celebrate on a budget

4 Ways Celebrate This Memorial Day Weekend on a Budget

Memorial Day weekend is a time when people traditionally take a much-needed break. Many will travel to visit family and friends, while others will simply enjoy some rest and relaxation closer to home. Regardless of how you plan to kick off the summer season, it can get expensive, and not everyone has the money for it. Even staying home and hosting a barbecue in the backyard can end up costing you a pretty penny.

If you are short on cash for the official kickoff to summer, there is no need to worry. There are plenty of ways to have lots of fun on a budget over the Memorial Day weekend. Check out these simple and economical ways to rest, relax and have fun without breaking the bank.

Potluck

Memorial Day is a tricky holiday because unlike other family-oriented celebrations like Christmas or a birthday party, people tend to be more comfortable with inviting themselves over or bringing along a few unexpected guests. If you are hosting, this can leave you unprepared to accommodate everyone, especially when it comes to food and beverages.

Instead of trying to anticipate every party crasher or tag along, why not make the price of admission a contribution to the party spread by making your celebration a potluck? If you feel like getting specific, you can assign a specific item for each of your guests to bring, like soda, chips, dessert, etc. It’ll cut down on your costs and make everyone just a little more invested in making the party a success.

Local Event

Don’t want to pay for a vacation, but still want to get out of the house? Almost every city throws some kind of local event for Memorial Day, ranging from fairs to cookouts to parades. By the end of May, the temperatures have usually warmed up enough that you can enjoy heading out to these fun and free events to mingle with your friends and neighbors in the community. 

memorial day on a budgetStaycation

If getting out of the house and socializing with the masses isn’t your idea of a restful or relaxing vacation, then there is certainly no need to force the fun. Stay indoors for the weekend and read that book you’ve been looking forward to or binge watch that TV series you’ve been meaning to check out. Staycations are about doing what you want on your terms, not someone else’s.

Care Package

While a lot of people see Memorial Day weekend as a chance to relax, it’s worth thinking about what the holiday is actually about: those who have fallen in the line of duty. In keeping with that, use some of the money you would’ve spent going out of state or throwing a party to send a care package to a deployed active service member. Getting a package will brighten their day and remind them that they are appreciated and an important member of the country they’re protecting.

Memorial Day Savings

Saving money during the Memorial Day weekend is really about changing your mindset. If you’re able to do that, a whole world of options and ideas will open up to you.

Even with these tips, are you having trouble making ends meet? If so, you may want to think about taking out a payday loan. Payday loans use can provide you with fast cash amounts upwards to $255. In as little as 30 minutes you could have the cash you need to handle your financial challenges and truly enjoy your Memorial Day.

Note: The content provided in this article is only for informational purposes, and you should contact your financial advisor about your specific financial situation.

June Mckaig

June Mckaig writes articles on finance and budgeting, hoping to provide insight amidst the overwhelming crowds of information on the internet. She feels that with all this accessibility comes a lot of false data, and she would like to contribute astute, helpful input that she knows can help others. If you would like to learn more about June's research, read more here.