Do you miss living out more adventures but feel like you can’t afford it? Here are 5 tips to bring more adventures into your life – without breaking the budget!

Do you know the feeling of life turning into a hamster wheel? Everything revolves around work, laundry, packed lunches, and maybe your finances aren’t quite what you dreamed of. In 2015, we found ourselves trapped in exactly that cycle! We had lost sight of what we were passionate about while trying to make everything work.

Lise and I had long conversations about it and agreed that something had to change – something needed to happen. We wanted to bring adventures back into our lives. We wanted to travel more, experience more, and find a way to overcome the obstacles so we could live out our adventures again. But how?

The first thing we agreed on was that we needed a way to keep ourselves committed to the mantra: “More adventure in everyday life.” To achieve this, we decided to create a blog where we could share stories about both the small and big adventures we experienced, and where we could write about bringing adventure into our lives. That led to the creation of Eventyrsstyrelsen.dk, a space to refocus on adventures in the hope that everyday life wouldn’t trap us in the comfort of the hamster wheel. In 2016, we started translating our blog posts to the English travel blog you’re reading now: Freerangetravellers.com.

Now, 10 years later, we’re still holding on to our adventures and to our travelblogs. We’re still fighting against the safety of the hamster wheel that can easily trap us in the busyness of daily life, but we break free from it in spontaneous intervals. Along the way, we’ve discovered some small tricks that help us stay focused on the adventures, and we’d love to share them with you.

Do you want more adventure in your life too? Then you’d better read on…

1. Get up early and head out

I know the headline sounds basic – but yes, it really can be that simple. Magical things often happen early in the day – or at least, it feels that way.

For example, try waking up one day at the same time the sun rises on a spring morning. Head out into nature and take in the incredible light, listen to the gentle breeze, and the birds’ spring songs – it’s as if the animals and nature know that’s when all the fun begins.

You can also try strolling around the city early in the morning (and not because you’ve been out all night until morning ;-)). Experience the unique atmosphere that almost every city has in the early hours. There’s a calmness, and you can sense the city slowly waking up – it’s pretty magical.

It's amazing to experience the sunrise both in well-known places and more hidden gems. Here, Lise ventured out early one October morning to take photos at Egå Marina.
It’s amazing to experience the sunrise both in well-known places and more hidden gems. Here, Lise ventured out early one October morning to take photos at Egå Marina.

If you’re on an adventure beyond your country’s borders, getting an early start is absolutely worth it. You’ll have more of the day to experience your destination and take in the city or nature when you arrive. It can often feel a bit heavy if you arrive too late. Personally, I get a bit disappointed if I don’t have the chance to feel the rhythm of a new place before it’s time to call it a night.

You might be asking: “But Peter, I’m totally a night owl and hate getting up early. Don’t you have a better idea for an adventure?”
Of course! Keep reading for more great ideas to bring adventure into your life…

2. Not everything costs money

One of the many excuses we’ve used over the years is: “We can’t afford it.” Everything costs money, and so do many adventures. For example, going to the cinema costs us about 600 DKK if we also want soda and popcorn – and then we’re “only” entertained for about two hours. A trip to Djurs Sommerland costs nearly 1000 DKK for the three of us just for entry – and that’s before food and drinks. The same goes for many attractions…

One thing we’ve realized is that attractions aren’t necessarily the same as adventures. And adventures don’t always have to cost money – or at least, not much. It’s all about opening your mind to where you can find free – or almost free – adventures.

Think about the times you’ve had the best moments and biggest adventures. Write them down and look at how many of them didn’t cost anything at all.

We’ve done this and discovered plenty of adventures that are practically free! For example, over morning coffee, we’ll sometimes discuss what we can go out and experience that day. We brainstorm ideas for what the day’s adventure could be. Maybe we talk about how Sebastian has never seen what a desert looks like. We obviously can’t just hop on a plane to the Sahara, but we can start the car and drive to Råbjerg Mile – it only costs gas. Another idea could be driving to a town we’ve never visited before just to see what it’s like. Or taking a short trip to Mols Bjerge to hike in real Danish nature, which is always an option for us. It’s just a matter of dressing appropriately.

There are so many possibilities… The key is to recognize that adventures don’t have to cost money.

A spontaneous winter dip at Ahl Strand suddenly turned a cold January Sunday into a bit more of an adventure.
A spontaneous winter dip at Ahl Strand suddenly turned a cold January Sunday into a bit more of an adventure.

3. Wish for experiences as gifts

One thing we make a point of in our family is wishing for experiences. And by that, we don’t just mean paid experiences, like those you can get in a Smartbox, but also experiences from others and with others.

For example, we received a gift card for a picnic (all-inclusive) with Lise’s brother’s family. They picked us up in their small boat and took us to a scenic area where we could spread out our picnic blankets and enjoy delicious food in nature. It was an amazing day, and we couldn’t have received a better gift from them.

By wishing for experiences ourselves, it often inspires others to start wishing for experiences from us as well. This way, you end up going on even more adventures and spending quality time together that you’ll remember for a long time – far more valuable than another piece of clothing, kitchenware, or [insert more examples here].

Of course, not everything is free. And no, you can’t wish your way to everything, I know… Keep reading to see what else we do!

4. Do I Really Need…

As mentioned, not all adventures are free. For example, taking a weekend trip to London or Paris isn’t free. So no, not everything comes at no cost!

Our trick is to make the decision for such an adventure well in advance. Take a trip to London, for instance. For some, it might be an easy expense, but for us, it requires saving up. It may sound simple and trivial (and it is, in principle), but the key lies in thinking about what you’re spending your money on instead.

Just because it’s Sunday and you don’t feel like cooking doesn’t mean you have to order pizza or sushi for takeaway. For example, you could cook larger portions during the week and freeze them for later. Or buy a frozen pizza to keep on hand for those days when you just don’t feel like cooking – it’s still cheaper than ordering out. The money you save every time you resist the urge for takeout can go straight into your adventure fund.

Also, consider whether you really need that extra piece of clothing, the latest gadget, or whatever else tempts you. Instead, put that money into your savings for adventures.

So ask yourself, do I really need this… or don’t I? Save the money and stash it in your adventure fund.

5. Try something new (every day)

This might sound simple – maybe even a bit over the top – but making small changes in your daily routine can truly work wonders. It wakes you up from autopilot mode, opens your mind, and makes you more receptive to new adventures. Often, the adventures are right under your nose, but you don’t notice because one day blends into the next without much variation.

Here are a few examples:

  • Take a different route to work. If you usually go the shortest way, try switching it up and taking a slightly longer or more scenic route instead – or just a different one to keep things fresh.
  • Do you always eat a slice of bread with cheese for breakfast? Switch it up with muesli, banana pancakes, or something else delicious.
  • Do you always go to the same café or restaurant when eating out? Try a new one every time you go out over the next two months.

You can also apply this principle to your vacations. For instance, if you usually stay at an all-inclusive resort in Italy, try island hopping in Greece instead. Or vice versa – if you’re used to traveling far away, like to Thailand every year, consider exploring a closer destination instead.

Even for shorter trips, mix it up a bit. Instead of the classic European city break destinations like London, Paris, Berlin, or Barcelona, why not visit cities like Warsaw, Bratislava, or Bukarest? Smaller towns can also be fascinating – (almost) every place has something unique to offer.

The whole idea of trying something new every day – or at least more often than usual – is to spark creativity and inspiration. Adventures often come from moments when we’re a little outside our comfort zone. While it’s comforting when everything runs smoothly, adventures rarely happen when we’re not willing to step out and be challenged.

Do we always follow these tips ourselves?

No, not always.

But we’re mindful of them and try to implement as many as we can in our daily lives. Like everyone else, we’re only human and sometimes fall into the trap of letting adventures slip away. However, when we remind each other of these tips, we find our way back and manage to create more adventures in our everyday routines.

What about you? Do you have any tips or comments to share? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below! 😊