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August 17, 2005

Cheap or Free Entertainment Ideas

A post at No Credit Needed reminded me how discouraging it can get when you're in the process of getting out of debt. Little changes add up dramatically, but it takes time, and it can be tough to see the big picture when you're stuck in the trenches.

One of the things I think is important while fighting the debt battle is to make sure you're taking time for yourself. Don't spend your whole life worrying about money -- if you have a plan and you're sticking to it, you'll get there in time. You want to escape sometimes so that you can refresh yourself.

But this can be hard if you've given up the things you like to do because they cost money! Movies, restaurants, sporting events... they can get expensive. So I thought I'd share a few alternative ideas that will keep you entertained and cost little or nothing. Please feel free to share your own ideas in the comments!

  • Sit and read at Borders or Barnes & Noble. Get there early and get one of those cushy chairs. Spend some time reading -- try a new novel, or learn something new. Just don't get tempted by the cafe! Most of these bookstores won't mind if you bring in a thermos of coffee -- I've done it without any trouble. You don't have to buy a thing.

  • Try out the Ten Dollar Project and try to find new ways to actually make money with a hobby.

  • Have a picnic or barbecue in the park, or at the beach. You have to eat anyway -- you might as well make a fun day out of it! Bring along a frisbee or football, and get some exercise while you're at it!

  • Join a sports program. Lots of communities have casual sports programs that are free or cheap to participate in. If you aren't crazy for team sports, try training for a road race. You get fun and regular exercise without the gym membership!

  • If it's spring time, plant a vegetable or herb garden. Sure, you have to buy seeds, but it will save you money in the long run.

  • Go for a walk. Get outside and enjoy the sights! If you can resist the temptation to spend money, go window shopping or walk around the local mall.

  • Participate in church activities. If you're involved with a church, there are almost always social, spiritual, and volunteer extra-curricular activities to join.

    • Posted by Frank at August 17, 2005 10:36 AM

    Comments

    The library in my town has a searchable database for different types of media (CDs, DVDs, etc) which also can be searched by year. This is especially handy for parents with young children who either can't find a babysitter or can't afford one very often and have given up the regular visit to the cinema in recent years.

    My library, like many, allows items to be reserved and held in queue. I use Library ELF, which works in conjunction with my library's database, to notify me of reserved items, tell me when they're due, and warn me before fines start piling up. Within the next week I should be getting the movies "Bride & Prejudice" and "Sideways." In a couple weeks I'll have "The Aviator."

    Another nice feature of my library is that if they don't have a particular item I can request that they purchase it or, for a fee much smaller than what the local video rental store charges, they can request it from another library within the state.

    As one of my good friends said years ago: "Use the leverage power of your library card!"

    Posted by: markrushton.com [TypeKey Profile Page]
    at August 17, 2005 12:47 PM

    A good way to hold onto your money is to spend more time with your dollar-smart friends. Once we got serious about eliminating debt/building wealth, our friends with similar priorities became constant companions. We have them over for dinner and board games, or we go out to an inexpensive restaurant or local museum. We’re on the same wavelength.

    Our friends who are jetting to the Caymans one season and Kauai the next, are great for in-home get-togethers, but we don’t want to drop a C-note by dining out with them. We love ‘em, but they will lead us to our old, dumb ways if we go out with them too often. And it gets awkward hearing them brag about their "awesome" interest-only 35-year mortgage for their McMansion.

    Also, I highly recommend ethnic restaurants for inexpensive and amazing dining. Make an adventure out of it! And even an overspending friend will be impressed if you take him to your favorite Vietnamese/Peruvian/Ethiopian hole-in-the-wall, even though the meals are cheap.

    Posted by: inkling
    at August 17, 2005 1:37 PM

    The weekend section of the newspaper (or if your city has one, a free weekly) has a lot of events (concerts, book readings, community events) that are free or cheap. Upcoming.org has a very nice listing also.

    Posted by: jim collins
    at August 19, 2005 1:38 PM

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