New Years Resolutions – 7 Inexpensive Ways To Have More Fun This Year

The whole ‘recession’ and ‘fiscal cliff’ thing has made us a bit squeamish with our money.  Yet that’s no reason to give up on fun!  If you spent 2012 tightening the belt and skipping out on happy occasions, then spend 2013 keeping the belt tight while finding more ways to enjoy yourself.

When it comes to making exciting New Years Resolutions, Flutter FETTI® has it down pat.  Here are 7 inexpensive and pragmatic approaches to having more fun this year:

Resolution #1 – Spend more outdoor time with family and friends

Two decades after the World Wide Web was invented, we are all practically addicted to the Internet.  We may think we’re having fun online, but we’re really just wasting time and being anti-social.  Shut off the computer and the phone and get outside with your closest friends and family.  Hike to a waterfall, swim at a nearby lake, ski at a resort, or just walk through the woods.  The fresh air will feel SO good!

Resolution #2 – Throw a theme party at your home

Find something in your closet that you never wear – an old 80s getup, a cowboy-style vest, a Hawaiian shirt – and use that as inspiration for a party at your own house.  Then set up your own music list, pour out some snacks, pick up a few 6” Flutter Flickers (at less than $2 per piece), and make your own awesome punch to keep the party cost at a minimum.  Why throw a party?  If you invite someone to you house, they’ll be more likely to invite you to theirs!

Resolution #3 – Attend a local concert

Big-name bands equate to plus-sized prices.  Attend a local concert where you’ll discover lower ticket prices, smaller venues, and a more dedicated crowd.  Local bands are more likely to get intimate with the crowd (i.e. interacting more) and you might even discover some music you love… or someone to love the music with.

Resolutions #4 – Plan a (relatively free) date in the city

Okay, tolls, parking, gas, and babysitters often take up a big chunk of your date night budget.  But you can still get out to the city and have a hot date on the cheap while keeping it classy.  Have a picnic in the park, grab coffee at the trendy new café, visit a museum exhibit, browse the most expensive stores (and just browse), take photos at all the city’s famous monuments, or discover a new neighborhood.

Resolution #5 – Host a potluck summer barbecue

It doesn’t have to be Labor Day to turn on the grill.  Pick any nice weekend to get the charcoal burning, chill the beers, and invite your friends over.  If you make it a potluck barbecue, your friends will chip in to make potato salads, pick up meat, and supply drinks, making your own bill relatively low.  Outdoor activities like Frisbee golf are free.  And if you want some entertainment on the 4^th of July, 14″ FireCracklers Confetti “Snappers” are a less expensive alternative to fireworks!

Resolution #6 – Travel somewhere completely new by car or train

Skip the hassle of flights and do a proper road trip (or rail trip)!  Travel somewhere you’ve never been before by car or train and you’ll discover how many wonderful things are closer to home than you realize.  A trip like this is often less expensive than even low-cost carrier flights and gives you a better appreciation for where you live.  In addition, you can pack as much as you want and you help out the local economy too – it’s a win-win!

Resolution #7 – Start an inexpensive hobby… by pre-purchasing

You hear it every year and you never do it.  That’s fine, we’ve been there too.  But this year make it happen.  Want to know how?  Pre-book something.  Spend the money now (it doesn’t have to be a lot) on something you haven’t done yet.  Sign up for a 5K running race, reserve a spot in a knitting class, or order a used guitar off Amazon.  If you spend the money now, you’re more likely to do it later and maybe you’ll finally start that new hobby!

About Flutter FETTI®: Flutter FETTI is an innovator, manufacturer, and worldwide distributor of confetti and streamer products.  Our mission is to bring excitement and joy into every special event in your life.  Contact one of our confettiologists and we’ll make the right product recommendation to add the “WOW!” effect to your event.