Cheap/free ways to meet people and make friends!

daisiegg

I got in touch with lots of old friends when a long-term relationship ended and then sort of fell a bit out of touch again when I got into a new relationship. For what it's worth, I think most people are fine with this - they sort of expect to lose touch a bit while you're all loved up and in my experience, they're happy to hear from you again when you're free and single. I've experienced it from the other side with various friends and I'm fine with it too.

I don't have any friends that I haven't made through school, uni or work. I don't know how I'd go about making any really! So will also watch this thread with interest.

getmore4less

katy721 wrote: »

Thanks for all the suggestions, I will get stuck in to some of them now

I guess I am just worrying about being lonely. Just about to walk away from a relationship and am a bit apprehensive about being alone.

Now, what to put in my emails...

Next time try to retain social contact with others.

Was the relationship the primary cause for neglecting others?
other things tend to be distance, kids, they have relationships.

When contacting old friends I think you have to be carefull not to get too needy, give it time to rekindle the connections.

If you had groups, that you think may still hang out, start with one of the group maybe mention others

How long has it been?

I know someone that has recently contacted an old friend they have not seen for over 20years they are meeting up this weekend in london

VfM4meplse

Try this site, there's something for nearly everyone depending on how far you're prepared to travel. I've made some good friends this way, amongst people that are well outside my usual social circles.

Wellyboots6

getmore4less wrote: »

Next time try to retain social contact with others.

Was the relationship the primary cause for neglecting others?

When contacting old friends I think you have to be carefull not to get too needy, give it time to rekindle the connections.

How long has it been?

I have definitely learnt my lesson!!

Yeah the relationship is not the best for maintaining friendships. He gets very jealous and stopped me seeing any of my male friends (I can sort of understand this though). I also struggle to find time to see female friends as he gets 'offended' if I don't want to spend every free minute with him, although it is fine for him to see his friends!

I think when contacting old friends I am going to start very slowly and just say hello and ask how they are etc. I don't want to say too much to begin with, just let it develop naturally again. I also don't want it to seem needy, like you say.

I have lost touch with people gradually over the years, although mostly within the last year.

I really do need to start getting out and doing things on my own though to build my confidence.

Just applied for a free trial at a kickboxing class, and am going through local dog rescues to see what volunteering posts they have. Just actually got to go through with it and do it now!

getmore4less

daisiegg wrote: »

I don't have any friends that I haven't made through school, uni or work. I don't know how I'd go about making any really! So will also watch this thread with interest.

It just happens, but you have to be open and chatty with people and bump into them a few times, so thats where the hobby etc. come into play, it takes time.

Networking your current contacts eg meeting with a uni mate that has started at a different place of work so meeting new people.

Caroline_a

Katy!! you have a lovely dog, find a dog club, do some obedience work, find some people to walk with... easiest way to meet new people that I know!

saverholic

I'm just about to move area so will soon be in a similar situation.

I've looked at my soon-to-be local community centre and found a couple of classes that have beginner sessions starting soon and I'm planning on going to the next RL get together organised on another forum I'm a member. I don't normally attend them but I figure that even if I don't make life-long RL buddies I will, at least, have something to do for a couple of evenings.

There's also sites like http://www.meetup.com/ which might have local groups. The site looks american but if you enter a UK town name it will pull out relevent groups. Some you have to pay to join, others are free. It might spark some more ideas if nothing more.

Good luck, I hope you find something that you really enjoy :A

getmore4less

If it is only a year then thats no time at all.

Wellyboots6

Caroline_a wrote: »

Katy!! you have a lovely dog, find a dog club, do some obedience work, find some people to walk with... easiest way to meet new people that I know!

Thanks Caroline. We go to a GSDog club at least once a week and I get on well with people there, but it is quite a distance from where I live. I started a thread on the pets section about trying to join a dog class near here and being banned because of my asbo dog!

I meet a lot of people round here when walking to say hello to and have a quick chat, but not really 'friends' if you see what I mean?

Wellyboots6

saverholic wrote: »

I'm planning on going to the next RL get together organised on another forum I'm a member. I don't normally attend them but I figure that even if I don't make life-long RL buddies I will, at least, have something to do for a couple of evenings.

url]There's also sites like [http://www.meetup.com/[/url] which might have local groups. :A

What is RL?

Thanks for the website tip, I will have a look