By Angela Moore
For a lot of us, times feel tough. The economy, life status changes, personal obligations, unexpected issues and other challenges have caused a lot of us a bit of chaos and cost us even more money.
In spite of, and because of all of that has gone on in life, life still goes on and must be lived with healthy doses of rest and relaxation. We need to know how to make the most of what we have and take time to be revived to handle what we have and be made ready for things to get better. I like to call that living life bigger on a budget.
So how do you do it? How do you live life bigger on a budget? I’m glad you asked.
Try out these helpful tips:
· Vacation during the off-season. Things are always less expensive during the “down time” of travel and lodging.
· Shop during the off-season. Items are always less expensive when they aren’t in season. Buy now. Wear later.
· Buy in bulk with others. Share with family or friends from what each has purchased so that each has what each needs for less.
· Pay up. When times are more plenteous pay extra on bills and other expenses.
· Plan group trips to surrounding outlet malls. It can be fun and you can be frugal at the same time.
· Know the deal. Utilize Groupons, coupons, discounts, happy hour specials, “kids eat free days” and BOGO deals.
· Share what you have. Use seasons of financial revitalization to share meals with family members, co-workers and friends. You’d be surprised. A big pot of spaghetti and garlic bread can go a long way.
· Eat out to take home. When dining out, only eat meals that guarantee leftovers for the next day.
· Take lunch and make it tasty. One way to be the lunchtime meals out monster is to make sure what you bring from home is delish!
· Find out what’s free. Take advantage of free concerts, festivals, seminars and workshops.
· Polish it up. Get a matching drug store brand of your favorite salon polish to use as a touch-up in between visits for your manicure and pedicure.
· Ask for help. Don’t wait too late to ask for help.
· Learn to say NO. If you can’t afford it, don’t want it, or don’t need it just say NO.
· Volunteer. Giving back is the best way to take your mind off of what you don’t have to help someone who has less.
Angela Scott Moore has sported many hats in her lifetime. She’s a former broadcast anchor/reporter/producer, a trained motivational speaker, fundraiser and marketing/PR expert. She spent nine years as a pastor’s wife working in full-time ministry before than union ended in divorce. A majority of her time in ministry was spent empowering women and girls. She’s an avid inspirational blogger and also a philanthropic community supporter who has served with more than 25 local and national organizations over her 15+ year professional career. Currently she’s working in the fields of Social Justice and Human Resources and operates the blossoming, full-service events planning venture Amazing Kreations with her business partner, offering media and event planning assistance at low or no cost to small organizations and businesses. Taking lessons learned from each phase of her ever-evolving life, Angela’s now donning the hat of a single woman on a single mission to use spoken and written words to motivate others to “thrive while they survive.”
Contact Angela Scott Moore about speaking engagements at amazingkreations2@gmail.com, follow her blog at www.angelamooreblog.wordpress.com, on twitter at @AngelaMMoore316 or check out her facebook page for people experiencing separation or divorce at I’m More Than What Happened.
