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allfrogsmatter · 20 days

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i spent a lot of my weekend playing sims 3 and mannn i forgot how much i loved that game, but it also makes me miss the sims 4 like crazy

rambling thoughts below (also if you played s3 what do you miss or not miss about it???)

sims 4 just does a much better job with relationships and dynamics between sims, which makes it such a good platform for storytelling and i miss that because all my sims 3 sims’ relationships just seem so flat

but there’s something about sims 3 that just makes it so playable. the open world truly was so nice, i love not having loading screens anytime i leave the lot and being able to toggle between sims as they go about their day - i miss it so much in sims 4

also the autonomy in sims 3 just seems so much better, when i leave my sims to their devices they always seem to want to clean up or play with the dog, but in s4 it’s play video games or drink water and leave dirty cups around, plus they spend so much more time actually doing things instead of standing around (maybe this is just because i didn’t excessively mod my game fro s3 but still)

and the wants in s3 are so much better than whims in s4, something about the way they’re displayed just makes me actually want to complete them, and i love that lifetime aspirations show up as wants for kids and teens

other things from s3 i missed:

- pets are more doable- in s4 they’re always running away from neglect because my sims don’t interact with them unless i make them

- separation between worlds- i wish you could travel to other worlds for vacation like you can the ones from world adventures, but i like that your world is contained in s3, everyone at the school lives in your world, everyone at your job lives in your world, you can maintain relationships with people from other worlds but they’re not showing up at your door every day (esp. in the context of a decades challenge, if your sims immigrate from europe to america you won’t be seeing your european auntie walking down the street in your neighborhood)

-color wheel - oh my god, i had almost forgotten, this genuinely was a heartbreaker when s4 came out, there was so much variability in cas and build in s3, even with limited clothing options you could create unique looks for your sims with different patterns and textures and you weren’t restricted to the awful ea options

-clothes- something about the s3 basegame clothing option, it’s just very workable and versatile, maybe i think this because trends have come full circle, but a few years ago when i jumped into s3 again i remember being so tickled with the outfit options

-teens- there’s something about s3 teens that just makes them better, maybe because they made them look like teens by making them shorter instead of just scrawny, but with generations teens just feel more fully fleshed out than in s4 (i don’t have growing together or high school years so ig that’s on me, but also i can’t afford both of those packs)

-packs- something that has really been grinding my gears for the almost TEN YEARS since s4 came out is how much extra content you have to purchase, for s3 if you wanted game content, for the most part you got it through expansion packs, but s4 is just excessive with expansion packs, game packs, stuff packs, kits, etc. there’s just so many features that you want in your game, but it costs a small fortune to get them all because they’re distributed across packs that cost up to $40

-PRICE- i have so many nostalgic memories of saving up my $20 to go to target and buy a new expansion pack for s3, then the joy i felt when it was on sale, every s3 expansion was, and still is, $20 but for s4 they’re twice that, the only time i can ever justify purchasing anymore is when they’re on sale

- rabbitholes- it seems like for s4 they did away with a lot of rabbitholes, just not work and school (except with packs), it was nice being able to send my sims to the movies or the bistro for a date night and not have to be following them the whole time, making them interact

- ownership- maybe it’s just me but i miss physically having the boxes the games came in and putting the disk into the computer and having the little icon for every pack on my desktop, i don’t like how everything’s through origin or the ea app now, esp. because for whatever reason s3 university got uninstalled on my moms pc and ea wanted me to buy it and when i used the code from the box it said it had already been applied (i only have the one account i have no clue why tf they took university from me) and if i didn’t have the disk i wouldn’t have been able to reinstall

- i also miss little things, like ordering pizza and seeing my sims drive around and catching birds in the wild and holiday festivals

#nonsims #sims 3 nostalgia #i’m actually feeling ancient today #because i got the sims 3 for my 11th birthday #and now i’m 22 #and the sims 4 came out ten years ago in september #also i’ve been rewatching lifesimmer’s generations lp #that was my kryptonite as a kid

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kristoffersenmcintosh · 2 years

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Burke Boutique

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fategist · 6 years

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lists, layers, layovers: what to pack and how to pack it

There’s a scene in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery where Austin and his colleague/eventual love interest Vanessa Kensington, are newly arrived in Las Vegas, hot on the trail of Doctor Evil’s number two, Number Two. Posing as a married couple, they check into their suite and begin to unpack. Vanessa opens her suitcase to reveal a tidy assortment of clothes, accessories, and spy gadgetry packed neatly and divided into plastic bags.

Yes, the kind of bags you fill with cookies or vegetable scraps before tossing into the freezer for that vegetable stock you may or may not actually make.

This was in stark contrast to my own method, which was to pack clothes -- some of which might have been clean -- into a decrepit suitcase WITHOUT WHEELS -- and cross myself before hauling ass to the airport.

Yes, Miss Kensington, I am disappointed in past me, too.

But I never forgot about Vanessa and her freezer bags. It was so in character for the organized, utterly prepared Miss Kensington. And also because it’s such a great idea. Everything is easy to see and find, and can be left in their bags until they are needed. You can press the air out of bags to compress the contents, and thus you can fit more stuff into your bag.

It took me a while to adopt this method, because I am a messy beast and a procrastinator. And there was something sort of glamorously messy in running off to the airport, as though I were always on the road, and on the run.

This was a terrible method. I’d leave behind items I wanted to bring, and what stuff I did bring would look terrible, be inappropriate for the occasion, or be not as clean as I’d thought. But what choice did I have?

I guess I could have shopped at my destination but if you’re not wearing straight sizes it might still be a crapshoot depending on where you go. Even if you did find a place that could sell you clothes that fit and, even better, you liked and could afford, that’s still time you’ll have to spend buying clothes when you could be, I don’t know, drinking vinho verde at a bar located on top of a multi-story parking garage in Lisbon.

A few times I tried rolling my clothes, which is supposed to make them less wrinkly and afford you more room in your bag. That only works for skinny people, I am convinced. A pair of XXS yoga pants will roll into something not much bigger than a falafel wrap. My XXL cargo pants from Old Navy will not get any smaller than, say, a steak burrito. And shoving underpants into a pair of Toms doesn’t say packing technique or hack so much as utter desperation when your knickers are typically bigger than a tortilla.

Freezer bags, that’s my number one piece of advice. Treat yourself to the kind that zip, as they are just a few cents more than the kind that don’t. Fold or even roll your clothes up. Insert into bag, compress to get the air out, then zip shut. They’re also handy for packing liquids -- dressing, foundation makeup, and lube which, should they spill, should be pretty well contained.

Make a list of what you intend to bring, and cross each thing off as you pack it away. The internet abounds with packing list generators. I don’t have a specific recommendation, but the ones that ask you where you go and when you are going tend to be decent because they can give you the weather forecast and perhaps even recommend places to eat lunch.

We can have a long discussion about carry-on luggage and maybe one day we will, but for now let me say: whatever you pack make sure it fits in the overhead bin. If it doesn’t, check it like a good girl and vow to do better next time.

But if you’re like me and do only carry-on luggage, do not pack any more than you yourself can carry. If you have mobility or health issues that prevent you from doing so, remember to thank whoever ends up managing your bags for you, at your direction. I’m trying to find a way to express this without sounding like an ableist shithead so weigh in if you had advice on that point.

I think when it comes to figuring out what to wear, I say this: wear whatever you want.* Layers are key, that’s what everybody says, but those layers need to breathe no matter where you are.And check the weather before you go. I didn’t before a nine day trip to England when it always seemed to be on the verge of raining without actually providing the relief of precipitation so I felt like the entirey city of London was sweating upon me, all while wearing jeans with long sleeved cotton t-shirts, and I was miserable. But worse than that I was too stubborn to just go to the Evans in Oxford Street or the Selfridges, also in Oxford Street, and buy myself something.

*The one thing I will do, in following the advice of travel professionals and those travel bloggers who post shit like text posts that say “Not All Who Wander Are Lost” without any kind of irony, is keep my travel wardrobe in the same color family. Pick three colors, neutral or not, and just go for it. When I went to Lisbon in 2016, this is what I packed: https://www.instagram.com/p/BDfeHemRuUk/.

I once spent nine days in Ireland with no trousers/pants except these fancy hiking pants I got at Columbia. I hiked exactly twice during that trip, and the rest of the time I walked around Dublin and Galway and Dingle and Killarney looking, and sounding, like a sentient windsock. I got stuck on the hiking part instead of focusing on the fact that I’d spend most of my time walking around cities, drinking and eating and occasionally sitting before eating and drinking again. I could have used a pair of jeans, a warm sweater, and ankle boots. I solved part of my problem by buying myself a beautiful Irish wool cardigan at the Aran Sweater Market in Killarney. I love that thing.

Last spring I went to England for nine days (what is it with me and nine day trips to the UK?) and did more hiking but instead of bringing proper hiking boots I brought LL Bean boots. They were okay for tromping in mud. Not so much for going up steep hills as I am passed by surly French teenagers wearing Adidas.

I think the moral of the story here is I should give up on hiking as an activity. That, and I need to be more honest with myself about what I can and am willing to do when I got on vacation.

But for, say, three days in New York over Easter weekend? This was my last trip, and I packed:

light coat or jacket

scarf to layer with coat -- make it big enough to use as a blanket on the plane, or shawl for modesty

handbag or purse -- crossbody or GTFO

special outfit or dress -- I went to Le Bernardin with my brother for lunch on my birthday, and I wore this Target x Victoria Beckham collared shift. There were rabbits embroidered on the collar tabs. It was the best.

two shirts -- both were long-sleeved

black Old Navy pixie pants -- no pockets but comfortable, and more elegant than jeans

sneakers -- Converse seems to be the default for everybody ever, and I am not special so of course I have owned many pairs though I am down to one pair at the present -- mine are Comme des Garcons because while I am not special I am for sure quite extra

flip-flops for wearing around your hotel room/AirBNB/friend’s guestroom

black leather ankle boots -- sturdy sole, a heel if you care for one

underthings (bra, underpants, garters, slips, socks, hosiery)

jewelry -- just a few things that you might be able to wear at once or put away in an Altoids tin. I wear a watch, stud earrings, sometimes a silver button or a brass heart from In God We Trust that says “bitch please”.

makeup/toiletries

My next trip is London (yes again shut up I love it) and Venice (baby’s first trip to Italy) in September. I have no idea what I’m going to wear. Maybe a trench coat, Hunter boots, and not much else.

The whole reason I wrote this was because @rosamundt asked me on twitter to write her a post about what to pack for some trips she had coming up. I probably should have done this before today, as she has already embarked on trip number one. Trip number two is still forthcoming, a short trip to a large city for a family celebration. My packing list above should suffice, though she may be able to get away with not packing a jacket. And instead of the black leather ankle boots maybe some sandals with a stiff sole. I know she loves those Saltwater sandals but I don’t think I’d want to wear them on the subway. Just as long as it’s not Yoga Slings -- I think those are kind of gross.

#fategist #travel #packing #what to pack #style

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babythings · 3 years

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Baby Clothing

There are so many appealing Baby Clothing brands, it can take some time to find the ones that suit your style, work well for your baby, and fit your budget. From choosing the best coming home outfit to stocking your baby's entire wardrobe, consider trying these tried-and-true baby clothes. They're beloved by parents for super-soft materials, thoughtful features, versatility, and style. Based on recommendations from parents in the BabyCenter Community, plus our editors' research and experience, here are the best baby clothes on the market today.

Best affordable baby clothes

Garanimals

Sold exclusively at Walmart, this brand you may remember from your own childhood is still going strong. Parents appreciate that it's inexpensive and has it all: staples from sleepwear to playtime pieces to layette sets. Garanimals is best known for its mix-and-match colors and prints, which make it easy for preschoolers and up to flex their personal style.

Best coming home baby outfit

Cat & Jack

Just as Target became a retail giant by bringing upscale styling to bargain-priced goods, Cat & Jack makes clothing that looks a lot more expensive than it actually is. Known for its stylish, comfy clothes, the brand also gets props for its wide selection of adaptive clothing, with features like flat seams for kids with sensory differences and hidden openings for kids who wear medical devices. We especially love Cat & Jack's adorable details and baby-friendly features like leggings that actually fit diapered bottoms. Their selection of baby coming home outfits are super cute, too.

Best gender neutral clothes

Gerber

This usable brand is a staple for basic baby and toddler clothing, covering everything from gold fabrics to loungeware to a range of organic baby wear. And they invented ounce! (This is a trademark term, which is why you will see this one-piece apparel when they are named "Bodai Suite," "Crippers," "Lounge," and other names when they are And made by the company.) Parents like it too Gaber creates many clothing sets with multiple coordination items such as pants, onions, PJs, bibs and hats.

Best newborn baby clothes

Monica + Andy

One of the newest brands on this list, the Monica + Andy line is made of GOTS-certified organic cotton. (This means it must contain a minimum of 95 percent certified organic fibers, compared to a minimum of 70 percent certified organic fibers for clothes labeled "made with organic.") The brand's Modern Layette and Hospital Cuddle Boxes take the guesswork out of what new babies need. And though they're pricey, these clothes are beautiful and durable enough to pass down.

Best baby winter clothes

babyGap

BabyGap is known for classic baby staples; dresses, rompers, and swimsuits; and their famous Gap jeans – baby-size, of course. We also love their line of cozy sweatpants and sweatshirts for babies, many of which have adorable bear ears. babyGap has gotten in on the gender-neutral movement in a big way, too, with a whole neutral section on its site for babies 0 to 24 months.

Best trendy Baby clothing

Tea Collection

This luxury baby brand has a higher price range than some others, but Tea Collection's clothes take their inspiration from beautiful clothing all over the world, making for a vibrant line of sophisticated and modern clothing for babies and older kids. These clothes are well made and durable, so you'll be able to hand them down to future kiddos.

Best organic baby clothes

Burt's Bees

The company that started out making beeswax candles and lotions also sells soft, organic cotton baby clothes. Their bodysuits, socks, blankets, and sleepers are well made, and a bargain compared to other brands that sell high-end, organic baby clothing.

Best comfortable Baby Clothing

Hudson Baby

Another "less expensive than it looks" brand that's stiff competition for Target's Cat & Jack line, Hudson Baby/Hudson Children sells stylish basics. It competes favorably in price with offerings from Carter's and Gerber. Their bodysuits, stretchy pants, sleepers, and mix-and-match clothing sets are cute and comfy. And their Touched by Nature line has baby basics in soft, organic cotton.

Best baby layette

Carter's

With roots going back to 1865, you could say Carter's has been in the baby clothes game for a while. It has everything, including cute coordinating outfits, sleepers and gowns, holiday attire, and shoes – all at very budget-friendly prices. Carter's is known for its Simple Joys line of inexpensive baby basics sold on Amazon, and its Little Baby Basics sets that can outfit a baby in one fell swoop.

How to buy baby clothes

Know how sizing works. Sizing varies from company to company, just like adults. Usually the size will correspond to your baby's age, but not always. And the number on the label isn't an indication of how your child should be growing.

Buy small amounts. Parents typically don’t need a lot of newborn-size clothing, as babies will quickly outgrow it. You also won’t know until you meet your baby what size she’ll start at.

When in doubt… Buy larger. Babies seem to grow overnight! You can always roll up pant legs or tuck in too-long tees between growth spurts.

Look for soft fabrics. New babies have sensitive skin. Some experts recommend all cotton, although soft cotton blends also work for many babies. Organic fabric is often softer than either of them, although usually pricier. “Tagless” clothing, where size and washing information are printed on the back of the neck, sometimes causes skin irritation. If you notice your baby has redness in the area, switch to clothing with tags. You can always cut them out.

Consider how easy a garment is to put on and take off. Buttons are frustrating when you have a wriggly baby. Snaps and zippers come in handy. (Some brands have magnetic snaps.) Look for stretchy neck holes and snaps at the collar, which are great for sliding gently over a newborn's head.

Make sure it’s simple to change a diaper, too. Steer clear of any baby clothes that don't unfasten easily. Luckily, most baby bodysuits and sleepers have snaps at the crotch. If there’s a diaper blowout and you don’t want to pull a bodysuit up over your child's head, you can gently pull it down over his body instead.

Go for stretchy elastic on pants. It may be tempting to get your little one a pair of blue jeans just like yours, complete with button fly. But unless they have a stretchy elastic waistband, it won’t be fun getting them on your baby.

Stock up on white snap-crotch baby bodysuits. These are an everyday essential, and after they get stained or stretched out, they make great burp cloths or household rags.

https://babythingsonline.com.au/

Baby & Mother Accessories

Find all you need for maternity and baby care products in one place! From prenatal to pregnancy to postpartum to parenthood, from prenatal to pregnancy to postpartum to parenthood, we’re here for you every step of the way. Because we’re a leading provider to OB/GYNs and hospital maternity wards, we have a unique understanding of what products Baby & Mother Accessories need. We’ve used that knowledge and created a carefully curated selection of mom and baby care essentials, baby diapers and wipes and baby feeding products

Mother's Day is just a few weeks away. Are you ready? How can we choose a gift that’s good enough for these special people who have helped shape who we are? Moms are always on-the-go and typically carry enough with them to keep a small army fed and entertained for a few days. When you go out shopping for Mother's Day gifts, remember that finding the perfect accessories and wallet for mom helps you to work on your day with confidence.

We have best Baby & Mother Accessories

Mother accessories:

ROUGH & TUMBLE

Blow your mom this Mother's Day with the fabulous, new and flying off the Self-Bag of Roof & Tumble. Rough and tumble specializes in a variety of leather accessories such as totes, wallets and shoes. Their leather pieces are timeless and they will never go out of style, which makes them a good value.

The EDC Wallet comes in many different colors, allowing you to match your style. You can choose more than one option. Keep the EDC wallet in your 1904 pack or wear it around your wrist. This wallet fits your cell, cash, and cards for easy organization just for essential needs!

If Mom is wanting something a bit larger, the 1904 Pack is also a great option for a Mother’s Day gift. This bag is versatile and perfect as a diaper bag, backpack or weekend tote. It has four spacious pockets on the inside to help moms stay organized. It also comes in five different waxed canvas colors that are sure to please any mom this Mother’s Day.

ALOHA COLLECTION

Mom needs some Aloha in her life right now, so give her the gift of Aloha Collection travel and beach bags this Mother’s Day. At some point, we’ll all travel or visit the beach again, so give mom something that reminds her of the brighter days ahead once we have flattened the curve.

DUNE JEWELRY

Even before the corona virus crisis began, there was a lot of anger at the experimental gifts. Now most of our day experiences are at home, and there aren't many experiences that can be given this Mother's Day. Although a gift certificate is good for future experience, there is still a way to give an experimental gift on this Mother's Day. Think back to one of your mother's favorite family vacations and capture the memories of this experience with unique designs handcrafted using natural elements from thousands of monumental and spectacular locations around the world with sand and dunes ornaments.

MOBILE EDGE

As a working mom, having a stylish and functional bag is a must. Mobile Edge is a unique and stylish way to get all your gear to and from work. Whether your mom is looking for a new laptop bag to work with or a durable and stylish pony to ride on an airplane, the Mobile Edge Urban Laptop Break is a great gift down the line! Not only does it have enough padding to protect your laptop, but it also has a variety of poly-fur-lined compartments within for storage of your phone, mouse, notebooks, pens, and for some working moms, diapers! This lightweight and stylish laptop bag also gives you the ability to remove the computer padding and carry it as a regular tote, allowing you to truly show off the Tartan cotton-twill lining. With a lifetime warranty, your mom will absolutely love this gift!

JOSEPHINE ALEXANDER COLLECTIVE

If you want to feel good about your purchase this Mother’s Day, look no further than Josephine Alexander. It is a small, women-owned business that provides unique pieces of fashion from artisans all over the world. When you buy from this company, you are helping provide a secure and stable form of income for these artisans, as well as looking into a treasure-trove of purses for moms of all fashion tastes!

We love these Juicy Lime Beaded Earrings for the fun-loving mom. These fruity earrings pair perfectly with margaritas, guacamole & the beach. What makes them even better is that they are fade-resistant and waterproof. See, we told you they were perfect for the beach!

LAT AND LO

Our lives tell a beautiful story of where we’ve been and where we’re going. Our accessories should represent those special moments and places that shaped us into the person we are, and the person we are going to become. This Mother’s Day, help the special Mother in your life tell her story with Lat And Lo.

Baby & Mother Accessories

Baby accessories:

FridaBaby Nosefrida

Is sucking snot from your baby’s nose gross? Yup. But is the relief you’ll get when your fussy little one can finally breathe again worth it? You bet. The NoseFrida is the ultimate snotsucker and a much more effective alternative to the traditional nasal bulb. And don’t worry—there’s an air-tight filter to ensure that you won’t get any baby boogies in your mouth.

UPPAbaby Vista V2 Stroller with Bassinet

There’s so much to love about the Vista, a parent (and baby) favorite that continues to only get better with each new edition. This beautiful, durable stroller features a full-size reversible seat with a full recline, a huge storage basket, a cushy suspension system, outstanding maneuverability, and so many more thoughtful details. (Hello there, gorgeous leather handlebar accents.) The Vista comes with a bassinet for the newborn days and can accommodate up to three children with the addition of a rumble seat and a ride-along board as your family grows.

Solly Baby Babylist + Solly Baby Collaboration Wrap

Soft carriers are a great option for calming a fussy baby and keeping them close, especially during the fourth trimester, but they can be confusing to use. Not the case with the Solly Baby Wrap. This buttery-soft, lightweight wrap carrier is easy to get the hang of (we promise!) and supports baby while also being comfortable for you. It comes in a universal fit for every wearer, and this classic, black-and-natural stripe print available exclusively at Babylist.

Dr. Brown's Natural Flow Original Newborn Bottle Gift Set

The unique venting system on Dr. Brown’s sets these bottles apart from others on the market. The vents eliminate air bubbles during feeding, reducing the amount of air your baby takes in while eating and potentially helping to prevent colic, spit-up and general fussiness. The bottles do take a bit of effort to clean (there are a lot of small parts, and there’s a special brush that’s included in the set), but many parents don’t seem to mind trading a bit more elbow grease for a more content baby.

Haakaa Breast Pump

A manual breast pump is a convenient solution for breastfeeding or pumping parents that’s easy to keep stashed away in a purse or diaper bag. The Haaka takes this ease to a new level—simple squeeze the silicone pump, attach it to your breast and let the suction work its magic. This ingenious pump is compact, travel-friendly and easy to clean and works well for milk expression and for catching milk from your let down on one side while your little one is feeding from the other.

Babybjörn Bouncer Balance Soft

A bouncer is a fun, safe spot for baby to relax and play while you’re busy doing other things, and this minimalist one from BabyBjorn is one of the best. The brilliantly simple design creates an ergonomic seat that moves in response to your baby’s movements. The fabric slips off for easy cleaning in the washing machine, and the bouncer folds flat for compact storage. When your little one gets older, the bouncer can be reversed and used as a chair.

Nuna Pipa Infant Car Seat & Base

There’s a lot to love about this parent favorite car seat from Nuna. For starters, the Pipa weighs only 8 pounds, making it one of the lightest infant car seats around. (Your biceps will thank you!) It’s extra easy to install thanks to a special True Lock safety system and is packed with extra safety features. And don’t forget the high-end fabrics, all flame resistant but without any added fire retardant chemicals. If you’re looking for an even lighter seat, check out Nuna’s Pipa Lite, another parent favorite. It weighs only 5.3 pounds, but just keep in mind that you’ll always need to use it with the base, not with a seat belt.

https://babythingsonline.com.au/

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kennethherrerablog · 5 years

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45 Fun Inexpensive Hobbies to Try this Year

What are some of the best fun inexpensive hobbies out there right now that won’t break the wallet.

I get it: hobbies can be expensive. A quick Google search for hobbies will pull up things like ballroom dancing, auto racing, parachuting, boating, aviation, scuba diving and rock climbing.

The one thing all of these things have in common: they are expensive.

But what about other hobbies that aren’t going to break the bank each month?

Best Fun Inexpensive Hobbies Right Now

This list is for you. Yes, there are hobbies out there that aren’t going to cost you an arm and a leg. Actually, we found some fun little hobbies that actually help you make money!

In fact, this very blog you are reading right now started as an online hobby for me before turning into a blogging business. With that said, let’s start off with fun inexpensive online hobbies.

Online Hobbies

We start with online hobbies since you’re actually online right now. These are hobbies you can start today from the same device you are reading this right now.

1. Start a Blog

Since my hobby was and still is blogging, I’m going to open up with blogging to start.

Do you happen to love writing? If so, wouldn’t it be cool to start your own blog where you are free to write about whatever you want and put it out there for the world to see?

Here’s the secret to blogging as a hobby: write about whatever makes you happy.

Your mind is swirling with ideas and things you want to say, so say them through a blog.

Do you love being a mom? Then blog about it.

Do you love woodworking? Then you should blog about it.

Do you love coaching your kid’s sports? Then start a blog about it.

Or, do you love something no one has ever heard of? Then yes, you should definitely blog about that as well.

If you are ready (and I hope you are) to start you very own blog, I have personally put together a step-by-step guide so you can easily get started writing today for about $5 per month. I even included screenshots of the process to walk you through it step-by-step so you don’t have to worry about any of the tech issues.

In fact, if you can post something to social media or even ask Siri to call Grandma, then you can definitely start a blog.

Okay, I’m ready to start my blog now.

2. Fill Out Online Surveys

There are dozens of these sites popping up that claim to pay you money for taking surveys online. Some of them are sketchy, however some of them are legitimate and will actually pay you in cash via PayPal or in gift cards. You can see our full review of all the different survey sites we have researched here Best Online Surveys right now.

Survey Junkie has been around since 2005 and is the most trusted in the survey industry with a Trustpilot Rating of 4.4/5.

If you’re going to spend your time on a free hobby, start out with Survey Junkie and they will send you cash to your PayPal, Amazon or Target gift card for taking surveys on your time!

3. Buy and Re-sell Things Online

There are so many re-selling websites to choose from these days, which can help you get the best prices for your “treasures”. OfferuUp, eBay, Craigslist, Facebook buy/sell/trade groups, Facebook Marketplace and Poshmark more are just a few that I’ve used to sell stuff in the past.

We have a full list of the 21 best apps to sell stuff online here.

4. Listen to a New Podcast

There are podcasts about every topic under the sun. Surely you can find one that interests you.

You can start listening to the Money Peach Podcast in your car, at the gym, or on the go right here.

5. Watch Cat Videos

There are some pretty funny cat videos on YouTube that can keep you entertained for hours. (Or maybe that’s just me?)

Let the record show that Peach does NOT watch cat videos on YouTube.

6. Play Free Games Online

You may be surprised to learn that there are health benefits to be had from playing video games. There are so many websites where you can play games online and there are tons of different kinds of games to choose from too. There are even some sites that will actually pay you to play their online games.

Financial Hobbies

What’s better than making money? How about a hobby that actually pays from extra pocket money all the way to full-time income.

7. Become a landlord

You can start renting out a portion of your house on a site like Airbnb. If you find out you like being a landlord, you could always expand into owning rental properties.

8. Investing

Learning about investing and then actually doing it are two things that could almost be separate hobbies in and of themselves. Investing is a smart hobby to take up once you have a little extra income to put toward your investments. If you are already there and want to get started, here is our updated investing for beginners guide..

9. Thrift Shopping and Garage Sale-ing

When I lived in a bigger community I loved going to thrift stores and garage sales on the weekend. This is a fun activity, especially if you go with a friend. You can also save money as long as you avoid buying things you don’t really need.

10. Couponing

Again, couponing can be fun but you might end up spending more than you planned on if you aren’t careful with your purchases. One of our favorite couponing tricks is using the Honey App. Instead of searching the internet for promo codes, Honey searches for you in real time and automatically applies the promo code for you at checkout.

11. Volunteering

That’s kind of financial since time is money, right? Give some of your time to your favorite charities, or join a group or board in your town to give back to civic organizations.

12. Start a Business

I’ve kind of touched on this before, but almost anything on this list can actually be turned into some kind of a money-making business or money-making side hustle. Starting a business is fun and it’s a good way to make some extra money.

13. Budgeting Cash Flow Planning (that sounds better)

How to Start a Cash Flow Plan

What list of hobbies on a personal finance blog would be complete without listing budgeting? It may not sound fun at first, but I actually love working on my projected budgets for future months now that I’ve gotten good at budgeting.

And if you would like to get started with your own budget, you can get started with the Cash Flow Formula for FREE.

The Cash Flow Formula is the #1 tool to start saving more money and stop overspending each month…and it’s a GREAT hobby!

Bonus: If you like the idea of making money as a hobby, then check out 39 other ways to make money right now.

Outside Hobbies

Let’s move our fun inexpensive hobbies away from the computer and out inside the fresh air. Here’s a list of the top (and often free) hobbies that get you outside.

14. Gardening

Depending on how you go about it, gardening can be a pretty inexpensive hobby to try. If you get good enough at it, you might even be able to lower your grocery bill by growing more of your own food.

15. Camping

Camping is another hobby than be just as expensive, or frugal, as you make it. I truly enjoy camping and waking up to a brisk morning. It’s almost like a vacation, only cheaper. 🙂 Also, camping should be FREE and we have the best ways to find free camping here.

16. Hiking

I consider just about any walking around off the beaten path to be a “hike”. In that sense, hiking is a pretty cheap hobby to take up. A bonus is that hiking is a good way to stay in shape, which might be one of your New Year’s resolutions.

17. Become a Master BBQer

There are actually whole weekends devoted to BBQ competitions in my neck of the woods. If you are good with a grill, this might be a fun hobby to consider.

18. Geocaching

Geocaching is basically a high-tech treasure hunt. Find out how to get started here.

19. Rock Collecting

Pick up all those shiny things. If you call it a “collection” no one will judge you for bringing home random rocks anymore. 😉

20. Bird Watching

Just don’t become a crazy bird lady (or guy)!

21. Hunting

The equipment can be expensive if you don’t already own it, but you may also be able to borrow from a friend or family member to try out this hobby if you’re a beginner. Most hunters enjoy sharing their hobby with newbies to keep the sport alive.

22. Fishing

Same goes here! Most avid fishermen are more than willing to take along new people who don’t have their own equipment. Just don’t wear out your welcome if you fall in love with this hobby.

Intellectual Hobbies

After exercising your body in the fresh air, here are the best fun inexpensive hobbies that only require brain power.

23. Reading

This is pretty much the ultimate frugal hobby. Almost every community has a library you can use for free as long as you follow the rules and return your books on time. You can also start a book club, or swap books with friends to find more reading material.

24. Writing

Writing can be a fun hobby and it doesn’t have to turn into more than that. You can write in a diary, write short stories for fun, or write even write to make money like I mentioned earlier. If you love writing and actually want to get paid for it, there’s currently a shortage of freelance writers. If this interests you, check out this post on getting paid to be a freelance writer.

25. Drawing

A pencil and paper is all you need to get started with this frugal hobby. Even if you expand your artist supplies later on, this hobby shouldn’t be too costly.

26. Learn a New Language

Is there a language you’ve been dying to learn? There are lots of resources online and books at your library that you can use to learn a new language.

27. Learn to Play an Instrument

Learning to play a musical instrument doesn’t mean you have to take expensive lessons. Many instruments can be self-taught, especially now that you can learn almost everything you need to know on YouTube.

28. Learn to Sew

Learning basic sewing skills is a good idea. Knowing how to sew has actually saved me money. For example, my sewing skills have helped me save my clothes from being thrown in the rag bin a few times when they only needed minor repairs.

29. Learn a New Game

Playing games is one of my family’s favorite hobbies, especially is the weather is crappy outside. We don’t discriminate, we like to play board games and card games. They can also be a good way to meet new people if you go to community game nights. You might be able to find some at your local library, churches, or on meetup.com.

30. Read the News

Doesn’t sound very exciting, but you might be surprised what you can learn when you start reading the news regularly. Don’t just keep up on local news either, the world is bigger than that. Make sure you find out what’s going on elsewhere in the world too.

31. Explore Your Genealogy

Ask your family members for help with this project, or start looking online. When I put together my family genealogy, I was surprised at how much information I could find online.

Exercise Hobbies

First we started online, then we started making money with your hobby, then we moved outside and after that we started using our brain power for our hobbies. This next list is the best fun inexpensive hobbies that will also burn a few calories.

32. Biking

Most people have a bike sitting in their garage or storage shed. If you have an old unused bike, it won’t cost you much to give it a tune-up so you can start riding it again. Biking around your neighborhood is free.

33. Running

Running is probably the cheapest form of exercise out there. All you need to get started is a decent pair of shoes.

34. Get in Shape with Body Weight Exercises

Some you know that Peach is a Crossfit enthusiast. I’m a former Crossfiter myself, but I cut it from my budget to pay off my debt faster. One good habit I picked up from there that I still continue in my home workouts is doing bodyweight exercises. Like running, all you need for bodyweight exercises are good shoes and maybe a few standard household items. You can do things like air squats, pushups, situps, lunges, etc. without spending money.

35. Dance

I’m not talking about paying money and going to a dance studio – those things can be very expensive. Instead I’m talking about turning on your favorite music and using it to make up your own workout routine.

36. Swimming

If you live near a public beach, lake, etc. you can probably swim there for free. Swimming is a great cardiovascular exercise and it’s fun!

37. Join a Club Sports Team

Most communities have a Recreation Department that hosts sports leagues for kids and adults. They’re usually fairly inexpensive to join and offer lots of different sports to choose from.

38. Try Yoga

There are lots of free yoga video on YouTube. All you need to get started is a mat.

39. Practice Meditation

Exercise for your brain. 🙂

Skilled Hobbies

Lastly, it’s time to apply your skills to your hobby list. From cooking, to home-brewing, and even woodworking, we have you covered with this last bunch of fun inexpensive hobbies.

40. Cooking

For some cooking is truly a hobby. Even if you don’t love to cook, it’s definitely a good skill to have because cooking and eating at home is way cheaper than going out to eat. If you need some ideas for cooking, try out Erin Chase’s $5 Dinners – the site dedicated to helping you make each meal a $5 total…not five dollars per person.

41. Canning and Food Preservation

This old-fashioned skill can actually help you save money, especially if you are preserving food from your garden bounty to eat later on.

42. Furniture Restoration

I know several people who’ve taken up furniture restoration as a frugal hobby and they’ve also managed to furnish their homes with one-of-a-kind pieces they re-did themselves. You can also sell your restored furniture as a great side hustle hobby!

43. Home Brewing

There are lots of online resources that can teach you how to get started brewing your own beer, wine, or cider at home. It might a little equipment to get started, but if you regularly enjoy these beverages instead of buying them at the liquor store you’ll definitely save money in the long run.

44. Animal Husbandry

Growing up we raised many different kinds of animals on my parents’ farm. I still love animals and taking care of them today and it’s definitely a good skill to have.

45. Carpentry

Even if you don’t learn how to make fancy things, basic carpentry skills can be good to have as they can save you money when you know how to fix things around the house.

Next time you can’t think of something to do besides spending the day on the couch watching Netflix, check out this list instead.

Read more: theeverygirl.com

#finance

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weekendwarriorblog · 6 years

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WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEKEND (Besides Incredibles 2, of course) – June 15, 2018

After a couple down weekends, things should pick up considerably this weekend with this year’s sole Pixar release, a sequel to one of the more popular movies the animation house has produced. This Sunday is also Father’s Day and with many of the big sports competitions over and done with, fathers will be up for going to movies with their kids, so a few movies should benefit more than others.

THE INCREDIBLES 2 (Disney-Pixar)

Let’s go back in time to 2004 after Pixar had their biggest hit to date with Finding Nemo, which itself followed the hits Toy Story and Toy Story 2, and the slightly less well-received A Bug’s Life. John Lasseter’s Cars was still a couple years away and Pixar hadn’t been bought fully by Disney, so they were still trying new things and not just churning out sequels to keep merchandise selling.

Along comes director Brad Bird after making the 1999 cult-favorite animated film The Iron Giant with an idea to make an animated movie about a superhero family, and hence, The Incredibles was born. Fox already had a few superhero hits with Bryan Singer’s X-Men and its sequel, and they were developing a Fantastic Four movie. It was both a good and bad thing that The Incredibles came out first, since it used a similar premise of a superhero family in a far more fun and family-friendly way.

The Incredibles surpassed the opening of Finding Nemo (barely) despite opening in early November vs. the summer, and it built on that $70.5 million opening to make $261 million domestically and another $372 million overseas. Back in 2004, Pixar wasn’t in the sequel game quite like they are now (despite Toy Story 2), but over the past 14 years, many fans have demanded a sequel while at the same time decrying most of the sequels Pixar made. When you have huge hits like Toy Story 3 ($415 mill. domestic) in 2010 and 2016’s Finding Dory ($486.3 million), it was only a matter of time, and the success Disney has had since buying Marvel’s superhero universe made an Incredibles 2 inevitable.

Unlike many of the other Pixar sequels so far – which all have done well, mind you – The Incredibles 2 is indeed one that the fans demanded, having fallen in love with the Incredibles (the parents voiced by Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter) in that first movie. Of course, Samuel L. Jackson’s popular Frozone is also back as is superhero costumer Ed Mode, and Disney has had 14 years to make these characters even more popular than they were before through home video and television.

Unfortunately, I haven’t seen the sequel (because I’m not invited to any Disney screenings), so I’ll just have to go with what I heard (that it’s pretty good though not as good as the original), and Fandango reported that tickets were selling faster than Finding Dory, which isn’t that big a surprise. Apparently,The Incredibles 2 played on IMAX screens across the country along with The Incredibles on Wednesday with the box office probably rolled into Thursday previews.

There hasn’t been a strong family film in a very, VERY long time, as Marvel and Star Wars have dominated. Sony’s Peter Rabbit is the last really strong movie for kids and parents, and that was released over four months ago, so parents with small kids are going to be just as eager to get them out of the house and heat as the teen and older moviegoers into superheroes.

Disney*Pixar has now had two sequels open over the $100 million mark, and The Incredibles 2 will join them, possibly even surpassing the opening of Finding Dory with less competition and a wider range of audiences wanting to see it. (I think older males that avoided Finding Dory, myself included, might see The Incredibles 2 as something more up their alley.)

Because of this, The Incredibles 2 should be good for an opening weekend in the $135 to 145 million range, basically the same as Finding Dory a few years ago, although Father’s Day on Sunday should definitely help this one maintain business throughout the weekend. Since the fans actually want this movie and because it will appeal to an older audience beyond usual family sequels means it could end up opening even higher. I still think sequel ennui might hold this back, but far less than other sequels. I’d expect a guaranteed $300 million and possibly even $400 million domestic gross for this one.

TAG (New Line/WB)

It might not be the wisest move for New Line to release an R-rated comedy as counter-programming to The Incredibles 2, because being R-rated doesn’t mean those not interested in The Incredibles sequel (which will be very few and far between) might check this out instead.

Essentially, it’s a comedy based on the ongoing real-life game of tag between a group of adult friends, and it’s one of two first-time features this weekend, this one directed by Jeff Tomsic.

It does have an impressive comedy cast that includes Ed Helms (The Hangovermovies and Horrible Bosses), Jake Johnson (New Girl and Let’s Be Cops), Hannibal Burress, Isla Fisher (Wedding Crashers), Leslie Bibb and Rashida Jones, as well as a few dramatic ringers like Jeremy Renner (one of the few actually funny characters from last year’s The House) and Jon Hamm, who also has done his fair share of comedy. A good share of the actors have done the talk show circuit to help raise awareness even f there really is no one on there who seems capable of

New Line has continued to step up its R-rated comedy game after having hits like Wedding Crashers and Horrible Bosses, but it’s getting harder to get audiences into things like this as seen by Game Night earlier this year, as it only opened with $17 million. (Word-of-mouth and the slower winter box office helped it pull in nearly $70 million.)

Presumably, opening Tag in the summer would give it a lot wider audience of college-age and slightly older moviegoers who want to get out of the heat, but there’s something about this premise that doesn’t quite connect in the same way as Game Night, which is based on something older moviegoers could relate to. Even New Line’s Vacation remake starring Helms bombed when it opened in the summer of 2015 barely making $60 million.

The question is whether having such a large group of strong actors can help Tag overcome the fact that it doesn’t look particular funny, and the answer is probably “No.” This might struggle to make $15 million this weekend and will likely end up with less than $60 million and be quickly forgotten.

Speaking of unwanted remakes, Superfly…. Tag, you’re it.

SUPERFLY (Sony)

This remake of the classic 1972 blacksploitation flick of the same name was released yesterday, this one having been fully modernized for a younger generation who have probably never even heard of the original movie. That movie was directed by Gordon Parks, Jr, and starred Ron O’Neal and Carl Lee, but it might be best remembered for its soundtrack by Curtis Mayfield.

Playing the lead characters of Priest and his partner Eddie are Trevor Jackson and Jason Miller, from Grown-ish and Straight Outta Compton respectively, but the presence of The Wire’s Michael K. Williams will likely get audiences more excited. Directing the new version is hip hop video director named Director X making his feature film debut, and it’s not likely to find much favor among film critics, because as you might have heard, THEY’RE MAINLY WHITE MEN!!!!!!! OMG!!!!! (Seriously, I wonder how much money was wasted on that USC study.)

The R-rated Superfly is targeted towards teen and slightly older men in urban areas with its mix of hip hop, fast cars, high-tech guns and semi-clad women, and honestly, it’s the first film maybe since Black Panther to offer a hero that might appeal to the video game generation.

Superflyalso becomes the first movie of the summer with a Weds. release, which theoretically could cut into its weekend business, but more likely, the earlier release is to help drive business up if word-of-mouth is halfway good, and having seen it with a real audience, the movie does deliver some good laughs and action.

Expect the movie to do particularly well in Atlanta (where it takes place), Chicago and some of the larger cities, where Sony will focus its 2,200 theaters. In some ways, this is better counter-programming to The Incredibles 2, which offers very little for urban audiences other than maybe Samuel L. Jackson.

While it might only make a couple million on Wednesday and Thursday, word-of-mouth should help its weekend business to make between $8 and 10 million.

Mini-Review: As I began to watch Director X’s remake of Superfly (a term that probably hasn’t been used in 40 plus years), I immediately assumed I was either too white or too old to appreciate it, and yet, seeing the movie with an audience, you can tell that it knows enough about hip hop and video game culture to offer an entertaining update of the ‘70s film. Trevor Jackson is Priest, who runs the drug traffic through Atlanta but who is more of a benevolent criminal than Al Pacino in Scarface, but he can also take care of himself in a fight as seen when he gets into an argument with a younger member of the “Snow Patrol” gang, whose M.O. is wearing all-white clothes and driving white cars. Priest’s long-time friend and partner Eddie (Jason Mitchell) wants to get revenge for them disrespecting Priest, so he commissions a dry-by against Priest’s wishes. Things escalate from there, but Priest wants out, so he works out a plan to sell more product to make enough money to leave the business.

It’s a simple premise that follows a similar trajectory as the original movie albeit shifted it into modern-day Atlanta while focusing on the type of storytelling we might see in a “gangsta rap” video. (Do they even still call it that?) Unfortunately, this also includes all the issues I have with those videos including the overuse of the N-word, the F-word and the objectification of women, although Priest always seems to sit just on the cusp of being a “bad guy.”

As you watch the movie you might wonder where the Atlanta PD is during all of this drug trafficking. When they do show up, it’s in the form of two crooked white cops, including one that shoots one of Priest’s gang. It’s a nod to the #BlackLivesMatter that’s a bit of a failure since we’ve already seen the man shot doing and selling drugs as well as taking part in the aforementioned drive-by.

Jackson and Mitchell are both very good, as is Michael K. Williams as their direct supervisor Scatter, though they’re surrounded by actors who aren’t quite as strong, which leads to many erratic scenes and a surprising amount of laughs, as well. Director X does a decent job keeping the film rolling despite its abundance of clichés, even building to an impressive and satisfying car chase. The film is more impressive when you realized that it was filming in January and February of this year and is already hitting the streets. The fact he can make this movie so fast and relatively inexpensive is quite an asset.

The Superfly remake basically does what it sets out to do which is to entertain young black (and white) males with cool guns, cool cars and half-naked women, nothing more nor less. If you’re going into it as a fan of the original movie, you’re already setting yourself up for disappointment, although it’s far from a bad movie. Rating: 6.5/10

RACE 3 (Yash Raj Films)

Opening in 315 theaters, both on 2D and 3D screens, is the third movie in the popular Bollywood action franchise that began with 2008’s Race, which grossed $1.4 million domestically. The sequel Race 2 opened in 2013 and grossed only slightly more, although that only opened in half as many theaters as the new film. Remo D’Souza takes over as director from Abbas-Mastan, although Anil Kapoor returns to the franchise, this time joined by another Bollywood superstar in Salman Khan. Honestly, I haven’t seen any of these movies, and I’m not the best person to figure out how a Bollywood film might do, but with the 3D upcharge, this could end up doing around a million or more this weekend but probably not enough to break into the Top 10.

The Top 10 should look something like this…

1. The Incredibles 2 (Disney-Pixar) - $142 million N/A

2. Ocean’s 8 (Warner Bros.) - $22.5 million -46%

3. Tag (New Line/WB) – $14 million N/A

4. Superfly (Sony) - $8.5 million N/A

5. Deadpool 2 (20thCentury Fox) - $7.5 million -47%

6. Solo: A Star Wars Story (Lucasfilm/Disney) - $6.8 million -55%

7. Hereditary (A24) – $6.5 million -56%

8. Avengers: Infinity War (Marvel/Disney) - $4 million -45%

9. Book Club (Paramount) – $2.6 million -25%

10. Adrift (STX Entertainment) - $2.5 million -53%

LIMITED RELEASES

Before I get to the theatrical releases, I want to talk about a movie called A Motion Selfie, which is now available via Vimeo on Demand. I’ve known the film’s director Jamie Stuart for over 14 years, and I remember marveling at his artsy short films from the New York Film Festival. Stuart’s feature-length debut is a 90-minute silent film cut to his own electronic score. Jamie’s kind of like a hipster Charlie Brown, and you might watch the movie thinking it’s a documentary about his real life, which I doubt it actually is. I really dug the score, which at times referenced Joy Division and the Sex Pistols, and I found it infinitely amusing to watch the day-to-day life of the “character” Jamie was playing. Mileage may vary if you don’t know him, but I found it to be quite a hoot. You can watch the trailer below and rent/buy the film at the Official Site.

https://youtu.be/-v2v72DcyTk

Unfortunately, there aren’t as many interesting specialty releases this week, and I’ve only seen two of them, so I’ll keep this brief.

Blue Caprice director Alexandre Moors’ The Yellow Birds (Lionsgate/DirecTV) played at the Sundance Film Festival in early 2017, but it’s finally getting release, as it stars Solo’s Alden Ehrenreich and Tye Sheridan from X-Men: Apocalypse as soldiers fighting Iraq who experience a great tragedy with one of them having to return home to explain to the other’s family what happened. It also stars Jennifer Anniston and Toni Collette (yes, her again!), and after debuting on DirecTV last month, it will open in select cities

After many years in development, the crime-drama Gotti (MoviePass Ventures/Vertical) starring John Travolta as the mob boss is getting released into theaters thanks to MoviePass, who suggest you use MoviePass to go see it. It’s directed by Entourage star Kevin Connolly and stars Spencer Rocco Lofranco as John Gotti, Jr. as well as Travolta’s wife Kelly Preston, and it hasn’t been shown to critics after bombing at Cannes last month.

‘80s actress Lea Thompson makes her feature film directorial debut with The Year of Spectacular Men (MarVista Entertainment), produced by her husband Howard Deutch, written by their daughter Madelyn Deutch and starring their other daughter Zoey Deutch. So it’s basically a family affair. The younger Deutch plays Izzy Klein, as she faces to the struggles of life after getting out of college.

From Brazil comes Fellipe Barbosa’s Gabriel and the Mountain (Cinema Tropical), a travelogue that follows a young Brazilian through West Africa. The winner of two prizes at Cannes’ Critic’s Week will kick-off for Cinema Tropical’s “Verão in New York: A Summer of Brazilian Cinema” that will open at the Quad CinemaFriday.

As far as docs go this weekend, Natalie Portman produced and narrates the doc Eating Animals (IFC Films), Christopher Dillon Quinn’s adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer’s book that examines the state of food. Portman will be doing a couple Q n As at the IFC Centerin New York this weekend, but sadly, they’re both already sold out.

The hipster band Deer Hoof celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2014, something captured in William Miller’s doc Straight into a Storm (Abramorama), and then there’s Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf (Argot Pictures), which is about exactly what it says in the title.

That’s it for this week. Next week: Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom!

#WhatToWatchThisWeekend TheWeekendWarrior TheIncredibles2 Tag Superfly Movies Review BoxOffice

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touristguidebuzz · 7 years

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How I Saved Money For Travel (You Don’t Need To Be Rich)

How to Save Money for Travel

Travel Tips

Want to travel the world for a while? Or just take an epic vacation? You don’t need to be rich, but you’ll need to get creative about saving money for travel. Here’s how I did it.

There’s a popular myth floating around that travel is an expensive hobby. Certainly people who travel a lot must have rich parents, lucrative lottery winnings, or work high paying jobs… right?

Normal people can’t afford to travel. It’s far too expensive for the rest of us…

Don’t worry, I understand where you’re coming from. I used to think that way too. As an American who didn’t even know what a hostel or GAP year was, I thought international travel was only for the rich and privileged.

But after traveling the world extensively for the past 6 years, I’m here to tell you world travel is possible for the rest of us too.

How To Save Money For Travel

After countless emails from readers asking about how I’m able to travel the world seemingly non-stop exploring incredible destinations, I wanted to share some useful tips about how I learned to save money for traveling.

Because I had to learn too — it didn’t come naturally. In fact I used to be horrible at saving money.

When I quit my job in 2010 to embark on a year long adventure in Central America, I wasn’t rich. I was living in South Florida earning $28,000 a year working as a photographer for used car dealerships and nightclubs in Miami.

Incredibly glamorous, I know…

Even with my very average (American) income, and living in a pretty expensive area of the country, I managed to save $7000 in 12 months by transforming my lifestyle and living below my means.

I learned how to spend less, save more, and earn extra cash on the side.

It wasn’t easy, and it required plenty of hard work and sacrifice, but if I could do it, I’m confident you could too. It doesn’t matter if you want to travel for two weeks or two years, the process is the same.

Here’s my simple formula that will help you save money for your next trip.

We All Want More Of This…

1: Become Financially Responsible

This isn’t intended to sound judgmental. We all start here. What did school really teach you about financial planning? For many of us, not much.

Money management is a learned skill – but most of us don’t master the basics until we’re adults — if ever. I was clueless for a long time.

If you want to save money for travel, now is a good time to revisit those basics, and maybe iron out a few of those bad financial habits we all acquire along the way.

Remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint.

You are making a significant long-term commitment that’s sometimes going to be really hard to stick to. Saving up enough money for travel, or anything for that matter, is tough on the soul and demands sacrifice, which is why so few people succeed. The right mindset is everything!

How much do you want this? Because nobody else will do it for you. It’s your responsibility the whole way.

Equally importantly, how many times are you willing to try and fail until you’ve successfully learned all the habits and strategies that will put the required amount in the bank to get you traveling?

Good. I think you’re ready for this then! (Just don’t expect it to be easy.)

2: Track Your Spending

Money itself isn’t stressful. Neither is effective money management. Not knowing what your money is doing? Being afraid to check your bank balance? That’s where all the stress happens.

The solution to this is simple.

Put aside a day this weekend, buy your favorite bottle of wine (you’ll need it), and go through all your accounts to find out EXACTLY what your finances look like, down to the dollar.

Tracking expenses is an important part of learning where you can cut back, or even eliminate your spending.

I know, you’ve probably heard this before. But have you actually done it? On a regular basis? It’s a powerful way to identify how much money you piss away every month on random crap you don’t need.

Write it ALL down. How much do you spend on food each week? Don’t forget to include groceries, eating out, bottled water, and snacks. How much do you spend on entertainment? Movies, books, music, sports tickets, dates, etc.

What about vices like alcohol, cigarettes, and coffee?

What are your monthly bills? Rent, mortgage, utilities, car payment, insurance, credit card interest, cell phone service, gym membership, student loans, etc. Don’t forget miscellaneous shopping either. Video games, clothes, pet toys, etc.

Now, grit your teeth and look it all in the face. You may be surprised at how much you’re spending. Little things tend to add up. This isn’t an easy thing to do, I know. That’s why you might need that wine.

But it becomes a lot easier if you approach saving with the right attitude. You’re not here to judge yourself or wallow in regret. Take your feelings out of the equation because they’re not needed.

This is simply about awareness. You’re looking your financial situation right in the eye and saying, “OK – this is where I am. This is where I need to be.”

If you’re like me, building this kind of awareness, and tracking everything, takes time. That’s the nature of habits – you don’t suddenly change your behavior overnight.

Track your spending like a pro with this free expense tracking app from Mint.

Stick To Your Budget

3: Budget Ruthlessly

There are two types of budgeting you need to do here. The first is budgeting your trip. The second is budgeting your life.

First, you need to work out how much your trip is going to cost you. If you know what you’re doing, your travel budget can be as low as $50 a day.

The amount is going to vary wildly depending on where you want to travel, and how thrifty you are. But for long-term budget travel, I usually recommend planning to spend at least $1500 per month.

So that means to backpack around the world for 6 months, you should have at least $9000 in your bank account before you leave.

If you choose wisely, your accommodation can cost next to nothing. Cheap flights can be easy to find if you follow these simple tips – and so on.

If you want all my best advice for ways to save money on travel, start here.

You’ve got 16 months before you leave? Great! Your monthly savings goal is 1/16th of that total – and you need to budget successfully to put that amount aside every month, more or less, until you hit your target.

Now the big question becomes – how are you going to hit that target?

First step: create a running budget, assigning strict numbers to recurring expenses – and stick to it religiously. Some expenses are fixed, for example, your rent (although, keep reading below for one way to lower it).

Other expenses are flexible, like the money you spend on food every month, or socializing. The trick with these is to make sure you always know how much of your budget is left, so you’re not a victim of “phantom expenses” that nibble away your hard-earned savings without you being aware of them.

Going shopping? Decide in advance how much you can afford to spend, and use the calculator on your phone to total everything up as you walk round the aisles. Going out with friends? Withdraw cash, and leave your cards at home so you can’t blow your budget.

Budgeting effectively isn’t scary. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. When you have complete control of your money (and not the other way round), your confidence will soar – and you’ll work even harder towards your goal.

Check out this terrific set of free online budgeting classes to master the basics.

4: Reduce Unnecessary Spending

Grab a piece of paper and draw a vertical line down the middle of it. At the top left, write “NEEDS” – and at the top right, write “WANTS”.

Now place everything you spend money on into one of these two columns.

Be as brutally honest as possible. Do you need Netflix right now? Do you need that cappuccino you always have on your lunch break? What about those beers on Friday night? How about new clothes?

Consult your spending diary that you’ve hopefully been using. How many of those daily entries were things you actually needed? Will your life end without them?

Once you’re finished, look at the “WANTS” column – and write down how much they cost, next to each item. Now total them up. That’s how much you can instantly start saving every month if you cut all these out.

The final step here is simply to stop buying those things you don’t need. I know, it’s harder than it sounds.

Our extremely effective and profitable marketing industry will try its best to convince you to buy that Starbucks Unicorn Frappuccino. Don’t let them win. It’s time to take control of your finances right now.

I Cook A Mean Risotto…

5: Develop Habits That Save You Money

How about getting up a little earlier, skipping the bus and walking/riding a bike to work instead? Ever heard of ride-sharing? What other daily expenses can you replace with money-saving habits?

What skills can you learn that will cut your daily costs?

I’ll give an example. By cooking your meals instead of buying them prepared, you can save thousands of dollars every year. Which is exactly what I did when I was saving money for my own travel adventures.

You don’t have to give up excellent coffee and tasty avocado toast — just make them yourself and save money.

Cooking for yourself, especially lunch & dinner, can save somewhere between $6 and $11 per meal – so if you previously spent all your time eating out, you’d save between $125 and $230 every week just by cooking.

It’s a skill that puts decent money in your pocket. Plus, it’s fun too!

6: Cut Accommodation Costs

This is extreme – but also extremely effective. If the place you are renting (or own) costs a lot of money, how about taking on a roommate to share the rent and bills? What about two roommates?

If that’s not an option, and you’ve got a year or more before you hit the road – why not move into a smaller apartment, or a cheaper neighborhood? This is one way I was able to save money for my trip.

By moving into a cheaper neighborhood on the outskirts of Fort Lauderdale in Florida, sharing a small house with 2 other roommates, I was able to save hundreds of dollars on accommodation every month rather than living in the much more expensive city of Miami.

Other travelers I know moved in with their parents for a few months to save money. Or they rent out their homes and move somewhere cheaper. Obviously these aren’t ideal situations, and may not even be options for everyone, but I just want to open your eyes to the possibilities.

Sometimes you need to think outside the box to make your dreams come true. And drastic measures can be uncomfortable, but effective.

Who Needs A Car?

7: Sell Your Crap

If it’s worth good money and you can’t travel with it, then is it really worth hanging onto? In my case, I took a long, hard look at my car one day, decided to sell it, and bought a used folding bicycle to replace it.

Instant injection of much-needed cash! Not only from the sale, but also from canceling my auto insurance and no longer needing to buy gas.

Instead, I purchased a public bus pass. Sure, my commute was longer. Riding my bike to the bus stop in the rain kinda sucked. But you know what? I was dedicated. I was determined. Wearing a poncho and riding in the rain isn’t the end of the world. Other people do it, why can’t I?

In addition to my car, I also sold my DJ turntables, sports equipment, and some furniture I really didn’t need. Everyone’s “crap” will be different. But we all collect it in one form or another.

Sites like Ebay & Craigslist can help you sell your stuff for extra cash to build up your travel fund.

8: Other Ways To Save

No, simply quitting avocado toast and frappuccinos isn’t going to pay for 6 months of travel. But, when combined with other money saving lifestyle changes, it all adds up to make a big difference.

Stop Going Out

Instead of spending too much money at a club or movie theater, invite friends over to your place for a movie night. Get outside and go on a hike.

Cook More

Now is a good time to learn the art of cooking. It’s entirely possible to buy low-cost, healthy ingredients, and cook your own tasty meals at home.

Shop Around

Did you compare prices while grocery shopping last week? Did you buy the cheapest toilet paper? Are you shopping at places like Costco & Amazon?

Cut Your Landline

I can’t remember the last time I used a landline. Cellphones work just fine. Switch to the cheapest provider, with the cheapest plan possible.

Ditch Your Cable

TV is a waste of time. Stop paying to live vicariously through shows, and make your own life more exciting. The internet is full of free entertainment!

Quit The Gym

No need for a gym membership when you can go running, hiking, or practice bodyweight exercise routines outside while enjoying nature!

Slash Your Shopping

No, you don’t need the latest smartphone. No, you don’t need new clothes every month. No, you don’t need 5 different shades of lipstick.

Reduce Utilities

Turn down your air conditioning and use a fan or wear a sweater. Unplug electronics when not in use. Take shorter showers.

Do You Have Any Talents You Can Sell?

9: Make More Money

Everyone wants to earn more money, right? Well it doesn’t grow on trees, but there are opportunities, even if you already have a full-time job.

Find part time work on the side. Maybe as a waiter, bartender, supermarket cashier, etc. I worked as a nightclub photographer 4 nights a week, putting up with drunk entitled assholes…

It doesn’t need to be an amazing job! Just something to boost your income. Do some research, and figure out what kinds of part-time positions match your skillset & talents.

Selling arts & crafts on Etsy. Stalking garage sales & re-selling on eBay. Walking dogs. Tutoring students. Babysitting. Audio transcription. Playing music.

The only limit is your imagination!

Check out Reddit’s Side Income Wiki for examples of how other people earn extra money.

10: Review Your Employment

Not earning enough money from your current job? Maybe it’s time to ask for a raise (as long as you can prove you actually deserve it). What makes you an important asset to the company?

Alternately, why not attempt to re-negotiate? Ask if there’s any way you can cut back your hours, or work from home a few days a week, so you can use that time you would normally spend commuting… on your side job.

If those aren’t options, you can start looking for another employer who pays more. Train in your spare time for something that pays better.

You’re not a slave to your job — if you don’t make enough, shop around and find a better place to work.

I know I’m making it sound easier than it is… but I never promised this would be easy. It’s not.

11: Earn As You Travel

This is a nice short-cut. If you can earn money as you travel, you won’t have to save quite as much. This is what I did. Before I began traveling, I’d built a small online business selling eBooks about topics I was knowledgeable on.

I managed to squeeze a money-making opportunity from my limited free time – which reduced the amount I needed to save for travel, as I could earn income on the road.

Because I was earning about $1500 per month from my online business, I left to backpack around Central America with only $7000 in the bank — confident I could continue working from my laptop.

Selling ebooks is no longer how I earn income. These days I make a good living from my travel blog. But that took a few years to accomplish.

How can you earn money online? Well there are all kinds of ways.

Affiliate marketing. Freelance writing. Graphic design. Computer programming. Becoming a virtual assistant. Language translation. I don’t know what skills & experience you have. But there are options.

For more details and ideas about how to earn money while traveling, make sure to check out my travel job guide.

Saving Money Won’t Be Easy!

Saving money doesn’t come naturally to most people. Nearly half of Americans don’t even have a $400 emergency fund.

The formula is simple. Live below your means, and save the rest.

Yet implementing this formula is not always easy. There are social pressures. We’re bombarded by marketing. Our willpower is lacking. We make excuses and lie to ourselves.

Others may have additional roadblocks — like obligations to support loved ones, student loans, debilitating injury, chronic disease, or a lack of job opportunities where they live.

If that’s the case, it may just take longer to reach your savings goal.

Following through is the difficult part. I know, I’ve been there. If this was easy, everyone would be doing it.

Resources To Get You There

To help you start saving money for travel, I’ve included some of my favorite resources below. These are useful tools for learning how to track your spending, budget your life, save money fast, or earn extra income.

YNAB – Excellent budgeting software & system to help you get out of debt and save money.

Mint – Popular free app for tracking your finances and managing your money.

I Will Teach You To Be Rich – My favorite book about becoming financially responsible & independent.

Remote Job Directory – Wonderful resource that lists websites for finding a location independent job.

The $100 Startup – Inspiring book that highlights 50 people who built their own businesses with minimum investment.

The 4-Hour Workweek – The book that convinced me to enter the world of online business and entrepreneurship.

One Last Piece Of Advice

As you’ll discover when you’re traveling, things rarely go exactly to plan.

The ability to think on your feet and adjust your trajectory on the fly is an important skill for travel, and life.

Expect many course corrections. Don’t be surprised when obstacles get in your way. Life is messy and the best-laid plans have a habit of fraying at the edges, or falling apart completely.

That shouldn’t matter though – you’re committed to this, right? You’ll find another way to get there. The specific plan you choose isn’t important… the destination is everything.

Best of luck – and I hope to see you out there! ★

READ MORE TRAVEL TIPS

The 33 Best Travel Friendly Jobs This Is How I Get Paid To Travel Advice For Students Who Want To Travel

Have any questions about saving money for travel? Drop me a message in the comments below!

This is a post from The Expert Vagabond adventure blog.

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topicprinter · 7 years

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TLDR: I bought a site on reddit for 4K, partnered with another redditor, and together we spent 2 months completely retooling the business. We followed this up with 3 months of marketing, and we’re now less than 30 days away from $100K in revenue.This is a post on how we did it.(Read time: ~15 minutes).Grab a cup of coffee and get comfy! I’ll get right to it.THE INNER WORKINGS OF A SUBSCRIPTION BOX COMPANY.So about 6 months ago, I came across this thread from a guy looking to sell a website he owned:I contacted him and found out that it was wetshaveclub.com, a wet shaving subscription box. I felt like I could make it work given the fact that dollar shave club had proven out the model. “Ok, Let’s do it!” This was the extent of my analysis on this. The site owner sent me a screenshot of his revenue, I offered about 15X his monthly profits, and we wrapped everything up that same weekend. We skipped the usual back and forth dance people go through when they’re buying websites. I sent over the money, he sent over the passwords, and that was that.I reached out to redditor u/kaster who I had been talking to on skype for some time. He had read my original series of posts, followed it to launch and grow a local business to 40k/month, sold it, and spent a few months in Costa Rica on vacation. We had never met, but I felt like he would be the perfect person to work on this with me. This is a guy that does not play around when an opportunity presents itself. Case in point: A few weeks later he was in his car for a 5-day drive from California to the east coast so we could work on this. (Kevin’s Facebook post as he was hitting the road).Ok, so here’s what we did to get moving:Step 1: Website RebrandingThe original website needed some work and we set out to change the look and feel of it. Design is critical, and even more so with a consumer product where emotion is a large component of the buying decision. Click to see of our branding efforts.Step 2: Expanding the Product line and raising pricesSo the original service only delivered soaps and at a price of $12 per month. We felt that we had to double that price to make this worthwhile. In order to do this we had to expand the product line and provide more value. Click to see how we expanded our product line.Step 3: Box RebrandingSince we were now shipping more products (and we had rebranded the site), the next effort was to find a box that worked. We called around to different box suppliers and had them send us samples. We settled on Salazar packaging. We sent them our box design and they got on it. Click to see our box rebranding efforts.Step 4: Increasing prices and adding annual optionEverything so far took us about 2 months of balls-to-the-wall work, but things were starting to shape up. We were then able to increase prices to $29 for the monthly box instead of $12. We also added an annual version at a reduced monthly rate to see if people would prepay for an entire year. And they did. Click to see our new pricing options.Step 5: MarketingSo with our conversion rates up, and our box at a higher price point we were able to unleash the hounds. You’ll see that most of what we do is completely free marketing mixed in with a few paid sources. Click to see how we drive traffic.Step 6: Ordering, Warehouse and ShippingSo with the results of our efforts, we needed space. We were shipping from our living room and while I had a small office, there was no way we could do it from there any longer. So we found an office/warehouse, moved in 10 days later and got everything set up. Click to peep the warehouse.Bonus: Our new office.So the result of all this work: We’re going to hit $100K in revenue in the next 30 days, and just passed $78K (Obligatory screenshot). We did $22K last month (Cratejoy screenshot)-They have pretty awesome analytics btw, and we’re on pace to do $35K in September. We think we can hit our first $100K month in 6-12 months and join the ranks of /u/bandholz from beardbrand.com. Dude knows his stuff and I respect how much he shares with the community. In some ways I think we’re cut from the same cloth, he’s just smarter and better looking!What Comes Next: We’re launching an accompanying ecommerce store. This way, when folks find products that they like in the box, they can order more of them. In addition, we can expand the product line a bit to include additional grooming products and other men’s accessories. Click for a sneak peak of the upcoming store.TAKEAWAYS FROM ALL OF THIS!This is hard work and we made a lot of mistakes and will continue to make more. We’re working every day on providing a better customer experience and trying to improve the product line. We went into this not knowing a thing about selling and shipping products, logistics, inventory, warehousing, or even wet shaving for that matter. But we live in the information age. Anything under the sun can be figured out if you’re resourceful enough and willing to bust your ass until you make yourself an expert in that thing. We’re not well connected, nor do we access to a gazillion dollars in VC funding. We just work. Hard. And we’re just getting started.The companies that made this happen:Cratejoy.com for our subscription box web platform. (Awesome service and Amir rocks!)Salazarpackaging.com for our box (Great to work with)Sonicprint.com for our inserts (Karen is the bomb)99designs.com for our design work (I wish I owned this company)Uline.com for our warehouse shelving and box fill (Their delivery speed is insane)Shipstation.com: (Integrates with cratejoy to handle our shipping. This gives us life!!)Endicia.com: (Integrates with Shipstation so we just print labels from our computer. The truth!)Stripe.com: Payment processor (You already know)Perfectaudience.com: Re-targeting (Works. Well! ROI positive and helps with branding too)Kabbage.com: $15,000 Line of credit (Surprisingly smooth experience)Gleam.io: Contests (Super awesome set up and easy to add virality to your contests through sharing)TeamBeachBody.com: (haha, we do insanity every morning before work! Thanks Sean T)If you’ve made it this far, props.This is where the case study ends!But if you’re interested in taking a look at the mindset that has gotten us to this point, read on.Launching something:I read almost every front-page thread on r/entrepreneur and have done so for the past 2 years, so I know a lot of folks are stuck right now with coming up with something to launch. Here’s what I would do if I wanted to start a new business today and had no idea what to do next:1) Check your bank account for something you’ve spent money on in the last 12 months. Bonus points if it’s a recurring service of some sort (Your customer lifetime value is instantly boosted, and you can thrive even with a high customer acquisition cost). Either way, you know it’s something that people already spend money on. This simple rule eliminates fantasy ideas: “If I get enough members I’ll figure out how to monetize it later.” Later never comes, so ideas like these don’t get a minute of my time. The only things I work on are things where I can make money starting on DAY ONE!2)Narrow down the list to things where a lot of people are making money in that industry. Competition is good. I know, this goes against everything you’ve learned somewhere. But the more thriving competition you find, the more money is being made, and the larger the market. Join the party, throw your hat in the ring, and be at least as smart as somebody there. Most people search for a great idea with no competition without realizing that this makes it almost impossible to start something.3) Narrow things further to something that can be delivered with a simple but well designed website that cost no more than a month’s salary. If it’s a product, you’ll then have to find someone that will let you re-sell his or her product. If it’s a service, you simply have to find someone that already provides that service. In both cases (product or service) you’re just re-selling something, and with a well-designed website, you’ll double your chances that your supplier will feel comfortable enough to let you resell their thing. Yes, good design is important for both your customers and your suppliers! Don't launch with bad design!!! MVP or not!4) When you get that “Yes” from a supplier, make sure you set things up so that you’re not in the customer’s way. Make things as easy as possible for them to do business with you. Seriously, remove all hoops. They should be able to do business with you as easily as they do business with Amazon. If you don’t need that extra field on the form, get rid of that shit. As easy as humanly possible!5) Market your thing until you pass out. If your thing is something that really speaks to a person’s identity like grooming, fashion, makeup, fitness, etc. you can kill on social media (twitter, instagram, Facebook, YouTube). If your thing is more detached from a person’s identity like say a car wash or home cleaning, your best conversions will come through search (adwords, seo, yelp).A few additional thoughts:I think that a lot of “startup best practices” work well for people that have access to funding. For the rest of us, some of the generally accepted ideas end up pushing folks further away from launching something. Consider:Validation: Validation in my opinion is for fantasy ideas. If you stay away from having to come up with an awesome idea, you won’t need validation in the first place. There are plenty of things you can do that other companies have already validated for you. And when you find that thing, stop worrying about competition. Competition IS the validation.Competition: Stop measuring this by quantity. One of the first things you’ll hear is “the market is oversaturated”! This is meaningless, yet this single phrase has stopped more potential entrepreneurs in their tracks than…well I honestly can’t think of anything that beats this. Start looking at the quality of the competition instead, and you’ll often find that the market is saturated with a LOT of bad players, and they’re making a LOT of money despite being so bad.** This is the perfect situation.Business plans: This often ends up being a way to push action further down the road. If It’s longer than one page you’re wasting your time. Download something like this, fill that bad boy out, and get to http://ift.tt/1usFNjQ: Unless the company can pay for it, it’s not happening. So this only happens AFTER the company is making money. One more excuse...GONE!Business Analysis: Demographic data, market analysis, the economic outlook... blah blah blah. More ways to kick the can down the road and to feel that you’re doing something when you’re really not. I just get to work. If a lot of people are making money doing this thing, the startup cost is low, and there is no sorcery involved, it can be done!Fear of your idea being stolen: Ideas hold little intrinsic value without execution. However, you can start to extract value when you get feedback on it, massaging it, push and poke it, and really run it through the wringer. And the only way to do this is to tell people about it. This goes against our most basic instincts because we’re fearful that our ideas might be stolen. Well the reality is, most people are sitting on the bench with a gazillion ideas of their own that they are not executing on. You just added one more to that list. Either way, if an idea cannot survive competition it’s probably not that good in the first place. In addition, what happens when you launch? You can’t run a business without telling anybody about it. You’ll often get this response, “ But I’ll lose my first-mover’s advantage?”. Well good. I would never want to be the first mover anyhow. First movers bare a tremendous cost in educating customers. Most of us don’t have the money to bare that cost. The folks that are second and onwards, can just slide in and benefit from all of that work. For example, I don’t have to explain the concept of a subscription box service sending you shaving equipment every month. Most people already know what this is, thanks to Dollar Shave Club. Bottom line: Try to get over this stuff.Find something you’re passionate about: Nah son. Find something that is viable. I’m passionate about table tennis, but I’m not looking to turn that passion into a business. When it comes to business, I’m far more passionate about providing a good product/service that has good margins, than about being able to marry that business to any hobby or other exciting pursuit I may have in my regular life. This way, I’m free to work on the best opportunity that arises without limitation. And honestly, quite often the least sexy industries are where the big money is being made. So while most of the brainpower is busy chasing sexy mobile apps and such, you can make bank by selling ugly widgets or providing basic services. It’s tough to pay bills with app downloads.A note to Engineers and consultants: Resist the urge to complicate things. For technical folks, it seems like the inclination to complicate things is overwhelming. So a problem like “find people that need lawn service and connect them with people that provide lawn service” becomes, “well how about we use Zillow’s APi to pull a picture of the lawn, and the customer confirms it by drawing an outline of the area to be serviced and we tie that into Google maps and feed everything into a pricing algorithm”.... and on and on. Unfortunately, many of these guys do not make it. More often than not simplicity wins. Get out of the customer’s way.Start something small to get practice: You don’t get good at running marathons by reading about running marathons. And you don’t get good at business by reading about business. You get good by doing. And doing it over and over again. But just like you wouldn’t expect to win the first marathon you entered, why put so much pressure on yourself to win at the first company you start? Or worse yet, paralyze yourself with fear into never running at all because you’re afraid you won’t win? It doesn’t make sense with marathons and it doesn’t make sense with business. So while a lot of folks over-analyze every minutia about the thing, people like Kevin and me would have already downloaded a training regiment, bought a pair of shoes, and hit the bricks.What if I fail? Nothing happens! It’s literally the most mundane non-event imaginable. I spend a day or two wrapping up any loose ends, head to the movies or do something fun, and by the next day I’m already figuring out what the next thing is. My personal experience hasn’t been “Try->Win”, it has been more like “try, fail, try, fail, try, fail, try, fail win, win, win, win.” With each failure you get better, and then things just start to come easy. Don’t be afraid of failing, it’s like the best and cheapest MBA you’ll ever get.Naysayers: If you’re doing something...I mean anything, you’ll meet them. Whether it’s in real life, on the Internet, or wherever else. Sometimes it’s even your friends and family. I keep an imgur album of the best ones I come across. Sometimes for a little motivation, and sometimes just to look back and smile. For example, recently I mentioned in passing that my next big project will be a restaurant, and I already have a list of comment screenshots explaining why I won’t succeed. :-)Here’s one of my favorite ones from a few years back when I was making $4k per month, from what was a new company at the time. This was the top comment on Hacker News.That little company now pays me a 6 figure salary. What intrigued me about this comment was the fact that it was so thoughtfully written. This wasn’t a troll. This was someone that provided a seemingly well-reasoned analysis of where he thought I would be in 12 months, complete with business school type analysis: barriers to entry, competitive landscape, etc.So why is this important? Because this is exactly what many of us do to ourselves.We have a naysayer living permanently inside our heads that is constantly appraising and analyzing every business idea we entertain. And the analysis sounds just as reasoned, and well thought-out and measured as the one I posted above. Not a bad thing on its face, but the guy in our head typically skews negative. Shut that dude up! Or you’ll analyze and over think and what-if every single idea until you convince yourself it won’t work. Over time this messes with your confidence, and you end up paralyzed. Say what you want about the guy, but Kanye was right about this: Most people are held back by their perception of themselves! It’s a brutal feedback loop.At some point we have to just say “Fuck It” and get to work!Okay peeps, hope this was helpful to at least one person. Oh, and for making it this far even if you skimmed…:-)AMAEdited to add our Facebook Group where we continue this and other business discussions:And where you can download this in PDF form (along with other writings of mine).And my twitter page.

#/r/entrepreneur #reddit

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darcyfarber · 5 years

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45 Fun Inexpensive Hobbies to Try this Year

If you have time to kill, but not a lot of money left in your “fun budget”, it can be challenging to think of things to do (besides watching Netflix) to keep you occupied and entertained.

Luckily living on a budget because you want to pay off debt, save for a down payment on a house, or retire early, doesn’t mean you can’t have fun or explore new hobbies. But you do have to get creative and find new hobbies that fit in with your frugal lifestyle.

Still struggling to come up with ideas for inexpensive hobbies to try this year? Here are 45 fun inexpensive hobbies to get you started.

Table of Contents

Online Hobbies

1. Fill Out Online Surveys

2. Start a Blog

3. Buy and Re-sell Things Online

4. Listen to a New Podcast

5. Watch Cat Videos

6. Play Free Games Online

Financial Hobbies

7. Become a landlord

8. Investing

9. Thrift Shopping and Garage Sale-ing

10. Couponing

11. Volunteering

12. Start a Business

13. Budgeting Cash Flow Planning (that sounds better)

Outside Hobbies

14. Gardening

15. Camping

16. Hiking

17. Become a Master BBQer

18. Geocaching

19. Rock Collecting

20. Bird Watching

21. Hunting

22. Fishing

Intellectual Hobbies

23. Reading

24. Writing

25. Drawing

26. Learn a New Language

27. Learn to Play an Instrument

28. Learn to Sew

29. Learn a New Game

30. Read the News

31. Explore Your Genealogy

Exercise Hobbies

32. Biking

33. Running

34. Get in Shape with Body Weight Exercises

35. Dance

36. Swimming

37. Join a Club Sports Team

38. Try Yoga

39. Practice Meditation

Skilled Hobbies

40. Cooking

41. Canning and Food Preservation

42. Furniture Restoration

43. Home Brewing

44. Animal Husbandry

45. Carpentry

Online Hobbies

1. Fill Out Online Surveys

Survey Junkie has been around since 2005 and is the most trusted in the survey industry with a Trustpilot Rating of 8.8/10.

If you’re going to spend your time on a free hobby, start out with Survey Junkie and they will send you cash to your PayPal, Amazon or Target gift card for taking surveys on your time!

2. Start a Blog

Do you love writing? If so, wouldn’t it be cool to start your own blog where you are free to write about whatever you want and put it out there for the world to see?!

I love blogging and what started out as a fun inexpensive hobby for myself turned into what is called Money Peach today!

But in the beginning of my little blog, it was just me, my laptop, my cup of coffee and my thoughts.

What’s on your mind? What do you want to share with others? What is that people need to hear from you?

If you are ready (and I hope you are) to start you very own blog, I have personally put together a step-by-step guide so you can easily get started writing today for about $5 per month 🙂

3. Buy and Re-sell Things Online

There are so many re-selling websites to choose from these days, which can help you get the best prices for your “treasures”. eBay, Craigslist, Facebook buy/sell/trade groups, Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, and more are just a few that I’ve used to sell stuff in the past.

We have a full list of the 21 best apps to sell stuff online here.

4. Listen to a New Podcast

There are podcasts about every topic under the sun. Surely you can find one that interests you.

You can start listening to the Money Peach Podcast in your car, at the gym, or on the go right here.

5. Watch Cat Videos

There are some pretty funny cat videos on YouTube that can keep you entertained for hours. (Or maybe that’s just me?)

Let the record show that Peach does NOT watch cat videos on YouTube.

6. Play Free Games Online

Financial Hobbies

7. Become a landlord

You can start renting out a portion of your house on a site like Airbnb. If you find out you like being a landlord, you could always expand into owning rental properties.

8. Investing

9. Thrift Shopping and Garage Sale-ing

10. Couponing

11. Volunteering

That’s kind of financial since time is money, right? Give some of your time to your favorite charities, or join a group or board in your town to give back to civic organizations.

12. Start a Business

I’ve kind of touched on this before, but almost anything on this list can actually be turned into some kind of a money-making business. Starting a business is fun and it’s a good way to make some extra money.

Related: 84 Extremely Surprising Side Hustle Ideas

13. Budgeting Cash Flow Planning (that sounds better)

How to Start a Cash Flow Plan

And if you would like to get started with your own budget, you can get started with the Cash Flow Formula for FREE.

The Cash Flow Formula is the #1 tool to start saving more money and stop overspending each month…and it’s a GREAT hobby!

Outside Hobbies

14. Gardening

Depending on how you go about it, gardening can be a pretty inexpensive hobby to try. If you get good enough at it, you might even be able to lower your grocery bill by growing more of your own food.

15. Camping

16. Hiking

17. Become a Master BBQer

There are actually whole weekends devoted to BBQ competitions in my neck of the woods. If you are good with a grill, this might be a fun hobby to consider.

18. Geocaching

Geocaching is basically a high-tech treasure hunt. Find out how to get started here.

19. Rock Collecting

Pick up all those shiny things. If you call it a “collection” no one will judge you for bringing home random rocks anymore. 😉

20. Bird Watching

Just don’t become a crazy bird lady (or guy)!

21. Hunting

22. Fishing

Same goes here! Most avid fishermen are more than willing to take along new people who don’t have their own equipment. Just don’t wear out your welcome if you fall in love with this hobby.

Intellectual Hobbies

23. Reading

24. Writing

25. Drawing

A pencil and paper is all you need to get started with this frugal hobby. Even if you expand your artist supplies later on, this hobby shouldn’t be too costly.

26. Learn a New Language

Is there a language you’ve been dying to learn? There are lots of resources online and books at your library that you can use to learn a new language.

27. Learn to Play an Instrument

28. Learn to Sew

29. Learn a New Game

30. Read the News

31. Explore Your Genealogy

Ask your family members for help with this project, or start looking online. When I put together my family genealogy, I was surprised at how much information I could find online.

Exercise Hobbies

32. Biking

33. Running

Running is probably the cheapest form of exercise out there. All you need to get started is a decent pair of shoes.

34. Get in Shape with Body Weight Exercises

35. Dance

36. Swimming

If you live near a public beach, lake, etc. you can probably swim there for free. Swimming is a great cardiovascular exercise and it’s fun!

37. Join a Club Sports Team

Most communities have a Recreation Department that hosts sports leagues for kids and adults. They’re usually fairly inexpensive to join and offer lots of different sports to choose from.

38. Try Yoga

There are lots of free yoga video on YouTube. All you need to get started is a mat.

39. Practice Meditation

Exercise for your brain. 🙂

Skilled Hobbies

40. Cooking

Related: 5 Ways to Save Money on Real Food

41. Canning and Food Preservation

This old-fashioned skill can actually help you save money, especially if you are preserving food from your garden bounty to eat later on.

42. Furniture Restoration

43. Home Brewing

44. Animal Husbandry

Growing up we raised many different kinds of animals on my parents’ farm. I still love animals and taking care of them today and it’s definitely a good skill to have.

45. Carpentry

Even if you don’t learn how to make fancy things, basic carpentry skills can be good to have as they can save you money when you know how to fix things around the house.

Next time you can’t think of something to do besides spending the day on the couch watching Netflix, check out this list instead.

45 Fun Inexpensive Hobbies to Try this Year published first on https://mysingaporepools.weebly.com/

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kennethherrerablog · 5 years

Text

45 Fun Inexpensive Hobbies to Try this Year

If you have time to kill, but not a lot of money left in your “fun budget”, it can be challenging to think of things to do (besides watching Netflix) to keep you occupied and entertained.

Still struggling to come up with ideas for inexpensive hobbies to try this year? Here are 45 fun inexpensive hobbies to get you started.

Table of Contents

Online Hobbies

1. Fill Out Online Surveys

2. Start a Blog

3. Buy and Re-sell Things Online

4. Listen to a New Podcast

5. Watch Cat Videos

6. Play Free Games Online

Financial Hobbies

7. Become a landlord

8. Investing

9. Thrift Shopping and Garage Sale-ing

10. Couponing

11. Volunteering

12. Start a Business

13. Budgeting Cash Flow Planning (that sounds better)

Outside Hobbies

14. Gardening

15. Camping

16. Hiking

17. Become a Master BBQer

18. Geocaching

19. Rock Collecting

20. Bird Watching

21. Hunting

22. Fishing

Intellectual Hobbies

23. Reading

24. Writing

25. Drawing

26. Learn a New Language

27. Learn to Play an Instrument

28. Learn to Sew

29. Learn a New Game

30. Read the News

31. Explore Your Genealogy

Exercise Hobbies

32. Biking

33. Running

34. Get in Shape with Body Weight Exercises

35. Dance

36. Swimming

37. Join a Club Sports Team

38. Try Yoga

39. Practice Meditation

Skilled Hobbies

40. Cooking

41. Canning and Food Preservation

42. Furniture Restoration

43. Home Brewing

44. Animal Husbandry

45. Carpentry

Online Hobbies

1. Fill Out Online Surveys

Survey Junkie has been around since 2005 and is the most trusted in the survey industry with a Trustpilot Rating of 8.8/10.

If you’re going to spend your time on a free hobby, start out with Survey Junkie and they will send you cash to your PayPal, Amazon or Target gift card for taking surveys on your time!

2. Start a Blog

Do you love writing? If so, wouldn’t it be cool to start your own blog where you are free to write about whatever you want and put it out there for the world to see?!

I love blogging and what started out as a fun inexpensive hobby for myself turned into what is called Money Peach today!

But in the beginning of my little blog, it was just me, my laptop, my cup of coffee and my thoughts.

What’s on your mind? What do you want to share with others? What is that people need to hear from you?

If you are ready (and I hope you are) to start you very own blog, I have personally put together a step-by-step guide so you can easily get started writing today for about $5 per month 🙂

3. Buy and Re-sell Things Online

We have a full list of the 21 best apps to sell stuff online here.

4. Listen to a New Podcast

There are podcasts about every topic under the sun. Surely you can find one that interests you.

You can start listening to the Money Peach Podcast in your car, at the gym, or on the go right here.

5. Watch Cat Videos

There are some pretty funny cat videos on YouTube that can keep you entertained for hours. (Or maybe that’s just me?)

Let the record show that Peach does NOT watch cat videos on YouTube.

6. Play Free Games Online

Financial Hobbies

7. Become a landlord

You can start renting out a portion of your house on a site like Airbnb. If you find out you like being a landlord, you could always expand into owning rental properties.

8. Investing

9. Thrift Shopping and Garage Sale-ing

10. Couponing

11. Volunteering

That’s kind of financial since time is money, right? Give some of your time to your favorite charities, or join a group or board in your town to give back to civic organizations.

12. Start a Business

Related: 84 Extremely Surprising Side Hustle Ideas

13. Budgeting Cash Flow Planning (that sounds better)

How to Start a Cash Flow Plan

And if you would like to get started with your own budget, you can get started with the Cash Flow Formula for FREE.

The Cash Flow Formula is the #1 tool to start saving more money and stop overspending each month…and it’s a GREAT hobby!

Outside Hobbies

14. Gardening

Depending on how you go about it, gardening can be a pretty inexpensive hobby to try. If you get good enough at it, you might even be able to lower your grocery bill by growing more of your own food.

15. Camping

16. Hiking

17. Become a Master BBQer

There are actually whole weekends devoted to BBQ competitions in my neck of the woods. If you are good with a grill, this might be a fun hobby to consider.

18. Geocaching

Geocaching is basically a high-tech treasure hunt. Find out how to get started here.

19. Rock Collecting

Pick up all those shiny things. If you call it a “collection” no one will judge you for bringing home random rocks anymore. 😉

20. Bird Watching

Just don’t become a crazy bird lady (or guy)!

21. Hunting

22. Fishing

Same goes here! Most avid fishermen are more than willing to take along new people who don’t have their own equipment. Just don’t wear out your welcome if you fall in love with this hobby.

Intellectual Hobbies

23. Reading

24. Writing

25. Drawing

A pencil and paper is all you need to get started with this frugal hobby. Even if you expand your artist supplies later on, this hobby shouldn’t be too costly.

26. Learn a New Language

Is there a language you’ve been dying to learn? There are lots of resources online and books at your library that you can use to learn a new language.

27. Learn to Play an Instrument

28. Learn to Sew

29. Learn a New Game

30. Read the News

31. Explore Your Genealogy

Ask your family members for help with this project, or start looking online. When I put together my family genealogy, I was surprised at how much information I could find online.

Exercise Hobbies

32. Biking

33. Running

Running is probably the cheapest form of exercise out there. All you need to get started is a decent pair of shoes.

34. Get in Shape with Body Weight Exercises

35. Dance

36. Swimming

If you live near a public beach, lake, etc. you can probably swim there for free. Swimming is a great cardiovascular exercise and it’s fun!

37. Join a Club Sports Team

Most communities have a Recreation Department that hosts sports leagues for kids and adults. They’re usually fairly inexpensive to join and offer lots of different sports to choose from.

38. Try Yoga

There are lots of free yoga video on YouTube. All you need to get started is a mat.

39. Practice Meditation

Exercise for your brain. 🙂

Skilled Hobbies

40. Cooking

Related: 5 Ways to Save Money on Real Food

41. Canning and Food Preservation

This old-fashioned skill can actually help you save money, especially if you are preserving food from your garden bounty to eat later on.

42. Furniture Restoration

43. Home Brewing

44. Animal Husbandry

Growing up we raised many different kinds of animals on my parents’ farm. I still love animals and taking care of them today and it’s definitely a good skill to have.

45. Carpentry

Even if you don’t learn how to make fancy things, basic carpentry skills can be good to have as they can save you money when you know how to fix things around the house.

Next time you can’t think of something to do besides spending the day on the couch watching Netflix, check out this list instead.

45 Fun Inexpensive Hobbies to Try this Year published first on https://justinbetreviews.tumblr.com/

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