Each week, the majority of people are at work during the best part of the day, so spending money on non-essentials is harder to do. The weekends, however, can prove to be a black hole for all your extra cash as you suddenly have a lot more time to be spending your money. It’s this weekend fund that could be a gold mine for your savings. Below are some useful ideas on how to curb your own weekend spending and put this money to better use.
Have a Budget
Having a weekly budget is vital if you want to use your paycheque responsibly, and there is no reason this same technique can’t be applied to your weekend spending too. The best place to start is to subtract all your important weekly bills and expenses to see how much you have to work with. If you’re having trouble reaching this point, it’s worthwhile seeking financial guidance or utilising the features of banking websites like heritage.com.au, which often include a helpful budget calculators which can be found here.
Keep It Homemade
Buying food or eating out is one of the biggest items people will spend money on over the weekend, and it doesn’t take long to add up. The best way to stop yourself from doing this is to have enough food in your house to cook all your own meals for the whole two days. And you can prepare for this when you do your grocery shopping by purchasing this extra food then. Bulk cooking is also a great option. Cook enough food on Saturday to have for Sunday too so you have no excuse to call for a pizza.
Look for Freebies
If you’re someone that can’t sit still on the weekend and loves to pack the two days full of activities, you don’t have to spend a fortune to spend your time well. Do a bit of research into your local area and see what free events and activities might be happening. This could include visiting a local market, kicking around a soccer ball at the oval, or attending a gallery or museum. You don’t have to spend money to get out and about; even just a picnic in the park could be the perfect solution. You’ll be much happier knowing you saved money rather than shelled out.
Stay In
If you’re someone that likes to go out over the weekend, it’s usually to do some catching up with friends. If you’re trying to limit the amount of money you spend on your Saturdays and Sundays though, blowing it all in one night is not a good option. Invite friends around to your house instead, and get everyone to bring their own drinks and a plate of food. You will be saving substantially on expensive drinks and pricey restaurants, as well as cab charges and club admissions. You may even find yourself more relaxed in the comfort of your own home.
It’s easy to get carried away with spending money on the weekend, particularly as it’s the time of the week you tend to be more social. That doesn’t mean you have to go over the top though. Know your limits, stick to your budget, and suggest alternate activity ideas if something looks too expensive.