Saving money on public holidays (easter special)
Easter is early this year, which has started a lot of us thinking about how we’re going to spend our time off. This thought often leads to the next- how are we going to afford the time off? Public holidays involve outings, food, entertainment.
In a word, public holidays involve costs.
But, as the song says, it doesn’t have to be that way. A public holiday can be an inexpensive way to enjoy yourself and appreciate the break from the nine to five.
Here are some ideas:
House swap
Getting out of town for a couple of days is always appealing, but it doesn’t come cheap. If you feel the need to renew and revive, then why not discuss house-swapping with friends for the three or four day break? That way you can get a break from routine and spend some time in a new place, without having to spend any thing more than your usual weekly budget.
House swapping means you can cook at home, so there are no extra costs associated with food. A cappuccino or a cheeky beer at the local pub won’t break the bank, and it will give you a taste of a different place.
Volunteer
The excellent thing about public holidays is that there are usually big events, and volunteering at one may be just the thing. It usually garners you free entry into the event or extra benefits, which can end up saving you a lot of money. Check out the Easter Show over Easter, or Big Day Out for Australia Day.
Volunteering and meeting new people is a great way to experience an event, and festivals are often held over long weekends. Prepare for next year, and apply to volunteer with Bluesfest or the National Folk Festival over Easter. They even throw in camping, making your costs next to nothing.
Work
This may seem obvious but, with time and a half on public holidays, working during a public holiday is the best saving you can do. Being paid that extra bit of cash might be enough to kickstart your credit card repayments or cover your next mobile phone bill. Of course, not all jobs remain open on pubic holidays but if you’re lucky enough to work in an industry that never rests, make sure to take advantage of the public holiday shifts.
Celebrate at home
Instead of going out for a day’s entertainment, why not host a pot-luck celebration party? Like the Triple J Hottest 100 parties that pepper the country on Australia Day, holding backyard barbeques where everyone brings a plate is cheap and always a whole lot of laughs. Or keep it intimate, and invite your three best friends over to watch movies or the fireworks. Its cheap, and always a winner.
Check out what’s on offer
The great thing about public holidays is that the City of Sydney always feels as if it needs to provide a free event to entertain the masses. Check out what events your local council is putting on- undoubtedly one of them will be free, and with a picnic lunch, you’ll be set to have a wonderfully cheap day.
New Years Day and Australia Day are usually the ones that attract the most attention (poor Labour Day, sometime in October, is consistently neglected), and some of the free events have become regular highlights on the social calender.
What do you plan to do with your public holiday, and how will you do it cheaply?
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