Night Out Versus Saving Money
The situation is that my friends and I go out on the weekends, but it ALWAYS costs money.
For example, tonight...a $15 movies and a (thankfully cheap) restaurant.
How do you deal with this? It's totally contrary to ERE, but at the same time I am reluctant to skip out and be a loner. Where's the proper balance?
For example, tonight...a $15 movies and a (thankfully cheap) restaurant.
How do you deal with this? It's totally contrary to ERE, but at the same time I am reluctant to skip out and be a loner. Where's the proper balance?
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I only see a movie in a theater if it's going to be more enjoyable on a big screen... Even then, it must be good and I have to really want to see it. Happens a few times a year (Inception last)...
Ditch the movie, doesn't really count as a social interaction anyway.
Try to have drinks at your (or someone elses) house if possible. Or at least find a place with a happy hour, some specials, or cheap pitchers.
Ditch the movie, doesn't really count as a social interaction anyway.
Try to have drinks at your (or someone elses) house if possible. Or at least find a place with a happy hour, some specials, or cheap pitchers.
I wouldn't go so far to say going out with friends is totally against ERE... it's ok to spend where you think it's worthwhile, and cut spending on what's not important. Do a cost-benefit: is one night out worth pushing financial independence x more days into the future?
When my friends want to do restaurant + dinner, I'll usually skip the dinner and do the movie. They'll want to discuss the movie afterward; that's the social aspect. The cheap way to do movie theaters is to grab a discounted multipack (maybe available from your employer, warehouse club, or church), carpool to the drive-in, or go to a second-run theater.
When my friends want to do restaurant + dinner, I'll usually skip the dinner and do the movie. They'll want to discuss the movie afterward; that's the social aspect. The cheap way to do movie theaters is to grab a discounted multipack (maybe available from your employer, warehouse club, or church), carpool to the drive-in, or go to a second-run theater.
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Hi all
An idea we had which seems popular is once a week cook in with friends. We rotate, so once a week we cook for 6-8 other people, everyone brings a bit of wine and one dish whilst the host provides two mains or 1 main and 1 desert. It is like eating out with friends but without the expense. We change locations once a week at each other's homes. The cost is wine/beer, home cooked dish, transport and great conversation.
An idea we had which seems popular is once a week cook in with friends. We rotate, so once a week we cook for 6-8 other people, everyone brings a bit of wine and one dish whilst the host provides two mains or 1 main and 1 desert. It is like eating out with friends but without the expense. We change locations once a week at each other's homes. The cost is wine/beer, home cooked dish, transport and great conversation.
I think the new Entertainment discount book for next year is going on sale....Yes you have to buy it but the discounts make up for it...you just need to make sure you get the one for your city.
First time I went to London I got the one for there.
Unlike for my hometown of Orlando where the average discount is a BOGO usually with a six person limit.
London's was mostly a straight 25% off the bill with the coupon from the book. It really did pay for itself...I can't remember but I think it was $35 to buy the book...and with the normal prices in London....I left it with the hosts of my BnB when I flew home.
First time I went to London I got the one for there.
Unlike for my hometown of Orlando where the average discount is a BOGO usually with a six person limit.
London's was mostly a straight 25% off the bill with the coupon from the book. It really did pay for itself...I can't remember but I think it was $35 to buy the book...and with the normal prices in London....I left it with the hosts of my BnB when I flew home.
I think as an Introvert, when I decline invitations for things like going to movies, I am not nearly as considerate as some extroverts might be about feelings of anyone being 'left out' or anything like that. And when I go ahead and act as is natural for myself, my friends either accept this, or maybe it becomes apparent that them and I are not meant to be close friends (both of which are good things).
What I've found among my fairly small group of old college friends is that people who are basically at the same point on a frugality scale (as each other, not as me) will interpret my own frugal actions in very different ways.
Some of my friends act mad at me for not wanting to travel long distance to visit them. They'll poke fun at me for not spending money, make jokes, etc..
Other friends who are very similar to them financially are 100% accepting of my decisions, and never seem unhappy about or impacted in any way by my frugality. One example of my friends belonging in this latter group is a guy who is good at recognizing that some "alternative" behaviors are actually better than the norms in many ways. He looks at it from multiple angles, not just financially or in terms of perceived convenience. So him and I we would ride our bikes together when we went to the bars (Cheaper, more fun, more exciting, more adventurous, you get exercise, and you get to park right in front of the bar) and we'd also take our flasks (cheaper, simpler, easier, and faster than waiting at the bar to order a drink).
My friends in the first category, the frugality haters, are certainly capable of understanding the benefits, but they often don't consider those points unless I explain them, or they just assume that the "normal" ways must be better than any alternatives.
So I suppose:
1 - It's better to find friends of the second type. This doesn't mean finding only frugal people. It probably means finding more open-minded, creative, critically thinking friends.
2 - For your 'frugality hater' friends, accept that when you act the way you want to (not blowing your money) they will give you shit. Don't let it bother you. Just let it slide off your back, or joke about it yourself also, or poke fun back at them for blowing their money..
What I've found among my fairly small group of old college friends is that people who are basically at the same point on a frugality scale (as each other, not as me) will interpret my own frugal actions in very different ways.
Some of my friends act mad at me for not wanting to travel long distance to visit them. They'll poke fun at me for not spending money, make jokes, etc..
Other friends who are very similar to them financially are 100% accepting of my decisions, and never seem unhappy about or impacted in any way by my frugality. One example of my friends belonging in this latter group is a guy who is good at recognizing that some "alternative" behaviors are actually better than the norms in many ways. He looks at it from multiple angles, not just financially or in terms of perceived convenience. So him and I we would ride our bikes together when we went to the bars (Cheaper, more fun, more exciting, more adventurous, you get exercise, and you get to park right in front of the bar) and we'd also take our flasks (cheaper, simpler, easier, and faster than waiting at the bar to order a drink).
My friends in the first category, the frugality haters, are certainly capable of understanding the benefits, but they often don't consider those points unless I explain them, or they just assume that the "normal" ways must be better than any alternatives.
So I suppose:
1 - It's better to find friends of the second type. This doesn't mean finding only frugal people. It probably means finding more open-minded, creative, critically thinking friends.
2 - For your 'frugality hater' friends, accept that when you act the way you want to (not blowing your money) they will give you shit. Don't let it bother you. Just let it slide off your back, or joke about it yourself also, or poke fun back at them for blowing their money..