Gas prices have gone up again and it’s time to be even more careful with your expenses. Here are eight ways to spend less on gas and be more cost-efficient when it comes to commuting.

Consider your transportation options first.

Don’t let driving be your default mode of transportation. Consider your other options first.

Can you walk or bike to your destination?

Is there public transportation that can take you there? Can you carpool with other people?

Try to think with cost savings in mind and you’ll find that driving your own car may not always be the best option if you’e trying to save money.

Get on the road with a purpose.

If you’ve decided to take your car, plan your trip carefully and avoid unnecessary trips.

Schedule your errands in one day and plan out the most efficient route to save on trips and mileage.

If you need to go a specific store, make sure they’re open or that they have what you need. You can also try calling first to check if they deliver. Avoid traveling during rush hour or peak times to lessen the time you’ll spend in traffic.

Make sure your car is in good condition.

Keeping your car properly tuned up can help you save on gas.

Check your car to make sure everything is working fine.

Check tire pressure, axles, springs, the suspension and chassis parts.

Make sure the air filter isn’t clogged. Keeping your air filter clean can improve your gas mileage by as much as 10%. Go for energy-conserving motor oil, too.

If your car is working properly, the engine won’t need to work harder than it should.

Remove the unnecessary.

If you don’t really need them, remove bike racks or vinyl tops to avoid air drag that can be a stress on your car engine.

Remove extra weights if possible. Take out unnecessary stuff you have in your trunk.

Extra weight means more work for your engine, which burns more gas.

If you can go without air conditioning, do it. Roll down windows if you have to. Reducing air conditioning can reduce gas consumption.

Drive carefully.

Aside from keeping you safe, driving steadily can help with your gas consumption, too.

Drive within speed limits.

Avoid sudden and hard stops and don’t weave around or swerve around. Also, pay attention to traffic reports so you’ll know when to avoid traffic jams on the roads.

Be smarter when parking your car.

Look for a shaded spot during hot months to keep your car cool and avoid overworking your AC later. If you can’t find a parking spot with shade, roll down your windows just a little bit to let air circulate.

Don’t spend too much time driving around looking for the nearest parking spot. Don’t be afraid to park and walk a few steps to where you’re going.

Be smart at the gas pump.

Go for the lowest octane or grade that is appropriate for your vehicle; premium fuel that’s priced higher won’t exactly improve your car’s efficiency. Avoid filling the tank to the brim as it can result in fuel spilling over, which is an unnecessary waste.

Be aware of gas station loyalty or membership card benefits if they are available. Also consider grocery or department store membership cards that offer fuel discounts.

Don’t be too concerned with brands since they all use the same pipelines and refineries anyway.

Think about cost savings more than branding although be aware of quality as well. Check out gas prices while you are out and about to see which gas stations are offering the best deals available.

Track your gas expenses and even your trips.

If you’re intent on spending less on gas, then learn to track your fuel expenses and your trips. Every time you purchase gas, write it down. Note down mileage and how much you bought. Through your records of your trips and gas expenses, you’ll be able to assess how much you spend every month and you’ll be able to make adjustments if you have to.

It’s not anywhere near the Christmas season (unless you really, really like to get you shopping done early, but that’s for another time and another column) but with the issue of banks and financial institutions being at the forefront of international news, I too often witness capitalism getting the blame for the world’s woes.

This is tragic, especially when it is the exact opposite.

One of the reasons why is because there are images that are so intertwined with the word that it can be hard to separate them. We all know the iconic stereotypical capitalists.One of the more famous and well known is the Monopoly game mascot Rich Uncle Pennybags, whose black suit and top hat, along with his distinct moustache, gives him a superior air that is easy to associate with wealthy individuals who profit at the expense of others.

Another figure who I often hear used as an example of capitalism is Mr. Potter from it’s a Wonderful Life,a 1940’s film by Frank Capra that has become a Christmas classic.

In the film, George Bailey, the main protagonist, runs a small building and loan to help people in his small town of Bedford Falls afford a home, all while trying to hand the business over to someone else so he can pursue higher career aspirations in the world.

Meanwhile, Mr. Potter is an elderly man who owns a number of businesses in town, including the department store and the bus lines, as well as shacks that he rents out to the majority of people in the town.

Unlike Bailey, who is seen as a man of the people and remains in the business primarily to help the residents, Mr. Potter is cruel, mean, nasty, greed, and selfish. Throughout the entire film, he attempts to run Bailey out of business or buy him out, all to no success. Finally, when he accidentally receives $8,000 from Bailey’s building and loan, he steals it, knowing it will put Bailey out of business.

Mr. Potter is often used as an example of a capitalist, and the film an attack on capitalism. Regardless of whether this was or was not the director Frank Capra’s intent, to think Mr. Potter is at all capitalistic is to infer a gross misunderstanding of what capitalism actually means.

Capitalism, in its basic essence, is the free exchange of goods and/or services between two private parties. That’s it. And whenever there is a third party interfering in the exchange, it is no longer purely capitalism.

In reality, George Bailey is the true capitalist (though not a pure one) of the film, while Mr. Potter is what I would refer to as a small town socialist.

A small town socialist is defined as someone who runs a business in a small town, but loathes competition and seeks to hold a monopoly to keep prices high so they profit at the expense of the customer, who has no other place to go. They also rely on protectionism through government to protect their business from competition.

Mr. Potter fits this description perfectly. Because he lives in a small town like Bedford Falls, he does not have to worry about someone competing with him, because there is not a big enough population to support another similar business. As a result, he is able to charge outrageously high rent for his shacks. The source of his wealth, therefore, is the direct result of the absence of competition.

This is where George Bailey comes in. He is a competitor to Mr. Potter by offering the residents of Bedford Falls the opportunity to own their own homes, rather than pay rent to Potter, at a cost that is near to what they pay for their rent.

The difference in their attitudes is that Bailey sees the people as customers whereas Mr. Potter treats them more like feudal villeins, people who could not legally leave their lord’s land without his permission.

In order to beat Mr. Potter, Bailey doesn’t appeal to the city, to the county, or to the state to pass a law or ordinance that would negatively affect Mr. Potter’s rent racket while benefiting his own building and loan.

Instead, he beats him in a capitalistic way by offering a better service. He allows them to buy homes, however modest, which then become worth twice as much as it cost to build them. Bailey is able to do this because, unlike Mr. Potter, he knows he can’t possibly compete if he demands the same salary, so he keeps very little money for himself.

From there, the outcome is both obvious and inevitable. The residents flee Mr. Potter’s rented homes and flock to Bailey’s residential homes. This is demonstrated in a scene where Mr. Potter’s rent collector explains to him in a very blunt manner that his business model can’t sustain itself, because it is clearly inferior to Bailey’s.

Mr. Potter’s reply is telling. All he can say in return is that Bailey isn’t becoming rich off of it. In no way is he unwilling to change his habits.

In reality, he has two options. One is to act like a capitalist by acknowledging the business model is poor and amend it. But that would mean his income would be hit substantially, and even with all his wealth, he isn’t willing to surrender a dime.

So, instead, he tries to buy Bailey out by offering him a huge salary to work for him, which Bailey is smart enough to see will only be temporary. He also understands that Mr. Potter’s superior position is also fleeting and won’t last forever.

Unable to beat Bailey in any other way, Mr. Potter has to resort to theft, which even then is thwarted at the end when the residents come to Bailey’s aid.

There are also several scenes that indicate Potter uses political connections to gain favors and advantages. When Mr. Potter is listening to his rent collector, his receptionist informs him a senator is waiting to see him; Mr. Potter, of course, tells her the senator can wait, which infers he owns the senator and probably bankrolled his campaign.

On the other side of the coin, Bailey looks at it from an entrepreneurial perspective. When he inherits the building and loan from his father, he actually hates working there. But he understands it has an essential purpose by providing the people of the town with an alternative to Mr. Potter, i.e. competition so he cannot raise his rent even higher.

Very much like Walt Disney, who only started to make an actual profit from his company in the 1960’s after numerous decades in debt, Bailey puts all the revenue the building and loan receives into further investments. This allows him to offer homes at affordable prices.

This isn’t to say Bailey is a good businessman, which in many ways he isn’t. Like most people during the late 1920’s, he relies too much on artificial credit, gives risky loans, and puts his building and loan way too far in debt. When the town bank comes to collect its money during the 1929 Stock Market Crash, they’re forced to hand over everything dime they have, all while in the midst of a bank run in which everyone comes to the building and loan to pull out their money.

Yet, even when faced with the consequences of his poor business decisions, Bailey takes personal responsibility for it. He doesn’t expect the government to bail him out or foot the bill. He takes $2,000 he intended to spend on his honeymoon and gives it to the building and loan so it can remain solvent; he also does it to prevent his customers from selling their shares at artificially low prices to Mr. Potter.

Too often people equate capitalism with greed and selfishness, i.e. a person’s attitude, not their business practices, is what makes them a capitalist or not.

To quote Adam Smith, It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest.

What makes a person a capitalist is not their attitude, but how they engage in business. George Bailey may not be the best example of how to run a business, but Mr. Potter is certainly not a good example of what capitalism is all about.

Binary options are very alluring to many people. Perhaps it is the ease and simplicity which allows traders to trade a large selection of assets. People have the potential to make large profits on their investment. A person’s entire investment can be affected with one click of a mouse.

Binary options are trading channels that have become very popular over the last few years. This will likely remain that way in the future. It is important to have a trading strategy. You will put yourself at a disadvantage if you do not have a specific approach to trading. Here are some things to consider so that you can develop a great binary options trading strategy.

First, analyze why you are trading binary options to start with. You definitely want to earn some money, but how much money, and what is your time frame for making that amount? Those answers will determine how aggressive you want to be. Decide what your preferences are. You can trade options for stocks, currency pairs, and stock indices, just to name a few things. The most popular options are stock and currency pairs. You should pick something that you are familiar with. Resist trading a wide variety of assets. That strategy is very risky.

Knowledge is crucial to developing a binary options trading strategy. You need to know about the asset that you are trading, the market, the asset class, and also how other traders perceive that asset. The more knowledge that you have about the asset, the more likely you are to predict what will happen in the future. If you comprehend the market, then you can take advantage of the situation and invest appropriately.

Predicting the market can help you prepare for The Domino Effect. When certain assets are related to other assets, they can rise or fall simultaneously. For example, look at the correlation between oil and the American dollar. They have an inverse relationship. If the dollar gains strength, oil becomes more expensive. This will likely cause oil prices to drop. If the dollar decreases, then oil becomes easier to buy, which makes the price go up. Keep these relationships in mind when developing your strategy. Learn about the relationships that may make your asset rise or fall.

Be sure to learn about technical indicators. They are an important part of any binary options trading strategy. Two important strategies to learn about are moving averages and stochastic oscillators and crossovers. A moving average is a running average of the value of an asset over a length of time. For example, a 30 day moving average of an asset is the average of each price point over those 30 days. The stochastic oscillator measures momentum. It tries to predict turning points in the asset’s price based on support and resistance levels. These two technical indicators should be important pieces of your binary options trading strategy. The key is to learn as much as you can about what asset you are investing in.

Savings accounts provide safety, security, liquidity and predictable growth. They should be a part of any personal finance portfolio. Consider these benefits to a savings account.

Safe, guaranteed interest

Savings accounts offer a guaranteed rate of interest, which is usually paid monthly. Your money will grow each month according to the interest rate the bank or other financial institution is paying. This predictable growth makes it easy to see how your money will grow over time. The interest rate the bank pays on savings may increase as rates go up overall, but you will always know what that interest rate is so that you can plan for it. BM Savings is highly regarded as a safe and secure savings location for your money.

Liquidity

You can get to your money at any time if you have a savings account.
There are no waiting periods and no penalties for making withdrawals from a savings account. Depending on your account balance and the terms of your account, you may be able to withdraw money at any time without paying a fee. (Some accounts impose a fee for making more than a certain number of withdrawals in a statement period.)

Protection

A savings account is easy to put money into and to get money out of, just like a checking account. Unlike a checking account, however, you cannot overdraw your savings account. You can only withdraw the funds you have in the account, and usually only in person at the bank, although some savings accounts will give you the option of an ATM (debit) card so that you can deposit and withdraw money electronically.

Security

Savings accounts in banks are insured by the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation). This government agency guarantees the deposits of up to $250,000 at a single institution. This means that, even if the bank fails, you will not lose your money, as long as you do not keep more than $250,000 in one bank. Since savings accounts are not tied to the stock market in any way, your money will be safe and will continue to grow, regardless of what happens on Wall Street.

Save on fees

Most savings accounts have low or no service fees. At many banks, you can combine your savings and checking account balances to avoid or minimize fees on both accounts. You may also be able to avoid fees by having your pay direct deposited into your account. Before you open a savings account, be sure you understand the fees you may be subjected to and what you can do to avoid them.

Pay yourself first

Easy access savings accounts are ideal for getting into the savings habit. You can have part of your paycheck direct deposited directly into your savings account, or set up an automatic monthly transfer from your checking account to your savings account. The money you deposit into your savings account will grow, and will be available for you to use to fund your short- or long-term financial goals.

These advantages make a savings account a good choice for any saver or investor. It is important to understand the terms and fees that are associated with any savings account you are considering. Knowing how you will use a savings account will help you to choose the best savings account for you.

photo by ursonate

Even if we are investors, few of us qualify as professional investors. That is to say that while we may have money invested in the stock market, few of us truly have the expertise that’s needed in order to become a successful investor.

If that describes you, as it does the majority of investors, index funds are probably your best bet to achieve investment success. Index funds invest money to correlate with major financial indices, such as the S&P 500 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Even more specifically, they can be correlated to indices that represent market sub-sectors, such as various industry and commodity indices.

No investment selection process

Probably the most time-consuming aspect of investing is researching specific investment selections to determine their suitability for inclusion in a portfolio. It can take many, many hours to determine if a position in just one company is a good fit for your portfolio. It can take a lot more time than that to identify enough companies to completely fill your portfolio.

And it’s not only the time factor either. There are volumes of information out there about just about every company that is listed on the major exchanges, and weeding through it and processing what it means is beyond the ability of most people.

By investing in index funds, yo’re investing in the entire market without having to do a single bit of research on any of the components of that market. That’s a lot of time and effort saved.

It frees up your time to do other things

Keeping the above in mind, one of the most valuable aspects of index funds is that it allows you to invest in the stock market while freeing your time to do other things.

Most of us have jobs or businesses that are not related to investing in any way. We are also trying to build compelling personal lives. All of that takes time, but if we’re spending too much time selecting and tracking investments, we might make more money, but we will certainly have less time for everything else that we would like to do.

Removes the perceived need to beat the market

In the investment world it’s fashionable to talk about beating the market; it’s a little like being an art critic on Wall Street. But those words seldom measure up to reality. Few people and even few investment managers actually do beat the market on a consistent basis. Most who do, will outperform the market for a year or two, and then under-perform it for the next two or three. Talk about spinning your wheels in the mud!

When you remove the need to beat the market, it sort of takes the pressure off. You are content to merely track the market with index funds. And that even has a more tangible benefit. By tracking the market, instead of trying to beat it, you also lower the risk of being wrong. The bad feeling you get from being beaten by the market is usually much more intense than the good one that comes when you beat it. In this way, index funds go long way toward removing the wild emotional swings that those who try to beat the market experience.

Lower fees than stocks or actively managed funds

Since index funds are tied to specific markets, there’s very little turnover within the funds. Her’s a cosmic rule of investing: more transactions equal more investment fees! Investment fees are expenses that will reduce the performance of your investments. One of your objectives in investing should be keep these to a minimum, and that is what index funds do.

You’re probably not an investment expert

Most of us have jobs or businesses in which we might qualify as experts. That being the case, it will probably be very difficult to become an investment expert at the same time. There’s only so much information any of us can assimilate, and if you spend too much time working on increasing your investment knowledge, your regular work might even suffer.

There’s a saying do what you do best and let others do the rest. By trying to become an expert in too many areas, you might end up being an expert in none of them. Investing is actually more technical and complicated than most of us understand, and is best left to the experts. Sometimes even they don’t know how to handle it either. That’s where index funds come into the picture.

Think of them as a default investment setting.

What are your thoughts about index funds?

photo by ponzi_unit

If you are someone who uses cash regularly, then you could really benefit from a piggy bank. Yes, you! Piggy banks are for adults too. After all, why do we teach our children to use them if we wouldn’t use them ourselves? Piggy banks are great because they help keep your loose change organized, and they’re perfect for setting goals.

While I realize that there are better ways to earn interest on your money, like putting it in a high yield savings account or a CD, a piggy bank is just the first step. Below are more reasons why they are beneficial.

1. You can see your progress.

For those of you who love visuals, a piggy bank is perfect for you. This is especially true if you use a clear glass jar as your “piggy bank.” You can literally see your savings growing or at least feel the weight of it! Every day that you add your change means one more day that you are closer to your goal. You can always put a label on your piggy bank or write your goal on it with a marker to remind yourself what you are saving for.

2. It keeps loose change organized.

How many times have you done laundry, only to find a few quarters at the bottom of the dryer? Or, perhaps you often find a few nickels in the couch cushions? This is loose change that could be going towards a goal! The way to keep organized is to empty your pockets every day when you get home from work and put it in the piggy bank. If you are a woman who throws loose change at the bottom of your purse, dump it out at the end of each day. You’ll feel accomplished, and your bags will be neat and ready for the next day.

3. It’s amazing how it adds up.

Every now and then, there are news stories of people who purchase entire cars with the loose change that they have collected over the years. However, if that goal is a bit too lofty, you can always aim to buy a nice meal out or a new pair of shoes with it, which would only take a few months of savings. It’s a really great feeling to take your spouse out to a movie with just change you collected. It almost feels like you are doing something fun for free!

4. It builds great habits.

The one way to build a habit is to start out slowly. Too many abrupt changes can lead you to quit too soon. So, to start making saving your change a habit, put a reminder in your phone. Put the piggy bank right by the door when you put your keys. If you forget, it’s no big deal. Just try again the next day.

5. You set a great example for your family.

If you are regularly using a piggy bank, then your friends and family will take note. How great would it be to set an example for your kids or for your nieces and nephews? They can learn that saving is fun and easy too! Plus, they’ll love dumping out the change and counting it.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab a mason jar or an empty jelly jar and start putting your change in it today! Remember that you don’t have to actually go out and buy a piggy bank. It’s just a way of thinking that will have a very positive impact on your life.

How do you save for a rainy day? Do you have a combination of investments and regular savings or just a change jar?

photo by shardayyy

When it comes to investing in the Forex market, it makes sense to develop a strategy and rules. Investing within guidelines and parameters can not only help you to feel more confident about your analysis, it can make it easier to determine what went right and what went wrong. Carrying out a scatter gun approach to Forex trading means you will be reliant on luck to make money, which is no way to approach the Forex market.

There are two main types of strategies for the foreign exchange market, which are:

Technical Analysis

Fundamental Analysis

Learn the trading basics! It is commonly found that technical analysis is more commonly carried out by the marketers that are classed as being small to medium sized Forex investors. A good level of technical analysis will take on board the actual factors that have impacted on the market as opposed to the factors have the potential to impact on the market. This means that there is a number of market sources which can be utilized in the analysis and there are plenty of facts and figures that can be examined. It also removes any emotional element like hope, fear or possible expectations in the market which can also have an impact on the overall trends.

Technical analysis usually leads traders to have the opinion that the price is a reflection of all the movements occurring in the market. A technical analysis trader will focus on a number of factors which have been deemed to be of significance. It also bases itself on the fact that the same outcome will lead to the same results, which brings in the predictable nature of the market.

Fundamental analysis takes a different approach

Fundamental analysis is quite different though and this is where a wider range of influences are considered on the behavior of a nation’s currency. This means that traders will look at the political stature of a country, the economic outlook and the overall financial situation to make an opinion on the likely behavior of the currency.

This is a more in-depth level of analysis because the factors that impact on the economic and social landscape of a country are many and varied. For instance, both of these elements can be impacted upon by unemployment levels, interest rates, the amount of imports and exports, inflation, relationships with other nations, tax decisions and so much more. It is also a fact that many of these influences are inter-related which means that a change in one can lead to an impact on another.

While fundamental analysis is a lot more in-depth and requires a greater level of study, it can provide a more proactive analysis of how a country’s currency will behave. The technical analysis is more of a reactive nature and then looking for outcomes and patterns repeating themselves.

Having a strategy is important when Forex market and it is important to choose a strategy that you feel more comfortable with. It may be that you are more comfortable with technical or fundamental strategies so it is worthwhile trying out both forms of analysis. However, if you are doing this, it can be of benefit to carry out a paper strategy or trade with as small an amount of money as possible. When you are honing your skills, there is no need to place a lot of money at stake.

photo by images of money

Unemployment is not a beloved term in our language, and it is one of the last situations an adult wants to find themselves in.

But sadly, for those who entered the workforce right before or during the Great Recession, unemployment has become a fact of life. The most recent numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics put the unemployment rate at 7.7 percent.

While this may seem to be an improvement over years like 2010, which saw 10 percent unemployment rate, this specific rate only reflects the number of people who report being unemployed and are searching for jobs. Those who are unemployed who simply have given up searching for more than a year are not included in the figure. Also not included are people with only part-time jobs or those underemployed, i.e. working a job that is far below their qualifications. This gives us an inaccurate picture of the economy.

Unemployment often has little or nothing to do with a person’s abilities or efforts. Many times, it is determined by outside factors beyond their control. What this means is that everyone should be informed and knowledgeable about what to do if they should become unemployed suddenly, like I was for over a month, and the steps critical to maintaining good finances until you can find a new job.

Here are some tips that I learned for my brief stint unemployed.

1. File for unemployment benefits immediately

Contact your state’s unemployment office. Do this as soon as you become aware of the situation. Thanks to the Internet, you claim file your unemployment claim online and don’t have to visit an office. The process takes some time, however, so anticipate several weeks before you receive your benefits. Additionally, when you’re filing your claim, ensure that all the information you send them is precise and accurate, because even the slightest discrepancy (such as the wrong date of your last work day) can cause a delay in receiving benefits.

To receive benefits, you will have to have at least three job contacts each week, which you may or may not have to send to the unemployment office to verify. Create an excel sheet and document all the necessary information for each job you apply to. Thankfully, some companies will send you a confirmation email with all the information you need.

2. Make sure you and your dependents are enrolled in a health insurance plan

Contact your company’s health insurance provider and inquire about their policy concerning coverage and when it expires once you’re unemployed. It is important to have your new coverage take effect as soon as your current coverage ceases in case you have an illness, a health condition that requires a prescription, or you require an operation. The last thing you need while unemployed is to get stuck with a hefty medical bill.

There are several insurances plans available in the event you become unemployed. One of them is Cobra, which must be done within 60 days. You can also check out einsurance.com or, if you’re strapped for cash, catastrophic health insurance at places like compare.ehealthinsurance.com, which covers only the most critical procedures.

3. Assess your finances

Determine your spending level versus your income each month. If there is a deficit, find out if there is any unnecessary expenditure you can eliminate.

Examine your credit card debt, how great it is, when the payments are, the minimum payment and whether or not you can pay them off entirely. Hopefully, you will have at least six months of emergency savings which will help out in this area.

If you have any extra or unwanted items in your home, sell them online at amazon.com, craigslist, or ebay.com and use the money to cover expenses.

4. Utilize every option when searching for jobs

Networking is the name of the game. If you don’t have an account on linkedin.com, create one as soon as possible. It works as a professional networking site, allowing both potential employers and employees to search for people to hire and find potential jobs. Many companies allow you to include your linkedin.com profile as part of your job application, and for some applications all you have to do is submit your profile.

On your account you want to post all your resume information, including contact phone number and email. You then want to find others you know professionally and connect with them. If they happen to be connected to an employer for a company you’re applying to, you can send them a message and ask for a possible introduction.

Additionally, job sites like indeed.com and monster.com make it easy for you to find and apply for jobs in your local area. Employers also check sites like monster.com, where you can upload your resume, and contact you if they are interested.

When creating a resume, three things are essential; it has to be organized, clear, and easy for a potential employer to read. There are numerous sites that offer sample resumes (The Art of Manliness has a great article). You want your resume to stick out, but don’t exaggerate or over-inflate your abilities and skills. Triple-check it for spelling and grammar. Then give it to your friends and family to read. At the same time, ask them to keep their eyes and ears open to any job opening that might be good for you.

Just remember; most of the time a resume is the first impression a potential employee will get of you (unless you’re introduced first). The interview comes second. Make it a good one.

After you’ve applied for a job, contact the company to confirm they received your application. It will also show you’re persistent and thorough, two qualities all employers are looking for.

Lastly, be willing to take jobs you might not necessarily like, but they pay the bills. It is better than unemployment, and you can always apply for other jobs as you work and collect a paycheck.

photo by smemon

Most people are use to going out to bars, going shopping, going to the movies or engaging in other expensive activities for enjoyment. These activities can be a strain on someone’s wallet. Having a good time doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot. With what’s happening to the economy these days, it’s important to be more careful with how we spend our money, but at the same time we don’t need to stop having fun. There are many ways to have fun on a tight budget. Here are ten suggestions.

Invite friends over for a night of indoor games.

Game nights are already very popular these days. You can hold friendly competitions with board games or video games. You can play rock band and compete for the highest score. You can play trivia games or charades. There really is no limit to what kind of games you can come up with. Game nights are cheap and incredibly fun.

Go for a walk or a hike.

Enjoy the outdoors by going for a walk or a hike. Go around the city or walk around a local park. Research hiking trails and ask about what you need to do and bring when going hiking.

Check out free community events.

You can check out the local papers or ask around about free concerts, cultural shows, or festivals in your area. Check if your local community center or the library has free film showings scheduled.

Check out free visits to the zoo or the museum.

Sometimes, zoos and museums hold free admission days. Check out the zoo or museum event schedule and enjoy a free day.

Go to the park.

There are so many things you can do at a park. You can have a picnic and just hang out with friends or family. You can play ball and other games on the grass. You can check out water activities like kayaking or boating. Some may even have community swimming pools.

Simply do some quick research online and find the parks in your area. You’ll be surprised at the number of fun activities available at your local parks.

Join a club or community organization.

Look for local clubs or organizations. Join a theater club or a book club. You’ll meet people who share the same interests as you and you won’t have to spend a lot in the process.

Do some volunteer work.

Volunteering can be fun, too. Check out community projects and charities. Try your hand at volunteering at a soup kitchen, animal shelter or local clinic. Many people find volunteering rewarding and enjoyable.

Schedule movie nights at home.

You don’t need to go out to the cinemas to enjoy a great movie night.

Gather friends or family for a movie night at home. It’s less costly than going out and you don’t have to worry about bothering strangers with your reactions or discussions about the movie.

Movie nights can be a fun time to hang out and just enjoy the company of loved ones.

Schedule potluck dinners with friends or family.

Instead of going out to a restaurant, you can hold potluck dinners with some friends or relatives. You can pick themes to make it interesting. You’ll be able to enjoy any type of food, be it Chinese, Italian or Mexican food, in the comfort of your own home and with great company, too.

Have a karaoke night.

You can be creative and hold your own karaoke nights at home. You can download free karaoke apps or use YouTube.

With a little creativity and initiative, you can find many ways to have fun without spending a lot.

photo by tunisia