Need some new ideas?

kingfisherblue

In my area, the park rangers often have free activities such as bird box making, willow weaving, pond dipping, or walks to spot particular wildlife. Your local council website should have details.

Community centres often offer free or cheap activities - maybe take a class or leisure course together.

Libraries sometimes have free activities as well - book groups are probably the most common, but our local library also has a Wii, as well as computers, DVDs, CDs, games, etc. Different branches offer different activities.

You could volunteer for something that interests you both. Maybe conservation of a local area, youth group, theatre, etc.

If you follow a faith, you could enquire if there is anything at your place of worship. You might be interested in joining a choir (not necessarily a religious one) if you can sing.

Sports centres often have a wide range of activities for a low cost. You can buy a pass for a reduced price in my town, allowing ample use of facilities in several swimming pools, two golf courses, and about five sports centres with activities including trampolining, squash, gym, weight training, health improvement, sauna, etc.

Your local college might have beauty nights, where you can get cut price massages and beauty treatments.

Buy a daysaver at the weekend and visit new areas on the bus or train - just get on the next train available and go as far as you can on your ticket, or decide to get off after a certain number of stops. Then get the next train, and do the same again - you never know where you might end up. Take a few sandwiches and a flask.

Visit a craft fair - our local garden centre has a decent fair twice a year, and there is a larger one at the racecourse a few miles away.

My council has a section showing a variety of activities that are available in the local area. It is updated regularly and there is a surprising range of things to do, many free. Some charged activities have special offers at certain times (during the annual arts week, for example).

ailuro2

How about doing a "Come dine with me" challenge with your friends - once a fortnight and have (anonymous) scorecards with everyone chipping in a couple of quid to buy a bottle of plonk to present to the winners. OK so you're feeding extra people one week, but will be eating out at theirs in the following weeks so it all ends up the same really.

Have a look at visitscotland / english tourist board for free things to do

Volunteer to do something useful - our local eco group is clearing a burn of Hogweed in a couple of weeks - nice way to meet new and interesting people too.

Learn a new card game that's suitable for two players.



We used to play Scrabble in the early days but DH got fed up losing all the time - he was more into "Risk" which I found really tedious.:o