We’re sure many of you know that tomorrow (March 17th) is St. Patrick’s Day! People all around the world, Irish and non-Irish alike, will be celebrating.

The religious and cultural holiday is celebrated every year on the 17th of March. The day is named in honour of the Patron Saint of Ireland. The festival celebrates Irish heritage, culture and traditions, with many people enjoying food, drink and all things green throughout the day.

St. Patrick’s Day is a day full of fun that the whole family can enjoy. Whether you’re of Irish heritage, have Irish friends/ family or just like the colour green (like we do!), St. Patrick’s Day is always great to be a part of.

We know it’s not always easy to celebrate when you’re trying to stick to a budget. But there are lots of ways you enjoy the celebrations without having to splash the cash when it comes to enjoying St. Patrick’s Day.

Take a look at these budget proof tips on how to join in with the fun and celebrate the day without having to spend too much money…

Educate yourself on the history behind the day:

As well as celebrating the day, we should all know the history behind St. Patrick’s Day. So why not spend some time reading up on how and why it started, and who Saint Patrick actually was? If you already know, you could pass your knowledge on to your friends and family.

Don’t forget to wear Green:

The great thing about this holiday is you’re free to go as subtle or as wild as you like. From wearing a plain green t-shirt to dressing like a leprechaun. A simple and fun way to join in the fun is to simply wear green! Whether you go out or stay home, you can spend the day in the colours of the Irish flag (or just green!). Don’t forget to take some pictures and share them with your friends and family.

Have a drink:

Guinness isn’t the only drink you can sip on for St. Paddy’s Day (although it is a pretty fun one!). If you don’t like beer but still want to have an alcoholic drink to celebrate the day why not try Baileys or Jameson which are both Irish favs (adults only of course).  If you looking for something kid friendly then why not buy, or create yourself, that are non-alcoholic. You could even create some fun, green mocktails which means the kids can join in too. Try some fizzy Limeade or make a healthy smoothie!

Decorate:

If you’re creative, why not make some St. Patrick’s Day decorations for your home to surprise the family? There will be plenty of bits and pieces in your local arts and crafts store that you could use. You could even decorate yourself. Paint your nails in the Irish colours, wear an orange leprechaun beard for the day or get the face paint out for some shamrock style face painting. The kids will love this too!

Cook some Irish food:

There are a number of traditional foods that have come out of Ireland. Corned beef, lamb stew and soda bread to name just a few. And don’t forget, potatoes are about as Irish as you can get and are one of the main parts of the Irish diet. In Ireland, the day is usually celebrated by eating food like Irish bacon or savoury roast chicken. But there are many other traditional Irish dishes you can try such as sausage and mash, colcannon, boiled ham and cabbage, beef stew, Shepard’s pie and soda bread to name a few.

Bake some green treats:

The ingredients for home baking are very affordable and baking is always a great way to get the kids involved. Cupcakes, biscuits, brownies. Almost anything sweet can be decorated with some green icing and turned into a St Patrick’s themed treat. Why not try creating some shamrock-shaped biscuits and covering them with green, white and orange icing?  Some basic chocolate cupcakes topped with green, mint-flavoured frosting? Or, if you’re feeling brave, a sponge cake in the shape of a leprechaun’s hat. You could even bake some soda bread – a very traditional (and delicious!) Irish speciality!