Monthly Archives: March 2011

Money is a rough subject and I’ve been talking about it a lot lately. That’s because I’ve challenged myself to take control this year of something that feels out of control – and money seems to universally fit that bill.  My intention is to share what it is that I’m doing (or haven’t been doing) and learning in hopes that it’s something other people can relate to and maybe even benefit from.

image by http://www.flickr.com/photos/materialboy/

There’s a lot to talk about here so I’ve broken it into 3 parts - Part 1 handled banking and bills, Part 2 focused on saving money with groceries and household goods, Part 3 is all about keeping yourself entertained.  Finally!

Having a night in doesn’t have to mean being anti-social.  There are plenty of cheap ways to entertain yourself, and guests, at home.  Here are a few of my favorites:

1.  Host a leftovers dinner party - gather your friends on a weeknight to host a potluck consisting of last night’s dinner.  You’ll get a variety of food without spending much (as host I still recommend you whip up a fresh salad) and a great excuse to hang out on a weeknight.

2. At-home X Games - Find out which friends have which random athletic equipment they never use anymore (skateboards, racing bike, badminton rackets) and invite everyone over for some serious competition in your driveway.  You can pick a panel of judges and show off your mad skills (safely please) or create a completely new game using said equipment and start your own league…well, maybe.

3. Movie night - Pick a theme and coordinate snacks or dinner, or just grab some popcorn and gummies and go classic.  I’m particularly fond of marathons (but only 1 or 2 in a sitting) and getting the right group of people together is key.   If you like to talk during movies, find something cheesy and make your own Mystery Science Theater 3000.  It’s so easy and inexpensive to rent movies whether by mail, vending machine, online or cable.  We mostly watch movies now through our Xbox, a pretty great little entertainment contraption.  Which brings me to…

4. Kiddie Game Night - It’s not just for families and slumber parties.  Get your geek on with a classic board game, a pack of Uno or even an old-school girly game (Pretty Pretty Princess anyone?).  Scour your local thrift stores or Craigslist for obscure games that will bring back memories.  Or get digital and do video game night – Kinect and Wii have tons of games with multiple players so you could get a workout while becoming a champion.

5. Host a Salon - a gathering of great minds for a day (or night) of socializing while collaborating on a project.  From kitchen creations to art, you’ll end the day feeling both inspired and accomplished.

But sometimes you’ve just gotta get out of the house.

I’m a huge fan of the group shopping sites like Groupon, Living Social, Yelp and Dealgooder. Not only do you get half (sometimes more) off, but it’s like a daily reminder of things I want to do or get.  Like a month of yoga for $29, or a $20 dinner for 2 at a local hotspot.  It satisfies my Inspired Life Goals #3 and #5 by getting me out more and nurturing what makes me feel whole, and it’s easy to justify one or two things a month at these prices.  In a previous post I wrote about creating a Wish Calendar.  These are perfect things to put on it!

If you’re not already on Meetup.com you should be.  It’s the best way to find out about local events and you only join things that you’re interested in.  Basically, if you can think of a topic, hobby or type of people you’d like to meet more of, there’s a Meetup group for it.

I think you can make any trip a proper outing with the right companions.  Grocery shop with a girlfriend at the farmers market or go on a scavenger hunt at Target.  You’ll get stuff done…but it’s way more fun.

What do you do with friends, your significant other, or Me-time on the cheap?

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