What is everyone doing with their spare time in light of COL crisis?

[Nearlyadoctor]

I've read a lot of threads recently on here where people are discussing the COL crisis and how it's affecting their ability to eat out, go to the cinema etc. I appreciate there are also those who couldn't afford to do that anyway. There's always a lot of advice for people with small children to go to the park, beach, set up treasure hunts and nature trials etc take a flask and a sandwich, but what about everyone else?

How is everyone filling their spare time at weekends particularly at the moment when the weather as been so dismal. Previously I know people were swimming, going to the cinema, shopping, horse riding , theatre- I could go on but obviously these are the first things a lot of people have had to shelve to meet day to day living costs.

Personally we've walked more, read more, watched Netflix (£4.99) package, baked more but actually that's also costly.

Just thought it might be good to share ideas and maybe get some more inspiration and ideas.

I have pretty much completed Netflix at this point
Lots of reading
Jigsaws
Game nights at home with the kids
Decluttering & organising - I’ve recently been printing off the years of photos off my laptop and putting together photo albums, the kids love to look through their baby pics and hear stories from when they were little
And I’ve been doing lots of ‘dropping in for a brew’ with friends where we would normally go for lunch or an expensive drink etc

Play computer games. A new one costs less than a night out and the right game is over 100 hours of entertainment, which is 20+ nights out.

I got a second job for 4 months on top of my 4 days a week professional role because I did not want to give up on family days out and holidays. It's an extra 12 hours a week over 2 days and I'm exhausted this week- 3 weeks into a 4 month contract.

Some politician said months ago when people were talking about COL they should get evening jobs and I thought 'Actually- I could do that'.

It's bloody knackering though so this is a one off.

Doing crafting using inexpensive materials, visiting friends for coffee, gardening, cleaning and sorting the house. We occasionally go out for a coffee and scone. We don't have young children anymore though so it's not too bad.

I know my reply is not quite what the OP is asking- but it IS what i am doing with my spare time in light of the col crisis!

I got a keyboard off marketplace for ten quid and am learning piano.

We do much of the same things we always did, but have just become more earnest and cannier about seeking out offers and deals. We’ll no longer pay Everyman or Odeon or Vue prices for the cinema, but we discovered two little community enterprise cinemas within walking distance of our house where tickets are £6 each - and we even like the venues more. We’ll go out for drinks, but tie it in with going for a walk (how we discovered aforementioned cinemas) which ends at one of the really pretty nice Wetherspoons in the neighbouring postcodes rather than one of our local pricey pubs. We still go for dinner with friends but search out the places doing set price menus on certain days of the week. We’ve always done a lot of free fitness stuff like running and cycling, but have recently really made an effort to make it to Parkrun because with a coffee afterwards, it’s an actual weekend activity and friends meet up for next to nothing.

I think we’re actually spending less on activities, going out, and socialising than we were a couple of years ago, whilst not actually doing less, simply because we’re making the effort to cut costs when before we didn’t think we had a reason to.

I've been trying to find some evening WFH non mlm work and there doesn't seem to be anything out there.

This is a really good idea for a thread, thank you

I have joined my local library so I can read for free

I do outdoor swimming which is free (I did buy a neon swimming hat though) and swim in pools much less.

I found an exercise class run at a local village hall and have cancelled my gym membership and am going to that instead. Still looking for a yoga class.

I got mine through a temp agency but it in an office as a long term sickness cover. Basically office admin duties one day and then evening minute taking for a weekly Exec/Board meeting which i can finish off at home if needed at the weekend. I've seen a couple of things WFH but it tends to be sort of call centre work or market research which is not really my thing.

Duolingo

Some really good ideas so far- what I should have also put in was ideas for teenagers as well.

Dd16 has really noticed the increase in train fares, as her and friends would often go into town shop and maybe have some pasta, but at £15/16 a main course whereas there were previously deals < £10 that has all stopped.

We are lucky that we aren’t especially watching the pennies but many of the activities we enjoy cost very little and are really social. Here are some:

DS12 and I have joined our local ‘Wombles’ litter picking group. He goes with me and a friend and they are surprisingly keen to wander the village in hi-vis, with a litter picker.

He is very interested in lighting and sound technology, and is going to shadow an old hand at these skills for a local village production. Again, no expense at all.

Scouts and Guiding continue to be an absolute bargain in our local area and have offered amazing opportunities to both of our kids. I know that they write off the subscription for families who are struggling.

We live in an old village, and he and his friends are quite keen on our spot of ghost hunting. Our only outlay was his ghost hunting kit, which appears to consist of a thermometer and a radio with manual tuning.

DD15 is an excellent singer and sings with the church choir, who are surprisingly good. She also joins in events run by the county music service which are an absolute bargain.

Another cost free activity are the virtual work experiences, run by Spring Pod, which she and several friends have enjoyed in several areas.

I sing in our local community choir. It costs just £30 per term. We have such a laugh, have an excellent choir leader and really enjoy participating in community events.

We rarely go out with friends to pubs, or restaurants to socialise. Instead, we love having friends over for supper, board game evenings, or a disco, which, with teens, can go well into the night.

In the summer, we take our kayaks down to the river with a picnic. It’s a lovely, chilled day and the kids, friends or other families often join us too.

Just one more. Once a fortnight, DS12 and I take our dog down to the local care home for an hour in the evening. There is always a lovely atmosphere and the residents love meeting DDog who charms them all and eats about 300 rich tea biscuits. They are always happy to have sociable animals visit them. A friend took her pygmy goats in at Christmas!

that's such a good idea! I wouldn't want to commit to an additional permanent job but a temporary one would really help

Ooh this thread has made me want to buy a jigsaw.

Same as before the COL crisis tbh. Dog walks in the beautiful countryside, tv series or films and beers at home, the occasional Friday night pint at the pub on the way home from work, knitting, crochet, board games, playing music. In the summer, bbqs at home, swimming in lakes, canoeing. We are lucky enough not to be feeling the pinch too much, we just don't go out a lot anyway.