a brew pub or a Mexican place with amazing margaritas, I’m all about tap water with lemon!
I’m the same general way Lauren, especially when it comes to the beer. I’d much rather just have the water and have a better beer at home for a lower cost.
Committing to finding vacations closer to home is a huge one! You don’t know what you can find until you look. My husband and I almost drove to Ocean City Maryland for a night which is pretty expensive and far from us just to have a beach day. And found out that there’s a beach 20 minutes from our house! Seek and you shall find!
That’s awesome Taylor! I agree, it just takes a little work and most times you can find something that is relatively similar yet at a fraction of the cost.
I’m huge on skipping drinks! I prefer to order water and save the money. It’s amazing how much drinks add up.
Same here Natalie! It can save a good amount of money, not to mention the calories. 🙂
Funny enough my tip would actually be to vacation away from home. Being based in New Zealand, it’s often cheaper to foot the flights to South East Asia and then to enjoy the lower holiday costs there than to travel around New Zealand
That’s funny how that works out sometimes Christine. 🙂 But, hey, sounds like a fun trip plus you’re saving money!
I’ve actually skipped the drinks and opted for water with lemon or lime. Much healthier and better on the wallet.
We’re much the same way Jason. You kill two birds with one stone, not too bad in my book!