[AStonesThrow]

> Social thing assumes expenses. Hobbies assume expenses.

Entertainment is a line item in the budget: Library + Fishing = “Free”

Libraries can be amazingly social, for eggheads. Lots of groups and events meet there in my town. It’s a full-fledged Third Space.

[Neither the library access nor fishing gear is without cost, but at least they already account for taxes.]

By the way, anyone who benefits from free stuff, for example installing ad blockers, and earns $17/hr, should seriously consider tithing 5–10% to tax-deductible donations. It’s a matter of economic justice.

[mauvehaus]

Libraries are highly dependent on the town you're in. Ours is open six (6) hours a week. The one in. The town we were renting in before we bought was open reasonable hours and the librarians were great.

[AStonesThrow]

It can be exceedingly difficult to fund and staff a library system, especially considering that libraries are no longer big rooms with moldy books on the shelves.

Libraries are high-tech and high-maintenance. If the community prioritizes their mission and invests in them, it works out. Sometimes, not so good.

[cxr]

At $17/hr even 10% (versus your 5) works out to $3536 at the end of the year ($17/hr × 40 hrs × 52 weeks @ 10%), which is a fair bit short of the $15,000 standard deduction; it doesn't really matter whether those donations are tax-deductible or not—you're not going to be able to deduct them.

[bpicolo]

Fishing licenses aren't actually free but at least they're cheap

[troupo]

Fishing equipment isn't free, and you will have recurring (though small) costs in hooks and line, at least.