Make summertime and the patio party easy on your budget Entertain at home and save money

Toronto ON -- Canadians spend $7,262 or 10 per cent of their annual household budget on food. According to the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association $1,750 or 24 per cent of our food budget is spent dining out. Plan to entertain at home this summer and refocus the money normally used for eating in restaurants on paying your credit card debt.

"The cost of dining out in a restaurant for two people once or twice a month can be equal to a week's worth of groceries," says Jeffrey Schwartz, executive director, Consolidated Credit Counseling Services of Canada, Inc. "The summer season is a perfect opportunity to entertain at home in the relaxed setting of the backyard patio while not putting any unnecessary strain on anyone's household budget."

For a perfect patio party to be a success it doesn't have to cost a lot. All you need is a plan:

• Set the date (you may want to arrange a rain date just in case)
• Invite your guests
• As you plan your menu check the flyers from your local supermarket to see what's on sale
• Shop with a grocery list
• Share the cooking with your guests; it will be their pleasure to contribute dessert or wine
• Set a theme – A Retro Barbecue can be lots of fun
• Visit the dollar store for some inexpensive decorations

"Remember the important part of this activity is the time you spend together not how much you spend," says Schwartz.

About Consolidated Credit Counseling Services of Canada:
Consolidated Credit Counseling Services of Canada, Inc. is a national non-profit credit counselling organization that teaches consumers about personal finance.

Consolidated Credit''s unbiased debt-counselling service offers alternatives to help people get their debts under control. Alongside assisting with consolidating payments, Consolidated Credit experts focus on education and understanding. Strategies include teaching basic but vital concepts such as how to budget, understanding credit and how to manage money.

Consolidated Credit also offers a free web-based budget and debt analysis tool and a plethora of website resources for people interested in learning more about debt and credit on their own, including tips on smart spending, buying a car, taking out a student loan and a survival guide for holiday spending. Its online learning centre offers free personal finance education booklets, financial calculators, resources, tips and suggestions. Also offered is a free iPhone and iPod application, "Budget Tool", which can be used to manage expenses on-the-go.

Spending Patterns in Canada
Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association

About:
Consolidated Credit Counseling Services of Canada, Inc. is a national non-profit credit counselling organization that teaches consumers about personal finance.

Consolidated Credit’s unbiased debt-counselling service offers alternatives to help people get their debts under control. Alongside assisting with consolidating payments, Consolidated Credit experts focus on education and understanding. Strategies include teaching basic but vital concepts such as how to budget, understanding credit and how to manage money.

Consolidated Credit also offers a free web-based budget and debt analysis tool and a plethora of website resources for people interested in learning more about debt and credit on their own, including tips on smart spending, buying a car, taking out a student loan and a survival guide for holiday spending. Its online learning centre offers free personal finance education booklets, financial calculators, resources, tips and suggestions. Also offered is a free iPhone and iPod application, “Budget Tool”, which can be used to manage expenses on-the-go.

Stay Connected With Consolidated Credit Counseling Services, Inc. of Canada
Visit us on www.consolidatedcredit.ca
Call us toll-free on the phone at 1.800.656.4079 for a FREE debt consultation!
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