Affordable activities for seniors
Staying busy and connected is key to maintaining good mental and physical health in retirement. Yet it’s not always easy to find enjoyable activities that are budget friendly. With that in mind, here are a range of social, creative and physical activities that you can book into your week without breaking the bank.
Social activities for seniors
When it comes to free social activities, your local library is a fantastic resource. Check the calendar on your library website to see when book clubs and other groups are meeting, and register your interest. If there’s a Salvation Army store near you, they may offer free morning tea get-togethers, or you could put your hand up to volunteer in the store. Neighbour Aid is another organisation that regularly hosts free chess clubs and social events. If you’d prefer to socialise over a drink or bite to eat, your local RSL or community club likely has seniors discounts and bridge clubs or coffee clubs. You could also join a trivia team at your local pub as a fun weekly ritual to test out your general knowledge.
Free craft activities for seniors
The local library should be your first port of call for craft activities, too - you could find anything from sewing groups to mindful art classes to lessons in scrapbooking. If you have a particular craft interest, Facebook is a great resource for tracking down groups of people with similar hobbies. For woodworking and engineer enthusiasts, Men’s Shed is a nation-wide organisation where groups of men (and sometimes women, too) come together to work on projects. This could be anything from crafting furniture to repairing mechanical items. Local Men’s Sheds regularly have sale days and open days, and are often involved in community events.
Low-cost fitness activities
Depending on which state or territory you live in, your local council may run free exercise classes or walking/cycling groups: check your council’s web page for details. Many private fitness establishments offer discounted senior memberships, so you could join your local gym at a reduced cost or attend regular classes at a nearby leisure centre. Community-based run clubs have been gaining popularity in recent years, and Park Run is a national (free) weekly event where you can walk or run a 5km circuit. Age is no barrier here; there are a number of Australians over 90 who have joined the 100 Club (meaning they’ve participated in more than 100 Park Runs). If you have friends who are also interested in staying active, you could hire your local tennis court or even start your own walking group.
Discounted entertainment for seniors
From $10 movie tickets to $8 bowling games, there are a range of entertainment deals available to seniors, especially if you have a Pensioners Concession Card or Seniors Card. It’s worth looking up the Seniors Card directory in your state or territory to see what’s available to you. Museums and art galleries also generally offer free or low-cost entry for seniors, and can be a delightful destination to while away an afternoon alone or with friends.
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Australian Pensioners Insurance Agency Pty Ltd (Apia) ABN 14 099 650 996 AR 239591 is an authorised representative of AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807 AFSL 230859 (AAI), the issuer of Home, Landlord, Car, Caravan, Motorhome, Boat, Travel & Compulsory Third Party Personal Injury (CTP) Insurance.
The information is intended to be of general nature only. We do not accept any legal responsibility for any loss incurred as a result of reliance upon it – please make your own enquiries.
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