People say “the best things in life are free”. While you can’t put a price on making your loved ones laugh; food, drink and fun stuff can cost a fortune.
People often say that “the best things in life are free”. Unfortunately, while you can’t put a price on making your loved ones laugh, there are lots of leisure activities which can cost a fortune. From enjoying a takeout on the sofa with a Netflix subscription and your favourite humans, to sipping on after work drinks or paying for a mini-break, having fun can really add up. Even something as simple and carefree as getting out into nature might require you to spend a bomb on petrol.
The truth is, if you want to do more than stare lovingly into your partner’s eyes, leisure activities cost money. This may be money well spent, but if you’re on a tight budget, it can feel like your social life is on pause.
A recent survey revealed that the average South African spends 2.11% of their income on restaurants and hotels, while 3.81% was spent on recreation and culture. By comparison, South Africans spend 32.55% on household costs (including rent, bills and mortgages) and 13.75% on food. With food prices high (and now set to rise further), costs which affect your daily essentials are likely to eat into your “fun budget”.
But never fear! If you’re cash-strapped and cutting costs by spending less on leisure time, we’ve got some excellent suggestions to help you let the good times roll (without breaking the bank). Here are three ways to make having fun cost less…
1. Search for deals and discounts
It’s never been easier to find substantial savings on the things you love. Technology has placed budget-saving discounts and deals right at our fingertips. You just have to know where to look. There are now many apps and websites dedicated to finding you awesome deals on fun stuff. Whether you’re scouring Dealzone to find a great day out, or saving money on eating out with The Entertainer, there are deals galore waiting for the eagle-eyed.
2. Use cashback apps
This helpful list of ways to save money using technology is full of ways you can spend less on having fun. One especially good piece of advice is to embrace cashback apps. These apps may take just a little bit of time to set up and use, but they could help you squeeze more from your spending. For every purchase you make using services like Cashback World and Snap N Save, you’ll earn cashback which you can then spend on leisure time treats (or anything else your heart desires).
3. Cut down on “vices”
Whether you love to wind down with a beer or three, or can’t quite quit the odd sneaky cigarette, it might be time to cut out your unhealthy vices altogether. You’ll be astonished by how much you can save when you stop spending on alcohol and tobacco. These heavily taxed items can really eat into recreation budgets, which could mean less fun all round.
Next time you go out for dinner, avoid alcohol altogether. You’ll be amazed at how small your bill seems when it’s time to pay up. Why not challenge yourself to a month without these vices? Every time you would formerly have spent money on them, pop the money into a jar instead. By the end of the month you’ll have a surprising amount of cash you can put towards fun activities.
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