8 Tips For Sticking To Your Budget While Maintaining Your Social Life

We are entering the time of the year were socializing is even more on my radar. As a girl who is making a huge effort to watch my spending socializing can sometimes be hard to do. I have realized that unless I implement some rules and budget tricks into my lifestyle spending time with friends and family can become costly. Although it presents a challenge I am determined to maintain a social life (after all being social is important for a healthy life) but not let it drain my budget.

Here are my tips for balancing a healthy social life with my bank account:

TIP ONE // Include a "fun fund" in your budget. In order to stick to a budget you need to actually have a budget that you have planned out. I like to include a "fun fund" that allows for the occasional splurge like dinner at a really great restaurant or tickets to a concert or play.

TIP TWO // Prioritize what is important to spend on. While I allow for the occasional splurge in tip one, I always to remember to look at the big picture and save for the things that are most important to me. An example would be a great trip.

TIP THREE // Be honest with your friends. Let your friends know that you have a budget and that you have to watch your spending. You will likely be surprised by how many of your friends are in the same position as you.

TIP FOUR // Suggest a less expensive alternative. If your friends are making plans that are out of your budget but you don't want to miss out suggest alternative plans. An example is if your friends are suggesting a pricey restaurant suggest a cheaper alternative or suggest that you meet for coffee instead of dinner.

TIP FIVE // Establish a practice of low cost get-togethers. Find an activity that you and your friends enjoy that is inexpensive to take part in. A few of my favorite suggestions are: take turns hosting potluck dinners, rent movies or have Netflix marathons together, enjoy the outdoors by having a picnic or organizing a sports activity, or take turns hosting game nights which I did during one of my favorite recent weekends. Also, recently me, Jessica and a few friends created a book club that meets monthly and is a fun, low cost way to spend an afternoon with friends.

TIP SIX // Volunteer. You can either do this with a group of friends or solo. You will meet many new fascinating people while keeping busy and helping out.

TIP SEVEN // Pay attention to what is going on in your community. Many cities (even my tiny hometown) have free events going on on a regular basis. This can be a great way to be exposed to new things. Also look for local bargains at places like Restaurant.com, Living Social, and Groupon.

TIP EIGHT // Accept that sometimes you have to opt out. It will sometimes be impossible to fit every get-together or event into your budget and you need to be okay with that.

via: 2005 Dior image photographed by Nick Knight obtained from here original source here