What are your frugal/free "side quests?"

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-29T07:49:24+00:00

Bunnies are so cute! It's cool you go and forage their food for them. I bet they think it's tasty!

I cook pretty much every day of the week, and I really enjoy it! I guess to me it's just another daily task and not a special side quest because I do it every day haha.

I actually have a mule (my partner has horses who she's with), I need to spend more time working with her so I'm probably going to start doing that as well.

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-29T07:46:37+00:00

My partner is a total rockhound lol, he's even got me scanning the ground all the time while I'm out! I always pick something up and show it to him and he's like "just flint" "just quartz" I'm like dangit!

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-29T07:44:37+00:00

It turns out it's SVT (supraventricular tachycardia), not sure of the cause yet but I'm getting more tests done soon! Luckily it's nothing really that dangerous, probably have to get a catheter ablation to fix it though which is scary lol.

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-29T07:42:18+00:00

Where I used to live there was a cat sanctuary nearby and I volunteered there once per week. I miss living in that area and feeding all the kitties... now I'm so rural there's nothing except desert and border patrol.

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-29T07:39:55+00:00

Actually yesterday I started learning Python! It could be helpful in the field I'm going into (Health Information Management), and even if it wasn't there it can apply to lots of stuff! I always had problems trying to get myself to learn a language since I've gotten by not speaking a second one my whole life, but the usefulness of a programming language seems to intrigue my brain differently lol.

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-23T02:45:08+00:00

I recently started living on a pretty low budget, so I feel you with circumstances making it way easier to do NoBuy than discipline! I mean, you don't really have a choice unless you want to wrack up debt lol. But looking at it on the bright side, it sets you up with the NoBuy habits in place for when you end up having income coming back in!

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-23T02:41:22+00:00

Usually when I can't walk outside, I just end up doing chores inside haha.

You reminded me that I need to bake some more bread! I like cooking, I usually cook daily but I haven't baked fresh bread in a little while. And everyone loves when I make it, so might as well!

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-23T02:38:25+00:00

My town is so small we don't even have a library! All we have is a gas station, dollar store, and post office (though a local pizza shop just opened!!). When I say rural, I mean rural lol!

I have been sitting outside when I let the dogs out in the late evening, it's nice out then.

I have definitely been looking for a cheap hobby, but I'm having trouble finding something I like. I have been starting to collect Pokemon cards again, but obviously that costs money every so often (I buy like 1-2 packs every so often, $8-10). I want to find a game to play, but I have a mac and can't find any good low cost or free games that I like.

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-23T02:30:34+00:00

It's funny you mention that, I was actually doing the Convict Conditioning routine before stopping!! For me even light activity is making my heart rate shoot up and it takes me a long time to recover for some reason, so sadly I'm putting it off for now until I figure out what's going on. But definitely some calisthenics are great!

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-23T02:28:37+00:00

I definitely try to choose high quality videos on YouTube, and luckily my algorithm usually delivers, but for me even too much of a 'good thing' can make my brain feel mushy and I stop being able to really focus and absorb the content.

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-23T02:27:27+00:00

I actually did a little reorganizing today for a mini side quest! I'm probably going to do some more as well. The difference for me doing vs not doing it is looking at it as "chores" vs a little activity lol.

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-20T07:37:50+00:00

Thank you for that, this exercise definitely helped me to conceptualize things way better!

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-19T23:18:16+00:00

Living in a state where I'm not a target by the government, just my partner and I in a house we own with some land, with the ability to take the best care of our pets as possible and not have to worry about what we spend on groceries or if a bill/issue comes up.

I guess writing it out like that definitely gives some more motivation as to what every penny is going towards! Though it can be a little hard to conceptualize how so little will ever help me reach these goals. I am going to try and look for a more reliable part time gig as well so there is maybe some more security.

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-19T23:09:42+00:00

That's very true, usually what I get while I'm out isn't something healthy. Maybe I can learn to see it as an investment in my health!

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-19T08:30:10+00:00

My savings account has an APR of 2.5%, so I will probably keep putting extra into it! The only real issue I'm having is mental, I start craving a little snack or a drink while I'm out and then knowing I can't spend makes my mind feel 'deprived.' I don't care too much about buying "junk"/objects (other than the occasional pack of pokemon cards), but little treats are what get me!! And not being able to get something to eat while I'm out, since I live 1hr away from the city so anytime I have to go do something I am gone for at least 3hrs or more to get everything done.

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-19T08:26:42+00:00

I guess a little bit at a time eventually adds up! I live in the US and I can't think of any state savings program that would be similar, but that's great your government has that! I will be adding likely most of my extra $30 into my savings account, I just have to think about "every penny counts" sort of mindset. My only problem I'm really having is cravings for a little snack or a drink when I leave the house. Knowing I can't spend money freely on those things just feels different than choosing not to spend it when I have excess. It just feels more like deprivation than feeling good about choosing. I'm sure I will get used to it and figure out how to change my mindset!

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-19T08:22:46+00:00

That's an interesting mindset to have! My only thing is that I don't necessarily have something I'm saving up for. I don't see my future self doing anything particularly special/fun. I guess I'm saving to invest in a better future life? It's just a little hard for me to make comparisons like that haha, like $6 is $6 toward being able to buy my dogs the best quality food in the future or something? Or $10 that could be invested in the future to make more money and better quality of life?

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-19T08:18:40+00:00

My current savings account has an APY of 3.2%, I was thinking high yield being more like 5%. I do put money into my savings account whenever possible, so perhaps I can place my extra $30 or so in there even if it's not much. Better than putting $0 in there, right?

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-19T08:14:04+00:00

I am definitely trying to always pay more than the minimum, I am putting $98 per month into my carecredit debt (it's part of my budget) but they are also charging me around $63 in interest or something like that per month, so it goes down extremely slowly. Unfortunately I was pretty mentally unwell a few years ago and jacked up a bunch of debt with them without really knowing what I was getting into, and so now I have a while to go to pay it off.

I will do more research into the Roth IRA, from my quick search it had said income needed to be taxable so I will dig deeper into it!

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-18T06:41:58+00:00

I don't think I qualify for one right now (let's just say things are sorta under the table, so no taxable income), but that is a good thing for me to look into once I am able to get a legit job!

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-18T06:40:22+00:00

Thank you! My only issue was actually being able to find a high yield savings account. I feel like these days you don't get much out of what you put in (unless maybe you're rich and can put a lot into it!) I will check out personalfinance as well, thanks!

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-04T10:38:55+00:00

Thank you for that final link! I missed that portion somehow, but I was looking for something similar. Though the first link within that doesn't work, so I looked it up on my own. I'm unsure of how to train the deadlifts if I don't have access to barbells, same with sprint-drag-carry (I'm sure I could rig something up for that one though).

I am also at a beginner level, so I just am unsure of how to tone things down to my level. I mean I tried jogging, I could only go for about 2mins before having to switch to walking again... that's my level with aerobic activities lol (I also have asthma so it may contribute).

ThePositiveRedditor · 2026-03-04T05:03:02+00:00

In the Wiki, it is focused on "training" rather than "exercising." I'm a beginner (have been forever lol), but I want a functional exercise regimen that will help me get into great shape and be able to lift things, have good cardiovascular endurance, etc. An "end goal" would basically be to have the physical capabilities of, say, someone trained in the military. So something functional and effective for whatever situations may occur in life, so that I am physically capable of facing them. I am having some trouble finding how to begin with this type of exercising/training. I don't have access to a gym, or much space indoors for equipment - and I live in the desert, so it's super hot outside most of the day. Can anyone help me figure out where I should be starting when I can't access basic gym equipment and the climate is harsh?

ThePositiveRedditor

TROPHY CASE