The summer months will be upon us in no time at all (bless up) and with high temps comes a low bank account. Summer is the time for social activity! Think; movies, baseball games, ice cream, new outfits and concerts! As the semester ends and the stress of school subsides, you may find yourself worrying about how to keep your social life and your economic situation in balance.
Summer is all about having fun and unwinding. It is the time to make new memories and catch up with old friends. There has to be a way to do this without breaking the bank, right? And more importantly, the focus is to spend time with others, if you take money out of the equation, won’t you find more rewarding friendships?
The answer, simply put, is yes. It is so easy to get caught up in the activity rather than the person. Your time with your gal pals should be about hearing what is on their minds and in their hearts. Instead, too often, we find ourselves snapchatting pictures of our ice cream with a beautiful sunset in the background. Aesthetically pleasing? Sure. Critical to the growth of your relationship? Eh, probably not. This summer, I challenge you to spend less time focusing on what you are doing, but rather, who you are doing it with.
Be sure to incorporate communication into your girl time! “Hanging out” means nothing if you aren’t hearing all about your bff’s new internship or that class she almost failed. College is a tricky time for navigating relationships with anyone! Make sure you are using your time to really connect and communicate with your friends. It may be easy to pay the $12 and sit through a movie in silence, but what is the point of that? You need to be using your time together to find out what your girl was struggling with this past semester, or how excited she is for her upcoming study abroad experience. These moments of personal connection and revealation will build your friendship up and keep the two of you close once the fall semester rolls back around.
You do not need to buy anything to enjoy time with friends. But every now and then, it is a given that you will splurge on a big cup of Fro-yo or front row concert tickets. You deserve it!
Just don’t forget to enjoy the little, free moments that come with having three months off from school.
This summer, I challenge you to make your time with your friends about soul food. You don’t have to go out to coffee or grab an ice cream just to catch up! Sit down in the fresh grass and have a nice long chat. Invite your friends over for a conversation in your kitchen. Take your dogs to the park together or go on a bike ride! Pinterest is full of great ways to have fun without breaking the bank.
Summer and all of it’s wonderful social activities don’t have to cause you stress. Use the time to catch up by holding conversations and spending time together. Don’t be afraid to splurge when the opportunity presents itself, but keep in mind that your friends are there to support you, not empty your wallet.