Anyone who’s ever been a college student, or pretty much anyone who's tried to be an adult, knows the feeling of being absolutely broke. What’s worse, however, is when you’re a person who loves adventures......and is still broke. And I’m not talking drinking and drugs adventurous. I’m talking boats, trains, and planes to far off places adventurous. Without fail, whenever summer rolls around, there’s a lot of talk of road trips and concerts and all these grand ideas, which suddenly become much more difficult when the talk of prices rolls around. Because having zero extra funds does not exactly spell “European Vacation," which can be insanely frustrating.

So step back for a second and look and the situation. You’re broke. You’re a go-getter. You have nothing to do. Here’s how to fix that:

• Make the most of what you have: If you have $20 in your pocket, don’t waste it on lunch with friends. Save it to rent that canoe at the lake or for gas for a mini road trip. Just keep thinking that there’s such better things to do that another lunch or dinner out.
• Projects. Projects. Projects: It doesn’t matter if its that redecorating you’ve been wanting to do for months or a simple scrapbook of places you’ve been, you know you have things to do that you’ve been putting off. So instead of moping in your newfound free time, check off your task list. It will give you something to do instead of thinking about all the things you want to do and will make you more prepared when you finally have the opportunity to take of on those trips.
• Look Local: The whole purpose of these fun expensive things we want to do is to get away from “real” life for a little while, and most people think this can’t be accomplished when you’re too close to home, right? Wrong. In any area, within a couple miles, you can find something to do that’ll create some pretty great memories. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the middle of a forest, there’s still a tree to climb. Or parkour. Your choice.
• Band Together with Other Broke People: In a lot of situations, including my own, people will always have friends saying “Hey! Let’s totally do this really awesome and really expensive thing together”, which you’re trying to find two bucks in your car cushions for gas. Yeah, those people are a lot fewer numbered than they may seem, because more than likely, you have quite a few friends who are in the same financial boat as you. So team up, go find something to do as a group that can still agree with your bank account, and write a story called “The Adventures of A Lot of Broke People."
• Keep Dreaming: Yeah, you’re not in the best financial shape you’ve ever been. Hell, you might be in the worst financial shape you’ve ever been. No one said you had to stay that way. Take your opportunities when they come to you, work hard, and don’t give up those dream trips. It might take a while, but you’ll get there, and it will definitely be worth the wait.

Every day is an adventure. Even when it might not seem like it. Even when you can’t reach your goals. Even when you’re afraid you never will. So make the most of the little you have, remember you’re not alone, and keep shooting for the stars while you keep enjoying the world around you.