12 Ways to Stay Socially Connected on a Budget

As we age, social connections are key to health and happiness

Edward C. Baig,

Updated May 30, 2025

AARP

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Published June 27, 2022

/ Updated May 30, 2025

a person meditating in the middle with different activities surrounding them

Ana Cuna

Staying close to family and friends is often vital to aging well and living a long, meaningful life.

People who connect socially are generally healthier, happier and better able to confront whatever obstacles are thrown their way, reports show.

Many potential ways to make connections

Just as you might start an exercise routine to reduce blood pressure, you can create a healthy social life by reaching out to friends, volunteering or joining in-person events. Here are 12 low-cost ideas to strengthen your social connections.

1. Organize a reunion. Reach out on social media or through alumni groups to former school, workplace or summer camp chums who are presumably just as eager to rekindle relationships. Family reunions, large or small, fit the bill, too.

Arrange an in-person reunion if possible, and if people can afford it, maybe even travel to some far-flung destination. If not, FaceTime, Zoom or another video chat app may be your next best option. Follow up with regularly scheduled chats or meetups.

2. Take a trip. Where have you always wanted to go? Now may be the time to take that trip, budget and health permitting.

If you’re into genealogy, perhaps the trip you take is to follow your ancestral roots. You might even discover and meet distant kin living in another country.

Visit and volunteer for your cause

3. Volunteer. Are you passionate about saving the planet, local issues or wildlife? Seek volunteer opportunities at charitable organizations and grassroots events. And if you’re crazy about animals, volunteer at a shelter where you’ll not only be doing good but will also meet like-minded humans. If you love to read, you might volunteer to tutor young students.

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Frequent volunteering—up to four hours per week—slows aging, particularly among retired people, according to a 2025 study in Social Science & Medicine.

4. Walk your dog. If you are able, caring for a pet will not only provide loving companionship at home but will also afford you the chance to meet other people who adore their own furry family members. You’ll almost certainly encounter fellow pet owners when walking your dog.

5. Visit a house of worship. Even if you aren't particularly religious, joining a church or synagogue provides a solid sense of community. Participating in social events, after-service coffee hours and volunteer opportunities gives you a chance to connect.

6. Seek intergenerational connections. Young and old can learn from one another. The AARP Foundation’s Experience Corps can help you make a one-on-one connection in your community. In 20 cities across the country, volunteers 50 and older help young readers become great readers.

Expand your circle

7. Talk to strangers. Never mind that you were long ago taught not to talk to strangers.

Tiny Habits author BJ Fogg suggests visiting a park at the same time each day. Note the other people around. If comfortable, strike up conversation with folks who appear approachable. Say hello to someone you come across at the library, in your neighborhood or at the store, she says. Ask them about their day.

If you don't feel comfortable talking to strangers, try engaging more deeply with acquaintances by asking them about a book or TV show they would recommend.

8. Play games. Invite neighbors over for a game night. Put out some snacks and bring out Clue, Scrabble or Wits & Wagers, an update on the popular Trivial Pursuit game. Entertain multi-generational groups with classic party games like Spoons or Charades.

Or go digital with multiplayer video games and electronic sports, known as e-sports, which can be extraordinarily social. You might compete against other avid gamers or play more casually for fun. You can bond with players in gaming communities or on streaming sites such as Twitch and YouTube. You might even become a rock star with your kids or grandkids.

9. Host a cocktail party. Nick Gray, author of The 2-Hour Cocktail Party: How to Build Big Relationships With Small Gatherings, recommends hosting a casual cocktail party, complete with name tags, reminder messages and a little bit of structure to break the ice.

“You’re going to help your friends make new friends, and then ... you’re going to be the center of attention,” he says.

The most obvious question: Who should you invite? Gray suggests reaching out to neighbors you may know only a little.

“Everybody wants to know someone who brings people together,” he says. “Whenever you invite someone to an event, it’s like a little gift you get to give them.”

One theme Gray recommends for a party: a book swap. You and your guests put books you no longer want on a table, free for anyone to pick up. But it’s less about books and more about the inevitable mingling that occurs. It might even lead to a regular book club.

Share something you enjoy

10. Share your hobby. Think of the activities you enjoy most; perhaps you like gardening, painting or pickleball. Set up supplies and invite others to spend an afternoon together.

Older Female volunteer tutoring young African American girl for Experience Corps program

AARP

11. Take a class. Make a list of the things you have always wanted to learn more about. Then poke around to find a free class online or at a local community college or university. And just like back when you were in school, studying the same subject makes it easy to start conversations with others.

12. Rent out a spare room. If you're a widow, retiree or an empty nester, the house you enjoyed with your family can feel awfully barren. Consider renting out a spare room for a few months to an exchange student, summer intern or a recent graduate from your alma mater who might be starting a job in your area. Besides finding companionship, you might earn a bit of extra income and even get someone who can pitch in with light chores.

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This story, originally published in 2022, has been updated and includes new statistics.

Edward C. Baig covers technology and other consumer topics. He previously worked for USA Today, BusinessWeek, U.S. News & World Report and Fortune, and is author of Macs for Dummies and coauthor of iPhone for Dummies and iPad for Dummies. Follow him on LinkedIn; Threads; and X, formerly known as Twitter.

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