The economy may be a shambles but we still need some fun in our lives. Our guest author today has some inexpensive ways to learn, to get out in the fresh air, to get some exercise and to spend time with out loved ones – all on a budget.
The weekends are fast approaching but what should you do, now that you’re ''financially dieting''? Well, here are a couple of fun activities to try out!
1. Why not go hiking through the mountains and perhaps camp overnight if you’re so inclined. Some of my best memories are of hiking experiences with my friends and it costs almost nothing (if you already have hiking boots). We packed two bottles of tap water, some homemade sandwiches and a raincoat just in case. Those were all we needed.
2. If camping is a little too extreme, then why not go for a little picnic, if the weather allows? The children can play at the playground, the adults can exercise or chat (perhaps even bike) and everyone can eat together later in the day. How much better can it get?
3. Also don’t forget to visit museums – most of them offer free days to visit. And even if they don’t, they usually charge a modest couple of dollars, which is far cheaper than if you were to go shopping.
4. And if you enjoy the museums, I’m sure you’ll also enjoy the library. I remember visiting the libraries every weekend when I was little and I would spend my afternoons reading pictorials while my father did his research.
5. Prefer something a little more creative? Then try a ''photo jog''. This is when you go for a jog and bring a camera with you to photograph anything and everything in your path. By ''anything'', I mean it can be everything from the bees on the sidewalk flower to the beautiful stranger you ran past. The point is to let your mind roam free – and jogging helps with that.
6. Or perhaps you prefer something close to home. If so, consider gardening. My wife love to spend her weekends planting herbs and vegetables and trimming some of the bushes. The time she spends on her garden is minimal yet the fresh, organic food grows without fail.
7. And last but not least, try play a game the whole family can participate in. Perhaps soccer, basketball or baseball … and if you find those too rough, what about badminton or ping pong?
The most important thing is to realize that you need to set a limit then go around and enjoy yourself within that limit.
Ally is part of the team that manages personal finance blogs, which provide tips about Budgeting Worksheet and Ways To SaveMoney, which are both personal finance-related sites based in Sydney, Australia. Before joining the team, she was a Media Planner in McCann Worldgroup Philippines, Inc., with award-winning executions, including the Levi’s 501 ''Live Unbuttoned'' global campaign.
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