How to Turn Down Work Invites You Cant Afford - The Muse

How to Turn Down Work Invites You Cant Afford - The MuseHow to Turn Down Work Invites You Cant Afford The company budget for recreational activities is limited, to say the least. Theres the annual holiday party and the yearly department lunch, but thats literally where the buck stops. But thats not where your team stops socializing. In fact, youve never worked at a place where hanging out with colleagues was so standard- and fun. Unfortunately, as much as youd like to join the crew for the standing Thursday happy hour or participate in the organizations sporting events, its simply not realistic based on your own limited budget.While honesty is typically the best policy, its understandable that you might be reluctant to be 100% truthful about your situation- though, to be sure, you have no reason to be embarrassed. After all, who knows if Jocelyn from IT is racking up credit card debt with each lunch invitation she accepts. Still, assuming youd rather not get into the nitty-gritty details of why you cant afford to go out with the group, here are three pain-free options for declining1. Blame Your Absence on Another CommitmentPeople are busy. Thats going to come as a surprise to exactly no one. Its natural that youd want to spend time socializing with friends you dont see every day. Regardless if its a weekday lunch with folks from the marketing team or an invitation to check out Larrys band playing at a bar with a $15 cover charge, youre so sorry, youd love to, but youve got something else going on. Maybe next time.You dont actually have to go into details about why youre declining. Simply sayUgh, my life is crazy right now Im bummed I cant make it, but one of these days, I swear things are going to settle down2. Suggest a (Cheaper) AlternativeIf the thought of spending $10 on a single glass of wine has you perspiring, but youre also experiencing FOMO, consider seeing if your team is up for splitting a bottle in the office kitchen or in a conference room. Thi s way, you dont seem anti-social, and you also save big bucks over time if this becomes a regular thing.You might say this the next time the group starts making plans to go outOh, that place is always so crowded, and I have to get home for the dog, so Id rather not venture too far. What if we grabbed a bottle or a six-pack and found a chill spot in the office to hang out for a bit? I should probably finish up a couple of things here anyway, and I know I wont do that if I leave the building. Have a drink with me and then head out. 3. Say Youre Focused on Your SavingAnd that every little bit counts. Just as people understand that everyones busy, they also generally understand that financial situations vary by a great degree. You dont have to get into your mounting bills, nor do you have to discuss the finer points of your student loan debt or the fact that, at this stage in time, youve allotted just $75 toward recreational use each month, and youve already spent $63.50 with a week to go.Keep it casual Ive been wanting to try that Korean spot too But, sadly, Ill have to pass. Im making an effort to bring my lunch so I can be more spend-y elsewhere. Cant wait to get the full report thoughA caveat though If you actually do want to join in on the fun with your co-workers, consider putting aside enough for one lunch or one drink out every other month, so you dont always say no, and you dont run the risk of becoming a social hermit. Most of us, if we really try, can scrounge up a few extra dollars here or there by cutting something else out. Do you, for example, have a strong sense of the little ways your daily spending habits might be costing you? Here are seven to be aware of. If your relationships with your colleagues matter to you (and youre tired of being the broke guy or girl all the time), take a closer look at your habits and see if you can find a way to a put a little toward hanging out with your co-workers.