Who would ever believe The Frugal Biddy would be providing guidance on ways to save without sacrificing your fun or sanity? Not me! I actually got the idea from a page I am on. There was a woman who said that she is a financial blogger but she doesn’t believe you can’t have a fun lifestyle and save. She also doesn’t consider herself to be frugal. This piqued my interest.
Me and Dave Ramsey
I was a BIG Dave Ramsey follower. I didn’t follow everything Mr. Ramsey said and I still was able to get out of debt and build a pretty decent retirement nest egg. I do realize that I could have taken some time and some money to enjoy myself more. The little bit I would have spent on myself wouldn’t have been a make or break in terms of my debt free story.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am frugal to the core. I think I was born The Frugal Biddy. She always existed but no one had a name for her. I truly sacrificed getting to where I am including putting me and my daughter on a $25 a month entertainment budget. I do realize that is not sustainable for everyone. And given my type A personality, it worked for me because I had a goal I had set and was intent on getting rid of the debt by a certain time.
A recent conversation with someone made me think that I may take my finances a little too seriously. I personally believe that I suffer from some kind of post traumatic stress disorder from being poor or broke. I also told someone I think that I may have been born during the great depression in a previous life because the lack of money drives me insane.
But enough about me. I am here to tell you ways you can save without sacrificing your fun or sanity.
First Way to Save Without Sacrificing Your Fun or Sanity
There are people in this world who enjoy couponing. I am not one of them. But I do believe that it serves a purpose. You can clearly save a lot of money on items and activities by using coupons. In the past, I have used coupons for restaurants as well as recreational activities for my daughter and myself. I do not think Groupon or Living Social are considered coupons but I have also used those two online retailers to get concert tickets. I save A LOT of money by using coupons and/or Groupon and Living Social.
Second Way to Save Without Sacrificing Your Fun or Sanity
Plan your expenses including your vacations. There is no reason that you should have to go into debt in order to go on vacation. Mostly everyone has an idea when they want to travel and where they want to travel. Put together a travel itinerary, determine all the costs (air, hotels, food and entertainment) and go and have fun. Even if you are saving for your travels, make sure that your other expenses do not take a hit.
Third Way to Save Without Sacrificing Your Fun or Sanity
Put all your savings on automatic contributions, and always remember to pay yourself. If you have debt, set up a system where your debt is paid off every time you get paid automatically even if that means dividing the payments. I had a system where I had all of my money being automatically contributed to specific funds and whatever I had left over I spent on whatever I wanted.
Fourth Way to Save Without Sacrificing Your Fun or Sanity
If you have a “crew” think about setting up a sunshine fund. If you do it at work for people you really don’t like, why not do it with your friends and family.
For example, everyone from your crew can decide to contribute $20 a month each which you all would use for hanging out. Even if the sunshine fund doesn’t pay for everything, you and your friends won’t have to worry about not having money during your get togethers. It’s like you have some kind of insurance policy that even when your money is short, you can still have fun.
Sunshine Fund
Fifth Way to Save Without Sacrificing Your Fun or Sanity
Start a challenge with your friends that include saving money on certain items. For example, everyone could agree not to eat out more than twice a week. Everyone can then put the difference they would have spent in a pool. The person who is able to not eat out the most would win the pool of money.
Sixth Way to Save Without Sacrificing Your Fun or Sanity
Create a treasure hunt with friends in which everyone tries to find an activity to do that is low-cost. You can still have fun but on a low. This means that you do not have to feel trapped and like you are sacrificing your fun in order to save money.
Seventh Way to Save Without Sacrificing Your Fun or Sanity
Have monthly Happy Hours with your friend’s at someone’s house. It would be much cheaper for you and your friends to do Happy Hour at each other’s homes than at the bars. You can also decide that every person can invite one person that the group doesn’t know. You can make this a monthly thing and the only catch is that each person has to bring something to drink.
I am definitely still frugal but I am learning that it’s o.k to have fun. I also am here to tell you that you don’t have to spend all your money in order to have an enjoyable and low cost life.