Doing a social life on the cheap?

lazy&indebt

I am in my early 20s and while I am making a concious effort to get myself debt free, in order to avoid falling of the wagon I like to keep up my social life and I was interested to find out what tips other money savers have for free/very cheap days and nights out? My friends and I can usually never think of anything other than the pub but here are some I have come up with (I think it will also be useful to list places near where you live that are free or cheap to visit)

1. Sounds simple but - going for walks! Can be done in the evening (if it's not thowing it down) or on the weekend and can be quite a laugh - why not take a current partner for a walk around where you grew up? Or you and an old friend could take a trip down memory lane by taking a stroll around where you used to play as a kid?

2. Free gym passes. Ok, so it won't get you incredibly fit if you visit a gym just once but if you can find a gym near you that gives away a free guest/day pass -you and a friend could go and check out the facilities for nothing (and possibly enjoy the sauna/jacuzzi/steam room they may have available)

3. If you really really can't stay away from the pub then my trick is to go late - about 9 - 9.30ish, this way you usually only have time for one or two and if you drink lime & soda water (usually about 50p a glass and very tasty) then it doesn't have to cost much.

4. How about asking a few of your friends to all chip in £2/£3 per month and joining one of those DVD rental services? You could have a 'movie night' once a month at each other's houses on the cheap! Or even cheaper - asking each of your mates to bring DVDs they already own along to a movie night.

5. Daytrips are usually quite costly and I actually cannot find anything on the internet that tells you about museums or attractions close by that are either free or cheap to get in (I know there are a few in London, but it's not cheap for me to travel down there!) the ones I know of and are worth visiting are:

Birmingham museum and art gallery - free admission and not just for snooty arty farty types either (child friendly as well!)

Leicester space centre - I believe the admission is around a tenner (don't quote me on that) but you will receive a pass for that price which lasts a whole year

Black country museum - This place is amazing! A living museum! Same scheme as Leicester space centre

Other day trips I can think of that are inexpensive are your usual bike rides, picnics, swimming, badminton (most places let you use a court for next to nothing)

And a final point - I do the odd bit of work for a woman who is involved with a promotions company, so far through her I have managed to go and see the Arctic Monkeys for free (just handed out a few flyers) and have been paid to stick a few flyers under some cars in Warwick (nice place to have a day out) and was paid a fair whack to go and hand flyers out in Weston Super Mare at T4 on the beach (more petrol money than it cost me plus an extra £50) alsthough I'm not sure how you would find out how to do this.

Any other ideas?

danielle24

You can also sign up to Mystery Shopping - you will have to fork out some money up front but you will be refunded - I've been offered meals in pubs, Italian food, sushi and all sorts of things and often the money covers the price of a pint. My boyfriend and I have had a couple of lovely Sunday lunches and I've had a couple of pub meals with mates after work.

lynzpower

4. How about asking a few of your friends to all chip in £2/£3 per month and joining one of those DVD rental services? You could have a 'movie night' once a month at each other's houses on the cheap! Or even cheaper - asking each of your mates to bring DVDs they already own along to a movie night.

how about tarting through quidco, using all the different ones and getting paid for it, then getting your mates to do them too

lazy&indebt

Why not many replies? Are people sacrificing a social life to pay off their debt?

Dr_Hook

lynzpower wrote: »

how about tarting through quidco, using all the different ones and getting paid for it, then getting your mates to do them too

Beat me to it Lynz - was just about to suggest that!

An obvious alternative to the pub is a night in; take it in turns at each others' houses and bring whatever you want to drink for the night. A bottle of wine or a four-pack of lager can usually be had for under £3 - get a few friends over, stick some music on and it's just like being in your own private pub - and without any annoying waiting to be served

spud30

lazy&indebt wrote: »

Why not many replies? Are people sacrificing a social life to pay off their debt?

No sacrifice here - we're very much home birds so didnt go out anyway.

floss2

While in debt & still having kids at home, I used to go out with my mates every Friday. One week would be when the boys were at home (other w/e at their dads) so i used to drive, the girls would save their taxi fares to the pub & home again, I would just drink lime & soda, and the saved taxi fares would pay for my drinks the next week - either a bottle of white wine (on buy 2 glasses get the bottle free) for £7 or 4 x double vodka & coke for £10 when there was a doubles offer!

When my finances improved, we used to walk (in summer) or take the car & leave it there, and I'd drink every Friday rather than alternate weeks! Am sure it was better for me & my finances the way I used to do it tho!

nickelodeon

How about inviting your friends round for dinner, there are loads of things that can be made quite cheaply, lasagne, chilli etc! They can each contribute a bit for food and a couple of cheap bottles of wine and you'll have a great time.
May be make it a regular thing with different themes, Italian, Spanish etc!

My friends tend to go out in London which can be expensive, but we use toptable a lot, it's a website that offers discounts at restaurants, such as 50% off or two courses for £15 it's really good and you collect points from booking through it and when you have got enough you can get a free meal!

Skinted_stodge

Hi :hello:

some stuff me and my friends do when we are poor (which, since we all work in artsy type jobs is all the time!) include:

1) cooking club- alternate weeks where a few of you get together and one of you cooks. a spag bol, curry or something is only about £10 to cook enough for everyone and get a bottle of wine, or split the cost each week and only spend a couple of quid. it made me eat better food because i had to think about it too! :T

2) BOGOF with orange for the cinema

3) once night we stayed in and did a Geri Yoga video in 80s aerobics clothes and another night we borrowed someone's dance mat (you plug it into a PS2, we borrowed that too!) and had dance competitions! :rotfl:

4) go to pubs which have free gigs on during the week, there are a lot of pub bands where you dont pay to get in and just dont drink, its still a really good night if you are into that kind of thing...

5) lastly, and a bit lame probably, is to just have a change of scenery! its surprising how much i enjoyed watching telly and drinking tea at my friends house instead of my own!

Skinted x

jess444_2

Hi,
I think in some ways social life does become neglected as you try to pay of debts. Anyway, here are some ideas that work for me
1. Today been to the Maritime Museum at Albert Dock in Liverpool. All museums and Galleries in Liverpool free.
2. Told by my sister that swimming pools a Lifestyle gyms are now free in Liverpool. Unfortunately I am outside of the area so not for me.
3. Take aways at friends house rather than going out for a meal.
4. Have dusted down my bicycle and gone for rides when weather o.k.
5. Free cinema tickets - see freebies thread. Take own sweets and drinks.
Thats all I can think of for now.

foreign_correspondent

ok my tips are...

If you or any of your friends have got a playstation get them to bring it round and beg, borrow or steal Singstar.. have a singstar party at home with friends, snacks and booze - (ask everyone to bring some booze/snacks etc) it's always great fun!
We bought several singstar games, and they have more than paid for themselves in cheap saturday night entertainment!

If you are going out - wetherspoons curry night and some of their other deals are good value! Check which night the deals are on and look out for vouchers - we have had them through the post a couple of times..
have fun:beer: