For a couple of weekends over the past few months I haven't had money to go out on the weekends. Inspired by TeacHer Finance's post about super-cheap weekends, I've decided to brainstorm some of the things I've come up with to do when I can't afford to go out and spend money except for things I absolutely need. Staying in on a Friday really isn't so bad because I'm usually tired from the work week (and in desperate need of a shower). Saturdays and Sundays can get pretty boring though. Here are some great, semi-productive things you can do to pass the time.
1. Check out books or DVDs from the library. You can even reserve them or request inter-library loans ahead of time if your local branch doesn't have what you are looking for. New books are usually available for "express" checkout, which means you only have a week to read them, so now's the time! I also check out movies that are a few years old or classics that I just never got a chance to see. A copy of The Boiler Room on DVD is on its way to me via my local library - I've never seen it and have been meaning to for a while. I'm also borrowing The Age of Innocence (the book) from a friend. I have a very tall stack of books to read - I'm a Young Adult fiction addict. Check out my book blog Published in Pink for some of my recommendations.
2. Exercise. I usually skimp on exercise bigtime during the week, but the weekend is a great time to catch up. If you don't have a gym membership you can take a walk around your neighborhood even if it's just for some fresh air.
3. Clean your house or apartment. I also hate doing this during the week, but find myself doing a lot of cleaning when I stay in. I usually put the TV on and listen to shows while I scrub my bathtub, wash dishes, etc. I also catch up on laundry and vacuuming. It feels great to have a clean living space and fresh sheets.
4. Volunteer. There are so many worthy causes that can use an extra hand, even on the weekends! My personal recommendation is the animal shelter or a local rescue group. Volunteer to come in an socialize the cats or take the dogs for a walk. You can also help out with the adoption efforts of local rescue groups by writing bios and taking photos of the animals and posting them online where potential adopters can find them. See my post on the ways volunteering for a rescue group has brought good things to my life. If you're not an animal person, you could always sign up to be a Big Brother or Big Sister or visit the elderly in a nursing home.
5. Work on freelance projects. Start a blog, write that novel you've been putting off, or research a new hobby online and ways to do it cheaply. Start an inspiration board on Pinterest.
6. Make plans. I love daydreaming about the things I'll do when my credit cards are paid off. You can research travel, real estate, jobs, graduate schools, and all sorts of things while you have the time.
If all else fails, I try to stay off of Facebook. Looking at all the things other people are doing just makes me feel depressed.
How do you spend your time when you don't have money to go out?
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