Photo by amy-wong.com
The recession is in full swing. The stock market is staggering. In these tough financial times, penny-pinching is en vogue, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun to meter the grim forecasts. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite low-cost activities that are sure to bring a few smiles and take the pressure off the wallet or pocketbook.
1. Subscribe to a Podcast
I confess openly and without shame that I’m a podcast junkie. These free audio shows that you can subscribe to via RSS feed (just like this here blog) cover a wide range of topics from consumer technology to the lastest film happenings to all things geeky and beyond (not that these are any of my faves–ahem!). If you have a particular interest or hobby that you’re passionate about, there’s sure to be a show for you.
2. Game On with InstantAction
As our good buddy Trent at The Simple Dollar can attest, videogames (despite being fun diversions) can be quite the wallet-drain. InstantAction looks to alleviate that financial sinkhole by offering free online games that you play in your Web browser. These aren’t the forgettable flash games of yesteryear; these are high-quality, console-worthy original offerings. Game on!
3. Tune Into Hulu
If money is tight, or if you’ve ever questioned the true value of cable, we suggest giving Cablevision, Comcast, Time Warner, and the rest of “Big TV” the boot and adopt Hulu. Here you can find a slew of excellent TV programming, as well as select movies, that you can watch without spending a dime.
4. Listen to Slacker
If you’re anything like Lauren and me, you’ve come to the realization that traditional FM radio is a sonic wasteland. Repetitive playlists, annoying DJs, and far too many commercials regulates the airwaves as a place where music goes to die–but not on Slacker. This free internet radio service lets you create your own stations, ban and favorite particular songs, and discover artists that wouldn’t get the time of day on traditional radio.
5. Visit a Suggested Donation Museum
A handful of museums are quite pricey; the vast majority are not. Check out your nearest suggested donation museum and get some culture on the cheap.
6. Read a Good Book–for free!
Remember that building that you used to visit as a kid that let you borrow books for free? You know, the library? It still exists! So whether you’re looking to delve into McCain and Obama’s political views, learn about debt consolidation, or investigate the cause of this recession, your local library has a wealth of knowledge that you can tap into virtually any day of the week.
7. Go for a Walk or Jog
The number of benefits brought about by simply getting off your duff and moving is amazing. Not only does a leisurely walk/power walk/jog/run clear the mind and help relieve stress, it can also lead to better physical stamina and weight loss.
8. Host A Bad Movie Night
Let’s be frank: our DVD collections are a snapshot into our personal tastes. Although we’d all like to think that those flicks are all five-star, I’ll bet that for every Citizen Kane there’s a Leprechaun Back 2 da Hood–and that’s awesome. Call up a friend or five, ask them bring over their favorite stinker, and laugh the night away.
Those are our suggestions for low-cost fun–do you have any favorites that you’d like to share with the rest of the class?
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See your hometown like a tourist. I’m always amazed at how many natives never tour their local parks, monuments and natural wonders. Here in Austin, for instance, there are millions of bats that live under Congress Ave bridge. Every night at dusk, they take en masse. Quite a sight — and a free one, too!
Very true. Most people never do explore their city.
Also, I was in Austin about a year ago and witnessed the awesomeness that is the bats under the Congress Avenue bridge. It was incredible! I’d love to be able to experience that on a constant basis.