How To Have New Experiences Every Week And Save Money

I used to be told I couldn't find happiness if I am always chasing new experiences. Then I found this study explaining that we humans thrive when we experience novelty on a regular basis. 

According to this study, novel stimuli boost dopamine, promote learning, help people cope with challenges, and improve memory. 

So, it's true that happiness is not founded in novelty, but having new experiences truly does contribute to overall wellbeing when we have otherwise stable and healthy lives. 

New doesn't mean an entire lifestyle change, though. Getting a new job or moving to a different town is exciting at first, but eventually we find ourselves adjusting to our routines and we are back where we started. 

The key is to integrate new exposures and learning opportunities into daily life in small ways. This is actually easy to implement and could be more cost effective than your current habits. 

It only takes a little creativity to add interest to your week AND save money. Check out my suggestions below!

MAKE DINING OUT MORE INTERESTING

My husband and I set a goal this year to only eat somewhere new each time we go out. The one exception to the rule is this: We can visit a restaurant we have been to only once before, as long as we choose something new from the menu. 

And no, a different location of a chain restaurant doesn't count as new.

I want to eat out for fun, not for convenience or tradition. Getting takeout because it seems easy adds up quickly. 

Besides, frequenting the same restaurant for tradition's sake or because, "We already know we like it" is an uninspiring way to live. Overtime, the memories from rotating the same five restaurants blend together. 

When my husband and I seek new-to-us foods at local restaurants we create distinct memories, learn with our tastebuds, and life seems to slow down. We eat out less often, but we enjoy it more. As a bonus, we get to support local businesses!

The struggle often comes when you are burned out with no creative energy to plan a fun dinner date. I have the perfect solution for this!

Whenever I spot a restaurant that interests me, whether online or on the road, I immediately find that place on Google maps and save it to a special list.

Then, I go through the menu, find which foods I am excited to try and add them to a note right in Google Maps.

When it comes time to plan for a date night, I don't have to think of where to go or even what to order!

Related Post: 

Unique Cultural Restaurants in Salt Lake City: Part 4

LIBRARY > SUBSCRIPTIONS 

I know people wanting to save money rave about public libraries all the time. But there is so much more to the library than books.

Did you know you can borrow a Gro Pro or a telescope from the library? And they host tons of free events like craft nights, family night activities, free concerts, and even the occasional dance night.

There's more! With the library, you can cancel most subscriptions and not miss a thing.

You can listen to music by the album, ad-free on the Hoopla app. All you need is a library card to sign up. 

Try listening to a different genre once a week to shake things up. Turn on Powwow music, Bollywood, bluegrass, New Orleans jazz, mariachi, and so on.

Cancel Audible and listen to audiobooks for free on the Libby app. I like a good audiobook while cleaning the bathroom and kitchen. As a result, I am more thorough with cleaning. and I actually enjoy it.

As for the "new" part, I joined book club few years ago to push me to read books I wouldn't pick up on my own. I have discovered some of my all time favorite books through this group! 

We even canceled our streaming subscriptions and now borrow DVDs from the library. Yes, it takes a few days for our hold request to arrive, but then we don't settle for whatever is available on Netflix or Hulu. 

Trust me, delayed gratification feels even better and is longer lasting than the instant kind. 

Sure, we watched F1: The Movie seven months after it hit theaters, but it was free and worth the wait! Besides, we had plenty of other movies to borrow in the meantime.

LOOK AROUND YOUR HOME 

Use the things you have already purchased but still haven't used. Follow through with your original plan or repurpose those materials with a new idea in mind. 

For example, I accidentally bought too much colored powder at a Holi Festival a couple years ago. It has been sitting in a drawer ever since. Why would I pay for something like a night at the movies when I can plan a color fight with materials I already have?

I picked up brand new puzzles for free at the local library's puzzle exchange a few months ago. They are still sitting in my closet. I also have a bamboo sushi mat I have not used in years. There are so many interesting things to do around my house that I never consider!

This year, I want to actually use all these things and more. I also plan to wear my paint fight dress multiple times and wear my NARS Morocco lipstick on a weekly basis.

Try making a list of all the things you can do for free with on hand materials. At the end of the day, when you are too tired to think of a plan, you will have something to do other than doomscroll.   

Pick up that guitar sitting in the corner. Make a goal to use ALL your craft supplies. Build ALL the Lego sets. Read ALL your books before you buy anything else.

And if you don't want to use your stuff, consider trading in a no-buy group before buying something else that you might not use either.

  

Related Post:

Should I Try 52 New Things in One Year?

ASK SOMEONE TO TEACH YOU THEIR SKILL 

Most of the time people are thrilled when someone takes an interest in their hobbies. 

Personally, I find learning something new goes smoother when I have someone to show me how it's done and set me on the right course. Additionally, learning from others can work like a trial phase where you see if a hobby suits you before you go out and buy supplies or enroll in a class. 

Find the courage to ask an acquaintance to teach you how to make sourdough or teach you one song on the ukulele. Or ask that person you know with horses to take you riding some time. 

You could even suggest an exchange of skills. I used to teach an acquaintance Korean and she taught me American Sign Language. Soon, I would like to learn how to make sourdough bread in exchange for a lesson in making Italian macarons. 

Try asking if you can watch and learn or help out on their schedule. You can simply say, "Hey, next time you plan on sewing a dress, can I observe?" The worst they can do is say is no, right? 

TRY A TEMPORARY CLOTHING SWAP 

I have touched on this before in one of my posts about free bucket list ideas. This has been really fun for me in the past, so I am sharing it again here. 

It's amazing how many outfit possibilities open up when you add one new-to-you skirt or jacket. But before you go shopping, ask your closest friends if they would consider trading just a few items for a month or two.

Oftentimes, I don't actually want to get rid of my clothes even though I am bored of them. I just want to change things up for a little while.

We all have to get dressed everyday anyway, so why not take an opportunity to get creative? 

This can be a useful way to learn what you truly like too. If you loved wearing your friend's dress for a while, you can find a similar one for yourself after you trade your things back.  It takes the guessing out of shopping when we say to ourselves, "I love this, but will I actually wear it?"

Related Post: 

Free Bucket List Ideas: Part 4

PLAN OUTFITS AHEAD OF TIME

True, making new combinations with clothes you already own requires more creativity than clicking a button to purchase a new item. Yet, as a result, you'll get a bigger, more rewarding dopamine hit. You'll also get to try something new and save money! 

I am not suggesting you plan out all your outfits weekly. I know some people do that, but it sounds exhausting. On the flip side, you could dress like a sad person and wear the same uniform every day to avoid thinking about it. 

But life is brighter when we wear clothes that we like, clothes that energize us. 

Try making a list of outfit combinations like you might with restaurants you want to visit. 

A few years ago, my sister-in-law asked for help with outfits for work. So, I spent an afternoon with her while she tried on various clothes, and I offered suggestions and wrote down which combinations she liked. 

From then on getting ready for work was genuinely fun for her. She would glance at her notebook and choose an outfit from the list we created. This kept her from defaulting to the same clothes every week. And it was finally enjoyable for her to get dressed with minimal effort. 

Give it a try or go full Clueless and take photos of your preplanned outfits. Save them in an album on your phone that you can scroll through instead of Instagram first thing in the morning. 

It will certainly give you a better boost because it's something you can seamlessly apply to your real life. And your outfits will feel new without draining your account!

You don't need more money to have new experiences. Social media makes us feel we are always lacking in some way, that we will enjoy life more if we buy more. Yet oftentimes, the most rewarding ways to get more out of life is to put our phones down and look around.  

How do you plan to spend less and try something new to you this week? 

 Hi, I'm Kaitlyn and I'm so glad you're here. Get to know me and more about my blog