budgetingcategorytwo

In your case your major stress comes from frustration. You are meeting your obligations and that makes
you feel good, but there just isn't enough for events or entertainment. It really doesn't give you anything to
look forward to.

Step #1

Draft up an entertainment plan:

Determine what are the entertainment needs. The ideal plan is to be able to meet each family members needs individually and maybe once a month as a family.

According to your category thats probably not something you want to strive for just yet. So have a family meeting and determine an event that everyone would enjoy.

Next determine the cost of this event, and this will give you the amount you need to work towards to include in your budget.

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Step#2

Look At The Options

Now you know the amount you will require, take a look again at some of the options.

If at your family meeting it was decided to have a pizza night out then to the movies, lets say this is going to cost a $100.

You and your family decide, do you want to spend this $100. All at once only once a month. Or spend 1/2 twice a month.
If you make this a family decision, it will be much easier for you to stick to your budget because everybody's happy, afterall they were part of the decision.

Step#3

Now to get the money

-consider what you are currently doing, - in some months you get 5 weeks which means an extra weeks pay. Hopefully this is not required to meet your monthly budget. Put this away to cover the monthly event. Stash it where it won't get dipped into.

-take a look at the overall montly expenses and see if you can glean the money from there. For example what about paying $5. Less on the principal of some of your bills. If you have a declining monthly payment, then plan on the same amount in your budget ,but put the difference away.

-have a tighten the belt night. Instead of having a big meal, plan on soup and salad, the few dollars extra you save from the big meal can go into the entertainment fund.

If the possibility exists for you to do a few hours overtime each week then make this a family project where the others help out at home so you aren't extra burdened,

Step #4

Growing With Your Budget
As time progresses and your budget become more flexible, you can increase your entertainment budget

Don't do this at the expense of dropping your budget though. Hopefully by now everyone has
become accustomed to being on a budget and its not quite so painful.

Playing On line bingo can be an inexpensive form of entertainment IF you stick to your budget. Some will offer bonus incentives and you can determine if their minimum deposit requirements fit into your budget.