Fun & Famous

DOING FUN THINGS THAT (ALMOST) COST NOTHING

So, that ridiculously expensive month is checked off. And on Saturday, I'm heading to Antwerp to throw the rest of my euros out the window in the sale (which is actually the absolute best in Belgium, think 50 percent off and more). The rest of the month I'll survive on dry bread and water, no problemo.

I thought, because I did make a sweet resolution with my love: to do even more fun things together (date night or day activities). A little staring into each other's eyes and sighing that it's so nice to do something together, it doesn't really matter what. But oh dear, everything I do has a price tag. Cinema: ka-ching. A bite to eat: just pay up. A night in a hotel: ka-ching. The challenge is to come up with particularly entertaining activities (for him and her, that's the huge catch) that cost nothing, or almost nothing. Here it comes.

Sunrise or set

Choose a clear day, otherwise you'll be freezing your butt off on that butt-freezing bench by the water for nothing. The sun rises and sets for free, so those euros stay in your pocket. Well, okay, a little vino to spice it up. Or just coffee in your thermos in the morning and go. Tie yourself to some walking and your step counter will be in a cheering mood again.

People watching

You do that for free. And admit it, that's a brilliant activity, right? Find a park, bring your avocado salad in a trendy Tupperware and ask that passerby with the quirky hat where they're going. Or how many kids they have that are currently screaming in daycare. Or what they're arguing about (juicy things you'll see then). It's also allowed to cling to that attractive woman with the ridiculously cool bag and ask where she bought it. Just make sure to set your avocado salad aside first.

Hot tub practices

Yes, that's where that stack of cash or winning the lottery comes in handy, but I mean the stripped-down hot tub. And don't think of anything dirty right away. You walk into a random toy store, buy an inflatable pool for as little euros as possible (I said: things that almost cost nothing), plop your inflatable crocodile and flamingo in there, pop the cork off the bottle and voila: there you are with a real bath, eat your heart out. Oh yes, I recommend organizing this with summer in sight (although those pools are probably on sale now).

“Well, I think I'm set until the end of time.”

Do the YouTube dance lesson

Salsa dancing can sometimes get expensive, but there's definitely a lesson to be found on our favorite channel. And hop, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. You got the moves, baby. Choose a handsome teacher right away. Hop, one, two and turn. Plus point: it's sometimes safer to practice on your own. This is a great do-it-yourself business.

Your own castle

Build a castle out of blankets, pillows, and Christmas lights (those are probably not in the attic yet, right?). In the living room. Yes, that's hopelessly cozy. You have to do it with two, otherwise you'll be lying there in your castle. And then it becomes a weird fetish thing again.

Do the online trip

Let's say you want to go to (I'm just throwing something out there, randomly plucked from the air) Scandinavia. Oh, really? I would love to go there someday. Scandinavia then. So you check where, when, and how to book the coolest camper, because you do Scandinavia by camper. Grab Google Maps and map out your route. That fjord, that design city, and overnight in a little cabin. A bit of browsing on some sites with hotspots, because you have to check out that healthy sauna with plunge pool and also hygge by the open fireplace in that little house. I'm telling you; it's like you were there yourself. And doesn't it feel a bit off when your online trip is over? Then at least you have your travel plan ready.

And a little old school

Pull Scrabble out of the closet and come up with fantasy words (with meaning), go for a walk in the woods, paint your table with leftover paint, watch your favorite movie, read a book, have a home spa day with grandma's home and garden tricks, swap your to-do list with someone or flirt with the chef in your.

Well, I think I'm set until the end of time.