I actually love(d) these days though. I mean don’t get me wrong, people don’t enjoy the feeling of being strapped for cash or not having an emergency fund in place, but given the opportunity you can learn a lot about yourself and really understanding your wants and needs when money becomes an issue. It was during these days that I learned how to have a good time without spending much, if any money at all. Even though money isn’t an issue anymore, these are things I still love and regularly practice today.
Board games
Growing up, cards was something I always enjoyed but I’ll be honest, playing board games wasn’t a big part of my childhood. As an adult though, when I was trying to plan an evening in (because going out was not an option!), I decided to ask friends to bring some games that that had, with them. I wanted something to do that wasn’t watching a movie or sitting around doing nothing. I loved them. It was that year that my husband and I really got into games. My husband’s family had always played games so he already owned a few, we just hadn’t done much together or with friends. Over the years we have acquired quite the board game collection. A few we’ve bought new, some in great shape at second hand stores and a few as gifts. We have our favorites (Catan and Ticket to Ride top the list) but we’re always looking to expand.
Having a game-night in is not only uber cheap, it’s incredibly fun. I can honestly say I would rather spend an evening in with friends playing games than out at a restaurant eating and drinking our bank account dry.
Walks and Hiking
Most of my life I’ve had access to a rec center membership. I really enjoyed going to the gym but a time came when we had to give the membership up, it just didn’t fit in our budget anymore. I relied mostly on walks and hikes to get my exercise in and guess what…I really honestly enjoyed it. I would usually go with my sister or a friend, we’d meet up and go for a decent 4-5km walk a few times per week. When I was on maternity leave, my daily walks were the key to me losing weight. I love finding new places to explore and enjoy getting caught up with friends or being with my own thoughts for a little while. Best of all, it’s free to walk, and it satisfied that ‘’I want to be in a coffee shop drinking coffee with you’’ itch.
Cooking
I have a funny relationship with cooking. I actually don’t enjoy cooking for just two adults, but love preparing a meal for a crowd. When going out to restaurants regularly wasn’t an option, not just for us but many friends too (babies, wedding and new homes do that to you), I started offering to cook in much more. I have become pretty good at feeding a crowd on a budget and really enjoy it. Combine with a few board games and you can have a pretty decent time for minimal cash spent. You can easily turn it into a potluck style meal as well to save even more.
There was a time where I really thought I needed to spend money to enjoy myself. I’m appreciative of the times when spending money wasn’t an option though, as I’ve really learned what it was I wanted out of those situations and can easily replicate for little to no actual money being spent.
What’s your favorite way to have fun without breaking the bank?
Great ideas! For frugal fun, I usually just visit downtown and walk in some of the parks in Charleston and take some photos. But since it’s been so hot, I like to read by the pool at my apartment complex. I’ve been meaning to get a crazy puzzle to do though 🙂
I love these activities! We also have some really good options in the summer like free concerts at parks and shopping centers, and the library has Culture Passes with free admission to the zoo, botanical gardens, and a bunch of museums.
Jogging or having a fun time at the park with kids and dogs. These are just a few activities I do, but it’s worth it, making me feel positive and not spending even a dollar.
Great ideas. You don’t really have to spend a lot of money to have fun.