Are you tired of spending time with your friends in the same places, doing the same things, talking about the same stuff, and spending a lot of money? Would you like to try something new and meaningful?
I used to be in your shoes. One day I realized I no longer looked forward to our get-togethers as I no longer found our activities fun (Girls, please don’t judge me! Be honest and admit you’ve felt it too!). We were filling out our schedules purposelessly, and spending a lot of money in the process.
I wanted something different, but I didn’t know what. I wanted to do something for others, to make a mark, but my schedule didn’t allow time for everything, and I didn’t want to give up my friends. In fact, I even tried to save money but had no idea what to cut back on.
After a lot of thinking, planning, and several trials and errors, I found a few activities we all enjoy. They may not seem too attractive at first sight, but don’t dismiss them until you’ve tried them. They’ve helped us:
- Strengthen our friendship and boost our confidence in one another
- Invest our time in new, entertaining, and rewarding activities
- Help other people and make a difference in our community
- Save time and manage our budgets better
- Build memories and gain stories worth sharing with anyone
5 Fun, Affordable, and Rewarding Things to Do with Your Friends
1. Organize a Garage or Yard Sale
Perhaps you’ve already done this before, but the trick is to do it with your friends. Each of you should contribute with things you no longer need or use. You will see that, when you put them together, they will complement each other wonderfully.
For sale to be a success, choose an ample space, with a strategic position, and advertise the sale online and through posters. When arranging the merchandise, make it tell a story, the story of your friendship, if you will.
The sale will be an excellent opportunity for you to work together, as a team, to get rid of things and free some room. You can get stuff you loved but never dared to ask your friends for, and you can make some money in the process.
To make the sales an even more significant success, consider donating the money you make to charity, or using it to sponsor a project that will involve all of you. This way, you’ll have a common goal, and you’ll enjoy the results no matter what those are.
2. Volunteer for a Good Cause
You’ve always wanted to do something for others, but rarely found the time or the right cause. If you do it together, the results will be surprising and you’ll have the time of your life. The trick is to choose a project you are all comfortable with. Can’t think of any options? Here are a few ideas:
- Volunteering at the local senior, children, or pet rescue center
- Enrolling in a program for building or renovating homes for the unfortunate
- Cleaning the local park or some nearby area neglected by the authorities but essential for the community
You may not realize it now, but working together for a good cause will be fun. Moreover, when you see the results of your work, you will experience a feeling of pride, joy, and accomplishment that no football game or restaurant dinner can match.
3. Give Your Homes a Makeover
There must be something you can do to make your rooms or your entire homes look better like a paint job, new curtains, some furniture upgrades, etc. Start planning which room or apartment to renovate first and how, shop for the necessary materials, and get to work. It will be one of the most rewarding team projects you’ll even get to experience, and everyone will love the results.
One of your friends may know a thing or two about plumbing. Another one could be great at setting up light fixtures or refacing furniture. Someone will surely be ready to handle wall painting. The place will look amazing when done, and you will have saved a couple of thousands of dollars.
The best project we handled was the girls’ tree house, which we inaugurated with a barbeque in our backyard. We were the talk of the neighborhood for an entire weekend. The girls love our friends, and our friends love them more than ever, so I assure you, these types of projects are worth trying.
4. Cook Together, or Throw a Party
Before you dismiss the idea, take the time to consider this picture: you and your best friends, taking turns in hosting parties or cooking sessions. Instead of preparing everything, you organize the whole thing together, take turns hosting it, and contribute to your favorite dish. You also help out with the cleaning.
If one of you has a large backyard or a pool, a barbeque will be great. For parties in small apartments, pizza, hotdogs, and sandwiches are more convenient. You can stick to crackers, chips, or fries if you wish. The bottom line is that you’ll spend time together without messing up the life, home, or budget of one of you.
5. Go Camping Somewhere in the Wild
Don’t you think you’ve gotten too attached to your new commodities? When was the last time you set up a tent, started a fire, or cooked marshmallows? Find a weekend when all of you are available, decide on a destination, as wild and as exciting as possible, and get on the road.
Nothing beats lakes and forests when it comes to wilderness, but if you cannot decide to give up commodities, perhaps a cabin in the mountains will do as well. Don’t forget to leave your phones home or at least turn them off, to disconnect from technology, work, and your daily routine.
Are These Things Worth Trying for You?
If the above activities are entirely different from the ones you usually enjoy with your friends, your first impulse will probably be to forget about them. Before you do, however, there is one aspect you should think about: you won’t invest only in your friendship but also in your health and well-being as well.
According to a study performed by the Department of Psychology at Michigan State University, friendship leads to better functioning, health, and well being. The study had more than 271,000 subjects, so it should get you thinking.
Of course, these are not the only methods to have fun and strengthen your bond with your friends. I’m pretty sure you have a few aces up your sleeve and a few smart ideas yourself. Don’t hesitate to share them with us in a comment below, or try the ideas above and let us know how it went!
What according to you are the fun things to do with friends? Leave behind your comments below. We love to hear from you! Also, do not forget to subscribe with us and stay tuned for our bi-weekly newsletter. You can also stay in touch by following our social media channels for more updates.
