Your budget is tight, but your desire to have a social life is strong. Fortunately, you don’t necessarily have to give up spending time with friends in order to avoid going into bankruptcy. Here are some ways to save money and have a social life.

Take advantage of happy hour! Many bars will hold a happy hour with special discounts on food and drinks. The menu may be limited, but generally will still have some variety. The lower prices during happy hour make it less expensive to go to a bar and spend time with friends. Not in the mood for alcohol? Some coffee shops have their own happy hour specials that include discounts on certain coffee drinks and pastries.

Look for free events. Warm weather encourages people to go outside. Most farmers’ markets do not charge an entry fee. They are good places to find fresh produce and listen to live music. Some cities will hold free concerts in local parks. Your local library might have a book club that you can join for free.

Do your friends enjoy playing games? There are several video games that can be played online for free. Start with the games that everyone has already purchased for a night of fun that doesn’t require anyone to leave their homes. Dungeons & Dragons is a wonderful way to spend an evening, either in person, or through the internet. If your friends live close by, you can invite everyone over for a board game night.

Have a movie night! Invite your friends over to watch a movie that you own, or one that is on the streaming service that you have a subscription to. Make some inexpensive snacks. Popcorn is a good one! Ask your friends to bring drinks. Rotate through so each friend gets a turn to host.

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