Within Your Walls

90% of families today are on a budget, or rather should be on a budget. There is a lot of common sense involved with budgeting and many more websites and software, to show you “How” to manage your money. However, budgeting involves so much more than money, especially these days. Unemployment rates are up, more jobs are being cut and businesses are failing. These are not positive or promising times. Even so, Families are staying together and are trying to find a way through it all. Some advice at times is still needed to let everyone know, “Yes, we are on the right track. And here are ways to stay on it.” There are ways to live within your means and stick to a realistic budget with out feeling like it.

Entertainment: Oh this is a tricky one! Everyone likes…ok loves to go out. Movies, Dinner, Shopping, Traveling, and the list could go on and on. These are the first activities to be abolished from the “budget”. But, there are ways around it.

Going to the Movies, this is kind of a treat for my family. We don’t go often but when we do it is usually a movie we really want to see on the big screen, and we PLAN for it. Planning, if you haven’t already guessed it’s essential for the success of your budget. If you really feel the need for the spontaneous movie there are a few things you can do.

1.) Envelopes, yes I said envelopes. Dave Ramsey talks about the envelope system, and it works. Stick some spare cash into your “Movies” envelope and if there is cash you go. If not, it’s popcorn on the couch with last years “Movie of the Year”.

2.) Netflix: Yes, yes, I know this isn’t new. But if you have a hankering for a new movie, just return one you already have and this weekend you can watch a new release with the Family. However Netflix has a new service that my Family is taking advantage of. I LOVE MOVIES, and my daughter loves “princess movies”. So, you can already guess how this works out in my favor. But, I also don’t have to jam my queue with Royalty. What I’m talking about is Netflix on Demand. A recent trip to BestBuy to replace a DVD player that had taken the proverbial “deep six” unveiled a new realm in DVD players that I had never knew existed. I’m the non-techie in the family so my husband found us the player that had these “Bells and Whistles” on it (prompted by one of my good friends). See, this is one of those times where being a member of a “rewards club” pays off. So we stayed within our budget of only spending $100.00 on a new player by taking their special of the week, a blue ray DVD player with Netflix on demand, in a sleek black box with minimal buttons might I add. And once I was tutored in the subject of on demand Netflix, we became new friends. I don’t have to wait for movies and I don’t have to jam up my queue with Prince charming and crowns. Now there is a limited selection (100 movies for each Genre) but it always changes. As you watch a movie, it moves to the recently watched folder, and that genre receives another to replace it. AWESOME, in my book of ‘new movies to watch’. The best part of all $14.95/a month. No lines and disappointments from the video store and it’s cheaper than 2 people going to the movies ONCE!

3.) I am aware there are other DVD subscriptions you can take advantage of. Blockbuster has one, and there are pros and cons. First you can select Blu-Ray videos at no extra charge. If you really, really like the blu-ray feature you may want to take a look at this one. However, The price is on top of your annual membership and can go as high as $20.00 per plan. The plans seem a bit confusing at first glance and I don’t know about you but if I’m subscribing to an online video rental service, I want it to be easy. Not full of examples after each plan description that seem to get more and more complicated the pricier the plan.

So there are some alternatives to movie watching on a budget, I hope these have enlightened you and helped you stay on a budget instead of sneaking your own popcorn into the movie theater and stuffing your kids pockets with cans of cheap soda to watch the new animated feature. With a little patience to wait for the DVD to be released you can sit in the comfiest seat, snuggle with you’re spouse and even have a blanket to cover your legs, all with staying on your budget.

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Blockbuster, Blu-Ray, Budget, DVD, Entertainment, Family, Movies, Netflix, Organizing