Trying something new doesn’t have to mean booking an expensive holiday, buying a pile of equipment or signing up for a six-week course.

Sometimes all it takes is changing what you’d normally do on a Saturday afternoon.

If life has been feeling a little too predictable lately, here are 10 simple things you can try this weekend — without giving your bank account a fright.

1. Explore Somewhere You’ve Never Been

Look at a map of your local area and pick somewhere you’ve never visited.

It could be a walking track, lookout, tiny country town, park, lake or historical site.

Pack some lunch, take a thermos and make a day of it. You may be surprised by what’s been sitting practically on your doorstep.

2. Cook Something Completely New

Forget your usual rotation of reliable dinners and choose something you’ve never cooked before.

Try food from another country, make bread from scratch or finally attempt that recipe you’ve saved and ignored for six months.

If it turns out terribly, there’s always toast.

3. Take Photos With a Purpose

You don’t need an expensive camera. Your phone will do perfectly well.

Go for a walk and give yourself a photography challenge. Photograph five interesting doors, different flowers, old buildings, birds, unusual shadows or anything else that catches your eye.

You’ll start noticing things you normally walk straight past.

4. Learn One Small Skill

Don’t try to master an entire hobby in one weekend.

Learn one thing.

Tie a useful knot. Learn a simple card trick. Try a few words in another language. Learn how to propagate a plant or fix something small around the house.

One little skill can easily lead to another.

5. Visit Somewhere You’ve Always Driven Past

Most of us have one.

That museum, market, walking trail, gallery, roadside attraction or little shop we’ve passed dozens of times while thinking, I must stop there one day.

Make this weekend the day.

6. Grow Something

You don’t need a huge garden.

Plant some herbs in a pot, sow a packet of seeds or try growing something from kitchen scraps.

There’s something surprisingly satisfying about checking a pot every morning waiting for the first tiny green shoot to appear.

7. Take a Different Route

Next time you’re heading somewhere familiar, take another road.

Obviously, don’t get yourself hopelessly lost in the process.

A different route can reveal parks, streets, shops and scenery you’ve never noticed before — even in a place you’ve lived for years.

8. Try a Creative Hobby

Grab a pencil and sketch something. Try knitting, painting, journalling, woodworking, flower arranging or making something from materials you already have.

It doesn’t need to be beautiful.

Remember, nobody is coming around on Monday morning to grade it.

9. Go Somewhere on Your Own

If you normally wait for someone else before doing things, try a small solo outing.

Have coffee somewhere new, visit a market, walk around a garden or sit somewhere peaceful with a book.

Doing things alone can feel strange at first, but it can also be wonderfully freeing.

10. Do Something You Haven’t Done Since You Were a Kid

Fly a kite. Do a jigsaw puzzle. Play cards. Build something. Go fishing. Have a picnic. Look at the stars.

Growing older doesn’t mean we have to retire everything that once made us happy.

Make This Weekend Slightly Different

You don’t need to change your whole life to make it more interesting.

Just change one little piece of your weekend.

Choose something you’ve never done, somewhere you’ve never been or something you haven’t done for years.

It may become a new hobby or favourite place.

Or you may decide never to do it again.

Either result beats wondering what it would have been like.

10 New Things You Can Try This Weekend Without Spending Much

Trying something new doesn’t have to mean booking an expensive holiday, buying a pile of equipment or signing up for a six-week course.

Sometimes all it takes is changing what you’d normally do on a Saturday afternoon.

If life has been feeling a little too predictable lately, here are 10 simple things you can try this weekend — without giving your bank account a fright.

1. Explore Somewhere You’ve Never Been

Look at a map of your local area and pick somewhere you’ve never visited.

It could be a walking track, lookout, tiny country town, park, lake or historical site.

Pack some lunch, take a thermos and make a day of it. You may be surprised by what’s been sitting practically on your doorstep.

2. Cook Something Completely New

Forget your usual rotation of reliable dinners and choose something you’ve never cooked before.

Try food from another country, make bread from scratch or finally attempt that recipe you’ve saved and ignored for six months.

If it turns out terribly, there’s always toast.

3. Take Photos With a Purpose

You don’t need an expensive camera. Your phone will do perfectly well.

Go for a walk and give yourself a photography challenge. Photograph five interesting doors, different flowers, old buildings, birds, unusual shadows or anything else that catches your eye.

You’ll start noticing things you normally walk straight past.

4. Learn One Small Skill

Don’t try to master an entire hobby in one weekend.

Learn one thing.

Tie a useful knot. Learn a simple card trick. Try a few words in another language. Learn how to propagate a plant or fix something small around the house.

One little skill can easily lead to another.

5. Visit Somewhere You’ve Always Driven Past

Most of us have one.

That museum, market, walking trail, gallery, roadside attraction or little shop we’ve passed dozens of times while thinking, I must stop there one day.

Make this weekend the day.

6. Grow Something

You don’t need a huge garden.

Plant some herbs in a pot, sow a packet of seeds or try growing something from kitchen scraps.

There’s something surprisingly satisfying about checking a pot every morning waiting for the first tiny green shoot to appear.

7. Take a Different Route

Next time you’re heading somewhere familiar, take another road.

Obviously, don’t get yourself hopelessly lost in the process.

A different route can reveal parks, streets, shops and scenery you’ve never noticed before — even in a place you’ve lived for years.

8. Try a Creative Hobby

Grab a pencil and sketch something. Try knitting, painting, journalling, woodworking, flower arranging or making something from materials you already have.

It doesn’t need to be beautiful.

Remember, nobody is coming around on Monday morning to grade it.

9. Go Somewhere on Your Own

If you normally wait for someone else before doing things, try a small solo outing.

Have coffee somewhere new, visit a market, walk around a garden or sit somewhere peaceful with a book.

Doing things alone can feel strange at first, but it can also be wonderfully freeing.

10. Do Something You Haven’t Done Since You Were a Kid

Fly a kite. Do a jigsaw puzzle. Play cards. Build something. Go fishing. Have a picnic. Look at the stars.

Growing older doesn’t mean we have to retire everything that once made us happy.

Make This Weekend Slightly Different

You don’t need to change your whole life to make it more interesting.

Just change one little piece of your weekend.

Choose something you’ve never done, somewhere you’ve never been or something you haven’t done for years.

It may become a new hobby or favourite place.

Or you may decide never to do it again.

Either result beats wondering what it would have been like.