I’m sure I’m not the only one feeling the crunch right now. Since the pandemic, the cost of living has continued to grow. Combine this with a very challenging job market, and it’s more important than ever to stretch your pennies and find ways to still enjoy life. There are countless tips out there with ways to budget, ways to stretch your budget further, and so on and so forth. What I’d really like to talk about, though, is how to actually *live* during times like these.

I recognize that this statement alone is a big expression of privilege. Being able to be concerned about enjoying life in a time when many are simply focused on surviving, or barely surviving at that, is a privileged statement. Please note my immense acknowledgement of my privilege to be able to explore these thoughts throughout this blog post.

This blog will be focusing on how to enjoy living in these times, and for me, a big focus of “living life” is engaging in fun activities. Sometimes we tend to think that in order to not spend money, we simply can’t leave the house. But I’m on a mission to prove that isn’t true. There are many ways to get out and have fun, without breaking the bank! Let’s spotlight some fun activities to actually put the *living* back in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis.

Summer: physical activity and the great outdoors

Let’s dive in to some activities. Summer is actually one of the best times to enjoy living through low-cost activities, because you can spend more time outdoors when the weather is nice. Outdoor activities are generally less expensive, or completely free! Swimming, biking, any type of sport, hiking, and walking are all great free options. Depending on where you live, some of these options can be year-round activities. Some cities may also offer free workout classes during the summer months, such as outdoor yoga. A couple of options I recommend in Toronto are biking in Toronto Islands, swimming at The Beaches, and free outdoor yoga at Trillium Park.

If you are less inclined for sports and physical activity, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy low-cost activities in the summer. If we’re sticking with the outdoor vibes, camping is super fun to do in the summer as a relatively low-cost option. I definitely want to do more camping in the future! Visiting a park is a great free option: you can have a picnic in the park, read in the park, do yoga in the park, have an arts and crafts session, and so much more. These options are great because you can bring what you already have to an outdoor setting to enjoy. Some parks in Toronto I recommend are High Park, Trinity Bellwoods, and Riverdale Park.

Enjoying nature in spring and fall

If you’re a nature girlie like me, you love finding ways to enjoy the outdoors year-round. Though summer may be the peak time for a lot of outdoor activities, there’s still plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors year-round. Spring and fall are two of my favourite times to take in the changing of seasons. We’re very lucky here in Toronto to have two events that mark those changes: the cherry blossoms and other flowers blooming in the spring, and the fall leaves changing colours in autumn. Both of these events bring the opportunity for you to get outdoors and soak up these colours!

There are many spots for cherry blossom viewing in particular in Toronto. Some of my favourites include High Park, Trinity Bellwoods, and University of Toronto’s St. George campus. Similarly, taking in the fall colours as the leaves change are quite breathtaking. A few favourite spots include Trinity Bellwoods, Evergreen Brick Works, and anywhere in the Don Valley area.

Another great option can be interacting with wildlife, when it is safe to do so. In Toronto, the High Park Zoo and Riverdale Farm are two very cool options, that are completely free to visit. It can be a bit warm to visit in the summer, so I do recommend visiting in either the spring or fall. The High Park Zoo has a range of animals to visit, and it’s located directly within High Park. Two-in-one! Riverdale Farm is a working farm where you can view the animals, visit the barns, and explore their trail network. It’s also located close to Riverdale Park, which is an extra bonus.

Winter low-cost options

The winter can sometimes be more challenging to find low-cost activities. Many sports can be expensive, such as skiing or snowboarding. Yet, there are still other free or low-cost options to look out for. Sledding is always free and a fun pastime to enjoy. Some areas may offer free or reduced-cost skating. Even bundling up for a wintery walk can be fun, too. If you’re less inclined to go outdoors in the winter weather, there are many indoor options to enjoy.

In Toronto, we are very lucky that many museums and art galleries offer free admission nights, or may be free altogether. Exploring a museum or art gallery is a great option for a free activity indoors, when you don’t want to go outside. These options are great to enjoy year-round too. I’ve been to many in Toronto and I’m on a mission to see even more! Here are some options to consider:

• ROM – free third Tuesday nights
• Gardiner Museum – free on Wednesdays after 4:00pm
• Aga Khan Museum – free on Wednesdays from 4:00-8:00pm
• Art Gallery of Ontario – free first Wednesday nights
• MOCA – free first Friday nights
• Bata Shoe Museum – free on Sundays
• Koffler Arts Gallery – free always
• The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery – free access year-round
• Spadina Museum – free general admission

Other year-round activities

There are plenty of year-round options to enjoy as well. Depending where you live, free events and festivals may be available. Toronto has a wide host of festivals and events year-round, many of which are free or low-cost. Some of my favourites include live music and outdoor movies in the summer, Pride Toronto, and food and cultural festivals. Visiting markets like Kensington Market is another great option year-round for cheap eats. If you’re gunning to enjoy great food and don’t want to spend a ton of money out, choosing to host a dinner with friends is a great alternative. It allows you to brush up on your cooking skills AND connect with others, a win-win.

Free and low-cost resources

Another option to consider is searching for low-cost resources year-round. Community centres are a great resource to take advantage of, many of which offer reduced-cost or free programming. I highly recommend finding one in your area and seeing what options they offer. Libraries are another great resource to enjoy reading without the cost of purchasing books. Of course, as a writer I will always support purchasing books to support other authors – but if you’re a prolific reader, it’s not always financially feasible to purchase every book you want to read. Libraries are a great solution for this: they’re completely free for you to borrow the book you want!

I’ve been taking advantage of the vast Toronto Public Library system lately and it’s been great. Some libraries offer additional benefits for their library cards as well. For example, the TPL card can give you access to free or reduced admission to many places around the city. They also host fun events that are typically free, and provide access to many digital resources including movies and music. Highly recommend getting a library card!!

Catch the highlights

Here’s a rundown of a dozen highlights that we explored, of ways to enjoy *living* for free or at a low cost:

• Take part in a sport or hike, swim, bike in your community
• Explore free workout classes in your area, such as outdoor yoga
• Check out low-cost skating or go sledding
• Plan a picnic with a friend in the park
• Visit a museum or art gallery on a free admission day/night
• Search for free or low-cost events and festivals in your area
• Spend time reading in a park or doing arts and crafts
• Plan a communal dinner with friends, where you each cook something
• Go searching for cherry blossoms in the spring, and fall foliage in the fall
• Interact with wildlife in a safe way, in spots such as Toronto’s Riverdale Farm or the High Park Zoo
• Explore markets and spots for cheap eats, such as Kensington Market
• Take advantage of low-cost or free resources like libraries and community centres

Destination Toronto also has a great list of free things to do in Toronto, that you can check out here. I hope this blog created inspiration for some ways to enjoy free activities, and put the *living* back in your life, despite the cost-of-living crisis! Whether you are looking for ways to enjoy the outdoors year-round, physical activity, arts and culture, or unique markets and festivals, there are many free or low-cost options available. I do feel lucky to live in Toronto which is a hotspot for many of these options, but regardless of where you live, I am sure there are plenty available to you! Drop your favourite free or low-cost activity in the comments 🙂