Saving Money on Entertainment

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Even though you must maintain a strict budget, you are human and are social animal. You enjoy going our and about on the town with friends. You do like to partake in adult libations when you visit a bar or nightclub.

 

There are techniques you can utilize to drink at bars and nightclubs and not go financially overboard. In other words, there are some specific strategies that you should bear in mind when it comes to saving money when you go out for a night on the town.

 

Enjoy Happy Hour

Liquor laws do vary from one state to another. With that said, in many jurisdictions in the United States, happy hours are lawful and provided by many bars and nightclubs. One way that you can save money when head off to a bar or club is to take advantage of happy hour.

Historically, bars provided happy hour in the late afternoon and early evening. Nightclubs hosted happy hour in the early evening. In recent years, many bars and clubs offer a twice a night happy. These establishments have happy hours both in the early evening (or later afternoon for bars) and late at night.

 

Take Advantage of Drink Specials

When visiting a bar or nightclub, inquire as to what drink specials are being offered. You may not always be able to find a drink or alcohol type that appeals to you. However, oftentimes you will be able to find a bar special that is appealing to you. In addition, if you at adventurous, you may be able to discover a new adult libation that you end up enjoying a great deal. You can save what amounts to a considerable amount of money by taking advantage of drink specials.

 

Purchase Cheaper Beverages

If you are like most people, you have favorite adult libations. These may be more expensive than well selections. You can save what can amount to a considerable amount of money when you go out and about on the town when you select lower cost alcohol — well alcohol. The price different can be a couple of dollars to upwards to $10 or more per serving.

 

Pair Up an Adult Beverage with a Water

You can save money on your bar tab if you pair up each cocktail, beer, or wine with a glass of water. This slows down your drinking, and fills up. In addition to saving you money, this strategy also keeps you hydrated while enjoying alcoholic beverages. It also is likely helpful in lessoning the symptoms of a hangover if you do end up drinking a bit too much when out on the town at a bar or nightclub.

 

Beware of Costs of Local Craft Brew

Supporting local businesses is important. However, if you are going to purchase local craft brews while enjoying a night out, you need to be aware of what you are paying. You may be like many people who think domestic beer when you purchase locally.

Yes, you technically are buying a domestic beer when you purchase a local craft brew. However, you will be paying a premium price for the brew, unless the venue is offering some sort of special.

 

Drink at Home

A solid way of saving money on you bar tab is not having one at all. In other words, rather than party with your friends at a bar or nightclub, stay home and do it there. You truly can save a notable amount of money if you visit the neighborhood liquor store and imbibe with your friends from the comfort of your own home. This is not a permanent solution. However, by partying at home sometimes, you can save more money to be used when you elect to go out on the town.

 

Take Cash Only

Time and again, people partying in bars and clubs rack up surprising bar tabs because they use credit or debit cards to pay off their obligations. When you are not handing over cash to a bartender, you easily can lose track of how much money you are spending while on the town. For this reason, when you intend to spend time at a bar or club, bring along only case. Make all of your alcohol purchases with cash.

 

“Pre-drink” at Home

Before heading out for a night on the town, have a drink or two at home. This can help you get relaxed for a fun night out on the town. You can also knock down your bar or club bill when you do drink at least a bit at home before going out.

 

Jessica Kane writes for TIPS Alcohol Training, offering TIPS responsible alcohol service training online for both on and off premise needs.

 

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Home Improvement Projects That Need Extra Help

Every home eventually requires repairs. For whatever reason you’re looking into home improvement, it’s sometimes necessary to seek professional help. Adding crown molding or building a shelf is one thing, but when you’re looking to alter plumbing or electrical work, it’s best to hire help. Take a look at some of the ways an expert might benefit your plans for home makeovers and maintenance.

 

Accessibility Modifications

 

There are plenty of reasons to make your house more accessible. You or a family member may need expanded access or assistance, or you may simply want to make your home more inclusive if you plan on putting it on the market. However, such modifications often need a contractor to be done safely and properly. Adding extra-wide doorways to accommodate wheelchairs, ramps or entrance ways with no steps, and handrails on stairs and in restrooms are all best done by professionals. You may want to convert your shower to offer wheelchair accessibility, which may require complex work. As a good deal of the alterations will be done in the bathroom, kitchen, or bedrooms, it’s best practice to have an expert on hand to avoid broken pipes, flooding, or the unnecessary damaging of walls.

 

Outside Help

 

If you want to clean and maintain the outside of your home, there are numerous things you can do yourself. You can use a pressure washer on your walls and windows to remove dirt and grime safely, and even to clean your driveway. While you may run the risk of scratching your paint, no permanent damage will be done to your home. However, once you think about cleaning your gutters, you may want to hire the help of a professional. Not only will they have the right tools and make sure no leaves or debris remain blocking your drains, they are trained and less likely to injure themselves when working at great heights. Additionally, regular maintenance can prevent animals and insects from nesting in your gutters themselves.

 

Installing a Fence

 

There are various benefits to fencing your home. Fences offer extra privacy and security against a pet escaping. They also provide an additional layer of protection against burglary or home invasion. Professional help can be advantageous for a project of this complexity, especially if your fencing extends underground. When installing or repairing a fence, you may be surprised to learn that a contractor is often required. Not only will you need to make sure that your yard is properly fenced, but there may be restrictions you are unaware of. For instance, some cities have height limitations on fences, and a contractor will be aware of these and ensure that there are no city policy violations.

 

Help with Wiring

 

This is another area where you do not want to risk injury or property damage if you’re inexperienced with home modification. Even if you successfully get wiring working properly, you may accidentally create a fire hazard without being aware of it. You may overload your circuits, and end up creating an expensive problem that could have been avoided if you’d used a professional. There is the possibility of injuring yourself during the process, too, without having the proper equipment or training of an expert. While hiring a professional is an added expense, it is worth it to protect both your health and your home.

 

It’s good to keep up to date on your home’s maintenance and to invest in worthwhile improvements. However, no matter how confident we are in ourselves, it’s always important to be certain of what we’re doing, especially when it involves wiring, plumbing or great heights. Professionals have tools we don’t and knowledge gained over years of work. Do some things yourself, but know when it’s best to get an expert’s help.