Spending Time with a Friend, the Inexpensive Way

I had a serious attack of “conscience” last week. I thought about a friend that I hadn’t spoken to in a few months and decided to call and invite them to lunch this Friday. I’m glad she could make time for me. This incident got me to thinking about inexpensive ways to spend time with friends. After all, friendships are important and need to be given time and care in order to survive and grow.

Movie Marathon Day at Home: One of my best friends loves to do Movie Marathons. First, choose what you want to eat. One time we bought a box of fried chicken and made salad and sides at home, another time, we had brats with peppers and onions. The Movie Marathon starts at noon and ends at 8 or 9 in the evening (you’ll need food for lunch and dinner).

Next, choose the movies you want to watch. I always like trilogies. You could check out the Bourne trilogy, Star Wars (original or prequel trilogies), the Matrix trilogy, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, or you could have a Tyler Perry marathon, etc. I also like Masterpiece Mystery on PBS and some of the BBC mysteries and dramas so Luther, Wallander, Downton Abbey, or Pride and Prejudice (A&E miniseries vs. the Keira Knightly movie) would all make good choices. Just remember, Birmingham Public Library has a great DVD selection, so you shouldn’t have to rent DVDs.

OR

A Movie at Your Local Library: The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement would be an excellent film to see with a friend and will be shown at 13 different branches of the Birmingham Public Library. This 2012 Oscar-nominated short documentary film chronicles the experiences of civil rights Foot Soldier, James Armstrong. At the West End Library, movie refreshments will be provided.

Picnic in the Park: Pack a lunch and go to a local park. At Railroad Park, you don’t even have to pack a lunch, you can buy one there.

A Dinner Theater: I’ve been attending the Homewood Public Library’s Mystery Dinner Theater for years. It’s always an excellent play and performance and the food is good. At $25 it’s at the high end of inexpensive, but not bad for 2-3 hours of entertainment and dinner. Get your tickets early and arrive early to get a prime seat. Ticket sales start October 1 for performances on October 19th–20th.

Lunch on Saturday: Some restaurants provide lunch on Saturdays until three or four in the afternoon. It’s a great way to get food you love at a better price. The smaller portion size makes this a great way to splurge without all the calories.

With a little ingenuity, even a costly activity can be reinvented as an inexpensive way to spend time (and have fun) with your friend.

Maya Jones
West End Library