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The family reunion is an annual tradition to nurture the ties that bind. Whenever there is a grand reunion coming up, participating families including distant relatives are tasked to chip in for the food and other expenses. But there's more to it than cooking up a meal and putting up the decorations. There's shopping to do, gassing up the car, and other expenses that drain anorexic men's wallets.
If your family observes this annual tradition, you expect to spend more than you usually do. Daddies have to be careful with their men's wallets while mommies do the shopping and cooking for the potluck. Unless you are the family philanthropist, you can shoulder all the expenses for a grand family reunion, but until then, do count your pennies before you hatch get around to planning or attending a family reunion.
Even if you're not the prime mover of the grand event, you still have some careful planning and budgeting to do. Every thing must be listed. That insignificant expense must be noted down so you'll know how much you're going to spend from start to finish or before you do the shopping and take to the road for the long trip back to your ancestral home. Men's wallets no matter how stuffed can be emptied real fast without careful budgeting.
Why Do Some Penny Pinching?
Money has a way of getting out men's wallets and purses fast. Before you know it, you're strapped for cash and find yourself dashing for a quick payday loan. Hey, your kin understands that at this time, nobody is feeling rich. Even Broad Street where the New York money giants are ensconced is not spared. So there's no need to impress the people back home. Reunions are supposed to be family fun, not a show of acquired wealth or stocks.
The people back home are not stressing cordon blue menu and that's a relief. Your mate can prepare your favorite noodle and spinach casserole. An inexpensive menu can stretch those dollars in men's wallets and give a healthy to high for both adults and youngsters. Don't let wife do the cooking at home if the trip to your parents takes a day or two. Cook the dish at your folks' home so you can bundle your family in a bus - and save on gas money.
Other ways to save money is pooling gas money with other kin in the area. The cousin or the brother with the van should volunteer his vehicle for the road trip. This saves gas and you can take turns at the wheel.
Don't be tempted to splurge on drinks or volunteer to buy the drinks. Drinks are expensive and people cannot have enough of it. If your brothers/sisters, cousins, and uncles want a drink and extend the drinking session pass the hat around. This will keep dollars where these belong, in your wallets.
To keep those dollars and to keep yourself sane, involved wife and children in the planning. Everybody has to accept that there won't be new clothes for the event or added expenses - you have to stick to the proposed menu and gas budget. That's an effective way to keep those dollars in men's wallets.