Spend Quality Time with Loved Ones: 8 Free or Frugal Activities to Do Together
Take a free or low-cost knitting lesson together at your local craft store or library. Learn to knit a simple scarf. Give the handmade scarf to someone you love. Know they will always be warm.
2. Learn or improve upon a second language.
Check out language learning books, tapes, CDs, and videos from your local library for free. Sign up with your loved one for free or low-cost language classes as well. Practice your new language skills together.
Consider learning a language such that you can converse with native speakers of that language. Plan a trip to an area where people speak that language. You will show that you made an effort to respect their culture.
3. Learn an art.
Take a pottery class. Learn to sketch with charcoal or learn to paint. It is never too late in life to begin. My mother began taking oil painting classes when she was in her 50s, and she has produced many beautiful paintings.
4. Adopt an animal.
Your local animal shelter or nonprofit adoption agency has lots of great pets in need of homes. Consider fostering the particular pet you fall in love with. That way, everyone will benefit by a good fit between pet and person. Shortly after purchasing our home, my husband and I first fostered, then adopted, a retired racing Greyhound through our local Greyhound rescue agency, Hounds of the Heartland. Of course, our Greyhound, Bridget, is the best companion ever. We cannot imagine life without her.
5. Learn to play an instrument.
Sign up for low-cost music lessons taught by your local college's music program graduate students. Consider learning to play an easily portable instrument such as a native bamboo flute or a harmonica. Both of these simple instruments can be quite inexpensive to acquire.
6. Live in a foreign country.
If you teach while living in a foreign country, you can actually make money while living there. This goes beyond the 'free or frugal' theme. Of course, living in a foreign country would require a fair amount of planning and a big change in your lives.
Consider joining the Peace Corps http://www.peacecorps.gov/ with your spouse for an unforgettable, in-depth overseas experience.
A friend who lives in Seattle, Washington specifically recommended the Jet Programme http://www.jetprogramme.org . She has taught English in Japan through Jet. Jet is a quality program that provides good compensation compared to other similar programs.
7. Thank those who have positively affected your life.
You know who they are. They are the people who stand out in your mind as personal heroes. Think of your favorite teacher who went the extra mile for you. Write him or her a heartfelt thank you note. Better yet, call or meet for lunch to catch up, and introduce your closest loved one.
8. Above all else, do what makes you happy.
Amid the bustle daily life brings, we sometimes forget that the most important thing in life is happiness. Doing what makes you happy will make you a better person. In turn, you will bring happiness to those you love.
Published by Lori Wheat
Lori Wheat is a progressive, reformed attorney turned freelance writer, gardener, and property manager. She lives with her wonderful husband and adopted greyhound dog in Norman, Oklahoma. View profile
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3 Comments
Post a CommentWonderful read Lori*great ideas!
Ex-pat in Sweden ;) Trying like hell to get sufficient in Svenska so I can move on to Deutsch. It amazes me how many languages the people here speak. Recently began painting and was amazed that people wanted to actually buy my stuff. One thing my husband and I do is cook together a few nights a week. We have a lot of fun ;)
These are such positive examples of things to do with loved ones. I wish I could knit or crochet! I already live in a foreign country: America. I'm considering learning a further language, Spanish, as it is spoken so much more here than in the UK.
Sophie