If you’ve been following along with the blog, you’ll note that I’ve had an unusually busy summer year. I’m officially down to my final trip (unless I can convince the husband otherwise), scheduled for October. Since I don’t have too much going on in September, I’ve decided to take this time to do a “financial re-grouping” of sorts, a time to re-evaluate my budget and savings goals to make sure where I’m headed is still where I want to go. While I’ve continued to set aside money for my emergency fund and a few other long-term goals, a large chunk of my savings went towards my travels. I’ve stayed on track for the most part, but a little part of me can’t help feeling like my stockpile has been a bit depleted after paying for all of my adventures. How can I cut costs to rebuild what I had lost? The obvious solution is to stop spending so much. But what else can I do? I found a little inspiration right at my place of employment!
I work on a college campus, and all around me are deals offered specifically for students- discounts on clothing, at restaurants, just about anything near here, and I thought, “Well, what about me?” And then I did a little investigation… it turns out that there is PLENTY available for me as a staff member. What’s the best part? It’s not just me! Many companies offer perks for their employees, so I encourage you to do a little research of your own to find out what kind of “hidden savings” are available to you. Below, you’ll find some of the more common perks that you can take advantage of.
- Discounted cell phone plans
- Tuition reimbursement
- Access to professional development services or mentoring programs
- Child care
- Preferred banking services
- Real estate / relocation assistance
- Discounts at restaurants or stores the company utilizes frequently
- Health and wellness services (i.e. preventative care, health screenings, gym access)
- Assistance with smoking cessation or weight management
- Transportation
- Free access to company-sponsored events
- Meals or snacks throughout the day
- Discounts on tickets to local amusement parks or sporting events
- Discounts on technology products (i.e. computers, laptops)
*Disclaimer: While I would probably be a bit richer had I chosen to take time off at home instead of traveling this summer, I have absolutely no regrets. It fit into my budget and my schedule, so it was perfect timing, and I did things I’ve always dreamed of doing. While it’s extremely important to be smart about your spending, don’t forget to enjoy yourself once in a while. I hope your summer was as perfect as mine was!
