THINGS TO DO FOR FREE!

It gets harder and harder to come up with things to do when you are on a budget whether you have kids or not. So, I thought I would share some suggestions you could keep handy so that when you do have some free time, you might want to check out the list and may even have an "ah ha" "that's what I want to do moment" with one of the ideas.

Sometimes it's the simplest things that matter the most.


ENJOY QUIET TIME AT THE LIBRARY - READ ABOUT A TOPIC YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT

TAKE A RIDE THROUGH SOME BACK ROADS ESPECIALLY NOW WHEN FALL IS IN THE AIR

TAKE A WALK ON THE BEACH, COLLECT SHELLS, ROCKS, ETC. - SUNSET, MY FAVORITE.

CLEAN OUT YOUR GARAGE OR ATTIC, SOUNDS LIKE WORK BUT SO THERAPUTIC TO CLEAN OUT THINGS AND GET RID OF THEM

BAKE SOME HOMEMADE BREAD OR COOKIES AND MAKE A LITTLE EXTRA FOR AN ELDERLY NEIGHBOR

WASH AND VACUUM YOUR CAR BY HAND - GRAB THE KIDS AND GIVE THEM A SPONGE TO HELP

PULL OUT THE FAMILY BOARD GAMES - DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THOSE ARE???

VISIT YOUR NEIGHBORS - JUST FOR A QUICK STOP TO SAY HELLO, I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN AWHILE

WRITE DOWN YOUR FUTURE GOALS. GOALS ARE NOT WRITTEN IN STONE BUT THEY ARE ALWAYS MORE ATTAINABLE WHEN WRITTEN DOWN WHERE YOU CAN VISUALLY SEE THEM

PLANT SOME FLOWERS IN POTS OR EVEN BETTER, VEGETABLES OR BERRIES. MMMMMMMMMMM...

MAKE A “TO DO” LIST FOR THE WEEK, OK, SO, I NEED ONE EVERY DAY BUT JOT DOWN SOME OF THE THINGS YOU HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT IN AWHILE THAT NEED TO GET DONE

ORGANIZE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE LIKE ME AND HAVE BINS OF THEM IN THE GARAGE THAT YOU HAVE HAD SINCE CHILDHOOD

GO FOR A PICNIC AT THE PARK, GRAB A BLANKET, MAYBE A BOTTLE OF WINE, SOME BREAD, CHEESE...THERE YOU GO, INSTANT ITALIAN PIAZZA PICNIC

GO ON A HISTORICAL WALKING TOUR, HAVE YOU SEEN THE FREEDOM TRAIL IN BOSTON...PRETTY COOL!

HAVE A POTLUCK BLOCK PARTY - SUCH A GREAT WAY TO KEEP A GROUP OF NEIGHBORS CLOSE

RESEARCH SOMETHING NEW - LEARN HOW TO MAKE POTTERY, TILE A FLOOR, SOMETHING YOU'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE

COOK SOME MEALS IN ADVANCE - WHAT'S BETTER THAN PULLING OUT A COMPLETELY FINISHED MEAL AFTER A LONG DAY OF WORK. TAKE A DAY AND COOK EVERYTHING UP AND FREEZE IT

ORGANIZE HOLIDAY DECORATIONS - WE ALL HAVE THEM, BROKEN BULBS, TANGLED STRINGS OF LIGHTS, ETC.

TAKE A RELAXING BUBBLE BATH.... AD SOME BEAUTIFUL SMELLING CANDLES, MUSIC, AHHHHHHHH!

WATCH AN OLD CLASSIC MOVIE - I LOVE OLD BLACK AND WHITE MOVIES. ESPECIALLY SOMETHING BETTE DAVIS...SHE MADE SOME CRAZY MOVIES

MAKE A LIST OF PEOPLE YOU SHOULD MEET, SOME LOCAL PEOPLE WHO MAY BE MORE ATTAINABLE THAN LET'S SAY, THE POPE, OR THE PRESIDENT. YOU CAN STILL ADD SOME OF THOSE TO YOUR LIST BUT TRY TO STAY A LITTLE REALISTIC FOR THE SHORT TERM

PRACTICE YOGA OR TRY IT FOR THE FIRST TIME, NOW THERE IS SOMETHING DEFINITELY ON MY "TO DO" LIST! GREAT FOR STRESS

LEARN HOW TO MEDITATE AND DO IT. TAKE AS LITTLE OR AS MUCH TIME AS YOU WANT TO DO IT.

ORGANIZE A NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN UP - THERE IS ALWAYS A LITTLE PARK AROUND THAT COULD USE SOME TLC.

ORGANIZE HOME WARRANTIES AND HEALTH DOCS, INSTEAD OF BEING LIKE SOME OF US AND PUTTING EVERYTHING INTO ONE FILE BOX UNLABLED AND UNCATEGORIZED

REARRANGE FURNITURE IN YOUR HOME OR OFFICE, YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW REFRESHED IT MAKES YOU FEEL. DO A LITTLE HOMEWORK ON FENG SHUI AND YOU WILL BE AMAZED AT HOW MOVING FURNITURE AROUND CAN MAKE YOU FEEL

ORGANIZE FOR A FUTURE YARD SALE - LABEL AND TAG EVERYTHING IN ADVANCE SO ON THAT NICE SATURDAY OR SUNDAY MORNING YOU CAN JUST TAKE EVERYTHING OUT AT ONCE...EASILY

CREATE YOUR OWN VISION BOARD(S) - I HAVE ONE ON MY COMPUTER SCREEN, IN MY APPOINTMENT BOOK, FRAMED ON A WALL IN MY HOME, AND A COPY OF A SMALLER ONE IN MY PURSE. REMINDS ME OF THE THINGS I AM WORKING TOWARDS AND THE ARE ALL DIFFERENT.

WATCH EDUCATIONAL YOUTUBE VIDEOS - DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUTUBE? I'M TALKING ABOUT THE "REAL" EDUCATIONAL STUFF. NOT THE THINGS YOU WOULDN'T WANT YOUR KIDS TO SEE. CHECK OUT VIDEO'S ABOUT "THE SECRET" OR TOPICS LIKE "HOME ORGANIZING" OR "WHAT PAINT COLORS YOU SHOULD CHOOSE FOR YOUR HOME". LOOK UP SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKERS. THEY SHOULD ALL BE THERE

CREATE SOME HOMEMADE GREETING CARDS EVEN IF THEY ARE IN ADVANCE OF A HOLIDAY OR BIRTHDAY. SHOW SOMEONE YOU REALLY CARE BY THINKING ABOUT THE THINGS THEY LIKE BEST AND INCORPORATE THEM INTO THE CARD

RESEARCH YOUR FAMILY TREE, I DON'T THINK I HAVE EVER EVEN STARTED THIS ONE BUT IT'S A GREAT IDEA, ESPECIALLY TO GIVE TO YOUR KIDS WHEN THEY ARE GROWN

DO A PUZZLE WITH KIDS OR SIGNIFICANT OTHER, IT'S VERY ADDICTING

LEARN SOME CARD TRICKS, A LITTLE SOMETHING YOU CAN SHOW OFF AT THE NEXT PARTY

START A WORKOUT ROUTINE. I HAVE THE HARDEST TIME WITH THIS ONE BUT I DO TRY TO WALK A BIT EACH DAY WHEN I CAN. FOR YOUR HEALTH EVERYONE SHOULD AT LEAST WALK.

GO THROUGH OLD MAGAZINES THEN TOSS, I TEAR OUT ARTICLES HERE AND THERE TO SAVE OR RECIPES BUT FOR THE MOST PART, I DON'T NEED THEM COLLECTING DUST ANYWHERE

START A JOURNAL (IT'S NEVER TOO LATE), I THINK THIS IS THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE FOR MYSELF...EVER. I NEVER REALIZED WHAT IT WOULD DO FOR ME MENTALLY TO WRITE IN A JOURNAL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT EVERY DAY BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TIME, WRITE YOUR FEELINGS AWAY. LATER, YOU CAN CHECK BACK ON SOME THINGS YOU WROTE IN THE PAST AND SEE IF YOU ARE STILL ON COURSE IN YOUR LIFE OR IF THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER THAN THEY WERE WHEN YOU FIRST WROTE IN IT.

WRITE A LETTER TO YOUR PARENTS OR CHILDREN. AN UNEXPECTED LETTER TELLING THEM HOW MUCH YOU CARE FOR THEM. GIVE IT TO THEM WHILE THEY ARE STILL WITH YOU. IT WILL MEAN SO MUCH MORE

SCAVENGER HUNT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY. MY KIDS DO THIS IN THE HOUSE SOMETIMES ON RAINY DAYS, THEY HAVE A BLAST

PLAN A CAMPING TRIP (YES, IN A TENT)TAKE IT FROM EXPERIENCE, CAMPFIRE, MARSHMALLOWS AND SMORES. THE BEST!

TAKE YOUR PET TO THE PARK OR TO THE BEACH AND RUN WITH HIM. EXERCISE FOR "TWO"

WATCH KITE FLYERS AND MAYBE FLY YOUR OWN, THEY HAVE SOME OF THE GREATEST SPOTS LOCALLY, ESPECIALLY IN NEWPORT.

VISIT AND HELP OUT AT A NURSING HOME, YOU CAN'T IMAGINE THE FACE OF AN APPRECIATIVE ELDERLY MAN OR WOMAN THAT YOU JUST READ A BIT OF A BOOK TO. ITS PRICELESS

HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD MOVIE (DVD) SWAP, I'M READY FOR THAT ONE. TONS AND TONS OF THEM.

CLEAR YOUR CLOSET OF UNUSED CLOTHES. GET RID OF IT... YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVEN'T WORN IT IN A YEAR OR SO, YOU PROBABLY NEVER WILL AGAIN. AND IF YOU GO UP AND DOWN WITH WEIGHT YOU MIGHT WANT TO KEEP SMALLER AND LARGER SIZES BUT STYLES COME AND GO... TOSS IT!

GET UP EARLY AND GO FISHING ON A POND, I USED TO DO THIS ALL THE TIME WITH MY DAD WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, HE WAS ALWAYS TELLING ME BE QUIET OR YOU'LL SCARE THE FISH AWAY. I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF. I WAS A CHATTERBOX, CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT???

ATTEND A FREE COMMUNITY BUSINESS CLASS, SCHOOL PLAY, ACTIVITY AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER, OUTSIDE MOVIE THAT THEY NOW HAVE IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS OR AN INTRODUCTORY ZOOMBA CLASS...

I'M SURE YOU HAVE TONS OF YOUR OWN THINGS YOU LIKE TO DO AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU SHARE THEM HERE SO THAT OTHERS CAN HAVE MORE GREAT THINGS TO DO AS WELL.

SHARE AWAY....

The Wastefulness of Decluttering; or How to Make Less Count for More

Post written by Leo Babauta. Follow him twitter.

Don’t throw the good away with the bad.
‘It is preoccupation with possession, more than anything else, that prevents men from living freely and nobly.’ ~Bertrand Russell

I know there are many of you who want to declutter, or who have already gotten started … but you hit a roadblock.

And it’s a big one: you don’t want to be wasteful. Your gut tells you that getting rid of perfectly good things — things that cost a pretty penny to get in the first place — is wasteful as hell.

I recently received this letter from Marissa, a brilliant reader:

“I am currently going through my possessions for the umpteenth time to have/own less. My issue I am having now, is that when I donate/throw away items I don’t “need” I feel like I am wasting money. At one point in time I used my hard earned money to buy this item and now I just want to get rid of it. Though this does help in my future shopping habits so I don’t buy anything on a whim or just because I want to have it, I feel like I am throwing away money into the trash/donation bins.”

This is such a common question that I thought I’d address it here — if you’re holding onto stuff because you feel it would be a waste of good money if you got rid of it, here is the answer you are looking for:

I hereby release you of your burden.

You are free. You bought these items with hard-earned money, and you don’t want that money to go to waste, so you’ve been holding onto them. It’s a burden that keeps you from freeing yourself of these unneeded possessions — it forces to you keep the space they occupy, to maintain these possessions, to constantly see them every day even if you don’t want them, to walk around them or trip over them or live in a cramped, cluttered space. This is a burden, paying penance for your initial wasted expenditure of cash.

But: the waste was when you bought it, not when you get rid of it. You bought something you didn’t really need — and the real waste would be to ignore this and not learn from it.

So here’s how to make sure that by decluttering possessions you don’t need, it’s not a waste:

1. Learn your lesson. This might sound condescending, but it’s not meant to be — if we don’t realize our mistakes, we can’t learn and avoid them in the future. So realize: you shouldn’t have bought the items in the first place. Avoid doing this in the future, by buying as little as you possibly can. Stop being a consumer, and start living.

2. Realize that keeping the items is wasteful. If you keep stuff you don’t need, it costs you money — you pay for the space to store it (lots of possessions means bigger homes or storage containers), you pay to maintain it, it costs you time (and therefore money) to keep it and go around it, you have to fix things when they break, you have to sort through things to find things, you spend time moving things around, and so on. Getting rid of this unnecessary stuff frees you of this waste.

3. Find someone who will use it. It’s a waste to keep something when you’re not using it (a good reason car-sharing is a much better use of cars than private ownership, btw). So find a friend or family member who needs it, or give it to Goodwill or some other such charity, or donate it to a library that will let many others use it. Consider starting a neighborhood tool library, or a book-sharing spot in your community. When someone else uses your items, it’s not a waste.

4. Test the waters. If you’re unsure of whether you’ll need something later, put it to a test: have you used it in the last six months? If not, you probably don’t need it (unless it’s seasonal — then ask if you needed it in the last year). If you’re still unsure, box it up with today’s date, and check on it in six months — if you never needed to open the box, you didn’t need it.

5. Don’t let your possessions own you. If you hold on to possessions because you feel it would be wasteful to get rid of them, they are controlling you. They are dictating your life, rather than you creating the life you want, living how you want to live. Let go of possessions and be free — living otherwise would be the true waste.

6. Make better use of your time and space. Once you’re freed of this clutter, don’t waste your freed time on acquiring more stuff. Spend your time on incredible experiences, not on possessions. In the end, get a smaller house, now that you need to store less stuff, and help save the earth while you’re at it (a smaller home, along with ditching your car and becoming vegan, is one of the most important things you can do to reduce your carbon emissions).

‘Don’t water your weeds.’ ~Harvey MacKay