Saving While Enjoying the Summer
Image Credit: Roderick Eime
Summer is well upon us and if you’re a typical Torontonian, you know that the summer heat and nice weather has its days numbered! Many of us associate having a great time with spending money but this doesn’t have to be the case. Read through for some tips on enjoying the summer in and outside of the city and not busting your wallet.
Museum + Arts Pass (MAP) Program
Many of you are already familiar with this wonderful program and we can’t stress enough how great it is! What isn’t to love about free access to some of our greatest museums and attractions in Toronto? Sponsored by Sun Life Financial, the MAP program allows customers to check out a pass and visit one of 10 locations free of charge. Each pass typically provides access for up to two adults and up to four children during regular business hours. Passes are limited at each branch and branches have different distribution methods.
When you do get your hands on a pass, prepare yourself to have a great day enjoying one of Toronto’s many hot spots, and just as importantly, saving a lot of money! Check out the MAP rules and conditions and find out when and where you can pick up passes. Not all branches carry all passes, so check the MAP page on the library website to see which branches offer passes to the venue you'd like to visit.
Clipping Coupons
Some people love them, others couldn’t care less. Regardless of how you view them, coupons, whether printed or digital, can play a big role in saving money. For example, if you know that you’ll be visiting certain shops during an outing, do a quick search online to see if there are any printable or mobile coupons – you’d be surprise at how often you can find some.
Coupon apps are becoming more prevalent as more and more retailers offer discounts through them. Some examples include Checkout 51 (Play Store | iTunes) and Coupgon (Play Store | iTunes). The exact method of redeeming a coupon or earning credit for a purchase may vary, so read through the app descriptions.
Check out Toronto Public Library's upcoming programs on different aspects of personal finance to see if there are any that can provide you with some money-saving tips!
Potlucks
What’s better than getting together with friends and family and sharing great food? If you’re like me, nothing! As nice as it is to get out of cooking and treat yourself and/or the family to a restaurant, that bill can quickly add up. Multiply that outing by once or twice (or more) a week and you have a growing monthly expense.
Instead, arrange a weekly or bi-weekly potluck and have friends and family prepare and bring different dishes. Rotate through different hosts to keep it fair, or have the event outdoors at a park if the weather is going to be nice. Not only will you be able to indulge in a variety of food, you’ll be saving some cash as well. Check out some of these books for some great potluck recipe ideas!
Outdoor Activities
My final tip for readers is to simply get outdoors! We live in a beautiful area with beautiful landscapes within and outside of the city boundaries. There’s dozens of hiking trails that allow us to take advantage of the beautiful spaces and a great part is that they are generally free! Make sure to bring snacks and water as you’ll definitely be needing them throughout the hike. Check out some of the books below and take a look at the Ontario Trails Council website to get an idea about trails in the area.
I hope these tips help you out this summer! What are some strategies you use to save some money while enjoying the summer?
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