Can Fun Be Budgeted?

Q. My wife and I are trying to get on a budget and it seems like the entertainment and recreation category seems ripe for reduction. How tight should we go with our belts?

A. When I sit down with a couple to go over their initial budget, entertainment and recreation is a category that almost always receives a good deal of attention. We have become a society that demands convenience and leisure. When couples start budgeting, they are frequently surprised at just how much they spend on things like meals out, movies, cable television and vacations.

Let's take meals out as an example. When I ask how much they spend in a month at restaurants, the couple may say $20. Knowing better (based on our counseling experience), I'll ask a few more questions, such as how frequently they eat out (once a week), where they go (pizza), who goes (mom, dad and all the kids), and what the average bill is ($25). Rather than spending $240 in a year, the couple is actually spending more than $1,000 – and that doesn't include dad's periodic lunches at work or the special nights out that mom and dad take away from the children.

Don't get me wrong. It's important to set aside time to relax together as a family, and an appropriate amount of money should be allocated for these activities. But spending needs to be kept in line with available resources or you'll find credit-card debt increasing. We are warned in Proverbs 21:17: “He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.” We can find it hard to cut back on entertainment because society is constantly telling us that we deserve these things even if we can't afford them. Just walk into any bank and you'll see slick advertising encouraging you to take out a loan so you can finally go on that vacation you've been waiting for or buy that boat you've wanted for so long.

Financial Life

One of the things I enjoy when I give a seminar is the interaction between the participants. As we work together to save the Stewart family from financial oblivion, it's fascinating to hear the responses of people from varying backgrounds. Some look at how much the Stewarts are paying for their vacation and suggest they either eliminate this year's plans or greatly simplify them. Others will then cry out, but we need to go to Hawaii for our vacation! We all get a laugh out of the discussion, but the point gets made that it's more important for the Stewarts to get their financial house in order than to have a luxury vacation.

Remember that some of our most enjoyable times as a family occur because we're spending time together, not because we're spending money. Being creative by attending free concerts, park or beach outings, gardening and playing board games – all add to family closeness without breaking the bank. While no guideline works for every family, I would suggest that you start by allocating 3% of your gross income to entertainment and recreation. See how this fits in and adjust accordingly for your own circumstances. God love you!

Phil Lenahan is executive director of Catholic Answers in El Cajon, California.