If you’re still feeling the pinch from a lavish period of winter festivities, or you’re saving your money for a special occasion, it’s important to find ways to cut back in every area of your life. It’s equally important to find a balance though, having some “fun money” in your budget while you reduce your outgoings.
The best way to do this is to be smart with how you spend money on leisure activities. Here are some ways you can cut back this spring.
Cut Your Cinema Spending
A trip to the cinema is a good way to relax. You can switch off your phone and cut off your connections to the outside world for a couple of hours while you immerse yourself in a film. Going to the movies can also be expensive though, so there are some good ways to save money.
If you live in the UK, Meerkat Movies offers you two-for-one cinema tickets every week if you have bought insurance through their website. A subscription lasts one year and can be acquired through taking out any insurance product, even a cheap travel insurance policy that could cost as little as £5-£10.
Save Money at the Casino
For those that love going to the casino, there are ways you can save money too. For example, simply make lower value bets each time. Alternatively, you can take advantage of casino loyalty schemes.
Some loyalty schemes give you free soft drinks or food while at a table, while some let you earn rewards points.
For those that don’t live near a casino, there are plenty of online options available in the UK. Many of these also offer rewards and loyalty programmes; however many also offer free, risk free, or matched bets to encourage you to choose them over a competitor.
Spend Less While Eating Out
Eating in restaurants can be a great way to socialise with friends, and also save having to do the washing up. However, this can be much more expensive than cooking at home.
So the easiest way to save the most money is to invite your friends round for dinner instead, but sometimes you just really want to head out into town.
If that’s the case, look for vouchers. Most major pub chains and even many upmarket restaurants have promotions and discounts that you can take advantage of. Instead of setting your heart on a specific restaurant, let the discount options (and the overall price) sway your decision a little.
You can even sometimes find vouchers on Groupon, where set menus or a set number of courses can be purchased for a discounted rate.
Saving money doesn’t mean you can’t have fun and enjoy yourself. Instead, just find ways to cut down your costs while still doing what you love.
Main photo, top, of people watching the new Game of Thrones episode in cinema © Krists Luhaers / Unsplash
