One of the first things we discover as Mustachians is that in order to reach impressive levels of savings, we first need to part ways with many typical American past-times like dining out, going to bars, attending expensive concerts/sporting events, shopping, etc. Many of us cite staying home as a top way to save money.
While this is all well and good, what if you're not someone who is comfortable being a homebody? For example, I work primarily from home. This is great in that I save money on several nonproductive expenses like gas, parking, wear and tear on my car, food purchased specifically to take to work, etc. Of course, it also means that I spend a ton of time at home. When I'm not working I really like to get out of the house, but obviously I'm very conscious that getting out of the house typically involves spending money.
Here are some low cost activities my husband and I have done. For reference, we are 30ish, childfree, lifelong Mustachians in a relatively rural area for LCOL/housing reasons.
1. Go to the library. Totally free minus transportation costs, highly recommend.
2. Take a walk, hike, bike, etc. We do this a lot when the weather is decent. Unfortunately, these are rarely viable options in the winter.
3. Visit a state park or other nature area. Again, great option but not in the winter
4. Go to the Sportsman's Club ($160/year for access to hundreds of acres of land, 4 stocked lakes, rifle range, clubhouse, etc.) Again, outdoor activities are very limited in the winter.
5. Thrift shop. I love to browse thrift stores and approximately 50% of my wardrobe and ~80% of our furniture is second hand. Obviously this is not a good option for a shopaholic or anyone with a stuff problem.
6. Visit friends or family at their homes. A good option but you're still technically at home, the home just belongs to someone else.
7. Run errands. Sadly for some of us who work from home, any excuse to leave the house is a good one. Obviously this isn't really enjoyable but helps me keep from developing serious cabin fever.
8. Visit free days at museums, zoos, etc. There are a lot fewer options in this category for those of us outside of the major cities.
Is being home a lot something that bothers you? What do you do when you need to get out of the house?