What do you do at the weekends if you don't have kids (or very much money)?

[simplyhaving]

I have just got my first Monday to Friday job. I've always avoided going places at weekends as they're too busy and I have had weekdays off to make up for it.

I've just spent today sitting! Thinking about things to do and not doing anything! DH works shifts and is asleep, my (few) friends live hundreds of miles away or are working. I can usually have a wonder round shops or go to the gym in evenings but they close early at the weekend.

I didn't realise I was going to have to put so much effort into my days off. What does everyone else do

I missed off a '?' at the end there

When I was childless I slept or read. Stop putting effort in. It's the weekend.

I sew. I do the food shop, my laundry and a tidy up but mostly I lock myself away in my little sewing room.....bliss! Although on days like today when nothing goes right and I've wasted hours and £££ worth of fabric I think about finding a new hobby

Pre-kids we used to go for a run (drove somewhere nice like a NT property or woodland), then went for a long pub lunch. That took up most of Sunday.

Pretty easy to fill the rest of the time: Shopping/cleaning/admin. Met friends. Went to a gym class or went for a swim in the morning.

Catch up TV, read, mumsnet, window-shopping, a little bit of housework, cook a nice meal, cinema, walk/play with ddog.

I slept and watched films.

Oh god, the pub. Just sitting at home and then deciding to just go for a few. I remember sunny days in a beer garden. I miss it. I've just been to a toddler birthday party.

Before having my son I would go out on Friday night, Saturday morning would be rugby training and the gym, then I would go out on Saturday night. Sunday I would let myself stay in bed late if my partner was at home, if he was away working I’d get up early and go to the gym.

Congratulations! Fixed days off changed our lives! We could...plan things months in advance! Love it.

Anyway, currently I’m sewing and DP is mowing the lawn. In a bit I’ll make something that takes a while cooking for dinner. This morning we wandered into town for a mooch, might sit around watching a film tomorrow. Don’t stress it, you’ll work out what you want to do. And if you don’t, who cares! You’ve always got next weekend, enjoy!

I go to the library, wander round charity shops, get a cup of tea in a cafe. Or I'll just go out for a walk by the river nearby. I go out early as places aren't as busy, and then I'm back home chilling by early afternoon! At home I do crafts, bake or endless decluttering!

Go to the gym
Shop
Laundry
Errands
Chores
Beauty / hair appointments
Read
Watch tv
Nap

Same things you would do on any day off

A walk or a run early in the morning is usually really quiet at the weekend, and often the best part of the day to be out as it's so fresh and new. Try a 7:30 am run??

I'm child free today and have done as above, then a few errands with a coffee in town. This afternoon have done some housework, cooking etc while listening to podcasts and my choice of music. Now sitting down with a G&T to do some holiday planning/admin (the boring organisational parts!). Trying to pair a nice thing with a necessary thing each time...

This evening will do a new recipe (though not a high stress one) for tea, and probably read the papers or a book unless can find something interesting on iplayer.

Saturday mornings are park run... Well I walk and ds runs. Then socialise a bit afterwards at park cafe. Simple lunch. Plan dinner ... Usually something experimental. Telly and a drink. Catch up Netflix box sets. Sunday DH does gym and I lie in. Then we clean, do garden etc. Easy dinner and more box sets.

What would you like to do, OP? Everyone’s hobbies and interests are different. There are plenty of cheap options, such as country walks, the beach, the library, curling up with the newspapers, baking something nice for tea, volunteering, joining local cheap amateur sports or games clubs etc, going to the pub and spinning out one drink for an hour or so while chatting. Your village hall or community centre may have a whole range of weekend activities on offer. Ditto the church, where there’s usually coffee, cake and chat after the service on Sundays.
I’m sure you can find lots of possibilities if you ask around.

We would drive to the beach (30mns) nice walk with coffee after.
Walk our dog in nearby woods..
Cycle for a few hrs nice pub for a shandy in the route
Do THE job in the house you always put off together
Get housework laundry shopping up to date then chill with a film or box series the rest of W/e

On my child free weekends, I wake up late (9:30ish), go to Pilates or gym. Then do the shopping, Come back home for lunch and do the cleaning.

In the afternoon I might walk into town and if anyone is free, meet up for coffee. However, I often just spend the weekend on my own.

Depending on finances, some weekends I go to the theatre, go into London for an exhibition or just a wander round the shops.

Absolutely whatever I want to!

We’re not far from London, so the train fare isn’t that bad, so I might go for a wander around a museum. Or just visit a town I’ve never been to before. We’re also near the coast so I might go & sit on the beach for a bit. I might get some papers and sit in the local pub garden if it’s sunny. I can meet up with friends if I want but I quite like taking myself off for the day and going at my own pace without having to worry about anyone else.

If the weather is grotty or I don’t want to go out, I’ll either do my hobby, watch all the stuff on tv that DH isn’t keen on, read or just faff about on line. DH has Sundays off so we’ll either do one of the above together or just have a laugh together.

Thanks everyone, for the suggestions and the validation of doing nothing! I just went to the gym which was the emptiest I've ever found it so that may be my Saturday late afternoon activity.

Maybe I just need to get used to being around people again! I've just come off of nightshift, I didn't realise how antisocial I've gotten