Better Than Shopping

From The Ecologist, August 2009

'Avoid buying pointless stuff and start saving cash - here are some cheap, fun and interesting things to do

We all have to shop, and sometimes it can be fun. But we live in an age where shopping is one of the most popular leisure activities, and surely there must be more interesting, useful and enjoyable things to do than go shopping? Also, times are tight and many of us are having to reduce our spending. So what are some of the cheap things we can do that are better than shopping?

1. Play Playing is great. Remember when you were young and used to do it all the time? As we get older it's easy to forget how good it is to play, so why not remind yourself by having a muck about? Play a game, play some sport, do some exercise, play with the dog, or just generally mess about.

2. Connect It sometimes feels like we never spend enough time with the people we care about. Instead of shopping, you could spend some time with your friends, visit your family, meet your neighbours, get in touch with old friends or even just stroke your cat.

3. Explore It always used to be fun to explore when we were kids, And there's no reason we should stop as adults. You could explore your local area and see id there are things you're not discovered or noticed before, visit somewhere new or go on a mystery tour by catching the next bus and seeing where it takes you!

4. Read Reading can help you relax and learn as well as open up new places, ideas and opportunities. But it's easy to not find the time for it. So, instead of going shopping, curl up with a book and a cup of tea.

5. Learn Learning shouldn't be something that we stop doing when we leave school. There's always something interesting and useful to learn - for example, learn about the world around you, research your family tree, visit a museum or art gallery or try a new language.'