How big a hole did you burn in your pocket over the festive season? Is it still smouldering?
The past month - with its gifts, entertaining, trips and family time - can certainly test the financial resolve of even the most mindful spender. So how about starting the year combining reigning in spend, being more active and having a great time? Today we're talking frugal fun. Here's how:
This country has wonderful winters, and what better way to enjoy them than to be outdoors, meet people with more to them than their job, and learn new skills - and probably a thing or two about yourself to boot?
Here are a few things I did over the past couple of weeks:
Kayaking comrades
A few days ago we pushed off one of the Palm's fronds just after dark with a picnic on board. This happens every full moon. We made our way to a deserted beach, howled at the sky, refuelled and went back. When it's a full moon over a weekend, this frugal fun activity takes place after a barbecue, chat and getting to know more people.
How it works: someone hosts the event, planning where people congregate and where the kayaks are stored. Someone else sends an email. They make sure everyone has a sea-vehicle. Everyone brings bits to snack on.
Frugal factor: 7/10. Factor in petrol money and snack money. Borrow appropriate clothes if needed. Borrow a kayak if you don't own one. It would score higher if kayaks were not so expensive.
Fun factor: 9.5/10. This is just up my street: being out, physical and with interesting people.
The skyline at night is amazing, and there's the unexpected, such as flying fish bumping into you and jumping into the kayak. This trip we even had fireworks. They started just after we landed on the deserted island for our picnic. What a great way to spend an evening.
Desert Do
A few years ago, two friends decided to start going to the desert to sing, eat and chat. This is not a camping trip, it's a get-together just outside the city. This December it's safe to say that a couple of hundred people - of all ages, and some with their dogs - were at the event. We started arriving at 3pm to set up picnics and barbecues, children played, rolled down dunes and had a blast. As the sun set we lit a giant fire, gathered around, sang, were merry and then headed back home.
How it works: Someone decides when and where. Then word of mouth takes over.
Frugal factor: 9/10. Factor in petrol money, food and sustenance.
Fun factor: 8/10. Of course, this depends on who you go with and what you end up doing when there.
Camping Clan
Last month we camped in the mountains and at the beach.
How it works: someone decides to camp overnight somewhere and invites like-minded people. You either divvy up who brings what food, or each family brings their own.
Borrow kit you don't own. Share what you do own.
Frugal factor: 7/10
Fun factor: 8 or 9/10 depending on who you are with, where you go and what you do.
One camping trip was to Shawka. We camped in the mountains, rode bikes, explored, hiked and ate a stew cooked in a cauldron over a wood fire.
The more recent trip is one of our staples. We camp where there's a beach and a mini mountain to climb. It's about a two-hour hike for short legs over to the beach on the other side and includes deserted village homes to explore. We swim, build sand creations, look for crabs and other creatures and then head to the port as the local fishermen bring in the day's haul.
We buy dinner, light a fire to cook and eventually fall asleep to the sound of lapping waves. The next morning we watch crabs scurry along the sand, building temporary homes and take a long walk along the beach.
These things, and more, are right on our doorstep. How about celebrating what this place has to offer - lots of fun for less?
Friends moved to Canada a couple of years ago and holiday in the UAE every end of year. The children tell me they would love to move back - there's so much they can do here: the beach, the parks, the outdoors. They tell me of all the layers they have to put on just to venture outside for a walk to the corner shop or an increasingly rare - as the temperatures plummet - bike ride. (They are 8 and 10 years old so need parental guidance).
Nothing is free - remember this. But there's a lot we can do for very little. Especially if we club together, exchange, share and explore different things and ways of doing them.
Nima Abu Wardeh is the founder of the personal finance website cashy.me. You can reach her at nima@cashy.me.
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