Save more MONEY!According to Stats Can, the average British Columbian household spent $2693 at restaurants in 2017. Although this is the most recent information available, one has to wonder if that number has increased in the past couple of years.
That is approximately $225 a month at restaurants. Does that seem in line with what your family spends on eating out each month? In the Fraser Valley, $225 doesn't go very far when feeding a family. So what do we do? Ramit Sethi, author of "I Will Teach You to Be Rich", says that we don't have to give up what we love for financial freedom. He explains how people tend to focus on cutting out $3 problems (like lattes) instead of dealing with big dollar items that could really make an impact on your financial outlook. I like this because it gives you permission to spend your money on the things that make you really happy, and cut the stuff that doesn't do much for you either way. In fact, it's #1 in his "10 Rules for a Rich Life". Ramit says: "A Rich Life means you can spend extravagantly on the things you love as long as you cut costs mercilessly on the things you don't." To me, someone who has spent hours of her life making budget, after budget with her husband (to no avail), this sounds awesome. It fits in nicely with the "Pay Yourself First" idea that we adopted a few years back, after realizing that budgets just seemed like a set up for failure. But don't forget that you still have to have enough money to pay your expenses, stay out of debt, and put money aside for the future (all of which he makes very clear in his book). The money you have left over you get to spend on the things that make you happy. But what if after all that there isn't much left? #4 says: "There's a limit to how much you can cut, but no limit to how much you can earn." The hard part is deciding what you actually love, and what you are just used to having or doing. It is tough to be honest about what we think we need, and what we actually need. I don't think Ramit would like to hear this. I think he'd say I was making excuses, and that there is almost always more you can do to save your money. And honestly, he'd be right. I could spend less on my house, and my husband could spend less on Amazon (please tell me if you know how to make that happen!), and if I'm being really honest we could spend less on wine...but we really love those things! No problem, then just earn more money. Ramit puts a strong emphasis on realizing your earnings potential, and he helps gives lots of practical help in his book. But what if you are maxed out on your earnings (for now), and have a positive monthly cashflow, but spending extravagantly on the things you love would mean building credit card debt? After spending my twenties figuring out how to manage credit the hard way, I am not going back. (FYI Ramit gives great advice on how to get out of debt in his book-he even tells you what to say, word for word, to get a lower interest rate. I could have used this book earlier!) So as a foodie who lives in one of the most expensive places in Canada, and someone who desperately wants to eat all the best food, at all the nicest places, I have to be realistic with my finances. While I'm working on building my Rich Life, I'm not quite there...yet. What about you? If you are in the same boat, that's ok! We can help each other get to our Rich Life faster by sharing the things that are working for us. After all, the fun is in the journey...if we find ways to make the journey fun! That is why I've fallen in LOVE with Happy Hours (you may have noticed). They allow me to go out to great restaurants for a fraction of the cost. All I have to do is adjust my schedule, which is a small sacrifice I am willing to make in order to get to eat out 2-4 times in a month with the same amount of money I would have spent on a single outing.
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Being busy working moms, keeping regular dates with our husbands isn't easy. Fun dates can be expensive, making going out on a regular basis unrealistic, but we're realizing it's something we need to be more mindful of if we want to model healthy, happy marriages to our kids. So to keep us on track, we came up with a bucket list of cheap dates in the Fraser Valley. Having specific date ideas in place, that won't break the bank, makes it a lot easier to schedule one-on-one time. We hope you'll find some inspiration in these affordable and fun date ideas. Which one would you do first? 1. Backyard VineyardsThis place is a gem in the Fraser Valley, and they have a happy hour! Pack your own picnic, grab a glass of wine or a beer on discount, and enjoy the beautiful, serene atmosphere.
You can sit inside, but outside is where it's at. There are picnic tables with umbrellas on the lawn, a large gazebo with tables, or bring a picnic blanket and just relax away from everyone. It is the perfect setting for a romantic date. They also have lots of fun stuff going on like board game nights, live music, markets, and more. Check out their website for upcoming events!
Whether you're shopping for yourself or trying to find a meaningful baby shower gift, you're in the right place. Give the gift of freedom with this portable high chair.
As new parents, we suddenly weren't sure if we'd be welcome in breweries, wineries, restaurants, or pubs with our kid, or even if we should be going to some of these places with our baby. But like all parents, we needed time out of the house where we could feel "human" and connect over good food and drinks in a fun atmosphere. The truth is, we aren't welcome at ALL the same places we used to go, and that's been a hard pill to swallow. Have you had a hard time with this too? Happy Hours may be the last thing you think of when considering where to take your family out to eat. If you haven't been before you might easily think one, or all of these things:
But you'd be wrong! Sure, Happy Hours may not be the first thing to come to mind when thinking about a family meal, but we want to prove to you that family friendly restaurants come in all shapes and sizes. It may be hard to believe, but Happy Hours can be extremely family friendly, and by doing a bit of research, a bit of prep, and going on the right days and times, your family can eat out at exciting and delicious restaurants, and pubs while saving money! Keep reading for 10 reasons you should start taking a "Happy Hour" with your family! |
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