The price of friendship grows more strenuous every day.
What starts as casual weekday plans for the friend group to simply enjoy a night in suddenly spirals and, before you know it, you’re seated in a casual dining restaurant with a $20 burger in front of you. On the way out, someone else mentions getting “a sweet treat,” and just like that, you’ve spent $40 when you planned to spend zero.
From brunch to bowling, most group activities cost money. Occasionally, it’s great to go on an adventure with friends, but the problem occurs when spending money every weekend is the only way your friends know how to spend time together.
And it’s not easy to say no. It can be embarrassing to explain your finances to friends and simply refusing to go without any explanation can cause more trouble, even risking your friends not inviting you anymore.
The fear of missing out has often led people to spend more than they have. You end up spending money under the belief that if you cannot pay the price, then you’re forced to watch all your friends have fun without you.
Nobody likes feeling forced to spend money when they’re with their friends. But nobody likes feeling left behind, either. The reality is that a social life costs a lot of money, and not everyone can afford the upkeep.
As students, there is already so much to pay for with rent, groceries, and tuition. Not to mention required course materials and application fees for additional schooling. For many, friendship has become just another thing eating away at their limited disposable income.
Not every group activity ends in spending money, but many do. Even supposedly “free” plans can end up breaking the bank. A walk in the park often results in a dip into the coffee shop for a drink, and an at home movie night needs snacks — it’s non-negotiable.
Friendships suddenly become less about being around each other and more about the activities you can do together.
The increased cost of living has turned formerly inexpensive outings into a financial drain. Things we used to do often, like casual drinks, are now so costly they’re unsustainable.
Spending is a habit that is incredibly hard to break. It’s not that we’re superficial or materialistic, we’ve simply built our social lives around spending money. But it’s not too late to change that.
There are countless cost-efficient activities in Kingston that are perfect for friends on a budget.
In any weather, the waterfront trail makes for a perfect walk. Richardson Beach is the best place for a picnic, or even just to sit and watch the water. In the summer, it’s the prime sunbathing spot.
The Wolfe Island Ferry is free of charge and runs all year long. With the right people, the twenty-minute trip can feel like a luxury experience. When you get there, you can spend time exploring what the island has to offer without spending a dime.
The Penitentiary Museum, Miller Museum of Geology, and City Hall are all free as well. The Kingston-Frontenac Public Library offers free passes to the Pump House Museum, Fort Henry, and the Museum of Healthcare, which can be reserved by library card holders on their website. Similarly, most art shows at Union Gallery and the Tett Centre are free for everyone.
If you’re looking for a delicious meal, clubs across campus are constantly hosting events with free food. Follow the right student organizations on Instagram and you could end up with a free dinner once a week.
Although there are many activities to do for free that any friend-group can enjoy, maybe it’s time to ask ourselves why every hangout requires an activity at all. Sometimes the best plans are the ones where nothing happens and no one feels pressured to spend money.
After all, friendships shouldn’t be something to budget into your life.
Tags
activities, affordability, free, friends, friendship
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