Light the sparklers and fire up the grill, the fabulous 4th of July is on its way. It’s a great time of the year to celebrate so many things – our nation, our family, our friends, summertime fun. But if we’re not careful, paychecks can go up in flames along with the fireworks. Here are some practical ideas for a Frugal 4th of July that’s high on fun but low on cost.
Decorate with Foods
Can I be boldly honest with you? I LOVE holidays. Big holidays, small holidays, faith based holidays, birthdays and anniversaries – if there’s a reason to celebrate, I’m all in. However, decor for holidays can both cost a small fortune and leave you with the task of storing it from year to year, or worse throwing it away the day after the festive fun is over. Instead of buying lots of disposable decor or adding one more thing to your already bulging closet, choose to decorate with food. In the past, we’ve made Uncle Sam Punch which is easy and magic for the kiddos. But you can also buy blueberries and strawberries to layer in parfait dishes or simply purchase some red, white, and blue sprinkles and go crazy on vanilla ice cream. Deck your table with patriotic fare that doubles and decor and doubly delights your guests with yum.
Set a Fireworks Budget or Skip it Altogether
Firework displays and tents always make me giggle. On what other holiday do we spend hard earned dollars to literally watch it all go up in smoke? With the Buy 1, Get 5 Free deals, we often think we’re saving big when it comes to enjoying the most explosive tradition of the 4th. However, those deals are bait to lure you into the store and then buy out the entire place, literally blowing your budget sky high. So if you plan on purchasing fireworks this year, bring cash only with you and stick to the budget. Or instead, choose to enjoy a professional display and skip the purchase altogether.
Set a Budget for Festival Food
Admit it. You never feel that great after coming home when you’ve eaten two corn dogs, an elephant ear, and a lemon shakeup the size of your head. If you can, avoid the festival food altogether. But if you want to splurge a little, at least set a cash budget so that you don’t over-do it physically or financially. Pack a picnic basket with your favorites or at a minimum bring some bottled water with you so that you don’t end up spending more than necessary.
Avoid the Dollar Section & Check Your Closet
There are so many kitschy items that can lure us into unnecessary purchases during any holiday. They’ll catch your eye on the end cap or lure you into the dollar section of the store. It’s probably a good idea to avoid these areas this week if you can. After all, if you don’t know what you’re missing you won’t spend the extra dollars. Or if you do plan on making a few festive purchases, be sure you dig through your closet first. See if you have hats or necklaces or glow in the dark items from years past that you haven’t used before. You may discover that you already have the perfect items for the parade or party hiding in your own drawers and baskets.
Buy Solid Red
Look for red in plates, napkins, reusable kitchen items, t-shirts, hair ties, and more. While red, white, and blue can be used for a couple of other holidays (Memorial Day and Labor Day), red items can be used for almost every theme and holiday imaginable. So if you do make purchases, think about items that you can use throughout the year instead of those you’re looking to pitch on July 5th.
You don’t have to be a holiday humbug. You can still enjoy the terrific traditions and the fabulous fun. But you don’t have to overspend either. Get your creative juices flowing and and have a great time celebrating the season buying and spending less this 4th of July!
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out The Debt Free Devotional
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