We all get the urge to go out more in the summer, and as a result, end up spending more money. But you don’t have to blow your budget to enjoy the season. Here are some ideas on how to cut back on spending this summer.
The warm weather makes us all want to be out and about, but you can easily start spending much more than your budget allows if you get caught up in all the great activities summer has to offer. With a little strategizing, though, you can cut back on spending while still having fun.
Plan ahead to take advantage of deals
If you plan ahead rather than do things on the spur of the moment, you can cut back on how much you spend on certain activities. Want to catch some of summer’s movie blockbusters? Buy reduced-price movie vouchers through your workplace concierge so you don’t have to pay the full movie ticket price. You can also opt to see movies on cheapie Tuesdays, or take in a matinee, when the rate is often cheaper. If you plan to go to a venue such as Canada’s Wonderland, buying tickets in advance online or through a retailer is often cheaper (and you get to avoid the general entry lineup).
Host friends at your place
Sipping drinks on the many outdoor patios in the city can add up fast. Why not launch a rotating schedule with your friends to host one another at each of your homes so you can all hang out, drink and nibble, but much more inexpensively?
Attend the free festivals around the city
There are so many fantastic festivals, shows, concerts and parties you can enjoy for free in Canada, such as Pride Week, Caribana, the Jazz Festival and the Just for Laughs Festival, to name just a few. Or head to some of the many food festivals, such as a food truck fest or Taste of the Danforth in Toronto. At these food events, you can eat well and at a much lower cost than dining in a sit-down restaurant.
Enjoy the great outdoors
Enjoying summer doesn’t have to mean spending a bundle on cocktails at the city’s hot spot. Pack a picnic lunch, and head to a local park for an afternoon. Take out your bike for a long ride with a friend, or break out your inline skates to explore parts of the city you’ve never seen before. Many of us don’t take advantage of what our hometowns have to offer; play tourist and visit the waterfront, Old Montreal or the Distillery District in Toronto to just enjoy the sights and people-watch.
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