Make a $5 fun list

0:03 Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's tip is that there is a lot of fun to be had on even a small budget. So make a list of $ 5 fun, and you will be ready to enjoy cheap thrills anytime you need a little levity or delight in your life. So if you have been listening to this podcast for a while, you know that I am a pretty frugal person. Though I do love having big experiences like international travel. I am also happy to splurge for a concert or tickets to one of Philadelphia's sports teams. These things aren't cheap, but they are worth the money to me. But fun doesn't have to be expensive.

1:00 And by identifying some cheap fun ahead of time, you can put a little levity into your life without worrying about breaking the bank. For instance, if you were an artsy kid and remember these things, you'll know that a package of pipe cleaners costs just a few dollars and lets you make butterflies, flowers, hearts, glasses, cat ear headbands, and abstract sculptures as well. An added benefit is that pipe cleaners are light, so you can stick them in your bag. and have them on hand for entertainment at restaurants or in the car for people ages 3 to 103.

1:42 Because yes, pipe cleaners are fun for kids, but they're fun for adults too. A new box of crayons might provide a similar amount of delight. Or stickers. Same thing with bouncy balls. You can get yourself a colorful rubber ball and bounce it around the kitchen or sidewalk. when you need a brain break. Or you and a friend could throw a beach ball back and forth. Your dog might enjoy a special throw toy that the two of you use together. Whenever I host parties outside, I put out some bubble wands. These are intended for younger guests, but older guests often avail themselves of them too. Get yourself some bubble wands, and you can likewise make outside time a little more whimsical. If you're going to any

2:33 nighttime outdoor events in the near future, getting yourself some glow sticks or glow-in-the-dark necklaces could be fun, even just for walking around the neighborhood. That would make an evening family walk a lot more memorable for very little cash. Little kids don't necessarily do a lot of shopping, so I've had some success giving kids a $ 5 budget and going to the dollar store and seeing what fun they find.

3:02 but you could do this as an adult, too. You and a friend could go to the dollar store together on a rainy day and challenge yourselves to find some treasures, which you can then compare afterwards. I'll note that plenty of e-books are less than $ 5, particularly older ones, and a book can provide entertainment for quite a while. Barnes & Noble sometimes sells fun $ 5 books in their coffee shops.

3:31 usually light reads that are seasonally appropriate. A magazine could be less than $ 5 too, and could provide just the entertainment you need while sitting on the porch some afternoon. If you live somewhere with occasional garage sales near you, you might be able to find an old toy or puzzle for $ 5 and enjoy some whimsy for a few hours.

3:56 $ 5 can also buy you a spot in a lively coffee shop for a while. You'd need to get a simple drink, nothing too elaborate, that costs more than $ 5. But the people watching could be great. Or you could read, or color, or journal. Or you and a friend both spend $ 5 on drinks there and enjoy a chat. Of course, eventually the novelty will wear off on cheap stuff, at least.

4:25 You're probably not going to have fun with pipe cleaners or bouncy balls every day for the rest of your life. A trip to the dollar store is fun every few months as an activity, not as a daily thing. But a lot of fun can be had in the meantime. So make a list of ways to have fun for $ 5 or less. And when you are looking at some open time and pondering what to do, see what you can pull off your list. There may be a lot of fun to be had for not much money. And knowing you can add some joy to life on the cheap can be empowering, whatever your budget happens to be.

5:10 What are your favorite forms of $ 5 fun? I'd love to hear about them. You can reach me at laura at lauravandercam.com. In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening. And here's to making the most of our time. Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast. If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback, you can reach me at laura at lauravandercam.com.

5:51 Before Breakfast is a production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts from iHeart Media, please visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.