July 4th Independence Day is one of my favorite days as I do highly enjoy celebrating my freedom as an independent person who doesn’t depend on his parents to make a living. I’ve been such a July 4th nut and I have been going to every firework in San Francisco last couple years but this year, I’ve decided to save money and watch the fireworks.
So, here’s how to save money during one of the biggest holidays in America:
1. Don’t go out to see the fireworks, stay home! If you are going to go out clubbing on July 4th or even to a bar, don’t expect to pay less than $40 to get into any bar. This will add up and you will probably end up spending hundreds of dollars, especially if you go out with bunch of close friends and buy drinks for them all night long. I took this route couple years ago but it ain’t the smartest choice as I spent about $200 easy on this night when everything was super expensive.
Besides spending so much money on bars and liquor, you might regret waking up next day, only to find out there’s another stranger on your bed. (hopefully good lookin’ and fine plz)
If you must go, please make sure you find a good party spot where you can actually see the fireworks and pay in advance. (usually you will get discounts on paying early for special events)
2. Now, if you somehow got yourself to not go out like me, you will save a bunch of money. But how to see the fireworks? Heck, you don’t have to see the fireworks in real life, just watch your nice HD LCD TV and drink beers or wine at home. (That $200 you didn’t spend at the bars will go a LONG ways for a nice bottle of Hennessey or whatever.)
3. If there’s a China town around, go there and buy some cheap fireworks that you can light off in your home or around where you live.
4. Again, this DIY is for those people on a budget, who’s barely surviving the recession. If you must go out, do so but do remember what you spend on Independence Day could take a big bite out of your lifestyle over the next few weeks. If you are willing to live on McDonald’s $1 burgers, by all means go ahead but I rather put that money to some good liquor than overspending at your local pub, which the bartenders don’t really deserve anyways. (it’s just a hallucination that your brain feels happier and pays more…)
I’ve also written a blog post on where to watch the fireworks in San Francisco for SF residents.
