# Help! What are things one can do on a budget of $0? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 22, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-things-one-can-do-on-a-budget-of-0/482517 "2009-01-22T20:48:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![spockerel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@spockerel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spockerel)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-things-one-can-do-on-a-budget-of-0/482517/21 "2009-01-22T22:50:18Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > Read the [FAQ](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/faq.php?faq=vb3_reading_posting#faq_vb3_replying). That will kill a minute or two. Thanks for the help. I guess being chastened is a worthwhile activity as well; proceeding with that. > [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > Capture the flag. You and the hubby set up some riddles and clues to take you on a journey around the neighborhood. Make a crossword puzzle and stick it in the mail box. Draw a map that leads to something else. Keep going. Once you’re all set, you two race to be the first to find the other person’s hidden T-shirt/boot/paper/water bottle and get back to the house. One lifeline per person - they may call the other player for a hint. > > This game forces you to remember every little thing in your neighborhood that you’ve ever seen. Fun times. Mystery-Scavenge the Flag! I love it. > [@Karyn](#): > > When I don’t want to spend money to entertain myself I take my camera to different places, some beautiful and some odd, and take pictures of whatever catches my eye. Thought that was probably what you meant, but then I would never have thought to play Mystery-Scavenge the Flag. Thank you! A beautiful idea. > [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#): > > Check with your local library. Mine has started offering free tickets to a number of local museums. Everything from the fine arts museum to the model train museum. > > Go window shopping. Since you can’t afford any of it anyway, pick the ritziest mall or shopping district you know of. Go spend some time oogling the haute couture and laughing at next springs fashions. > > Find some part of town (or some small towns) that you don’t know. Go walk around them and check things out. Check, check, and check. > [@Munch](#): > > Do you have any computer games? Is that at all interesting? If those answers are no and yes, check out some online emulations. Those’ll burn several days. Good idea; that’s sort of Mr. S’s thing. I shall expand my horizons! > [@StGermain](#): > > Volunteer. A soup kitchen or food pantry can help you see that you’re not too badly off, may give you a free meal, and you might find you enjoy it. > > Go to the local pound and walk the dogs and play with the cats. A little love in the time they have left is a gift. > > Play in the park. Those swings are one size fits all. > > See if there’s an auction somewhere close this weekend. It’s interesting and doesn’t cost a thing, as long as you have willpower. > > Browse in an antique shop. Lots of different and interesting things. > > Offer to babysit for one of your friends who doesn’t get out enough. > > StG All excellent ideas that I’m adding to the calendar. Sadly, one of my main frustrations is that I know hardly any people with children in this town; another thing that probably costs nothing to remedy! Thanks to all of you! You are full of life-broadening ideas. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-things-one-can-do-on-a-budget-of-0/482517/22 "2009-01-22T23:04:52Z")
> [@Karyn](#): > > Do you have a digital camera? And a banana. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-things-one-can-do-on-a-budget-of-0/482517/23 "2009-01-22T23:13:16Z")
Do you have a GPS receiver? I recently started [Geocaching](http://www.geocaching.com/) and it is a ton of fun. It has shown me really cool places close to home that I wasn’t even aware existed! And it is fun hunting for treasure. It does take some gas to get to the caches, but I plan it out so I can hit a bunch in the same area in a day. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-things-one-can-do-on-a-budget-of-0/482517/24 "2009-01-22T23:50:41Z")
Board games (or do you say “bored” games?) are good. I’m not much for Monopoly or Clue, but I could play Scrabble all afternoon. You can play cards and instead of playing for money, you can play for chores or sexual favors. I second the suggestion to go out and take pictures. If it’s too cold out, a train depot or the library or other populated areas are good places to get great people shots. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-things-one-can-do-on-a-budget-of-0/482517/25 "2009-01-23T00:53:53Z")
I like to cook, and I recently discovered that a lot of people like to record themselves on youtube showing how to prepare recipes. This isn’t as mundane as it sounds; you can find people from all over the world showing how to prepare seekh kebabs (Iran) or chaat (south India) or soup dumplings (Shanghai). Usually the ingredients are cheap and commonplace. I recently made [seekh kebab](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEMg394Bu9s) after watching this video, using cheapo ground beef and other inexpensive foodstuffs. God, was that stuff good. My husband has put in a special request that I make this as often as possible. I also like to track down obscure old cartoons, American and foreign, and watch those. Old [Japanese cartoons](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyGvGMa2RFg&feature=PlayList&p=7A1315CAC8872827&playnext=1&index=2), in particular, can be hypnotically fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-things-one-can-do-on-a-budget-of-0/482517/26 "2009-01-23T01:00:11Z")
Check out [The Outdoors Club](http://www.outdoorsclub.org/) in your area. > [@](#): > > [OutdoorsClub.org](http://OutdoorsClub.org) is a grass roots organization for outdoor enthusiasts with thousands of active members and outings nearly every day. Our powerful, user-friendly Web site enables members to easily organize and join a diverse range of exciting outdoor excursions. [OutdoorsClub.org](http://OutdoorsClub.org) has no political agenda, or mandatory meetings. And because the Club and its activities are run by regular members,\*\* most activities are free\*\*. So if you want to hike, bike, climb, backpack, snowboard or participate in other outdoor pursuits, from beginner to expert, with fun-loving, active folks, the Club is for you! I can’t get to their Montana Calendar because my cookies keep sending me to the California page, but they must have stuff in your neck of the woods, as they have a forum dedicated to the [Northwest (OR,WA,ID,MT,WY)](http://www.outdoorsclub.org/forum/display_forum_topics.asp?ForumID=2). I hope you find something for you there and have fun! ---
**Author:** ![sunstone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunstone/32/3372_2.png) [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-things-one-can-do-on-a-budget-of-0/482517/27 "2009-01-23T01:51:38Z")
Following tb’s lead, how about a challenge for you and Mr spock to see what great dishes can be made from the items already in your fridge and larder. Web research is allowed. Then cook them and enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-things-one-can-do-on-a-budget-of-0/482517/28 "2009-01-23T02:09:19Z")
> [@spockerel](#): > > Yes! Would you care to elaborate? …I can think of a few things, but now I’m curious as to what you had in mind. If your camera has a shutter speed control there’s lots of fun to be had at the very slow and very fast speeds. Slow shutter speeds: ‘Paint’ things with light. ‘Write’ in the air by standing back and writing backwards with a small light. Illuminate a person sitting still with just the sparks off a dead cigarette lighter. Light stripes made by passing cars or planes Fast shutter speeds: Flying cats (you’ll probably only get one shot) Splashing or pouring water. Sports action If you’ve got good timing try for a shot of a deformed golf club or tennis racket. ---
**Author:** ![Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Picard_Kills_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-things-one-can-do-on-a-budget-of-0/482517/29 "2009-01-23T03:20:51Z")
I think the scavenger hunt is an awesome idea. Make up a cool scavenger hunt, but at the end, have it lead to something that needs to be done. Like a hole in the wall that needs patched, or a sink full a dirty dishes, maybe even some laundry. You win by getting to spend time making the scavenger hunt, your boyfriend wins by taking it, and then you win again when he completes the chore. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-things-one-can-do-on-a-budget-of-0/482517/30 "2009-01-23T04:58:40Z")
Did you ever read “Rebecca?” Mrs Danvers is one of the greatest villians of all time. If you don’t like to read, see if you can check the book out on tape and listen to it as you play a video game or something. ---
**Author:** ![Karyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/fbc32d/32.png) [@Karyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karyn)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-things-one-can-do-on-a-budget-of-0/482517/31 "2009-01-23T14:11:19Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > And a banana. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-things-one-can-do-on-a-budget-of-0/482517/32 "2009-01-25T12:57:36Z")
Digital camera: If you haven’t already, set up a facebook account and post your best pictures there. Download picasa so you can fix and alter your photos. > **[Google Photos](http://picasa.google.com/)** > > Google Photos is the home for all your photos and videos, automatically organized and easy to share. Also you might inventory your belongings for insurance purposes. If your camera has a video mode, you can make videos and post them to youtube. Play guitar, read a poem, make up a skit, re-enact a favorite scene from a movie, etc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-things-one-can-do-on-a-budget-of-0/482517.md?page=1)