Costly weekend mistake

midnight · #1 (**permalink**) 01-30-2005, 09:53 AM

This wasn't a super costly mistake, but it pushed me over my budget for this month when I thought I was going to make it in under it.

My friends invited me to go skiing this weekend and I didn't have the money to go so I declined. They then came back and said that they had free day lift ticket (I used that yesterday) and that the cabin was already paid for so I wouldn't have to pay for that. So I thought "free lodging and free skiing" and I would be able to keep to my budget because everything was free.

WELL, I didn't think it through very well because I have added about $200 onto my credit card this weekend and it has not been a free weekend at all. I forgot how outrageously expensive meals are at ski resorts and that I would have to pay for all my meals at restaurants for the weekend. I also didn't think through that all my friends would want to go out after skiing which turned into an expensive evening.

This "free" weekend has turned out to be anything but

nate · #2 (**permalink**) 01-30-2005, 02:43 PM

$200 wow... I got my parents ski rentals, lift tickets and a gift cert for the restaraunt up there for $50 for christmas. I hope its not much more than $50 to eat dinner there.

SeeAPenny · #3 (**permalink**) 01-31-2005, 07:22 AM

Well, I'm sure you now have some fun memories for it all at least...! It probably did sound like a bargain too good to pass up at the time.....

How quickly can you pay it off? Hopefully as soon as possible -- then for the next several months, try to slash your entertainment/dining out budget way down to make up the difference. Perhaps you can make it all average out over the course of the year....

jhd815 · #4 (**permalink**) 01-31-2005, 07:59 PM

I like SeeAPenny's idea. Pay off that $200 as soon as possible and find a way to make it up somewhere else in your annual budget.

Ah, the lessons we learn ...

PrincessPerky · #5 (**permalink**) 02-01-2005, 09:41 AM

I used to be the 'broke friend' there wasn't abudget there just wasn't a single cent

. Anyway I picked up a trick or two if your interested.

1. go grocery shopping before hand, bread, spreads, bars and such are pretty cheap and pack well.

2. drink water, order cheap, fill up in the room on the snacks you packed. (the excersize of sking pays off the extra calories if any

.)

3.enjoy the dieters leftovers, on vacation they arn't taking them home, though this step is a sure clue to fill your friends in that you are broke