Ah yes, the ever-present dilemma of what to do in your free
time (hah, that’s a good joke!) when you’re strapped for cash or budgeting as a
student (or anyone looking to save some of those precious dollars).
Fortunately, I’ve been doing this long enough that I’ve got a few ideas for
you!
The library—Who
doesn’t love getting lost in a good book? Many people don’t realize that
library also offers magazines, CDs, audiobooks, and movies to check out as
well. It’s always free to set up a card. Just be careful about those sneaky
late fees! Fortunately, renewing library materials from home is easy if you
have a computer with internet access (also something many people don’t know
about).
Netflix or Hulu Plus—the price of a monthly
subscription is about the cost of one movie ticket. More bang for your buck! For a while my sister paid for Netflix and I paid for Hulu Plus, and we shared both accounts to get the most for our money, which was an awesome deal and works well if you know someone interested in sharing accounts.You might also consider saving some money over time for a Roku or other similar TV streaming device. It makes watching movies and shows much easier, especially if you're a multi-tasker and like to use your laptop while a movie plays.
Go exploring! Wander
your neighborhood, go for a drive, or round up some friends (and the dog!) for
a hike. Oregon has some cool hiking trails and lots of neat places to explore.
Invite a few friends and maybe they’ll even offer to pitch in some gas money.
Invite some friends
over for a movie night. Watch the trashiest Lifetime movie you can find and
drink cheap wine (Trader Joe’s, Grocery Outlet, and Target are my go-to places
for wine under $5).
Write a letter (or
two!) Who doesn’t love getting mail? Make it extra special by tucking a
surprise in the envelope—a feather you found, some pressed flowers, glitter,
etc.
Make some art.
Pinterest is an excellent place to look for ideas. Plus, you might find
something cool to craft that can be used to decorate your apartment.
Try a new recipe. Invite
friends over as taste testers for dinner or dessert.
Find out if your
campus is hosting any free events to students, or look in your local
newspaper for something free or low-cost (but equally entertaining) in your
area to attend. Tip: Libraries almost always have cool stuff going on!
Try people watching.
If you’re a writer like me, it can be a good source of character or dialogue
inspiration.
Explore a new hobby
or sport. Always wanted to try yoga? YouTube has a wealth of beginner
videos. Wanna learn to knit? Search for some tutorials online or check out a
book from the library.
What will you try when you have some free time?
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