Does the winter blues have you down? March is the perfect time to do something fun, and today we’ll talk about why it’s okay to spend some mad money in March!
Like what you heard? Go ahead and share on your social media! Visit trianglecu.org to learn more about how we can serve you and don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Transcript:
Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast.
If you’re like me, by March you have recuperated from the holidays—not so much because you went into debt buying presents, but you just got tired of buying things. I go into hibernation mode in January because that’s what most of us do in New England. February is my finance month and it’s short, so it doesn’t really count, and then there’s March—my mad money month!
March is when you give yourself permission to spend a little money to celebrate the fact that you survived another winter! I definitely recommend you budget for anything fun that you have planned, but if you haven’t budgeted or don’t have the money right now, there is still plenty of free stuff to do—you just have to look a little harder for it.
Here are my top three recommendations for March—all with a specific dollar allocation. I’ll start with the cheapest and free item first, then we’ll go up from there.
At no dollar signs (meaning it’s free) you can (drumroll) take a walk on the beach with a picnic from whatever you have in your fridge. Ok, now I know some listeners don’t have a beach nearby so to you I say, “it’s time to move.” Actually, that might not be an option, so you’ll have to find another amazing destination: like a lake or park, somewhere cool nearby. The point is: it’s time to get out of the house and enjoy the great outdoors. I live about 45 minutes from the beach, so it does take some planning to get there, but I love the beach this time of year. No crowds, no issues parking, no problems! My only recommendation is to check the weather and pick a warm day—and not a windy day (after all, you want to be able to enjoy it). Bring a picnic basket—whatever you have from the fridge and have a good time!
Ok, next is $ sign so this is not free, but affordable. This is an activity that will cost somewhere between $10 - $25 per person. So, what can you afford to do in that price range? A ton! You can go to the movies, a local see-science museum, a gallery, or dinner out with some friends. Now, the key is: if you have a family, you can’t take the whole family out for $20 so negotiate with your partner and have him/her watch the kids and you go out with your friends for some social time.
Next is $$ signs, so this is a little more expensive—maybe in the $25 - $50 range. At this point, there’s even more to do, like attending a comedy night, local play, an escape room. Again, at this price point, it won’t be a family adventure, but it will be good for YOU to get out the house and enjoy some friend time.
So, here’s my point. There is a ton of stuff to do, and you don’t have to break the bank to do it. So often we get caught up in budget-budget-budget, but you have to make room in the budget and take time out of your busy schedule to have some fun. There is no better time to do that than March! As soon as this podcast is over, make a note to text 3-4 friends and schedule some fun activity within the next couple of weeks. Oh, and if you’re having a brain block on what to do, check Groupon for ideas and discounts on all the fun stuff that is happening near you—you might be inspired to try something new and save some cash doing it.
Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed this episode—after all, I encouraged you to get out of the house and spend some money! If you like what you’ve heard, we’d like to hear from you about thoughts on this show or maybe you have some ideas on other topics we should cover, email us at tcupodcast@trianglecu.org. Be sure to subscribe to the Making Money Personal podcast for our full episodes and weekly Money Tips wherever you listen to podcasts and follow us on Facebook for more great content.
Thank you to our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union, and thank you, as always, for listening.
Have a great day everyone!
How to Use a Home Equity for College Costs - Money Tip Tuesday
What is a 401K Match? - Money Tip Tuesday
Tips to Avoid Wasting Money - Money Tip Tuesday
E35: Strategies for Finding A Home in this Market - Tim Morgan, Real Estate Broker
Fun & Local Summer Activities for the Family - Money Tip Tuesday
What You Should Know about P2P Payment Apps - Money Tip Tuesday
Financial Freedom: Your Path to Debt Free Living - Webinar Recording
Fraud Prevention Tip - Common Cybersecurity Myths - Money Tip Tuesday
Top Tips for the First Year of Homeownership - Money Tip Tuesday
What's Passive Income? - Money Tip Tuesday
E34: Strategies for College Funding and Planning - Becky MacLennan
Steps to Track Your Net Worth - Money Tip Tuesday
Fraud Protection: Tips to Keep Your Organization Safe - Money Tip Tuesday
How do Changes in the Economy Affect Your Wallet? - Panel Discussion
The Costs of Pet Ownership - Money Tip Tuesday
What I Wish I Knew About Money at 18 - Money Tip Tuesday
E33: Strategies to Build Credit - Rosie Gagne, Loan Officer
What's the Difference Between a Credit Union and a Bank - Money Tip Tuesday
What NOT to do With a Suspicious Email - Money Tip Tuesday
10 Home Improvement Projects for 2021 - Money Tip Tuesday
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Navigating Life After 40
Teaching Learning Leading K-12
Regenerative Skills
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
The Mel Robbins Podcast