If you’ve got big plans for summer, you may be hoping to save some money over the next few weeks. And you’re not alone- many people who make New Years resolutions are hoping to get their finances in order.
Here are some ways you can have a satisfying spring without breaking the bank, so you can enjoy the warm weather during summer:
Eat Cheap
Ask anyone what they do with the majority of their money, and a lot of people will tell you they’re spending it on food. Whether it’s dinner out with friends a couple of times a week, takeout on the way home, or delivery and Netflix during the weekend. But these expenses quickly add up.
If you’re hoping to seriously save some money, spend a week writing down everything you spend on food. You’ll find that those coffees and meals out add up to a ton of money that you could be saving. By spending a touch more on groceries and committing to cooking in, you’ll be able to put the extra money away each week, and will probably find yourself getting in shape for summer as well.
If you find that you simply don’t have time to cook, consider making a batch of meals one day during the weekend. Soups are great options, or you can make meals like chicken and vegetables and freeze them for whenever you need a healthy meal ready to go. A slow cooker can also be an excellent investment so you can have delicious dinners ready to go when you arrive home.
Stay in
Let’s face it, often we want to stay home, but fear of missing out encourages us to go out anyway, and we often spend a bunch of money on drinks, ubers or taxis, and food without even having that great of a time.
If you want to save money, consider having people over for potluck dinners (get everyone to bring their favorite dish and a bottle of wine), games nights, or even Netflix marathons. You’ll find it so much easier to work on your relationships when you’re not screaming “what?” over loud music. Another option is to gamble online if you like to go to casinos. See here for a great site you can play on without having to change out of your pajamas.
Have a clean out
There’s a reason that “spring cleaning” is a thing, and using momentum from New Years is a great way to take a few days going through your closet and storage spaces to figure out exactly what you do and don’t need. As you look at each item of clothing, ask yourself if you can remember the last time you wore it. If it was more than 12 months ago, it could be time to stick it on eBay and let someone else give it a good home.
Everyone is going minimalist, and you’ll be surprised how much money you can make by listing items you no longer use.
