Everyone likes to cut loose on the dance floor every now and then, but the price of clubbing can really take a toll on the way you spend money throughout the week. From shopping for new clothes, buying drinks and paying admission fees you could find yourself financially hurting in only a few hours. There’s many ways that you can transform your clubbing experience from a financial fiasco into a budget friendly way to blow off some steam though. So, get ready to take your party life to the next level as you frequent your favorite dance headquarters without despairing over the amount of money you tend loose on clubbing on each week. With these tips you won’t have to skip out on lunch at work, just to have a few hours of fun on the dance floor.
1. Designated Driver
When it comes to clubbing there might not anything wiser than appointing a designated driver before you start your night out. This step should be completed before you follow through with plans as it might be a life saver for you and those you choose to party with. Although it isn’t always fun to be the designated driver, by skipping out on the alcohol for one night you’ll end up saving your entire group a whole lot of money in cab fares. Make sure your group takes turns so that everyone gets a chance to have some fun throughout the next few months. A lot of clubs will actually offer a discount to those that offer to be a designated driver, so make sure to call ahead and ask so you can get the benefits that a designated driver deserves. You should also always choose a driver you’re comfortable with as you don’t won’t to end up at the club and find out your driver decided to back on driving duty midway through the night. Without a driver you and your friends are looking at a hefty taxi fare that could be tripled due to the size of the group.
2. High Dollar Clubs
When it comes to choosing a club to party in you can do a whole lot of judging based on the admission price. If you’re waiting in line hours in order to get into a club that’s going to charge you a lot then you might want to skip out on this location. Chances are by the time you get in you’ll already have wasted a god portion of the night which won’t help you get your money’s worth. Clubs that charge a high admission fee often have high priced drinks so make to watch out for this too. A lot of the time it can be too chaotic to find out the price of a drink, so don’t order from these locations unless you know for a fact how much everything is. Instead of spending your hard earned money at these locations try a smaller club. These clubs usually help you get more for your money and will also be less crowded so you won’t have to worry about how much room is on the dance floor. Of course, the only time it might be acceptable to pay a higher admission fee is to see one of your favorite artist. If this is the case you might try to book admission in advance so you can skip the line and have the guarantee that you will be let into the show.
3. Trusted Friends
Not a lot of people want to go out clubbing on their own. Of course, not a lot of people want to go out with people who might make the night turn disastrous either. If you enjoy going to the clubs you might try to figure out which of your trusted friends have the same interest. If you can put together a small group of people to go out with then you may be able to save a whole lot of money. Many clubs will offer discounted tables for those who come in as a group. You will also always have a support group with you which could help you enjoy the time out more and ensure you won’t end up leaving in a taxi before you’d originally planned. A trusted group of friends can provide designated drivers as well as people who you are secure splitting the bill with. A lot of people who go to the clubs with friends will take turns buying rounds. This will ensure you’ll get to enjoy a drink without having to open a tab or spend more than you should. You want to make sure the people around you are going to be as generous as you though, so scale out a great group and stick with them.
4. Stick to Budget
Before you decide to go clubbing you should work out your finances and set a budget for the night out. This might sound a whole lot easier than it actually is though. Instead of wasting time planning and then going back on your budgeting you should only carry around cash with you. This will help you spend only what you allowed so you won’t wake up in the morning with a hangover and the realization that you burned through some of your savings. Although you might think it is easy to say no to swiping your credit or debit card it might be more temptation than you can deal with after you’ve been drinking. If you’re worried about an emergency then choose a club close to home, keep a safety number on hand, or give a little extra cash to a trusted friend in case you need to take a taxi home. With your plastic cards safe you may even find you save a little of the cash you left the house with.
5. Avoid Cocktails
One of the fastest ways to loose money in the clubs is to order cocktails. These drinks are pretty pricy no matter where you go should avoiding them altogether might be the best possible option. The worst thing you can do in a club is order one of these pricy drinks and have the bartender keep them coming. If you have to order a fancy cocktail then stick to one. Make sure the bartender doesn’t set up a tab for you, so that after you finish your drink you won’t be tempted to order more cocktails. If you want to continue drinking after the first drink then opt for a cheaper beer until the night is over. Of course, it might be your best bet to drink the cheaper beer anyway, or you could avoid drinking altogether. If you’re craving a cocktail though try to find a place that has a cheap deal on them. Many themed clubs will even have a special drink that sells for cheap during happy hour.
6. Slow it Down
When it comes to spending money at the club nothing can get you in more trouble than trying to keep up with those around you. If you choose to drink alcohol while partying then you might want to drink your beverage a lot slower. This will allow you to keep a drink for longer so you won’t feel the need to go back for a refill as often. If you’re buying rounds with friends then slowing down your drinking can ensure everyone won’t have to buy a full round more than once. This can be a big money saver if you have a lot of people in your group or if the drinks aren’t priced well. Not everyone drinks while clubbing, but this doesn’t mean you’re going to be financially okay if you drink a lot. Try to designate times to rehydrate, but don’t keep buying soda or water because those around you are drinking. One or two bottles of water throughout the night should keep your hydrated enough to have some fun without ruining your budget.
7. Be a Regular
People who tend to club a lot might be a bit more privy to some good old fashioned discounts. If you’re checking out club after club you might want to settle down at a place you like and become a regular. This will open up a lot of options for you and your friends that you might not get if you hop from club to club. When you spend time at a club you’ll start to get know the staff which could lead you to an entirely different experience at the club. Making friends with the club owner, or staff that run the admissions are could help you get a discount on prices or occasionally free entrance to the club. You may find that spending time talking with the bartenders, giving good tips and brightening their work experience could also help you get discounted drinks so your clubbing experience can be more worthwhile
8. Clothes
Everyone loves a new outfit when they go out to celebrate, but after some time this could be pretty pricy. Instead of going out and buying something new every time you plan on clubbing you might want to consider amping up some of your older clothes in order to make something new and exiting for your night out. You should also go through your closet to see if there is actually anything you might have overlooked in the back of your wardrobe. A lot of the time we tend to push things to back and forget we even have them. Of course, if nothing you actually own is working for you then you might want to get together with your other clubbing friends. If you know people around the same size as you you can host a clothes trading party before you go out clubbing. This will give you a new look for absolutely nothing.
9. Pre-Club Party
If party of the clubbing experience for you is having a few drinks then you might want to consider having a pre-club party before you go out. Invite over everyone you plan on hitting the clubs with so everyone can enjoy a few low cost cocktails before you go out. This will help everyone refrain from spending a lot of money on drinks they don’t need. Having a pre-club party will also help set the mood for the night as everyone will leave your place feeling joyous, which could help ease the pain of the long wait in line. The pre-club party might also serve as one of the best places to get dressed to go out as you’ll have plenty of fashion advance. It will also help get everyone in the same place, so the designated driver doesn’t have to drive around town to pick everyone up.
10. Eat Light
One of the easiest tips to keep you happy and financially well off throughout the night is to eat light before going out. You don’t want a heavy meal on your stomach or else you may end up feeling sick as you dance around. This could lead you to go home early which means not getting the most out of admission price and the possibility of paying a taxi because your designated drive needs to stay with the other party members. Eating light will also help you achieve a buzz faster so you won’t have to keep buying drink after drink to get the desired effect.
Clubbing can be incredibly fun if you learn out to keep the spending under control. With these tips you should have a lot more fun without having to lose your savings in the process. So, find some time for you by dancing with friends, meeting new people and forgetting about the work week until Monday.
