Recently I saw a tweet that said, “Financially, whatever happened in July can’t happen again.” And I took it personally.
Fun and play are so important for our brains, but a lot of the time the actual activities that we consider fun can financially squeeze those of us who (tragically) aren’t independently wealthy. Sometimes it feels like I’m having a good time at the expense of future-me, who will have to bear the monetary consequences. But balling on a budget doesn’t mean I have to be stuck at home, experiencing FOMO and eating gruel.
"Don't let money or time be the thing that decides whether or not you will have fun," says Emma Tempest, a positive psychology coach. "You can have fun almost in spite of those things if you really put your mind to it."
Having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card 💅 Our local library system hosts all types of activities, including coloring clubs, craft nights, themed parties, ukulele club, anime club, book-themed events, lectures, trivia nights, and, of course, book clubs. There are activities for children, tweens, teens, adults and mixed age groups, and all the activities are free! —Marcia Forrester
🎶 Red, red wine 🎶 My boyfriend and I go to the nearest Zia Records and buy the cheapest used vinyl record we can find (usually about 99¢). We come home, open a bottle of wine and dance to pop music from the '60s, laugh along to comedy albums, or discover obscure indie bands. —Andrea Luque
🦚 Birding is cool now You'd be surprised how far you can get with a bag of cheap birdseed and a free birding app. It helps get everyone outdoors, looking around and listening. —Laurie Anne Ryan
Public parks and the joy of ✨frolf ✨ I play disc golf and there are free play parks all over the US and world. All you need is a starter kit and a local park. You can play solo or check out folks in local clubs. —Paul Neugebauer
And a few more from me:
🐜 Picnics are always a good idea. Also, eating in the middle of a park always makes me feel like the main character of a novel. (But bring bug spray.)
💎 Spend some time on your local Buy NothingFacebook group. Find some (figurative) gems, and give your junk away.
☕ And my personal favorite, get a snack and post up anywhere crowded for some good old-fashioned people-watching. Your local farmers market? The mall!? All good options.
Don’t forget, we’d love to hear your go-to's for cheap fun. Email us at lifekit@npr.org with the subject "Play."
Cheers y’all,
—Julia Carney, Podcast Coordinator
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