25 Free Things to Do When You are Bored

Over the past few weeks, I have been holding onto my money so tightly it is practically screaming. There have been no shopping trips to the mall, no meals out, no stops at Starbucks...basically every penny I have has a name and a purpose and frivolous spending is not happening (and won't happen until maybe sometime next month). Although I don't have much time to be bored, chopping out all spending does open up some time in my day when I would otherwise be out shopping or hanging out at the mall. Here's 25 (free) things I do when I'm bored:

1. Go for a walk around the neighborhood.
2. Go to the library.
3. Hang out at Barnes and Noble reading books and magazines.
4. Bake cookies at home.
5. Take digital pictures (flowers are my favorite photography subject).
6. Give myself a manicure, pedicure, and facial at home.
7. Write (freelance articles, blog posts, emails to friends, etc).
8. Call a friend just to chat.
9. Volunteer at a local non profit.
10. Follow along with an exercise on demand program on cable (usually yoga).
11. Post something on Craigslist to sell.
12. Surf the internet.
13. Write in my journal (usually making plans for my future).
14. Do a small project at home (wash the car, mow the yard, clean out a closet, etc).
15. Try out new web apps (I'm kind of geeky that way).
16. Attend a free community event (our local paper lists these things online each day).
17. Watch a movie at home (usually on cable or from the library).
18. Cook a gourmet dinner for my hubby.
19. Watch TV (Judge Judy and the Dave Ramsey shows are my favorites).
20. Practice Spanish (my Spanish verbs are still a jumbled mess!).
21. Sit outside and look at the clouds (daytime) or stars (night time).
22. Sing karaoke (we have a fairly comprehensive system at home).
23. Walk along the beach and collect shells.
24. Play Sudoku online.
25. Cook something special that takes a lot of time (usually tamales, sometimes lumpia).