When you’re on a budget and trying to save money, life can seem a little boring. You don’t want to go anywhere, because you don’t want to spend money. You feel forced to stay in doors and have nothing to do. Well, that’s not true! It just requires a little creativity! Check out 27 things to do when you’re bored. These things can help kick that feeling of nothing to do, and help you stay in budget!
27 Things to Do When You’re Bored
Start Getting Active – you can go to the gym, if you have a membership. If you don’t have a gym membership, invest in some mini weights and start working out at home. You can also take a walk outside, which is completely free.
Time to Get Organized – what better time to get your life, house, and finances in order then when you’re doing a partial spending fast?! Watch some YouTube videos to tackle certain areas around the house that need organizing. Read How to Create a Financial Filing System and Your Guide to Organizing Financial Documents to get started with your finances.
Practice Doing Your Makeup – there are so many neat things you can do with makeup. Watch a couple of beauty vloggers and start practicing new tricks. You may just find your next signature look!
Catch Up with Old Friends – have you moved away from home? Is there an old co-worker you loved but haven’t talked to in a while? Give your old friends and acquaintances a pleasant surprise by calling them on your down time.
Update Your Resume – you never know when you need your resume to be on point and up to date. Get to work on your resume so you have the latest copy on hand and ready for wherever life takes you.
Write a Letter from the Future – think about where you want to be in the next 5 or 10 years. Then write a letter to yourself as if 5 or 10 years had passed. Write out everything that’s going well and all that you have achieved as your future self. Put the letter somewhere handy and refer back to it as time goes by.
Create a Vision Board – similar to writing a letter to yourself from the future, a vision board can help you call out everything you want in life. At least your vision board can be in plain sight and help guide your future decisions to help you get where you want to go.
Do Something Creative – buy a cheap canvas and art pencils. Pick out a few small ceramics and some paint. Do something that will trigger your creativity and get those juices flowing.
Try a New Recipe – Pinterest has a variety of easy, tasty recipes that are just waiting for you to try.
Create an Online Dating Profile – if you’re single, why not put your boredom to good use. Create an online dating profile and see what potential is out there!
Do Some Financial Studying – read your favorite finance blogs (hello, City Girl Savings has plenty of finance articles). Take an online course to help with your finances. Download worksheets and guides to help you learn more about finance.
Volunteer – volunteering is a great use of your time, not just for those you are helping either! If you want to get closer to your community, or just offer your time to help those in need, volunteering is exactly what you need to do.
Plan a party – this doesn’t have to be a party that happens anytime soon, especially if you’re on a budget. However, you can plan a shindig in the future and make it as amazing as you’d like. Whether you throw the party or not, you can be impressed with your party-planning skills.
Try an adult coloring book – channel your inner child and purchase an adult coloring book and colored pencils or markers. It will take awhile to get through the book, and will be fun along the way!
Create gifts for special events – think about the events you have coming up in the next six months or so, and think about what DIY gifts you can make. There are so many unique DIY choices on Pinterest, and this can be a great way to save money on gifts and still give something one-of-a-kind!
Start a blog or business – what better way to use your time then to create something that can make you more money in the future?! You can start a blog or an online business. You can get your side hustle off the ground. Now is the time girlfriend!
Scour the Pinterest Library – need some ideas for next season’s outfits? Want to change the theme of your living room? Looking for your next DIY project? Pinterest is the perfect place to get inspiration and ideas to help you get things done.
Read a book – when was the last time you picked up a good book and got lost in it? Visit your local library and find some great new reads to try, or go with a couple of classics!
Learn a new language – Duolingo can make it easy and cheap to start learning that language you’ve been wanting to learn.
Plan your future trips – where have you been dying to go? Start planning your next trip by looking up things to do, places to visit, and experiences to try. You may not be going anytime soon, but at least you’ll be prepared when the time comes.
Learn how to tie a neck or bow tie – you can quickly impress the gentleman in your life with your neck tying skills at the next black-tie event.
Help a friend in need – if you have a friend whose been going through it, offer a hand. You can make her dinner, take her to the dollar movies, or offer to clean her place.
Learn a few drink recipes – impress guests at the next party by whipping a few classic cocktails. You can also find some seasonal cocktail recipes to learn.
Go through photos on your phone – delete anything that shouldn’t be on your phone to free up space. Upload the rest to the cloud or Walgreens.com to have a photo album created.
Think about your next home – have you been considering moving? Do you want to own a house or condo? Browse Zillow to see what is out there and get a feel for your style. This pre-search will help when the real search comes.
Try something new – watch a movie you wouldn’t normally watch. Listen to jazz. Go to a museum on a topic you know nothing about. Try something new to get you out of your comfort zone.
Play a brain game – stimulate your mind with an online brain game.
Don’t let boredom stop you from getting new and interesting things done! Refer to this list any time you can’t think of anything to get done. What do you like to do when you’re bored or trying to save money? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
