How to Have Fun Without Spending a lot of Money

August is here and that means that it’s time for a new theme on the blog. This month I’m focusing on something that I feel is essential to having a happy home: FUN! This month is all about fun for everyone! Sometimes in our busy lives fun is what gets left until we have time and often, that time never really appears. So this month is all about ways that you can bring more fun into your lives, no matter your age or what you are interested in. Today I’m going to start with some ideas on ways to have fun without spending a lot of money.

Play.

There’s this common idea out there that play is something that only children do. It’s something that you grow out of. But I don’t think it should be that way. Play is a great way of learning something knew without worrying about perfecting the result. It is something that grabs your attention – and that can be a different thing for each person. It could be playing a board game as a family or a card game on your own. It could be that you find an old set of Meccano and take the time to put it together and then see how it works.

Play could be getting on the floor with your kids and joining in on their game or it could be trying a team sport for the fun of it. Puzzles are another way for you to give play a go. They make them in all kinds of designs and you might even have a bunch lying around your house somewhere. Play allows you to challenge yourself whilst also switching off from all the things you need to do. Maybe you need a quiet moment to really focus on it, or it might be something that you can add into your daily life. It could even be taking the time out to have a dance party whilst you’re making dinner.

Create.

Not everyone realises that we can all be creative. It just takes a willingness to learn the skill or being ok with things not being perfect the first time around. I used to think that I wasn’t creative. I couldn’t make anything in Art class that looked anything like the picture in my head. It turns out that I was just focusing on the wrong things to make (or aiming way too high for a novice – failed Jiminy Cricket Clock from year 7 anyone?).

There are two ways you can get started: go free form and just start playing with some materials of your choice. It could be painting or drawing or even paper crafts. Just start and see where you get to. Or if that’s too daunting, or not your style, you could get yourself some instructions or a kit and begin there. YouTube and blogs are a great place to try some crafts and model planes and cars can be good kits if you’re interested in that. The key is to not be afraid to make a mistake and get better over time and just have some fun with it!

Relax.

Sometimes fun is just not doing all that much at all. Relaxing can be the hardest form of fun for those of us who can always find something to do but it’s one that is so, so worth it. Whilst a fancy far away holiday (vacation) would be nice, it could be just half an hour when the rest of the house is asleep to read a book or watch a movie and just put your feet up. It could also be a bubble bath or a trip to a day spa if you have a little extra to spend on yourself.

If relaxing at home doesn’t feel like an option, then going for a walk in the fresh air or a walk along the sand if you’re near a beach can help you to just be in the moment and doesn’t have to cost any money at all.

Explore.

Sometimes the best kind of fun is to get your walking boots on and get out there. This can be a great way to have fun with kids too (as long as they’re not feeling whiny). It could be that you find a new area or park to visit or go on a hike. Visiting a beach and having some fish and chips can be great fun too. You could even bring a packed lunch picnic. It’s all about getting away from the day-to-day for a bit and just enjoying the company you have or the time to reflect.

You could also explore parts of a city or small town that you don’t know well. Do some window shopping and maybe stop in at a cafe for a drink. If you’re on your own you could take a notebook and write or sketch whilst you’re there. Maybe there’s a part of where you live that you have always wanted to see but have never had the time. I’ve not really explored where I live all that well, but I’m beginning to see it through a tourist’s eyes now too.

Experiment.

Another way to have fun is to get in the kitchen and experiment with some recipes. They could be making a cake without a recipe or just adding something to it. If you’re not feeling that adventurous you could start with some build-your-own milkshakes and see what you come up with! You might even come up with the next big thing!! This can be a giggle fest if you’re trying it with kids or with friends. What would you put in yours?

You could also do some science experiments if that’s more your thing. There are some fun books around with ideas on simple but fun ones that are unlikely to get anyone hurt. You might even have some from your childhood that you could use.

Fun doesn’t have to be something that costs a lot of money or even takes up a huge amount of time. It can be as simple as getting out for a treat or even just taking a long walk. Whilst scheduling it into the calendar is a good idea if you live a fully scheduled life, it’s best if it’s not planned to the point that you can’t just go with the flow and relax into it on the day. Letting go of what things ‘should be’ can be a tough one for me, but I’m finding that things are much more fun when there’s a loose plan and the rest is left to play out and enjoy. Maybe you feel that way too?

What’s your favourite way to add some fun into your home? Are you hoping to add more like me?