Friendship Doesn’t Have to be Expensive!
Do you feel like you have no choice but to spend money in order to hang out with your friends?
You’ve probably seen your peers posting on social media about all the cafes, restaurants and fun activities that they get up to with their pals. It’s always great to make memories with your friends, but if you’ve ever felt like you couldn’t keep up with the cost, this post is for you!
Whether you earn a little less than your friends or want to focus on building up your savings (inflation, anyone?) there’s no shame in needing to scale back a little. However, it can seem like you have to choose between finances and fun.
Good news: you can have both! You don’t have to sacrifice your young adult social life — read on for 5 tips on how to spend time with your friends without breaking the bank!
Get Some Perspective
If you’re feeling the pinch of spending money, it might be a good idea to step back and get a good overview of your finances first. Enlist the help of a good financial advisor (ask your friends for recommendations!) or get a trustworthy and knowledgeable person to take a look at your finances for you!
Knowing how your money moves from month to month is a good way of noticing patterns in spending and identifying where and when you should cut back or afford to spend a bit more!
Set your Priorities!
Guide your spending by deciding on what your priorities are — personally and relationally! There are no hard and fast rules about how you should spend your money. Everyone is different, and it’s up to you to choose what matters most when it comes to how you spend your money.
What activities and experiences are closest to your heart? Are you an outdoor junkie who craves something adventurous every now and then? Maybe you’re a die-hard music fan who loves nothing more than going to gigs and concerts. You’re free to spend your money in the way that’s best for you, as long as you adjust accordingly in other areas of life!
Think about the relationships in your life that you’d like to nurture the most. Choose to put these friends first when you’re deciding who to spend your time and money with!
Split Your Wallet
It can be hard to control your spending and saving when all of your money is in one place. If you haven’t done it already, it’s a good idea to separate your money into different accounts, cards or wallets according to its purpose — spending, saving and investing (if that’s something you’re interested in!).
Splitting your assets up in this way can give you a good overview of where everything is, and will give you a better idea of what you can afford to spend at a glance.
Be Honest and Authentic
If you’re feeling pressured to spend when you don’t want to or that your friends don’t understand your situation, tell them! It may feel awkward or uncomfortable, but it’s always better to be open about where you’re at instead of trying to deal with it alone. Explain where you are financially and how you’d rather not spend too much on social things right now. You could offer some ideas for a compromise, such as one meal out a month or outings that make use of special discounts! The real ones won’t mind — we promise.
Fun Can be Free!
Hanging out with your friends doesn’t have to cost anything at all. You can enjoy your time together while spending little to nothing! Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Have a potluck picnic at one of our local parks!
Explore museums (most are free for Singaporeans!).
Organise a clothes swap amongst your friends.
Watch a YouTube drawing/painting tutorial and see who makes the best art.
Try a Powerpoint party!
Take a walk around a reservoir and have a phone photography competition!
Make use of libraries! Find books for one another, borrow and read them and share your reviews.
Walk through Ikea and see who can make the best puns out of product names!
Do some luxury window shopping, then find cheaper dupes/deals online!
Join a Friendzone event in your neighbourhood to expand your social circles together and meet new people!
Anything is possible! With an open mind and some creativity, there are no limits to free fun!🎉