When it comes to planning an outing with friends, you often get spoilt for choice trying to decide on what to do.
Nowadays there are a large range of activities available in most areas that’s perfect for groups of friends to bond over.
Really, it should come down to the interests that you and your group have in common.
Either way, arranging a fun-filled day that is spent with old buddies, a new friend, or even an acquaintance is something that we should all take the time to do more often.
But, without a doubt planning it can become tricky.
Especially when trying to find a date or time when you are all free.
The Best Step By Step Guide To Plan An Outing With Your Friends
Make no mistake, when you plan your outing with your friends there will be a lot of organising involved.
In fact, there will probably be a lot of back and forth between the group just to settle on a date that suits everyone.
The larger the group, the more difficult it might become.
Either way it is definitely worth the hassle whether it’s an event date, for a birthday, or just for fun.
Deciding What To Do
The very first step when planning an outing with friends is deciding what to do.
This will largely depend on the interests of the group although there are a few things that will suit almost everyone.
If the group is a pretty active one then consider a golf outing, a kayak trip, a visit to a new attraction park, or perhaps a room escape event.
You may find that not all of the group would like those activities and if that is the case then try meeting up for a restaurant outing or drinks at the club.
It doesn’t have to be fancy food it could simply be some fast food, a pizza party, or a picnic lunch.
Whatever you all decide on doing, the most important thing is having fun and when you’re with a group of friends that will likely be inevitable.
Hanging With Friends On A Budget
Every group is different and some people won’t have as much spare cash as others.
Always try to be wary of this when planning the outing as it isn’t something that everyone likes to admit.
However, there are plenty of ways to get the gang together without spending a lot of money.
One option is to invite everyone around to yours to watch movies and play games.
You could order a takeout or give the cooking a try for yourself.
That way those who can’t really afford to go out can still be part of the fun.
There are quite literally hundreds of things you can all do together on a budget, it just takes a little creativity.
Finding A Date
One of the hardest parts of planning an outing with friends is deciding on a date that is suitable for everyone.
This can get complicated even when trying to meet up with one person let alone a whole group of people.
Some of the group might work 9 to 5 jobs and others may work night shifts or weekends.
But one of the best ways around this, is to make the plans far in advance.
That way everyone will have plenty of notice and people can switch shifts and make sure that they keep the date free.
Once you do decide on the date for your outing, take the time to send reminders to everyone as the date gets closer.
By doing that people cant forget about it and make other plans that they cant cancel.
Another thing to think about when you plan your outing with your friends is whether or not the date that you have chosen falls on a national holiday or even during school holidays.
This is very important when it comes to visiting an attraction park, going on a kayak trip or golf outing, and similar activities as it can mean that the prices are increased or that the tickets sell out quickly.
It will also mean that the crowds are likely to be larger as well which could have an impact on your day.
Transport
Now that you know the date of your outing and the type of activities that you are all doing, it’s time to think about transport.
This will largely depend on the age of your group and what you are going to do.
It goes without saying that if your outing involves drinks at the club, then arranging taxis would make more sense.
If the event is more of a day outing where alcohol won’t be consumed, then you could even arrange a few designated drivers who can give other members of the group a lift.
Alternatively, look at whether public transport is an option, especially if your day of fun is in a city center location.
Driving through cities can result in all sorts of delays and the last thing that you want after all this planning is to loose some much needed time with your friends.
Money Saving Tips
As we mentioned earlier in this article everyone’s budget will be different.
The older we get the more money commitments we have but it shouldn’t get in the way of our social lives completely.
To help you plan the best outing possible and to help save everyone a few extra dollars, we have come up with this list of money saving tips.
- Shared Gifts Or None At All – If your event is to celebrate a friends birthday, then consider splitting a gift between the group.
That way you can all put a few dollars in the pot to spend on the friend instead of everyone buying a gift Either that or you propose a no gift rule where you all decide not to buy gifts for each other on birthdays. - Group Discounts – Depending on the size of your group look into whether group discounts are available for your event.
Should you find that you are a few members short ask the gang whether they want to invite a new friend or an acquaintance. That way you can take advantage of the group discount and meet new people at the same time. - Coupons And Vouchers – The key to being thrifty is to do your research before you book.
A simple google search should inform you of any coupons or vouchers that are available for the activities that you have in mind. Its also a good way to find some inspiration as to what to do. When looking at what coupons and vouchers are available for events in your area, it might help you to decide what to do.
Keep in mind that pretty much all coupons and vouchers have expiry dates so make sure that any ones that you have will be valid for the date that you are planning the outing.
Whether you have decided on a simple night in with music and movies or an exotic cooking class, the most important thing is that you all have fun.
Yes, when you look at how to plan an outing with friends it can become overwhelming.
But, just remember that it will all be worth it in the long run.
Once the day finally arrives and all the planning is behind you, you can then relax and pass the torch on to the next person.
