OP, is there a red light district near your stomping ground?
When I've been skint I've still gotten a kick out of talking to street hookers. Gives me the same buzz I get from approaching the door of a prossie I've booked except you don't have to take it any further than that. I've done this at Edgeware Road, London. Notorious spot for skanky streetwalkers. Then there's the walkups of Soho, London. You can walk
up, chat to a prossie, make an excuse - then walk
down. And before anyone cries foul play and time waster! I've only done this once or twice and the same prossies have gotten my cash on a subsequent visit, shortly afterwards when I've been flush enough to give 'em a good seeing to
I agree with you OP, when trying to cut down on punting it's a good idea to take that money you're saving and spend it on something tangible that will give you some pleasure. I've learnt not to just transfer it into the joint account where it will just disappear as it's gobbled up on heaven knows what.