TRIBUNE
That time of year is fast approaching, and you want to relax and have a good time unwinding and resting from the year’s work before January creeps in on you again.
So what if you are not financially buoyant to have all the fun you need? You don’t have to empty your bank account because you can have a dirty December on a low budget.
1. Set a budget and track your spending
When making a financial decision, knowing what you want, having a budget, and monitoring your expenses is a step in the right direction. How? Keep a note, a written one, not a mental one, and follow up with it to be sure that you’re still on track.
To do this successfully, you need to count your costs. If not, you could overspend what you have or run into debt.
2. Free/affordable events
December and a truckload of events are like five and six. Several free/affordable events come up in December that can suit your preferences or budget. Look out for them and attend. It could be invitations from friends, music concerts, game nights, movie nights, a get-together, or a live show.
For events that are not free, you can look for discounts or payments for early birds, if at all those options exist. That way, you can get to dirty December on a low budget; “No one’s gonna know.”
3. Stay at home/ organise a party
“Outside is expensive.” You can stay at home to chill, watch movies on Netflix, cook, rest, or do some things that interest you. Also, you can invite friends to your place and have them contribute towards the hangout; that way, you’ll save cost and avoid triggering “brokenness.”
Maybe you can also touch up one or two spaces in your house to make them look relaxing and a little different from what they look like on a random day when you’re organising the party.
4. Do something intriguing
Clearing something off your bucket list might just be a great way to ‘Dirty December’ on a low budget. You could learn a new craft, try new recipes; you know those ones that you saved on IG, go on a safe road trip instead of traveling by plane, have a vacation within your state but a different environment etc.
Also, you can buy low-budget meals instead of expensive restaurants or make them yourself. Anything that exceeds your budget should not be tolerated.
5. Save money
What’s dirty about December if you end it on a “broke note”? Ensure that in all your enjoyment, you are keeping money somewhere. The festive season will come and go, but you’ll be left with the consequences of your actions and inactions. In other words, a realistic way to dirty December on a low budget is to have some money saved somewhere that you can always fall back on.
Conclusively, the whole aim of having a great December will be defeated if you don’t at least enjoy yourself. So, in all you do, ensure that you have fun.
THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN TRIBUNE
