When you find yourself feeling overwhelmed and stressed from the incredible amount of responsibility of a single parent, it’s time to take a break! Perhaps you’ve refrained from social activities because you know there is a cost involved. There are tons of activities that require little to no budget at all.
The most important thing to remember is that you’re worth the investment and it’s healthy to recharge.
Here are some great activities that any single parent on a budget can do. All it takes is a little bit of time away from the kids and perhaps a companion or two for a more enjoyable experience:
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- Walk or hike through a trail, to a park or even around your block
- Bike to your favourite store or coffee shop
- Rollerblade on the seawall or through the park
- Have coffee with a friend
- Join a meet up group
- Play a sport on the field like soccer or baseball
- Play tennis in a community tennis court
- Watch the ducks and the birds
- Take photos of your favourite scenery
- Read a book in the park
- Have a picnic by the marina
- Draw or paint
- Play a musical instrument that you haven’t been able to touch in a while
If you can’t find anyone to care for your child while you take a break, find activities that you can do together to break up the day-to-day routine in the home. Doing arts and crafts together or throwing the ball in the park is a great way to keep him or her engaged without the huge expense. Of course, the best things in life are FREE, but if you’ve got a little bit of money, you can take your adventure to the next level.
Community centers offer a large variety of courses for adults in performing arts, music, sports, etc. If you can’t afford the cost, some centers do offer subsidies on adult classes for low income families. You may be surprised to find that you could qualify for partial or full funding of these programs. Some centers may also offer free educational classes for adults on topics such as income tax and financial planning.
As a single parent, you need to make time for yourself and it doesn’t have to always cost you money. Schedule in a free social activity once or twice a week so you can stay healthy, happy and sane.
Give me some suggestions on what you love to do for free in your community.
