St. Patrick’s Day can be one of the best holidays to get in touch with your inner Irish, but it can also mean spending a lot of green to have some fun. There’s a lot of things to see and do on this exciting holiday, but if you’re not careful you may find yourself spending way too much money on items and events that normally wouldn’t cost you much at all. Luckily, there’s plenty of low budget things you can do to enjoy your holiday to the max. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking to make your holiday an event for the entire family or if you’re planning to get out on the town with some friends, because with these tips you’ll be able to suit your budget and still have fun.
1. Put on the Green
If you’ve ever gone out on St. Patrick’s Day without a little green, then you know you’re looking at a tragic day. The best thing you can do to maximize your fun on this holiday is to put on something green before you step foot out of your bedroom. A lot of people feel like they need to go out and buy something brand new just for the holiday. This can really waste a lot of your money and will cause you to go on a unnecessary spending spree. Before you go out on St. Patrick’s Day you should raid your closet for something that is already green. A simple t-shirt, blouse or blazer should do the trick. However, if you’re missing out on some green in the wardrobe then accessories are the best way to go. For instance, you can really transform as outfit with a green tie or scarf to keep yourself safe from all the painful pinches. You might even consider green jewelry, socks or bags to help you comply with the green need. You can even make a quick bracelet with green construction paper if you’re lacking in the green department. If you do feel the urge to buy a holiday specific shirt then try to keep it to one and reuse it every year so you can get your money’s worth.
2. Parades
You might be surprised as to how many towns and cities throw a St. Patrick’s Day parade each year. This is one of the best ways to share the holiday with your friends and family and will cost you next to nothing to see. If you’re not sure about your town or cities parade then try to call your local community center to see if and when the parade will be held. If your area is planning a parade then you might want to ask about parking as this could be the only expense. If parking fees will be active then you may want to consider taking public transportation or walking to the area in which the parade is held. If you know the streets in which the parade will go through then you can always choose an area that has the least amount of parking fees. You should always try to get to the parade early though as there are often freebies thrown from the floats which are easier to get if you have a front row spot. If your town isn’t holding a parade then you may want to see if a surrounding area is.
3. Eat From Home
One of the biggest costs for St. Patrick’s Day is the restaurant bill. Most restaurants probably won’t cater Irish food on a daily basis, which means they will probably charge a little extra for your holiday meal. Instead of going out you may want to utilize a few new recipes to help make your holiday a little more authentic. There’s a lot of recipes available online that utilize both expensive and inexpensive ingredients. If you’re not up to trying things that take up a lot of time then refine your search for easy Irish recipes and enjoy the wide selection. If you’re really on a tight budget then you might want to try out a few classic recipes that will cost you cents per person. One of the more popular choices is a can of corned beef hash, toast and some fried eggs. This meal will have everyone feeling full and will bring out your Irish heritage.
4. Buy Beer in Bulk
St. Patrick’s Day is one of the biggest drinking occasions of the year and beer company’s know it! If you’re planning on having a few drinks this holiday then you’ll probably want to shop for your beer in bulk. Usually the beverage price is raised just in time for people to celebrate spending more on their favorite brews. Typically drafts like Guinness and other famous Irish beers tend to escalate in price more than you’d expect. So, instead of spending a small fortune on a mere six pack, you might want to go ahead and buy the bigger package and split the cost with your friends. Sometimes stores will have a pre-holiday sale that will help make your bulk purchases a little more affordable. Of course, if you’re looking to find the best deal then you may want to do some online shopping a few weeks before the big day.
5. Go with Groupon
If you don’t already have plans for the occasion then you might want to skip the planning altogether and see what Groupon has to offer you closer to the holiday. Usually Groupon will come up with a lot off different green inspired packages that could leave you having the time of your life. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a romantic date night or a group event for your friends, as Groupon tends to have a wide selection of choices that will suit the occasion. The best thing is Groupon often allows you to purchase a package at a huge discount which will really help make your holiday seem all the more lucky. If you’re really feeling the deal you might be able to span your holiday into a weekly event that will leave you feeling like you’ve vacation in Ireland.
6. See a Gig
One of the most exhilarating experiences for the holiday is to see an Irish inspired band. There’s a lot of these bands in the country so you won’t have to look far to find one in your local area. Usually your community listings will show each of the Irish gigs going on in your area. Of course, local bars will probably get in on the Irish band action as well. It might take a little calling around, but you should be able to find a great band in no time. If there is a selection of bands in the area then you might want to look each band up to see which one you would prefer to watch. This will help you get the most out of your money. If you’re looking for a band in a child friendly area then try looking up outdoor events in your area. Sometimes towns will hold fairs around the holiday or will have parades that incorporate the special bands. If you do find an event you don’t want to miss then you should purchase tickets in advance. Usually these bands can sell out on St. Patrick’s Day, so booking early won’t just guarantee you a seat, but will also help you save a little on the ticket price.
7. Use an App
Sometimes utilizing your phone will help you save the most on your holiday expenses. With smart phones the height of popularity there’s a ton of apps designed to save you money. So, instead of going crazy trying to find a restaurant that’s actually open you may want to open up your favorite local apps to find a place that isn’t booked. You may even be able to find an app that can show you which places have the best sales on Irish foods and drinks, which will help you find a budget friendly way to celebrate. Sometimes an app will show up that will show you where places are giving out a free beer or are having an exciting happy hour sale. You’ll be surprised as to how much your smart phone can actually cut the price of your holiday adventures.
8. Movies
A lot of people just want to spend the night in instead of going through the chaotic celebrating in the street. If this is the case then you might want to settle in with a nice Irish movie. Although it is often hard to find some of the movies that are actually made in Ireland there is a lot of companies willing to cater these movies to you. You may want to start by looking for a list of Irish movies so you can find a couple that will suit your tastes. Once you have your selections then try looking on Netflix, Hulu or any other service you might subscribe to. If you don’t have any luck here then you might want to look on online rental sites, which generally have a broad selection. Of course, if you don’t want to do a whole lot of research you may find that a lot of subscription services, like Netflix, will already have a special holiday section in your cue. So, grab your favorite brand of colored green popcorn and enjoy the show.
9. Listen to Music
Nothing will allow you to feel the spirit of the holiday quite like listening to some classic Irish songs. If you’re not big into the Irish theme throughout the year then don’t worry about purchasing a single song. Instead, jump on your favorite internet radio and search through playlist of users who have created their own St. Patrick’s Day playlist. You’ll love the music selection so much that you might even feel inspired to do a little Irish dancing. If this is the case you might be able to find some fun videos that will teach you how to do some amazing classic dances. You will also be able to combine some of the amazing music you just found with some of the fun dance moves. This makes a great activity for the entire family and will help form plenty of memories everyone will want to relive throughout the years.
10. Decorations
It isn’t quite a holiday without the fun decorations! There’s a lot of ways you can keep your home looking amazing without having to spend a lot of money. One way is to shop dollar stores for their St. Patrick’s Day goodies. Usually you can find everything from golden coin candies to fun little shamrocks to that will really make your home look fantastic. You can even take some of the decorations you found at the store to create your own amazing decorations. Of course, if you’re really looking to save a lot of money you may want to create your own decorations. This can be one of the best ways to get kids to interact with the holiday. Try printing out holiday coloring sheets for the kids. Usually there’s a lot of easy to color pictures of leprechauns, shamrocks, pots of gold and rainbows. You can easily have the kids cut out the pictures and put them on the walls. You can also ask children to draw their own pictures for an entirely original look you can save for years.
St. Patrick’s Day can be one of the most fun holidays of the year if you know how to plan it correctly. With these simple tips you’ll be able to afford a holiday that will keep everyone happy with their holiday experience. So, stop trying to plan out your day and let the luck of the Irish make your holiday cheap and remarkably fun.
