Most of us don’t realise how much we spend on a typical weekend. But you’re not the only one if you find yourself going through 5 twenties too quickly.

Here’s a breakdown on an average financially conservative social life:

$20 alcohol (that’s pretty low—it’s usually closer to $40, isn’t it?);
$20 on dinner (also pretty low, we usually pay for someone else…)
$20 on movies and popcorn
$10 at Tim Horton’s (coffee fund)
$10 superfluous home treat OR café-bought lunch on the day we couldn’t be bothered to make our lunch…

Does that sound about right? I bet you spend this much on your social life on any given weekend. That’s $400 a month. Even if the numbers are a little off-base for you, you’ll find that if you aren’t on a saving plan, it’s a lot harder to keep the money in the account.
NOTE: I’m not saying give up your social life!!!! Quite the contrary in fact, I want you to enhance your social

Travel with friends to Australia

life, by spending time with friends AND saving to go somewhere new.

The Tri-Factor: A Job, a Life… Saving?

There are some things in life, you’d love to do, but feel like you are financially inhibited.

The truth is, anyone with a job never needs to be inhibited. And in this financial crisis, you are lucky to have a job—so stop worrying about how you’re going to achieve your dreams and start setting the steps toward getting what you want.

As a teacher, you probably believe that every student can improve their literacy, or numeracy to some extent. So why don’t you feel the same way about yourself? You can improve your saving plan too.

The Plan:

Putting the money aside at the start of the month, forces you to live on the left over amount. That way, you’re still spending the money you want to spend, but you’re also saving the amount you want to save.

Further Tips on Saving to Come to Australia:

• START saving your movie night for Cheapie Tuesdays;

• Stop drinking so much (take a set amount of cash and leave the rest at home!). My best friend in uni used to do this, and she still had so much fun on a night out.

• It’d be easy to set aside $200 at the start of every month –after 12 months, you’d have $2400. If that’s not fast enough, set aside $500. I dare you to try this for one month (only one!)—tell me if you miss that money!

• Just because they’re doing it—doesn’t mean you have to. You’re a professional now you don’t have to do what your friends are doing, especially if it is really expensive and you have the higher purpose of something more interesting.

• PLUS, you’re a teacher—so be your creative self. There are lots of ways to have a social life without blowing the budget: organise a social game of something outside (snow soccer anyone?).

If you liked this post, you might want to check out: Easing your Money Fears About Moving to Australia and Saving to Move to Australia.