Going Out to Events with the Kids

Should we stay or should we go?  That was the question on my mind the morning of the annual event my kids look forward to each year. I knew going out to events with the kids would mean spending money we didn’t really need to spend. 

Going out to events with kids

Even though our little family is focused on paying off our debts as quickly as possible. We still want to enjoy life and cherish our journey. We want to create lasting memories with our kids and experience fun outings together like going out to events with the kids.

Why Go

Yes, staying home and skipping the event would have been the easier choice. However, there were several compelling reasons why we should attend this annual event.

  1. It’s a cultural event that takes place only once a year in our city. And we want to immerse our children in our culture as much as we can.
  2. Our children look forward to this cultural event each year. As long as they want to go, I’m more than happy to take them to experience the lively cultural atmosphere.
  3. It’s an event we all enjoy. Creating fun memories together as a family. It’s wonderful to build on our past experiences. Since attending this annual cultural event has become our own little family tradition.
  4. Entry is free to the event. You can also enjoy all the music and entertainment at no cost.
  5. We love our food! For the past few months, we’ve been working hard to cut back on takeaway spending. So, attending the event feels like a well-deserved reward. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy some of our favorite dishes from our culture.

The Event

We made it clear to our children that if they wanted to attend the event, they would need to take some money from their bank accounts since we hadn’t budgeted for it. 

So, we set a budget for the event and made sure to have cash on hand before we left. Discussing our spending in advance helped us all understand what to expect. Our kids knew exactly how much they could spend. So, instead of constantly saying, “I want this” or “I want that,” they focused on the prices of things they liked. They calculated whether they had enough money and figured out how much they’d have left if they spent it.

It was enlightening to watch my children navigate this. As it allowed them to learn more about money. Spending their own money feels very different than spending Mum and Dad’s.

Make A Plan

Here are some money-saving tips to consider when your planning on going out to events with the kids:

  1. Set a budget – Determine a budget for how much you plan to spend at the event you’re attending.
  2. Agreement – Talk to your children about the budget and explain why you’ve set that amount. Ensuring everyone understands and agrees before heading to the event.
  3. Carry Cash -Withdraw the cash from the bank so you have your budget in hand. If your children are old enough, let them carry their own money. This empowers them to make their own spending decisions. Once they run out of cash, they’ll realize it’s all been spent.
  4. Window Shop – Take your time to explore and encourage your children to window shop. Letting them see what’s available at the event to enjoy.
  5. Take Your Time – Don’t rush. Encourage your children to avoid spending all their money at once. Take the time to explore what’s available so they can choose what they truly want to buy.
  6. Enjoy – Once you’ve taken the time to explore and window shop and you’ve made your decisions on what you really want – Enjoy!
  7. Take Photos – I’m a big fan of taking photos and capturing memories. Don’t forget to snap some pictures!
  8. Be Aware – Carrying cash helps you stay aware of your spending since you can see it physically. Keep an eye on when your money is running low. Make sure your children are aware as well. If they’re holding their own cash, they’ll likely be more mindful of it too.
  9. Exit Plan – Have a plan for what you’ll do once your budget runs out. Whether it means hanging out without spending more or leaving the event early when your funds run out. It’s good to have a strategy in place.
  10. Reflect – After the event, take some time to reflect on how it went. Consider what went well and what could be improved. Discuss your insights and what your children learned. So, that when the next event comes around. You’ll be even better prepared.

Looking back on the event, I know we made the right choice to go. The kids were so excited to share everything that happened with their Dad, who unfortunately couldn’t make it because of work. The kids were also eager for their Dad to try all the delicious food we brought home. Even though we’re focused on paying off our debts as quickly as possible. It’s these kinds of memories we want to create with our children. We hope they will carry on these cultural traditions when they grow up and start families of their own.

Summary

Be prepared when going out to events with the kids. Especially if you’re trying to cut back on spending. You can still have a great time without overspending. Set a budget for yourself and create an exit plan for when you reach that limit. Plan ahead for what you’ll do once your funds run out. This way, you can fully enjoy the event while sticking to your budget.

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