Fighting Boredom on a Budget

Kasey Prater, Marketing Intern

As humans, we are creatures of habit. If you are like me, I find myself shopping at the same grocery store, picking the same treadmill at the gym and doing my laundry on the same day each week. Most days just seems like one big routine. I often dream of having unlimited funds and being able to buy whatever I want. That would make life interesting. Unfortunately, that’ just a dream and my real life revolves around a budget. So what can we do to spice up out daily lives? Below are some tips on how to fight boredom on a budget.

Updating your apartment/home

• The least expensive way to update your home is to rearrange your furniture.  It’s like coming home to a different house.  If your budget permits, buy a new rug or a gallon of paint and add some color to home. If you have roommates, always check with them to see if they are open to your interior design ideas.
• Do some spring cleaning! A little cleaning can make your place look brand new.
• If your home is looking a little dull, try consignment store hopping. Most of the furniture or decorations are cheap and easy to refurbish. Visit your local Goodwill and hunt for gems that would fit perfectly in your home. Check out this Furniture Rehab and Repair website for some ideas and instructions on how to make old things look new again.

Changing your look/style

• Try changing your current hairstyle.  If you have always been a long haired kind of person, how about trying a shoulder length cut.  Or if you have dark hair, how about going blonde?
• Try going through your closet and donating unwanted clothes to charity. An empty closet calls for new clothes.
• Do you want a new wardrobe but can’t afford it? Follow these tips on how to shop for clothing on a budget.
• Pick up a hobby. 
• Do you enjoy reading or have always wanted to write your own short story?  Find a local writers club or sign up for a membership at http://www.writing.com which helps aspiring writers brainstorm and share their work with other writers. 
• Write in a daily journal. Letting out your innermost thoughts can be a great tool for managing stress.
• Love music? Learn how to play an instrument! Find a local music store and sign up for guitar lessons or find a piano teacher and tickle the ivories. 

Working out or Getting Fit

• Working out is a great way to spend your free time. Not only is it physically beneficial, in terms of losing weight or gaining muscle, but also it’s mentally and emotionally rewarding. You’ll feel healthier and more confident.
• Join a gym. By becoming a member of a gym, you also become a member of a community and meet new people.
• If you don’t have money for a gym membership there are many online sites that offer free workout videos that you can do in the comfort of your own home. Check out this article to find a site that suits you.

Shake up your system

• Try something different for breakfast or experiment with different recipes. Having the same things for dinner can get old. Trying new foods can be very exciting and fun to prepare. Read this article for 15 dinners under $1.50: cheap, easy and delicious.
• Take a different, more scenic route to school or work. A new course can be refreshing and rewarding.

Life can get boring, but we are capable of spicing it up in some very inexpensive ways. By not getting bored in our daily lives, we can be more productive and happier people in general.