It is natural for most of us to slip into the routine of daily existence, which at best feels comfortable and at worst, dreary. “I have nothing to wear,” “I’m sick of my apartment,” and “I need a change of scenery,” are common laments among the average citizen. Our cozy cloak of familiarity can quickly start to suffocate, which often results in radical impulse spending, a new outfit, a bedroom set, a Caribbean vacation, all designed to pull us out of a spiritual rut, only to drag us into a financial one later.

So, before you max out your credit cards, try to shake things up by trying the following no-cost alternatives, a sure way to satisfy your itch for something new without sacrificing the scratch.