When you live in Britain, it's always a good idea to have a plan B. While the weather can be extraordinary, it's just as likely to be awful. If the weather's too miserable to hit the beach, these three frugal rainy day activities will be sure to keep everyone happy.
1. Have a movie day
The cinema is always a good option when the weather takes a turn for the worse. But when you add up the cost of tickets, snacks, and getting there, it can be a pretty expensive activity. For far less than that price you can have an exceptionally good movie day at home. You can subscribe to a movie streaming service like Netflix for £5.99 a month (cheaper than one cinema ticket) and spend the day choosing different films to watch. Or, save even more money by raiding your DVD collection.
Don't forget the popcorn! Visit the whole foods section of your supermarket and pick up some whole kernels. These are a lot cheaper than the microwave boxes and you get a lot more bang for your buck (pardon the pun). You just need a little bit of butter and a pan with a lid and you'll end up with loads of warm, fresh popped corn. Snuggle up under the duvet and enjoy.
2. Bake up a storm
The only thing better than cake is freshly baked cake. Check out some of the baking boards on Pinterest for inspiration, and choose a few that you would like to try making. Most cakes are pretty simple and just need flour, sugar, and eggs: all pretty cheap. Of course, some recipes are a bit more elaborate and might need a few expensive ingredients to pep them up.
You can keep track of your budget with our free money management software. It shows you your account balance and where your money is going, helping you to decide which cakes are sensible and which ones to save for pay day.
If you want to know how to save money on the more expensive ingredients, check out these top tips:
- Substitute brand products like Nutella for the supermarket's own version
- Fruity bakes can be made cheaper by substituting seasonal fruits like strawberries for fruits that are rarer at this time of year, such as bramley apples
- Delia Smith reckons you can turn bog standard granulated sugar into cake friendly caster sugar using a liquidiser. Just give it a few quick whirrs - be careful, though, going too far can turn it into icing sugar
3. Take in a bit of culture
Rainy days are perfect for wandering around museums and art galleries, and they're also a good time to go out and take in a show. Visit your local community website to find out what's on. Local theatre groups often hold performances during the summer months, so there should be a good variety to choose from. Look for plays, stand-up comedy, concerts and story-telling sessions and see if you can pick up some cheap tickets. It's something a little bit different, and you might discover something new.
Posted by Money Dashboard
