1. The Library – Not Just for Books

Yes, we all know that a library card grants you access to thousands of books, but did you know that you can also rent movies and CDs? The cost of a library membership is nominal (my local library charges $1 a month), and there is no charge for renting books, movies, or CDs. While your local library may not have all of the latest blockbusters, it has a good assortment of relatively new movies, great indie flicks, and of course all the classics. The library can save you a fortune in comparison to what you would pay to go to the theatre or rent movies, and especially if you were to purchase new books and music.  So save money while brushing up on fine literature, films and music.

2. Get Freebies from Newspapers

Try scanning a newspaper for free giveaways. My husband and I stumbled upon a local newspaper that offers free movie tickets if you phone at the allotted time and correctly answer a question about the particular movie. A few minutes Googling the answer and a quick phone call made us the lucky winners of free movie passes. Over the past couple of years we have saved hundreds of dollars. Other freebies include sporting event tickets and passes to local festivals.

3. Brown Bag it

I am guilty of this. I’m often too tired (or lazy) to pack a lunch. But I believe this is the single largest frivolous expense for many people. A typical lunch with a drink costs approximately $8-$10. Assuming you work 5 days a week, you could be draining $80-$100 a week on food! Even if you don’t end up packing a lunch and making your own coffee every morning, aim to do it at least twice a week. Your wallet will thank you.

4. Sleuth out the Specials

Many restaurants and grocery stores offer discounts on certain days of the week such as 10-15% off on “grocery day” or half off selected dishes at restaurants. While these savings may seem minimal they add up over time. You won’t feel strapped for cash if you are able to affordably stock-up and eat a wide assortment of food!

5. Fun (and Cheap) Dates

Spice up your social and love life with inexpensive and imaginative outings. Instead of the usual dinner and a movie, why not try meeting up for breakfast, lunch or coffee? Lunch menus often serve similar dishes as dinner but at a fraction of the cost. Here are a few budget-friendly ideas: cook dinner or bake cookies together, rent a movie (from the library of course), window shop, check out local bands, go skating, or plan a picnic.

Check out my post on 13 Good Cheap Date Ideas.

6. Be a Savvy Shopper

A good rule to abide by is to avoid buying things at full price. There are many options available to buy discounted goods for those who are patient. If you are looking for electronics such as laptops or music players, wait for the back-to-school sales in the summer or the clearances at the end of the year. For clothing, there are so many outlets that offer brand names for less. If all else fails there is always eBay. I was hesitant at first to try out the online auction giant, but I have not looked back since. The brand new BCBG dress I purchased for $60 that regularly retails for $200 made me an eBayer for life.

7. Automated Savings

Are you a happy-go-lucky spender? Saving money each pay cheque won’t hurt nearly as much if it’s a habit. Try setting up automatic withdrawals from your chequing account to a savings account each pay period for a pre-determined amount. You’ll be able to shop guilt-free after you’ve deposited your savings for the period.

8. Green Transportation

The cost to own and maintain a car is skyrocketing and is no longer feasible for many people. Try saving money and reducing your carbon footprint by carpooling, walking, biking or taking public transportation. As someone who used to detest taking the bus to work, I found it was a great place to catch up on sleep and happens to be where I came up with a lot of ideas for articles.

9. Question Every Purchase

Each time you’re tempted to buy that cute shirt or new CD, ask yourself if you really need or want it. Will you still like what you’re about to purchase 6 months from now? A year from now? With clothing I try to assign a dollar value for each time I would reasonably wear something. For example, a classic white button-up shirt for $30 has more “wear value” than a trendy tank top for the same price. If I assigned a wear value of $1/per wear, I could reasonably wear the white shirt 30 times or more whereas the trendy tank might go out of style after only 5 “wears.”

10. Be a Smart Host

If you enjoy entertaining friends and family, you don’t need to blow your budget to throw a good party. Have a potluck or serve hors d’oeuvres instead of a full-fledged dinner party. Alcohol is often the priciest item; try making your own sangria. Simply select a few inexpensive bottles of a light-bodied red or white wine, add apple slices, chill and serve in a decanter. This is much cheaper than purchasing an assortment of booze and adds a touch of class to your party. Remember that your friends and family are there to mingle and have fun—as long as some basic refreshments are provided, most people won’t think twice about the food or drinks.

Check out some cheap date ideas (in no particular order)—good for new and mature couples. Having fun does not mean you need to blow your whole budget; it just requires some creativity. You can thank me later.

1. Have a picnic in the park. Breathe in some fresh air, feel the sunshine warm your face and take in the scenery. Pack some sandwiches, a bottle of wine and enjoy each other’s company. One of my favourite things to do in a park is to blow bubbles—a highly underrated activity, but one of life’s simple pleasures.
2. Cook a meal together. Instead of going out for an extravagant meal, why not cook (or at least try to cook) a gourmet meal in the comfort of your home? Play some soothing music, and cut, dice, and simmer until your delectable concoction is ready to eat. Set the mood by using a table cloth, some fresh cut flowers from your garden and candles.
3. Go in-line skating or biking. Get some exercise with your special someone and explore the trails in your neighbourhood. Stop off at the corner store for a refreshing slush or ice cream.
4. Watch movies the budget-conscious way. While renting movies at your local movie store is still cheaper than paying full price at a theatre, there are still cheaper options. Your local library likely has a whole collection of new and classic movies that you can rent for free with a library membership. Or wait until the movie you want to see hits the cheapie theatres.
5. Visit your local farmers’ market. A great way to take a leisurely stroll and people-watch, a farmers’ market provides an enticing array of sights, smells and sounds. Snack on some kettle-cooked popcorn and pick out some fresh produce for your next meal while walking hand-in-hand with your loved one.
6. Take a mini road trip. Close your eyes and point to a place on your local map; this is your destination for the day. Fuel up, pack some snacks and enjoy the journey. A road trip brings out the spontaneity and adventure you might need to spark up the relationship.
7. Enjoy breakfast, coffee, or lunch. Dinner is by far the most expensive meal when dining out, so try to save a few dollars by going out for breakfast, coffee or lunch instead. A breakfast/coffee/lunch date allows you to enjoy the daylight hours together. Or if your date is going badly, it provides an excuse to leave early as in, “Oh, I have some errands I need to run.”
8. Volunteer at a local charity or event. Not only will karma thank you for volunteering your time for a good cause, a volunteer date is a good ice-breaker (i.e. none of the awkward silences typical of a dinner date) if this is a new relationship as you will be focusing on a task. Volunteering is also a great way to meet new people.
9. Build or make something. Whatever project you decide to tackle, make sure the two of you are both participants. Whether you decide to build a simple birdhouse, bake cookies, or paint a room, the point is to have fun together while working towards a common goal. Enroll in some DIY classes at your local hardware store to kick-start your project or give you some ideas.
10. Go to the zoo. Unless you have little ones at home, you likely haven’t gone to the zoo for many moons. A visit to the zoo will bring out the little kid in you and provide an excuse to admire the pretty animals and eat cotton candy.
11. Go for a walk. On the beach, on trails, or in your neighbourhood, walking is an excellent way to get some fresh air and exercise. Walking makes you slow down and notice things that you normally would be oblivious to. Some of my best conversations were had during walks.
12. Play masseuse for an hour or two. Nothing like some tender loving care to re-kindle an old romance, or provide an excuse to put your paws on each other for new lovers. Purchase some inexpensive massage oil and work your magic. Make sure you both are comfortable and respect each other’s limits.
13. Watch the stars. Star-gazing is one of the most romantic things to do. You, your sweetheart, and a blanket in the dark. Bring a bottle of wine for some extra fun.

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This post is featured on FIRE Finance.