Get a Life! Cheap Student Entertainment (Part 3)
Get outside!
- There’s nothing more fun than acting like a kid again – find toboggans or krazy karpets forcheap in the spring, and after heavy snowfalls the following winter grab your friends for a few hours on the hills.Get a cheap kite and spend the day at a park. See if you can get the thing off the ground now that you’re a grown-up!
- Pick up an astronomy book from the library and head out of the city to enjoy stargazing. Bring a midnight picnic and a friend.
- Dust off your bicycle and go for a day trip.
- Visit a local park and roast weenies and marshmallows in the fire pits.
- Do a little exploring in a small town nearby your big city centre. Check out the stores, tourist spots, and local colour.
- Pack a picnic and visit a local lake, or take a drive in the country. Bring a blanket and book and stop for ice cream.
- Get them together — your friends that is. Lots of expensive things are cheap when everyone is pitching in. Take a truckload to the drive-in, or rent a boat at a nearby lake.back to index of “how to get a life on a budget”
Get moving
- Call the guys over for an impromptu street hockey game.
- Pull out your ice skates, pour hot chocolate into a thermos, and go skating at an outdoor rink.
- Dive in! Ask for the student price at your local swimming pool, and don’t forget your water wings!
- Spend an afternoon rollerblading, biking, walking, or hiking.
- When’s the last time you went rollerskating? How about bowling? Round up a few friends and hit the local roller rink or bowling alley.
- Take advantage of trial offers for gyms and fitness facilities, but be wary of the high pressure sales pitch.
- Borrow a hiking guide from the library, grab your water bottle, and get moving up the nearest mountain.
- Want to get into the game? Instead of playing for a formal league, find people interested in pick up games, or join an intramural league. If you’re a star player, the quality of the games might not be the level you’re accustomed to, but it’s just a few bucks a game.
- It’s official — you can make good money officiating your favourite sportin intramural leagues on campus. You’ll get a workout, cash, and usually free use of the facilities.
- Heading to the hills for a day of snowboarding? Carpool, go on student days, borrow the equipment, and pack a lunch.
- Watch someone else get active and get some school pride. Most sports events held by your school are free for students to attend.back to index of “how to get a life on a budget”
Sarah Deveau is a graduate of the University of Calgary. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, she spent her teenager years living in Hamilton and Calgary, where she now resides with her husband Keith, and her cat, Parker. During her five years in university, and her husband’s seven years, they incurred a combined debt of just $6,000. Through the use of scholarships, part-time and full-time jobs, Sarah and Keith paid for their education even while getting married, moving out, and buying vehicles. She is the author of Sink or Swim: Get Your Degree Without Drowning in Debt (Dundurn), a ‘how to’ guide to obtaining a post-secondary education without incurring massive student loans. This book guides students through their post-secondary education, encouraging them to live within their means by being creative with their lifestyle. Article reprinted with permission of author.