Everyone is excited for summer’s activities and Chicago’s weather to warm up, but spending more time outside does not have to mean spending more money! Checkexpress provides the community with financial services from bill payment, auto license, check cashing and SecureCheck Direct Deposit. We love helping our customers keep money in their wallet and smiles on their faces! 😊
Try these money saving tips while having fun with your family and friends… Guaranteed you’ll have a blast without the financial guilt!
Skip the Concession Stand & Bring Your Own Snacks
If you’re planning to be out of the house all day, try to plan your meals accordingly. Restaurants will add up and get expensive if you’re finding yourself eating out for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Instead, pack your lunch and bring a snack! It’s understandable to want to grab a bite to eat at your favorite restaurant or coffee shop; but if you want to avoid overspending and overindulging, plan out your meals for the day. Avoid carelessly throwing away $8 on a froyo and prepare a small insulated lunch bag or cooler with chilled or frozen fruit cubes, handy crunchy snacks like granola or veggie sticks instead. Even toss in some healthy refreshing beverages!
Another great way to save money and still enjoy a summer day is to plan a meal to savor outdoors. Picnics are great for family fun, catching up with friends or for a special date! If you’re planning to visit a major attraction this summer, think ahead and do your homework. Many major tourist attractions allow you to bring in your own food. Evaluate parking fees versus ride-hailing services such as Uber or Lyft and pack your snacks! Not only is this the healthier option, but you can also save significant money by avoiding the costs of deep-friend concessions and sugary beverages.
Attend Local Concerts & Events
Whether you’re visiting a new city or bored at home on the weekend – you want to find something fun to do! You’d be surprised by all the free and low cost things there are to do around your city. You can start by searching Facebook events. Facebook allows you to search events happening in cities near you. You can search by city, date, family friendly, or categories like art, dance, comedy and more!
Find fun things to do in your local area by downloading an event app. These apps are also great for helping you discover concerts, expos, and more.
Choose Chicago is a great place to start when trying to plan the perfect weekend or make last minute plans. Special events, shows, and exhibits fill every minute of every day in Chicago, which is one of the many reasons the city is ranked as a world-class destination. From festivals, sports events and live music to museum exhibits, theatrical performances, and mind-blowing tours, you might have trouble finding time to sleep!
Plan a DIY Day
Pinterest is a great place to start for any DIY (do it yourself) project! Self-care is important—but going to spas and getting pedicures, massages, etc. do really add up. Allow yourself a specific budget to spend on these pamperings; then use blogs and apps like Pinterest to find at-home beauty treatments to help you save money. Often you can find a DIY organic option using common household or kitchen products.
For more money saving tips check out this article!
BONUS TIPS:
Check out two of our previous blogs to learn more about saving money & budgeting tips!
