This lockdown is getting to all of us and life just seems a bit dreary. While you may not feel like doing much, cheap lockdown activities might be just the thing you need.
A lot of suggestions to keep your spirits up during lockdown are quite expensive and will leave you out of pocket. So, I’ve decided to compile a list of cheap lockdown activities that will keep you entertained without breaking the bank.
Let me know if you think there’s any other cheap lockdown activities I should add to the list.
If you’re interested in entertaining yourself and your friends/family for free, you might want to take a look at this article I wrote for Money Magpie.
In this post I’ll cover:
- Cheap lockdown activities – Food
- Not so boring board games
- Cheap lockdown activities – Exercise
- Entertain yourself with films and TV
- Home Spa Day
Cheap lockdown activities – Food
Meal times have grown in importance during lockdown as they give structure to an evening.
However you choose to mark meals, try and make an occasion of them and avoid just sitting on the sofa in front of TV where possible.
Emma from Bee Money Savvy recommends giving a new recipe a go!
She saves them all on her Alexa and it automatically adds the ingredients to her shopping list. For the past month she’s been trying all sorts of vegan recipes including pancakes, chilli and overnight oats.
While Steph from Funding Her Freedom is a big fan of the fakeaway.
Pick your favourite takeaway and try to recreate it yourself. This will test your culinary skills and hopefully leave you with a tasty meal that costs much less than ordering out.
Another great idea from Katie is to ‘open’ your own cocktail bar. At 4pm on a Friday evening they declare ‘Happy Hour’ in her house and have bar snacks and cocktails while listening to their favourite tunes – sounds like a great way to start the weekend!
Not so boring board games
If you’re fed up of endless nights in front of the TV, why not turn to some old fashioned entertainment?
Time in the Market recommends playing board games – just don’t get too competitive and start having arguments!
Anyone that’s ever played monopoly will know how easy it is for the hours to fly by if you’re struggling to find ways to pass the time.
You can also play a lot of board games virtually – most have free app versions. This can be a great way to stay in touch with friends or family you can’t see at the moment.
Cheap lockdown activities – Exercise
Exercise is so important for our mental and physical health. While we have a bit more time than normal at the moment, why not try and do a bit more exercise?
For me, running is a personal favourite. You’ll regularly find me pounding the pavements or exploring trails round where I live. Running isn’t for everyone, but I would recommend giving it a go if you can. All you need is a decent pair of trainers and you’re set.
Another great (and totally free!) form of exercise is walking. You can walk anywhere you like and you may even discover some new places on your doorstep.
Kat is a big fan of long walks in the countryside or parks with her dogs. You don’t have to go far off the beaten track to find you’re in open space with very few people around – perfect for getting some much needed head space.
If you don’t want to venture out, or want to do some strength training instead, have a look at YouTube. There’s so many workouts suiting all abilities and workout style preferences. You’ll almost certainly find one you like. And, if all else fails, there’s always Joe Wicks!
Entertain yourself with films and TV
More than ever, a winter lockdown calls for curling up on the sofa and streaming your favourite shows and films.
Why not grab some popcorn, dim the lights and turn it into a full cinema night?
Subscriptions for all the streaming sites soon mount up. Here’s all the free trials you can access to watch the shows you love for free. Just don’t forget to cancel your subscription at the end of the trial!
New users can get a 30 day Amazon Prime free trial and you can also get a 7 day Disney+ trial, which children (and many adults!) will love.
If reality TV is more your thing, hayU is offering one month free, so you can Keep Up With The Kardashians as much as you like. Or if you prefer films, Mubi offers a 7 day free trial.
Other trials available are as follows: Now TV – 7 days, Apple+ TV – 7 days, BFI Media Player – 14 days, Quibi – 90 days, and Britbox – 30 days.
Home Spa Day
We all feel better for a bit of self-care. While trips to the spa, hairdressers and beauty salons are off the cards, why not treat yourself to some salon treatment from the comfort of your own home?
Keeping up with the Bulls is a big fan of a home spa day. She recommends having an Epsom salt bath, a relaxing drink like tea, hot ginger & lemon juice, and an a face mask.
Whatever it is you enjoy, take some time for yourself and do some pampering. As a bonus – any treatments you do will be a lot cheaper than paying someone else to do them for you!
If you found this post interesting, please like it and share across social media or send it to your friends. I’d also love to hear your thoughts and experiences. How are you finding lockdown? What are your favourite cheap lockdown activities to keep you entertained? Comment it below!
Don’t forget to follow me on social media @Katie20Percent to keep up to date with all my latest posts and content!
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