Spending Out of Boredom

A few years ago, I lived in a beautiful farmhouse located 45 minutes from my workplace. The commute was long, but I enjoyed it. For a while. When my husband started to work in the same city, we thought we had it made: we’d carpool together. What was a dream quickly turned into a nightmare, though; the hubby’s job demanded he work overtime with no notice. Which left me stuck in town with nothing to do for hours on end.

So what did I do? I spent money out of boredom, often on craft items that I didn’t have time to complete. Other times, I’d be forced to buy dinner out, as was my husband. When I turned to clothes shopping, I knew something had to change. I hated buying clothes, yet there I was, plunking down our hard-earned money on one more sweater.

Eventually, the cost of my excursions and the long commute began to wear on both my husband and me, and we decided to move to town. Our solution worked for us, and I’m sure there’s a solution out there for others stuck in the same spending-out-of-boredom distress. Let’s take a look.

Find a Hobby

One of the best ways to combat that feeling of boredom is to stay busy. There are many hobbies that can be completed cheaply, and they serve a few purposes. One: they keep your hands and mind busy, so you’re less likely to feel as bored. Two: they give you a new goal to work toward, which can also alleviate boredom. Three: the fun you have diligently working at your hobby can reap other rewards; your crafts could be sold later and provide some part-time income.

Volunteer

If crafts/cooking/woodworking-type hobbies just aren’t your thing, you may want to dig deep into your philanthropic spirit to volunteer your time. Soup kitchens, museums, humane societies, hospitals, libraries, Habitat for Humanity, churches and many other non-profit businesses will often welcome volunteers. By volunteering, you can do good for your community, pad your resume and make new friends.

Find a Job

Sometimes people prefer to get paid for the work they put in, so if you fit this category, you might wish to find a paying job to avoid spending out of boredom. A bonus here is that you make more money rather than spend it. Additionally, you might find others who wish to form new friendships.

Assess Your Need to Spend

Of course, if you can’t find a perfect fit for the time you have available, you might need to reassess your situation. In my case, I couldn’t volunteer or find a job that fit an unknown schedule. Although I tried the hobby thing, I was running out of places to inconspicuously set up my beading shop. I just had to reassess the situation to determine that moving to town was our best bet. If your situation is similar, taking a look at the troubles that may exist and the solutions at hand could lead you to the most wonderful fit for you.

Overall, if you’re spending out of boredom, there are a few ways you could cut back. Finding a hobby, volunteering, landing a job and assessing your situation could all help you turn strapped-for-cash boredom into rolling-in-the-dough excitement.

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