As I age and experience more of the world, money, not having it, spending responsibilities and managing my work/free time are becoming more important to me.
Starting a new business and currently being short of funds, I’ve realised there’s not a great deal to do with no money. What’s worse is even once you get your hands on a small amount of money, it is quickly assigned someplace and gone.
Do you have weekend plans? How much money will you spend this weekend on simply trying to enjoy your free-time away from the office?
Here in the UK, many are experiencing shifts in spending, costs, and wages. Most simply find that the money coming in is swiftly going out again.
For example, the price for a family of four to go to Alton Towers will cost you over £200. That is for a Saturday daytime entry – Minus refreshments and you’ll have to travel to the park also of course.
Your weekend plans may not include a wiz around the towers of Alton but even a night at the movies for a family of four could come in at more than £50 and a nice dinner for you, and your spouse may approach £30 or more. Finding an economical way to spend a weekend is tough.
Of course, you could borrow money from friends and family, use a credit card or options like a payday loan for the weekend are available across the Internet.
However, even weekend lender SimplePayday advise against borrowing money or using loans at the weekend for frivolous things.
Your finances are really up to you. But when the Sun is shining, and you’ve been working all week, it can feel like a necessity to detox from the week at work.
But we’re in the Winter I hear you say.
So, you don’t want to take a weekend loan or bash your credit card, but you’re broke. What can you do?
Go on a Walk
Sure, that’s not very creative, but walking is the cheapest form of exercise and the together time you get with your family is priceless. When was the last time you found a new path, trail, or community to walk through? Don’t walk around your neighborhood. Go somewhere else. I’m extremely lucky in London we have an array of parks. Regents Park, Primrose Hill, and Hampstead Heath all clustered around my abode in Camden.
A weekend stroll in November may seem like a leap. But wrap up warm and keep your nearest and dearest close.
Stargazing
Here’s how you do it 21st-century style. Find a park that has a clear view of the sky in an area where there aren’t a lot of lights. Take some bug spray, a blanket, and your phone or tablet with you. There are some really cool stargazing apps that allow you to aim your phone or tablet to the sky and identify constellations and other features. 21st Century is stargazing at its best.
Concerts
Most larger communities have a summer concert series that take place outside. They’re almost always free and happen a couple of times per month. This is your chance to listen to music that you’ve not explored in the past. Don’t know much about orchestral or jazz music? Go anyway. You might just like it.
Volunteer
What kinds of problems do you have in your life? There’s something therapeutic about helping others, and for some reason, it makes your problems feel a little more manageable. We’re wired as giving people and using that will send you away feeling refreshed. It does for me.
Dress Rehearsal
Want to see a play, musical, or concert but don’t want to pay for it? Go to a dress rehearsal the night before. Call first, but many companies allow you to view dress rehearsals for little or no money.
Library
You might remember these strange places called libraries. Before entire libraries could be viewed through the internet, libraries were much more popular than they are now. Publishers of books and magazines still have to make money, so you’re not going to get all of the content for free. Head to your library and read the magazines, check out a book, or take home a recording.
Community Classes
Speaking of libraries, check out their offerings of community events. Classes about money management, insurance, writing, and just about anything else may be offered at your library or community center for free. If you have expertise in a certain area, consider giving back and teaching a class.
Car Boot Sales
You don’t have to buy anything to make a day of garage sales. Not only will you meet some interesting people, but you’ll also find that some people’s junk has value to you. You probably have expertise in some area where you’ll find a valuable item for cheap. A treasure hunt is always fun!
Find a New Blog
The internet is full of interesting blogs and other websites, but we often stick to our comfort zone and don’t explore new sites. Another fun activity may be to start a family blog of your own. There are plenty of sites online that allow you to set up a blog for free.
Playground
It doesn’t matter how old you are, there’s always something fun to do at a playground. Don’t be the person who takes your children to the playground and sits on the bench while they play. Get some exercise and some quality family time by playing with your child.
Finally
The key to finding low cost and fun weekend activities is to go outside of your comfort zone and try something new. We’re creatures of habit and if your habit is to shell out big money each weekend, try something new this time around.
Best Ways To Get A $5,000 Loan: Personal, Business And Bad Credit
Well, in the end, if these activities are not good enough for you, there is always an option of taking a loan. Just have in mind that you will need to return all that money, so be very careful with what you chose.
