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This article is part of our Change Generation project, supported by KBC. To read more click here.
WE’VE ALL BEEN there – bored but without a bit of cash to spare. How do you pass the time productively when you don’t have any money?
We’ve got you covered – whether you want to head out or stay in, whether it’s sunny or raining, or you’re alone or with people, there are suggestions for every situation.
1. The outdoor gym
Gyms are expensive, but you don’t have to pay anything to get a little exercise. Go for a long walk, or jog somewhere scenic nearby. Go cycling if you have a path near you, or try the City Bikes in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway (they’re free for the first half an hour). Wake yourself up with some morning stretches. Anything that gets your heart rate going.
2. Time travel
Wherever you live, there’s a good chance there an historical landmark to visit. Many of these – and national museums – are free to visit and run events at weekends and lunchtimes to keep you engaged. Check here for those and also take a look back at our extensive Hidden Heritage series which gives directions to loads of hidden gems all over the country that you can visit for free.
3. By the seashore
Given we’re an island nation, chances are this applies to a lot of the people reading this. Why not head to your local beach or strand and, depending on the weather, go exploring or swim in the sea (for the hardy).
To tap into the renewed interest in our natural coastal resources, think about learning how to identify edible sea plants along our shores. They will cost you a fortune in a health store, but they are in huge abundance if you just know where to look, and how to prep and cook them.
4. Park life
Covered in greenery, surrounded by the sound of bird song and a central meeting place, the local park is a great spot to be in, if you are living the urban life.
You could chill out on the grass, have a little picnic or kick a ball around with your mates.
What’s the nicest green space near you? Let us know in the comments.
5. Get back into reading
There’s probably a book you’ve always planned on reading but never got around to. Even if you don’t own a physical copy, many classics are now in the public domain and can be downloaded for free online.
Grab your read and settle into a comfy chair at home, or head to your local library for some peace and quiet.
Need some extra motivation? Book clubs – ‘book/wine/singsong club’ as ours in TheJournal.ie could be dubbed – can be as informal as you like, but can give you the impetus to get your teeth into the latest bestseller. The Bord Gáis Energy Book Club has lots of online resources to get you started – all you need is to gather a few like-minded souls and book a sitting room for the night.
6) Whip up some homemade food
Depending on what you have in the fridge and the cupboard, you can experiment wildly with cooking and baking. Necessity is the mother of invention. Some of the best dishes ever made came from the five ingredients left in the fridge – and this piece of ours is a good place to start.
And for efficient shopping? Check this out:
7) Get creative
Maybe you want to brighten up your room or revisit the nostalgic days of art class in school. Either way, break out any arts and crafts materials you have and get cracking. Pinterest is full of ideas about how to spruce up your living space, such as making mosaics from broken DVDs, or homemade bath bombs from baking soda, lemon juice, salt, water, oil and food colouring.
8) Break out the board games
How long has it been since you last played Monopoly, or Trivial Pursuit or Cluedo? Revisit your childhood, get family and friends together and ditch the TV and laptop.
And if you don’t have any in the attic to dig out, take note that public libraries often have a stock of classic board games to rent for free. Kerplunk, anyone?
9) Learn something new
With the internet, it has become incredibly easy to pick up a skill online for free. Always wanted to play the drums? Grab some drumsticks or equivalents and look up tutorials on Youtube.
Want to parler Français? Duolingo and lots of other websites will teach you another language. You could also boost your CV and learn how to code at Code Academy or another website.
10) Appreciate the beauty around you
Grab a camera and try to see the world through a different set of eyes. Sit out and watch the sunset. Admire the nice things you have, rather than the things you haven’t. (You might consider downloading a mindfulness app if you are having trouble concentrating on the little things. This is a good list from TheGuardian to get you started.)
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All the focus on Syria has distracted people from the fact that IS is now in Tunisia, Libya, Sinai in Egypt, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Stopping them is like playing whack-a-mole.
May I know where did Bangladesh come from and what do you know about this country? Have you ever been there or any other Asian country?
I was going to answer your first question but then you added two such stupid questions that it’s clear you’re not interested in the answer. Presumably your agenda is something along the lines of ‘only people who pass my test of knowledge of X country may comment on anything to do with it.’ Yawn.
You are one of those living in a small country like Ireland and never been outside of your town. You can keep your answer to yourself, because I know you know nothing pathatic lonely guy.
They really do hate their own more than us.
No they don’t.
“their own”, you are saying!? do you even know what you are talking about?
Religion of Peace at it again.
Against other Muslims, showing yet again that tarring all muslims with the same brush is thick
In their eyes they’re not Muslims. They’re something worse. Apostates. Fit for slaughter and subjugation.
Budget Travel are doing cheap deals, for summer breaks in Tunisia.
Sun, sand, sea, and slaughter.
Couldnt visit a nicer country and people, its a shame to see it degenerating in front of our eyes
Assumed it would be the Mormons causing trouble again till I saw the word jihad. If not for the constant reassurances that this sort of behaviour has nothing to do with Islam from NGOs and the like I might be led to believe that this carnage is fuelled by Muslim beliefs, in the manner those who keep conducting these attacks repeatedly tell us.
Islam was never a religion of peace. Islam is a religion of fighting. No one should believe that the war that we are raging is the war of the islamic state, it is a war of all Muslims, but the Islamic state is spearheading it. ——-Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, leader of ISIS, May 2104.
Kill the lot of them Jihadis..trying to turn Tunisia into a s*ithole just like Libya has been under their control.
Take note minister of justice…this is how its done,train,equip,arm and preposition elite units KNOWING they are coming and not whinging afterwards that they didnt give your commissioner “intelligence” in advance.
I blame SF for this.
Don’t be silly, maybe in Colombia or Spain
Can’t we all be friend s?
Tunisia..instead of hiding behind budget constraints,triple lock mechanisms,”smart policing”,political correctness dug almost 200k of real border and supplied their police and army with modern weaponry…thus,they won this one.feel stupid now francis??
The British, Americans and French just could nt wait to overthrow Gaddafi, now they have created a new base for the jihadists even closer to home.
Gaddafi could see it coming and they mocked and laughed at him…
have your say