Have Fun While Saving Money this Labor Day Weekend

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Aug. 26, 2014 - PRLog -- Labor Day weekend signifies the last days of summer. Americans throughout the country are using this three day weekend as the last hurrah before the reality of fall kicks in. From going on their final summer vacation to taking advantage of the many holiday sales, Americans are planning to spend more this weekend than they did past Labor Day weekends.

In an effort to help consumers keep some money in their pockets this weekend, we at Financial Help Services, Inc. have come up with a list of fun, inexpensive activities perfect for all ages.

1.       Attend a local festival. Local festivals can be tons of fun for the entire family. They feature activities for kids and adults, tasty cuisine, and attention-grabbing entertainment. Most festivals during the holiday weekend are free or very inexpensive to attend. Search your local newspapers, magazines, websites, and blogs to see what festivals will be taking place in your community this weekend.

2.       Make it a beach weekend. If you live along the east or west US coasts, then this is perfect for you. Of course before planning, check your local weather to ensure that you will be greeted by sunny skies. Pack a cooler with sandwiches, drinks, and snacks to keep you and your family from spending unnecessary money. As this is a heavy beach-goer weekend, beaches across the country will get packed fast so arrive early to get that perfect spot for your day of fun.

3.       Visit national or state parks. Spending a day at a national or state park near your home can be quite inexpensive and relaxing. If you are a person that loves the outdoors, take it one step further 0by making it a camping weekend and enjoy nature’s beauty. You can pitch a tent, build a campfire, take a hike, swim in a natural spring, or cycle. The options are limitless.

4.       Throw a potluck barbecue. This is a great opportunity to fire up your grill one last time before summer ends. With each invite that you send to your family and friends, make sure that they bring a dish. Local supermarkets and meat stores have great money-saving deals on ribs, chicken, burgers, and seafood. To save more money, designate four or five people to bring meat, you purchase the charcoal and lighter fluid, and have all other attendees bring sides, drinks, and desserts. Make it a party by pulling out some CDs or your mp3 player. If you will have children in attendance, go to your local dollar store and purchase water guns, blowup pools, water balloons, and fun-sprinklers.

5.       Host a game party. Invite your friends and family over for a day of smartphone and tablet-free fun. Get out those board games, playing cards, and dominos. Have everyone that is attending bring a food or drink item to cut down on your expenses. If you choose to play video games during your party, make sure they are interactive games that bring out the competitive and athletic side in your guests, like “Dance Revolution,” “Wii Sports,” or “American Idol.”

6.       Make it a movie weekend. Spend the weekend getting caught up on your favorite television shows and movies. Go to your local Redbox and rent all the movies you wanted to see for $1 each. If you have a Netflix account, watch all of the movies you want at no additional charge.

These are just a few activities that can help American consumers avoid overspending this upcoming Labor Day weekend. However, if you have already spent more than expected preplanning for your activities this weekend, give us a call at 800-201-3400 to see how our Certified Financial Counselors can help get you back on track.