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Travel & Entertainment

5 Inexpensive Dating Ideas

Dating doesn’t have to be expensive to be fun! When my husband and I were dating we didn’t have a lot of money to spend – so we didn’t do the traditional dinner and a movie very often. Instead, we got creative, and had fun, meaningful moments doing more simple things:

1. We often went to different city parks and had a barbecue or a picnic. Sometimes we just spent time walking the trails or riding our bikes.

2. We had our own special walking route that we would take frequently, and sometimes after we would walk for a while we would just sit on a bench and stare at the sky. At night we would sit and talk and gaze at the stars.

3. When we did watch movies, we would wait to see them until they came to the cheap theater where the cost of tickets is about a third of the price of the regular movie theaters. Instead of eating out, we would often cook together, making interesting dishes and just enjoy each other’s company.

4. We had a lot of fun taking silly pictures of each other wherever we went. We didn’t have to go anywhere special, but we found that taking pictures is entertaining no matter where you are.

5. Sometimes we would go for a drive outside of the city and go hiking and exploring wherever we ended up. That was always a lot of fun. We still do that once in a while. It’s always nice to get out of the city.

The most interesting and fun part about dating is getting to know one another. Whether or not you spend a lot of money is up to you, but it really isn’t necessary to have a good time and create great memories.

August 11, 2009

Travel & Entertainment

How We Saved Money On Our Road Trip

Last year my husband and I went on a 10,000 km road trip and had a blast. We went for two weeks and our budget was $2000. We were able to stay within our budget despite the outrageous gas prices, and we had a great time.

Here are some things we did to save money while traveling:

1.We ate our own food. For the most part we ate food purchased from grocery stores along the way. We brought along a cooler and a Coleman cooking stove so we could cook our own food. We did eat a few meals in restaurants but usually we did so only when we were visiting friends. We ate a lot of cold cuts and buns, eggs, and various veggies and fruits. We brought along some granola bars as well so we wouldn’t be tempted to stop at convenience stores for snacks.

2. We camped instead of staying in hotels. We brought along our tent and camped along the way. For a few nights we stayed with friends at their homes. We also slept in our car for two nights. I wouldn’t recommend sleeping in your vehicle every night, but if you just do it once or twice it is okay.

3. We maintained our car. Before we left, my husband gave our car a tune up. He changed the oil, made sure the air filter was clean, and checked the tire pressure. Throughout our trip he checked the oil and tire pressure. Thankfully we had no car trouble and our car was extremely fuel- efficient! Taking care of your car really does pay off.

4. We used a GPS system rather than relying on maps to get around. This saved us both money and time. We didn’t have to stress over where we were or how to get to the next destination. The GPS also provided us with the most direct route to our destinations so we weren’t wasting fuel going in the wrong direction! I highly recommend using GPS if you are going somewhere unfamiliar.

5. Our entertainment was enjoying nature. Along the way, we often stopped at curious sightseeing spots such as canyons, small waterfalls, etc. We didn’t have to spend a lot of money on entertainment as we were so enthralled by just being able to see such beauty all around us. We visited friends along the way and had a great time catching up. Except for a few tourist attractions, most of our entertainment was free!

May 14, 2009

Travel & Entertainment

15 Cheap Ways to Have Fun

You can have a lot of fun without spending a lot of money. Try out some of the suggestions below:

1. Play board games or card games with family and/or friends. You can even entertain yourself by playing solitaire or free online games like spider solitaire, mahjong, etc.

2. On a clear night, go stargazing and watch for falling stars.

3. Visit your local library. Take advantage of the free books, movies, and music. Libraries are a great place to take your kids – instill in them a love for reading and learning.

4. Go on a picnic in your favorite park.

5. Go sledding. This is fun even if you don’t have kids. My husband and I go out once or twice every winter and it makes us feel like we are young again!

April 26, 2009

Travel & Entertainment

Save Money When Eating Out

My husband and I don’t eat out a lot because it is expensive, and we can buy a lot of groceries for the cost of one meal at a restaurant. However, eating out is a lot of fun, especially because then we don’t have to cook and clean up. Whenever we eat out we try to order something really unique that we wouldn’t be likely to make at home. We also usually follow these simple suggestions below that help us to save money when we do eat out:

1. Drink water. Beverages are overpriced at restaurants. Instead of spending extra money on beverages, order some nice dishes instead.

2. If it works with your schedule, eat out at lunch instead of supper. At most restaurants, you can often order virtually the same dish at lunch and it will cost a lot less.

3. Skip the appetizers. Unless you are going out with a large group and everyone is splitting the bill, I wouldn’t recommend choosing appetizers. Your dollar will go the furthest if you order the main dishes.

4. Order main dishes that will be filling enough that you won’t have an appetite for dessert. Desserts are usually overpriced and, at least for me, they are often disappointing. Somehow they just don’t taste as good as I would have expected after looking at their pictures on the menu.

5. Use coupons. Restaurants often mail out coupons to their local areas, or you can find coupons in your local community coupon books. Some restaurants also offer promotions and coupons online on their websites.

6. If you are really hungry and want it all – appetizers, main dishes, soup, salads, and dessert – go for a buffet. For a flat fee you can eat as much as you want and it will cost a lot less than if you were to order everything individually. We especially enjoy going out for a seafood buffet – all you can eat crab legs and shrimp is absolutely fantastic!

April 25, 2009

Travel & Entertainment

How To Save Money When Watching Movies

If you’re a big movie fan like I am, you may be spending a lot of money on movies. In order to avoid spending more money that you need to, here are a few recommendations:

1. Be patient! If a movie has just come out that you really want to see, wait until it comes to the “cheap theatre” before watching it. Try to limit the amount of popcorn and other snacks you buy because even the cheap theatres have expensive snacks. If you want to really save money, make it a habit to eat a snack or a meal at home prior to going to the theatre so you aren’t tempted to buy the overpriced items.

2. Matinees are cheaper than evening movies, so you can get a better deal at most theatres by going mid morning or early afternoon. If you have a whole day free, why not go for the matinee?

3. Better yet, rent movies rather than going to the theatre. That way you can watch with a group of friends or family members without each having to pay individually. You can also make your own popcorn and snacks.
Although going to the movie theatre can be fun, especially when a movie you really want to see has just come out, I highly recommend waiting. The movie will still be just as entertaining and you will have saved enough money to watch 3 or 4 movies for the price you would have paid to see one if you were impatient!

April 23, 2009

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