Low-budget hangs make the best memories

The cost of hanging out with friends has gotten pretty wild lately, so I’m all about finding ways to socialize that don’t break the bank. Honestly, I’d rather grab a $4 ice cream from my local spot and stroll by the lake than drop $150 at some trendy vegan place in New York City—especially when the “cheese” isn’t even real cheese. Most of my favorite memories are from low-key things like potlucks, board game nights, playing cards around someone’s dining table, or walking the dogs in the wetlands. My friends and I will just show up at someone’s house or on a patio with whatever snacks or drinks we have on hand—sometimes it’s pasta salad or jalapeño poppers, sometimes it’s whatever’s left in the fridge. Back in my twenties, we’d pack five or six people into a tiny apartment for potlucks and nobody cared about space, we just wanted to be together. I love anything that’s free or close to it, like pickup soccer at the park, frisbee golf, or just going for a walk. You don’t need to worry about parking fees or getting stuck paying $10 for an ice cream cone (unless you’re in Minneapolis, apparently). Even hobbies can be cheap if you get creative—my best friend and I crochet on the porch with yarn we thrifted or got handed down from neighbors. Turns out, if you let the local retirees know you’re into crafts, you’ll end up with enough free yarn to keep you busy for months. It’s funny how we’ve been convinced that social time “should” be expensive, when the best moments are still just hanging out at someone’s place, splitting a case of beer, cooking together, or playing games on the floor. Give me a Sunday dinner, a card game, or a backyard firebucket over a $200 restaurant night any day. The company is what matters—not how much you spend or how trendy the activity is.