Cheap Thrills - Having Fun on a Budget

Since the poor are getting poorer, some of us need to develop more imagination around how to have fun on a budget. When money is tight, eating out and a trip to the theater are prohibitively expensive.

So, what to do?

What are your cheap thrills?

Go to the museum on free days.
Staff a booth promoting an activist issue

Library Library Library
Books, books on tape, movies, computer games, visiting authors/lecturers
ALL FREE
almost
You have to cough up $10 a year (family membership) and join Friends of the Library to hear the authors and attend other functions.
Hard to beat.

If there are books and DVDs you want to keep, check out the fleamarket. Odds are there is a cheapo used copy you can get for a lot less than the new copy.

Depending on where you live, skating on ponds, lakes, even creeks is wonderful.

And yes, cycling -- the best!

Not only fun, but you save money on all those prescription drugs you don't need (blood pressure, anti-depressants, blood sugar, etc.)

of found objects or stuff that would normally be thrown away).

"Gimme that old-time fun...
Gimme that old-time fun...
Gimme that old-time fun...
The kind where we stay home!"

ward at the local hospital. Read to some seniors at a 'rest' home; take a senior for a walk, or just sit and talk with a very lonely old man who probably has some GREAT stories to tell, and no one to listen to him.

Remember the old lady living all by herself around the corner, and she can't mow her lawn or shovel her sidewalk? Go do it for her. For free.

Volunteer to be a Big Brother or Big Sister. SOOOO many kids need a good influence.

Volunteer at the local animal shelter. They ALWAYS need dog walkers and cat cuddlers.

Go to the library, museums. Head to the china town part of your city; the shops are always great.

GARDEN if you have a yard. Join a local arboreatum and learn about arboraculture and trees.

Think outside the box. Why does your time have to be about YOU? Make your available time about someone else.

:shrug:

I mean, for most of us it doesn't cost anything except maybe a few dollars for birth control to ensure we don't have any big bills coming 9 months later

:shrug:

renting movies is cheaper than going to a movie cinema, plus you can curl up w/ a warm blanket and watch in your jammies (or even less) if you want

drinking at home is cheaper than going out to a club

Invite friends over for a "pot luck"--you supply beverages, everyone else supplies the food.

Online games.... like cribbage, chess, backgammon etc

We call it "Friday Night Supper Club".

Thankfully, we have lots of friends who are great cooks.

libraries -- for videos, DVDs, books, or even lectures

museums -- though budget crunches may eliminate a lot of free days, they're still pretty reasonable (disclaimer: I'm a museum professional)

dining out -- go out for lunch instead of dinner. try the early bird specials, if you don't mind eating before 6. look for coupons in the paper or in mailings, or invest in a $20 entertainment guide.

sports -- mini-golf, bowling, or take in a high school or local college game.

universities -- lots of schools have cheap or free entertainment like film societies, lectures, etc.

movies -- go to matinees or see things in second run theaters if you have any around you