Category: Budget

 

We all need a break from work from time to time. How do you take some vacation time but not get into debt or throw your budget off? The answer for many of us is to take a “Staycation.” You can have a good time by staying close to home or being a tourist in your own town!

Staycation ideas that won’t break the bank:

·         Check out local parks and trails to hike

·         Plan a backyard camping night

·         Have a movie night complete with snacks from the Dollar Store

·         Have a craft night with supplies from the Dollar Store

·         Wanting to have a swim? Check out local hotel deals for a cheap one night stay somewhere with a pool

·         Plan a picnic

·         Have a beach day if one is nearby

·         Have friends or family over for a potluck dinner

·         Plan a game night/day with cards or board games

·         See a matinee movie

·         Pick a recipe for a new food or cuisine that is not too expensive and make some new food at home

·         Have an at home spa/pamper day – give yourself a manicure, pedicure, face mask, etc.

·         Check out the local music scene – many restaurants/bars and other areas have free live music

·         Look for free events and activities in your area—Google “free things to do in your city”

·         Check out local museums or art galleries—many museums and galleries offer a free day once per month

The possibilities are endless! What budget friendly staycation ideas do you have to share?

CCCS of Buffalo provides financial education and financial literacy resources to the community.

• Our Mission: We provide our community with the best strategies to master their credit.
• Our Vision: We are the most recognized financial counseling agency in our community that minimizes the stigma associated with debt.
• Our Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Empowerment, Innovation

Our staff at CCCS are committed to the collective mission of our agency, and we hope that these tips for financial success from our team may help you manage your finances in a better way!

 

“An easy way to pay off your mortgage early is to send in an extra payment each year.  That payment goes straight to principal.  You can save about nine years of mortgage payments!  It works the same way as a bi-weekly mortgage, but without the commitment.”

            ~ Therese Melchiorre, Certified Financial Counselor

 

“Having trouble starting a savings fund?  Why not start little!  If you are a person who uses cash, start putting away $1 bills.  Every time you receive a $1 bill, put it away into savings.  Over time, you will find that the dollars add up!  The next year, try changing it to $5 bills.”

            ~ Krysten Goins-Singletary, Client Support Specialist

 

“Reconcile your checking account each month, especially young adults.  It’s easy to swipe and never look at your statements.  Reviewing these regularly can help reveal patterns of where you may be overspending, and can identify potential errors.”

            ~ Mike Florczak, Certified Financial Counselor

 

“Remain optimistic!  Although at times it can be very difficult and stressful managing our personal finances, try and stay positive and optimistic.  Life will throw many things at us, and in our financial lives, many problems can arise.  Think long term and big picture in order to weather the storm and get back on track.”

            ~ Robby Dunn, Vice President of Counseling

 

“One of the things that I like to do is have a separate account for paying bills and a separate account for fun.  This way I know all the bills are paid and if I have extra money in the fun account we can go out, and if not then we stay home!  I also track all my bills in an Excel spreadsheet according to how I get paid, and this way I know what to pay and when.”

            ~ Jaime Bergeron, Counseling Intake Specialist

 

Call us today at (716) 712-2060 to learn more about the services we offer, or to schedule an appointment with one of our highly qualified and knowledgeable staff!