60 Of The Best Things In Life Are Free

Over the years it has been reinforced in my own life that “physical things” only bring us short-term joy. I’ve learned that activities with family and friends, or even some quiet time alone doing things we love, brings lasting happiness as we fill our bucket with memories. That’s why I wanted to write about 60 Of The Best Things In Life Are Free-Do Not Miss These.

I hope I’ve touched a pleasant nerve and that you’ll have fun when you enjoy reading and then doing some of them. It seems like every time I go to the grocery store the prices have jumped again. I really don’t know how people are able to feed their families with the prices so high for groceries. Because the food we need to eat is becoming more expensive we all have had to cut back in other areas of our budgets.

As we approach the Christmas holidays and are tempted to spoil those we love, and maybe ourselves too, we really need to evaluate our priorities and see if all those gifts are worth all the shopping time and strain on the budget. Consider how you spend your time and money and see if some of these things aren’t worth considering as you show love for those you care about.

Some of the best things in life are FREE….they really are FREE!

60 Of The Best Things In Life Are Free

1. Listen, I mean really listen when you are with a friend or family member. Don’t interrupt. Just listen. This one is really hard for me because I get so excited when people tell me something awesome that’s happened to them. I want to jump in and say “Oh my gosh, that is so awesome!!”

2. Doodle, I never realized how important doodling is. I have a wonderful coach/friend by the name of Lyn Christian and she introduced me to “doodling.” I know, we all doodled when we were younger, right? Well, she introduced me to Sunni Brown (via the internet) from The Doodle Revolution by Sunni Brown. 

If you doodle you will create it’s truly amazing. Take a pencil, crayon, or pen and doodle. Yes, doodle. Then look at what you doodled. It’s awesome.  I quote Sunni: “To doodle is not to waste time or to be distracted. Instead, doodling is a powerful technique people use around the world to help themselves THINK.” I LOVE LOVE LOVE this.

3. Tell a friend how much they mean to you. Can I just say that I don’t like funerals? I actually hate funerals. It’s just me. I feel like I need to tell people before they die how much they mean to me. I would like a celebration at a park for my own “non-funeral.” Just think about the people you love or admire. Tell them how you feel and why they mean so much to you, NOW.

4. Take a walk around the block. Oh man, this one is for me. I write every day and I need to walk around a block or two. Life is so invigorating outside in the sunshine. Besides being able to clear the air, it is good for your overall health to walk. Yep, the best things in life are free.

5. Offer to walk someone’s dog. This would be perfect for my sister. She loves dogs. Lots of dogs. I’m too afraid of dogs I don’t know. Don’t you love it when you see cute dogs walking with their owners down the street?

Oh my gosh, I saw the cutest little dogs the other day strolling down the street. They were running from the owners. I think the owner opened the front door and the dogs took off running. They ran to me and my husband. Luckily, they were little, sweet puppies looking for someone to pet them.

6. Hug someone special to you. Hug someone every day. I think we’d all be surprised how many people are truly starving for that sincere hug. Yep, the best things in life are free.

7. Tell someone you love, “I love you.” This might seem strange, but sometimes we forget to tell those we love that we sincerely love them. Also, show them you love them by how you treat them and by doing something special for them often. Don’t let a day go by without telling them they mean the world to you.

8. Go to the park, or if you have them close by, visit the mountains. Just take a few minutes and look at the scenery around you. Take a water bottle to drink, relax and smell the roses or other flowers in the landscape.

9. Watch a Hummingbird or two. Oh my gosh, I love the Hummingbirds when they come around in the spring. We’ve had hummingbird feeders in the yard for years. Funny to watch them “fight” for a spot to eat the yummy syrup. Yep, the best things in life are free.

10. Watch for the first bloom in your flower beds. I can’t wait until spring. I go outside and check for new buds, life is good.

11. Catch your child or grandchild doing something right, and tell them. I wish I had heard that statement when my children were young. Think about it. Catch them doing something good. They will smile from ear to ear.

12. Hold hands with someone you love. There is something amazing about holding hands with my husband. You know how you feel the palms and fingers. It’s all about love. What can I say, holding hands rocks! I love holding my grandchildrens’ hands too. You feel connected and so loved.

13. Write a note to someone you admire and deliver it by hand, if possible. Something so simple will make someone’s day. I promise. There is just something about reading kind words from a loved one or special friend. Sure beats getting a text!

14. Watch the sunrise, I mean really watch it. Get up early in the morning and be ready when the sun comes up. Wear your bathrobe and get a chair and a glass of orange juice and just wait. You may want hot chocolate if it’s cold outside. That combination will really warm your heart!

15. Sit outside at night and follow the sunset as the sun goes down trust me this is amazing. Don’t hurry. Just relax and enjoy the moment. Yep, the best things in life are free.

16. Rock a baby, I still have the rocking chair I rocked my grandchildren in. I don’t think I can ever part with it. It’s truly sentimental to me. There is something about rocking a baby. I wish I could rock my 28-year-old grandson. Just saying, I love those grandkids.

17. Offer to sit with someone with Alzheimer’s to give their caregiver a few hours to run errands or go to lunch with someone. This one means a lot to me because we have a lot of older people in our neighborhood. The husband or wife who is the caregiver is truly a saint. They love their spouse even though the spouse often doesn’t remember who they are.

18. Take your dogs to the dog park. Oh, I must share the funniest story with you about dog parks. I only took my dogs to a dog park once. One of my Shih Tzu’s, Pepsi, would case the entire circumference of the fence to find an escape route.

Boston, my other Shih Tzu wouldn’t get off my lap, he was shaking too much. I bought a dog stroller because I knew Boston would not fare well at the dog park.

Out of the blue here comes a dog out of nowhere and lifts his leg to pee on my new doggy stroller. I was in shock but started to laugh because the dog had about 1/4 acre to pee anywhere he wanted to, but no, he darts to pee on my doggy stroller. Trees everywhere, bushes everywhere. Nope, he wanted to pee on the dog stroller. LOL!

19. Trade babysitting duties with a friend. I remember doing this with friends when my kids were younger. Oh man, every young mother needs a break every once in a while. Remember some things in life are free just saying.

20. Pull a few weeds for a friend and laugh and talk to them as you pull weeds together. I love pulling weeds with neighbors unless they are 12 inches high…yeah not so fun. Pull weeds with friends when the plants are small just giving you the heads up here.

Once I had a neighbor who owned his own business. He had a tough time keeping up his yard, particularly the weed detail. Mark and I decided to surprise him by pulling the weeks one weekend he had to work.

To my surprise, before we had been in his yard very long other neighbors came over and pitched in. I couldn’t believe how many people came over to help. What a blessing!

21. Sweep an elderly couple’s front porch without them knowing you are doing it. This is truly a blessing to them. They are not steady on their feet for this kind of activity. Also, consider raking their leaves. They can become a little overwhelming this time of year.

22. Pick up prescriptions or groceries for a neighbor in need. Sometimes a neighbor or friend could use a couple of extra hands or wheels.

23. Pray for a friend. If you have a friend you are worried about say a little prayer for them. God will listen. I promise.

24. Pray with a friend. I remember praying with a friend about a year before she died. We both knew the illness was taking over her body. We prayed and asked God to ease her suffering. That was a prayer I will always cherish.

25. Volunteer at your local school. Check with the front desk at a school near you. They would welcome some help, I’m sure. The teachers can use help during class time as well. In Utah, our school classes are 30-35 kids per classroom. That’s a lot of kids to supervise and teach. Yikes!

26. Join a civic club in your city, like Rotary, Lions, Elks, and Kiwanis. Mark has been a member of The Exchange Club in our area since 2002. They help so many people in silent ways. Their motto is “Unity for Service,” and they do perform some wonderful service in our community.

27.  Sweep your street’s curb and gutter area, and while you’re at it, do the same for a few of your neighbors. This little chore makes all the difference in how a neighborhood looks. Do your part to make the neighborhood a place everyone can be proud of.

28. Keep your yard neat and tidy. This is very important because you are not only doing it for yourself, but also for the appearance of your neighborhood. Take some pride in where you live, you’ll feel so much satisfaction from this effort.

29. Do what you can to stop the bullying around you. It starts in the home and seems to travel to the schools. With all the social media options available to our youth bullying has become very pervasive. Put together a plan outlining how you can help to limit it in your area.

30. Write a book. It can be an e-book that doesn’t require the cost of printing. Share what you know about something unique. Share it with the world. Others want to learn new things and your interests could become their new passion.

31. Start a bucket list if you haven’t already. Write down 1-100 things you would like to do on this earth in your lifetime. Mark and I are hoping to do more short trips than we have for a while. Maybe not exactly free, but pretty close if you plan right.

32. Volunteer at the Soup Kitchen in your city or county. There are so many people that need a meal. Take your kids and have them help serve. It’s an eye-opener. These people are so thankful for a hot meal. The best things in life are free. Give your time to the poor.

33. Start a journal. My husband’s mother wrote a journal her whole life. The family transcribed it after she died. It’s a treasure to family members. Do your kids know who your best friends were years ago?

Do they know about your college experience or your military service? Do they know how you and your spouse met and courted? These are memories worth sharing with those you love.

34. Volunteer at your local animal shelter, of course, you might be tempted to take a bunch of the dogs or cats home. These animals deserve to be loved and cared for. Learn how to get the word out so more of them are adopted, it could save their lives.

35. Make a menu for the week and stick to it. Make a grocery list and stick to it. See how much money you will save. I’ve found that menu planning and shopping follow-up are critical to eating well and saving money at the same time.

36. Write down where you are spending your money each month. Are the purchases based on a want or a need? I call this my monetary diary or journal so I can track my spending.

Be in control of finances and you’ll be pleasantly surprised how much more you can have at the end of each month. Get the whole family involved and maybe set a goal to use the savings for worthwhile activities.

37. Start a food storage wishlist. Take baby steps. Don’t go into debt for food storage. Start with a #10 can a month. Just start and see what you can accomplish. Yes, the food isn’t free, but you’re having to buy food anyway. With your wishlist, you are just being more aware of the cost of things and how you can set some goals for emergency storage without having to pay out more.

38. Make a list of important items that you feel you need that will provide a reduction in your grocery bill over the long term. This might include a bread-making machine. Yes, you have the outlay upfront, but you save over time by baking your own bread.

I’ve always enjoyed sharing my breadmaking skills with my kids, friends, and neighbors. Nothing like a meal with warm bread!

39. Learn to make bread, ask a neighbor to teach you. Do you know anyone in your neighborhood that would teach you how to make bread?

40. Teach someone to make bread. If you learn to make bread you will save $$$$$ in grocery money. I promise.

41. Plan a garden of vegetables, herbs, or flowers. Be ready before you need to plant. Make a drawing of the rows you want to plant with certain seeds. I can hardly wait until the first seeds sprout. Yep, the best things in life are free.

42. Check out your family’s heritage online or through family contacts. You will love seeing your history and lineage. This is becoming very popular and has actually been shown on TV as a way to clear up cold cases. Amazing!

43. Go to the library and check out some books. Some of the best things in life are free, like books at the library. Don’t wait until you think you’ll have more time. Believe me, your days tend to fill up after you retire. Enjoy those books now.

44. Walk around your neighborhood and enjoy the scenery all around you. You may even get some ideas to improve your landscape. Pick up trash that you see and put it in a garbage can. Mark’s dad walked every morning and took a little probe stick with him. He’d gather up what others had left behind. He did that right up to when he passed away at nearly 96! Let’s keep our world beautiful.

45. Call an old high school or college friend. I really wanted to track down my BFF from high school. We reconnected through Facebook. We exchanged phone numbers and called each other. We know to this day we are best friends forever. There is something about a BFF that never changes, even 50 years later. I know the best things in life are free.

46. See if your local city or county has a FREE museum you can visit. Call a neighbor and go walk through the museum. Stroll as if you have all day. Take it all in and share your experience with others. Hopefully, they’ll follow your lead and try it for themselves.

47. Go on a hike. I am not a hiker, but where I live hiking is very popular. I have two really close friends here in Southern Utah. One I call my hiker/biker friend. The other one I call my vacation friend. Because she is always going on a vacation.

I once asked my hiker/biker friend how many miles do she rides her bike every week. She is 65 going on 66. She prefers 50-100 mile rides. She repels canyons too. I wish I could do those things. I do enjoy a walk around the neighborhood. I see folks I wouldn’t otherwise talk to. It’s fun and good for my health too.

48. Go window shopping and come home without purchasing anything. I used to love trying on clothes and dreaming.

49. Laugh, I can always find something to laugh about (in a good way. I have been known to giggle). Experts say a sense of humor and the ability to find laughable things around us are vital to living a long life.

50. Sing a song. Turn on the radio, sing to the rooftops, and love it. When our girls were young we’d sing in the car with them all the time. I have fond memories of singing Neil Diamond’s “Coming to America” as we drove around town. Fun times.

51. Be happy. Wake up with a smile on your face. Today is going to be a good day. I promise. There seem to be so many things to concern us these days. Trying to follow today’s suggestions for free things to do should help you forget all the negative junk and make the most of life.

52. Turn off all electronics for the day. Listen to the birds sing outside or watch the snowfall. We all get so caught up with what’s happening on our phones. You see people out to lunch or dinner who don’t even talk, just stare at their screens. It drives me crazy.

53. Think positive, it’s such a good habit. The best things in life are free. Hang out with positive, happy people. Happy people are positive people. Negative people drain us. You don’t need that in your life right now.

54. Play cards with some friends or family, the best things in life are free. Get those cards out and call a neighbor or two. I grew up playing Liverpool Rummy. It’s free and you laugh like crazy.

55. Get up early on Saturday morning and watch cartoons. Yep, the best things in life are free. Grab a blanket and chill as you laugh while watching the cartoons. If you have kids, just think how excited they will be when you share that experience with them!

56. Do nothing and realize it’s okay to do nothing because it is okay and you are doing something for yourself. We all need some “me time.” I promise.

57. Watch the raindrops fall and smell the beautiful fragrance of rain. Do you love the smell of fresh rain as much as I do? Life is good when we observe Mother Nature do her magic.

58. Wash your car. Do you love driving a clean car as much as I do? I feel happy when driving a car that’s looking its best. It’s just me, but I feel so much better tooling around in a clean and shiny car. It will have to save the exterior too as you get that dirt and salt junk off the surface. Give it a try, who knows, you may end up having a fun water fight with your significant other.

59. Go to the park and swing on some swings. Let your feet dangle, your hair blow in the wind, and smile. Even giggle if you want to.

60. Faith, whatever faith you believe in, follow it. Pray always and attend worship services as often as you can. It can change your life.

Final Word

Remember the best things in life are free, yes they are. I hope you enjoyed my 60 of the best things in life are free ideas, you could really have fun, make connections, bless your family and friends with your time, and be the best you can be. May God bless this world. Linda

Women need women by Linda

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