Quite often, when we think about cutting back on spending, we also think that boredom is inevitable. That doesn’t have to be the case at all! Here are 36 things to do instead of spending money and to help you have fun while you keep your budget in check!
Learn a new game
Read a book
Write an Encouraging Email, Text, or Letter
Try New Food Combinations (Pretend you’re on a cooking show and see what kind of meals you can come up with while only using random items from your cupboards.
Make some Money (sell stuff you no longer need!)
Cross things off your To-Do List
Seek out free community activities
Try out a New Hairstyle (Pinterest is a great place to get hair style inspiration.)
Go for a Walk
Go camping in your backyard
Write a bucket list
Take a Nap
Rearrange some Furniture
House Hunt using a Realtor app
Invite a friend over for coffee or tea
Pick some wildflowers
Organize the junk drawer or a messy closet
Watch funny videos on YouTube
Shop your closet for a new outfit combination
Bake something
Sign up for Swagbucks
Listen to a podcast (I love Young House Love Has a Podcast!)
Read the archives of your favorite blogs
Actually make some of your Pinterest Pins you have found on Pinterest
Cross something off your to-do list
Mend your clothes that need mending
Use your gift cards
Tackle an organizing project
Clean the car
Call a long distance relative with Skype or Google Hangouts
Make cards for upcoming birthdays
Bake your favourite cookies
Return bought items you’ve been meaning to return
Sign up for a free trial at a local gym
List things on Kijiji or Craigslist to make some money
Clean your outdoor spaces
What are some other things to do instead of spending money? I’d love to read all your ideas in the comments below!
These are all great ideas! Thank you. How about: Movie sing-along: Chose a movie like Sound of Music, Mama Mia, West Side Story and have a movie sing-along
Visit a library: can be a lot of fun – also a great place to borrow DVD’s. We love going and then coming home with our treasures. It’s like shopping without spending money. Many libraries also let you borrow back issues of magazines – great for a rainy weekend with a cup of tea.
Scavenger Hunts: both the kind we are used to but also ones with items that take some creativity – your nominee for granny of the year, a super hero we really need…fun for adults too.
Visit the Beach, without leaving the house: Fun, especially with kids on a sunny or stormy winter’s day. Fill the tub. Put on bathing suits and sunglasses. Spread picnic blanket on a floor – preferably some place where the sun shines in the window. Have a picnic after the “swim” and take a nap under a beach towel.
Love this post! This week I decided that I wanted to buy a kitchen table for my suite because I don’t currently have one. Since it is the no spend challenge this month I can’t just run out and buy one with my savings. Once I started thinking about it I decided to try and make the money for a table this month by selling items on Craigslist. This evening I’ll be making my first $40 towards it!
Other things I like to do that don’t involve spending money…
Spa nights at home: Have a bunch of friends bring over various things from home (nail polish, foot soaks, items for facials, etc) and have a spa evening together complete with girly dvds.
Afternoon tea: Bake some cookies and have tea with friends and family. Great low key, low stress way to spend time together.
Craft day: Dust off all the craft items hiding on your shelves and finish off those scrap books or create some home-made cards. Making cards will save you money in the future too because you won’t have to go out and buy them.
Host a clothing swap: If you have an urge to shop, organize a clothing and household item swap among friends. Everyone can bring over unwanted items that are in good condition and will get to choose from the items that other people bring. This can be clothing only or include jewelery, dvd’s, or whatever you might like.
The No-Spend Challenge isn't giving up all spending, again it's nonessentials. You need to pay the bills and buy important things that pop up (like groceries or school supplies, or even a new heater if yours goes out). The goal is to challenge yourself to only spend on the essentials.
Zero-based budgeting is when your income minus your expenses equals zero. Perfect name, right? So, if you make $5,000 a month, everything you give, save or spend should add up to $5,000. Every dollar that comes in has a purpose, a job, a goal.
But when it comes to the no-spend month, this tip is crucial. Make a plan for every meal. Go week by week if you want, or however you like to grocery shop. Plan meals while you're looking in the freezer, fridge and pantry at what you already have.
Volunteering. If you have more time on your hands than money, a great way to help fight for what you believe in is volunteering. This is how to give to charity without money getting involved. You can volunteer to help out in person, join a phone bank, or even volunteer remotely with the help of the internet.
Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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