Job Discussion Forums

[Aramas]

What do people here do to keep themselves entertained while trying to avoid spending any money? (apart from posting here, of course). I get a certain amount of pleasure from watching my bank balance trending upward for a change, but there's still the other 23 hours and 59 minutes to fill. There's work and sleep, but what about in between?

Friends always want to do stuff, and that invariably costs money. I hate tv, so there will be none of that! I read a lot, but that's not terribly healthy and tends to make my brain turn to porridge after a while.

So what are the favoured pastimes of the fiscally frugal?

[denise]

free things:

reading, frisbee, hanging out at the beach (involves a nominal fee for snacks), rollerblading (minus the initial cost of the skates), watching old X Files and Simpsons videos, "the physical act of love" (as an ex used to call it), making coctails at home (again, minus the set-up costs)

cheap things:
renting videos, going to onsens (public baths/saunas)

d

[nolefan]

just usual everyday crap:

I enjoy playing chess against the computer or some of the students whenever I have free time. I started playing the guitar again and I am also learning Chinese..... that is plenty to keep me busy whenever my wife is not around

If you have spare time, do the things you've always wanted to but never could...

[naturegirl321]

Go on a walk, read, take pictures, look for a job

[Shaman]

I try to keep away from the boob tube as much as possible too. If you stay very alert, you can actually monitor your IQ dropping by the minute.

Anyhow, aside from a relatively voracious appetite for reading, I enjoy going on long walks. Normally, walking is a simple perfunctory act we do to get from point A to B. In my spare time, I just go wandering. I'll walk with no particular destination in mind, and just pay attention to everything I see along the way. All of a sudden, you find a new appreciation for your surroundings - things you may not have noticed before. At other times, I'll go where it's natural space just to escape the concrete. I find that's always a good way to recharge my batteries.

Sometimes I decide to pay more attention to the internal than my external surroundings. There is nothing like walking to aid in the decision-making, problem-solving process.

Shaman

[Capergirl]

I spend a lot of my "free time" with my daughter. (Although I tend to think of the term free time as an oxymoron...lol) We read books, make crafts, play board games and card games, and have tea parties. Mind you, I would never imply that having children is an inexpensive endeavour. They are, however, able to entertain themselves for hours with the simplest things...a box, a skipping rope, a slinky, etc.

I don't actually have a lot of "me" time these days. I find myself spending time sneaking on here for brief intervals (Dave's addict, ya know), going to Timmie's for a much-needed fix (my other big addiction), or watching the odd TV show (Trailer Park Boys and ER mainly). I don't have a lot of money to spend and have even less time, so not spending money on frivolities is a non-issue most of the time.

[Joachim]

Studying, reorganising my furniture, reading, napping, playing with the stary cats around my building......

Seriously though Aramas, being careful with money is a talent and also very worthwhile, but there are limits!. You must treat yourself while you're away, or you will regret it later.

[Gordon]

Spending time with my family and playing with my daughter. She is all the entertainment we need sometimes, much better than watching a movie. I started playing the guitar so I do that until my fingers hurt, going to the gym, surfing the net, travelling during vacation breaks and reading. I really have so little free time that I don't get bored.

Going to Timmie's Capergirl? I hate you. I miss that place.

[Aramas]

A few good ideas there. I'm already working, so I don't need any more of that. I walk about 30 km a week, so I'm not keen on more.

Breeding seems a bit extreme just to have a playmate to kill some time with

Funnily enough, not long after posting I dropped in to my local video store and found that they've just started a new deal that will give me all the DVD's I can eat for $30 Australian Pesos a month. Not a bad deal. $100 is a cheap night out around here.

I've also been planning on selling my beloved '72 Fender Stratocaster that I've had since 1979, but perhaps I should consider hanging onto it. I never did get serious about playing, but I've always dabbled - some times more than others. I'm not too sure about lugging it around asia though. It's ridiculously heavy. It was a sunburst when I bought it, so I had it refinished black by a really old fellow who had spent his entire life french-polishing instruments. It took three months and the finish was still slightly tacky for the first few years, but then it became as hard as glass. It has incredible sustain and is loud and clear enough to be played without an amp. Now that I think about it I would probably regret selling it.

Maybe one day I'll be able to get all the way through 'Tears in Heaven'. That will be about the same time that I can play the intro to 'Little Wing' with one hand. It will also be a cold day in hell

[khmerhit]

I surf Dave's, look out the window, read my textbooks, go to tim Horton's (went yesterday), wait for the sun to emerge. it's a living.

[willy]

Shaman come and walk with me, my wife and i walked 4km the day before our baby was born.

funny how everyone seams to have gone back to thethings that make you happy without need to impress everyone
i guss thats the good part of beeing here, whever here is.

[basiltherat]

a gigantic scalextric set-up in my room where colleagues and i have knock out competitions. its a gas !
Remote control helicopter races in the night sky with work colleagues. Waow !
Monopoly,Risk and Fluttrer board games.
Reading (Michael Moore .. a good laugh at the expense of yanks and their policies/shortcomings)
No booze and no drugs.
Listening to Colchester United play on Saturdays (via net)
cricket in the early evenings
basil

[dmb]

FIFA 2004-hours of entertainment

[Sheep-Goats]

"If only hunger could be cured the way lust can, by rubbing one's belly."

--Some Roman whose name I forgot