Simple, Inexpensive Ways to Relax at Home
Free Online Games, Renting Movies, Chatting With Friends
Sep 21, 2009
Getting caught in between pay periods after an especially hard week at work can be tough. Going out to a nice dinner or bar can be expensive, but well worth it. So can the movies.
The problem that arises for most people, whether they have a family or not, is that when payday hits, one's cash flow is usually called for. So, blowing off some steam results in using a credit card, but that doesn't have to be the case.
Relaxing at home can be just as much fun when done in moderation to going out between free games on the web, renting movies, or catching up with friends and relatives.
Free Online Card, Board, and Arcade Games
Yahoo! and other sites are great places for free email, news, and entertainment. Sometimes the entertainment is in the news, such as when a young man in Texas attacked two of his roommates with a sword after finding an unwanted soda can laying around.
Getting away from the news, which is plentiful everyday on the web, the games can be even better for those looking to play against a never-ending stream of live players online.
Card games like blackjack, spades, and hearts are available for live play. Board games like checkers, chess, mah jong, and go are just the tip of the iceberg. And when it comes to arcade games, one can play air hockey, Black Ops: Korean Conflict, and Taxi Gone Wild all for free along with many more games.
For more cerebral gamers, there are plenty of puzzle and word games as well.
Renting Movies Through Netflix and Blockbuster
When Netflix arrived on the scene, it revolutionized movie renting. Blockbuster was forced to catch up and do the same, or continue to lose customers.
Through either one of these movie rental companies, a hard week at work can be finished off with a weekend of watching an entire season of the The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm, or Entourage.
And for under $20 a month, renters can have three movies at a time, usually allowing them to receive a new one in the mail everyday if they rotate them daily. For those who prefer to savor their tv time for the weekend, getting 12 rentals a month comes out to under $2 each. Not a bad way to watch one's favorite films and shows while also watching his budget.
Talking to Friends and Family Members
The easiest things are not always the easiest to think of. A great way to relax is catching up with relatives that one talks to on seldom occasions. An easy way to select relatives that may seem random is to get in touch with those who will be in the same vicinity in the next month or so.
For example, if a cousin lives in another city but will be nearby for a wedding, it might be good to call and see what he and his family's travel plans are. If they'll be in town the night before and/or after the event, planning to spend some quality time together ahead of time would be a great way to start a conversation that will lead to what he is currently up to. A good phone conversation can last for up to an hour, especially when catching up with old friends.
Another avenue of approach is one's siblings. Most siblings do not talk enough. The same goes for those that live far from their parents or grandparents. When it comes to older loved ones, hesitating to call can be a huge mistake, because weeks and months go by very fast, and soon, it could be too late to make any calls at all.
The end of a long week does not have to lead to an expensive weekend. Kicking stress is sometimes best done relaxing at home playing video games, renting movies, or getting together (by phone or in person) with friends and relatives.
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