Spend the Morning With Me: 10 Tips for Building Friendships Without Spending Money

Come spend the morning with us and then let's chat about building friendships in a meaningful way without spending money.

Snail Mail:
Lydia Senn
P.O Box 572
Creola, AL 36525

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[rebeccawhite]

My best friend and I used to have what we called “white trash fridays” while I was going to nursing school and her daughter was very little. Finding a babysitter was difficult for her and just being 21 she missed the bar scene sometimes, so I’d show up with cheap champagne because we didn’t like beer and would sit on the front lawn with a baby monitor in tow, drink champagne from plastic red solo cups and catch up on the week. I still think about those days dearly. We made each other a priority even though we were in different seasons of life.

[rosemarycornwall]

We are going to have 'a stick day'. Go into the woods and see what we can do with sticks! We are taking a picnic. I'm 64 and my friend is a year or two older 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[hpkmysz]

A gardening event during which more experienced gardeners in the community/neighborhood can share their experience. Kids can plant sunflowers in pots and have a competition on the tallest sunflower in the community/neighborhood. Seeds cost near to nothing and so much fun :)

[loniivanovskis]

Great list! We do a craft night every two weeks, book clubs (but also tea and books where you just. discuss what everyone is reading), and being a former homeschooler, I was always the arts and sciences mom and the field trip mom, being the mom willing to host the mess and organize stuff paid off. We hike together often, do Mom's night out, have game nights, play cards with other couples, do a zoom bible study, and when all else is unavailable, I set time aside on Sundays to write cards or talk on the phone.

[lizziemcdougall]

I met many of my current friends at our children's park. We would go to the park every night after dinner with our children who would play together while the adults talked and supervised. I did a lot of free activities with these friends. Hiking, going to the city water parks, wild raspberry picking (and strawberry picking), afternoons at the beach, play dates at each other's houses, and any free concert or event in our city. We would bring snacks or a picnic lunch. Really easy children's activities included easy things like bringing a particular stuffed animal to a play date, everyone bringing their plastic dinosaurs to the park for the afternoon, wearing rubber boots and poking a puddle with a stick, and climbing the snow mountain that was created by pushing snow to one end of a parking lot. Our group lived within walking distance, so it was super easy to plan time together for our children and for each other. Many thanks for another great video!

[alexnelson]

This past Christmas, I hosted a holiday cookie exchange party and everyone brought their favorite cookies and a to-go container to take cookies home in. Everyone had a great time and we decided to make it an annual party. NO COST bc we already had the baking supplies for a batch of our favorite cookies

[brielambley]

I recently had a day at a friends place where we sat and chatted on her back patio while I did some hand sewing and my friend repotted a bunch of plants. We had gotten into the habit of going window shopping when we met up but we both agreed it was lovely to spend a day just talking and not driving around spending money.

[chrisk]

I totally love this. Community friendships are so important. One night I was all alone so I drove down to the local icecream shop. I was walking to my car with my ice cream and I saw my next door neighbor. She was doing the same so we sat together and just talked for an hour. She is a stay at home mom and I am barely ever home as I work long hours but what a nice treat it was !! It energizes you when you share time w someone outside of your usual circle!!

[missycurrie]

We have a pool, so a pool party (potluck snacks) is always fun. Bonfires & s’mores are a great addition too. We keep extra snacks on hand in the summer to share with friends when these beautiful sunny days happen ☀️🇨🇦

[sarapohl]

If you live near water having a group get together to go for a floatilla with kayaks and stand up paddle boards. Another would be a group bike ride.

[genius]

This was Gold. Thank you! Such great ideas.

[BrendaRadder]

Hobby might. Some of my friends knit, others scrapbook, another brings an adult coloring book.

At Christmas time we have a wrap it up party. Each of us brings our gifts that need wrapping and ONE roll of paper and ONE spool of ribbon and we share. It’s a wrapping party buffet.

Bunco. Candy bars for prizes.

[MichelleL]

Everywhere I’ve lived we have had bulktrash night. Where everyone puts out there house/yard items for trash collection but a lot of it is still in great shape. My best friend and I used to (we now live on opposite sides of the country but doesn’t change anything other than we call each other on that night and take the other one along via phone!) we make a thermos of hot tea and snacks and end up peeing ourselves laughing all night while scoring free stuff. We have found brand new American girl furniture, play sets, decorative items, furniture all in amazing condition. 17 years strong of fun!

[freedominabudget]

Love this! I'm trying to pour into friendships more!

[harrieth]

I’ve just joined a very casual allotment club where a lady inherited a big allotment (do you have those in the states? It’s a big piece of land split into individual patches (or allotments) where people grow veg, flowers etc) and people are welcome to come and help her with it. So that should be fun and good for the kids! With my long standing friends we love a good walk.

[carmenalabat]

Excited to try such great ideas that add value to friendships ❤

[allisonkemper]

We love having brunch together at someone’s house. We all bring fixings and cook and then eat together. TBD if it still works when the kids outnumber the adults but we love it for this season of life with toddler and younger kiddos.

[Natalie-Cornacchione]

I like to call my friends and family while I'm cooking or doing housework

[findingaway]

Yes! Free/ low cost mama time! Honestly. They just want other humans to listen to them and let them know that they arent crazy. That they arent alone. And someone to do life with. I am being way more intentional to hand out with other moms. As a mom that cant have somone over her own house it is so nice when i have friends that will invite me to their house or meet up at a park. I have been wanting to do a walking group meet up. And the sunset thing is awesome! I love a good sunset/ sunrise.

[BudgetGirl]

These are such great ideas - not everything has to be pinterest perfect!