New in town or a life-long local, here are 5 easy ways to make new friends: Video
New in town or a life-long local, here are 5 easy ways to make new friends: Video
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How to make new friends using Reddit, Instagram, more
These apps can help you meet new friends in your area.
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Meeting new people and building connections is one of the many joys in life. However, putting yourself out there can be daunting and anxiety-inducing. Striking up a conversation with someone at a coffee shop looks easy on TV, but in unscripted reality, it can be challenging.
Americans are suffering from a loneliness epidemic, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy warned in 2023. 'Most of us probably think of loneliness as just a bad feeling,' he told USA TODAY. 'Loneliness has far greater implications for our health when we struggle with a sense of social disconnection, being lonely or isolated.'
Many people are feeling the impact of loneliness and are seeking to connect with more people, whether they're new to an area or looking to expand their social circle. If that also sounds like you, keep reading for some easy ways to get out of your comfort zone and meet new people.
Watch this video to see how apps and social media can help you meet new people.
How to make friends
One of the challenges of meeting new people is committing to doing so. Making plans to hang out and then actually following through with them. Thankfully, the platforms that connect new people tend to handle the logistics, so you just have to show up at the designated time and place.
Check Instagram.
There are Instagram accounts dedicated to helping people connect. They can be geared towards making new friends, like atl friends, or connect you to people with similar hobbies or interests, like atlsilentbookclub or BLKHikingclub.
If you're scrolling on Instagram and see a page that fits what you're looking for, look at the similar accounts Instagram recommends. There, you may find more opportunities for socializing to explore.
Have dinner with strangers.
This might sound like a nightmare to some people, but having dinner with a group of strangers, all looking to make new friends, is a thing!
Apps like Timeleft will match you with a small group of people and will coordinate a dinner for everyone to get together. The app asks you questions and then pairs you with compatible dinner companions. It sets a time and place to meet and even provides some icebreakers in case the conversation lulls. If things go well, it will also suggest a place to go after dinner if people want to continue hanging out.
The app is currently in select cities and does require a subscription, which does not cover the cost of dinner.
Try Bumble.
If one-on-one is more your style, try Bumble. The dating app has two ways to help you make friends: using the Bumble BFF mode in the dating app or using their friend-specific app Bumble For Friends.
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See what is planned on Meetup.
Meetup is a very popular platform that lists events happening in your area designed to help you connect with new people. They have a variety of events and interests, so you can choose something you're an expert at or explore something new.
Plus, you can choose between online and in-person meetups.
Befriend your fellow Redditors.
Some city-specific Reddit pages have event or meetup threads that can help you connect with new people. Essentially, you leave a comment, set a time and place for people to gather, post, and hope people join!
Some of these options might only be available in bigger cities, so if you live in a smaller town, consider looking at events on Facebook or on apps like Nextdoor for opportunities to meet new people.
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Refinery29
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All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. The moment summer rolls around, I ask myself one question: How blonde is too blonde? This season, however, my normal desire to go as bright as the sun has been softened, partly thanks to conversations around ' recession blonde ', which embraces more lived-in looks for the warmer months. While the top line might be about saving money (less bleach = fewer salon visits), the move towards a more relaxed blonde is exactly what my over-processed hair has been crying out for — and one particular shade has piqued my interest. Enter: 'teddy' blonde. If you've taken one look at Pinterest lately, you'll know that soft, grown-out blondes are everywhere, and no colour is more popular than teddy blonde — a shade said to resemble the golden nuances of a teddy bear's fur. 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He took inspiration from '00s icons like Sienna Miller and Kate Moss, making my hair more piecey at the front with subtle curtain bangs. Now I get those soft, flowy pieces around my face even when I tie my hair up. Payne's top tip: Tuck the fringe pieces behind your ears when your hair is damp to achieve the perfect C-bend shape when dry. What's teddy blonde like IRL? I expected something super warm, but teddy blonde turned out much more subtle on me. The dark blonde tones woven through the honey blonde hues suited my complexion way better than the bleach blonde I'd outgrown. The gloss made my hair feel heavenly soft, and teamed with a much-needed cut, it left my hair feeling so much healthier. What's more, the added layers somehow made my hair look longer and thicker. Since I'm on a mission to grow my hair out this year, it was much appreciated. 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Banking for a baby? How to budget for your bundle of joy without going broke
Having a baby or thinking about it? Congratulations! Now, hold on to your wallet because the wild ride is just beginning. Here are the practical costs to plan for when bringing home baby. And the ones that most parents completely forget about — partly because of sleep deprivation, but mostly because these financial matters are not cute or cuddly. When I was pregnant with my first a few years ago, my Instagram feed was chock-a-block pushing baby-related content to buy: clothing, breast pumps, strollers (with cooling fans and shocks), cribs, mattress pads, baby toys, bassinets, swaddles, pillows, and, and, and. I even received a checklist with more than 50 items to buy for the baby, from one of my mom's friends. It was overwhelming, and when I feel like that, I slow down to think. Do I really need that? What can wait? There are really only a handful of essentials, including a car seat (the hospital will check that you have this before they release you), stroller, a safe place for baby to sleep (bassinet or crib), a place to sit and feed the baby, diapers, comfortable clothes for baby and birthing mother, a thermometer, bottles, a pump and formula (if breastfeeding isn't an option). Over time you'll need larger clothes, a safe place to put the baby down for a few minutes and likely a backpack carrier, but time is on your side for those items. A recent poll found 90 per cent of Canadians want to stay in their homes as they age, but only If your budget is tight, be strategic with costs. If you have a gift registry, add the essentials to it, and scour the 'gently used' second-hand market for any large items like a crib. Borrow from friends, and if you've got access to good quality hand-me-downs, embrace them. This will save you hundreds — if not thousands — of dollars. This is just the beginning of the costs related to babies, so overspending on non-essentials takes money away from other financial priorities. The first of these is the price of parental leave. Unless your employer has a benefits plan to top up your income while on leave, most parents take a serious pay cut for the 12-to-18 months you're off. The Canadian government's Employment Insurance program helps close this income gap, if you are eligible, and maxes out at 55 per cent of a parents' earnings, up to $695 a week. Most parents use savings to cover the difference between their costs (rent or mortgage, car payments, groceries) and EI, plus any employer top-up money. This is why I advise my community to start saving before the baby arrives. Otherwise, they could end up thousands short, and be forced to take on debt. When done thoughtfully, downsizing can shore up retirement savings and ease pressure on one's This reduced income scenario needs to be worked into your 'once-baby-arrives' budget The second important cost is insurance. It's advisable for parents to increase their life, disability and critical illness insurance along with health insurance (and don't forget to add the baby to whatever benefits plan you already have once they arrive). If something happens to a parent, there's way more at stake — a child's long-term well-being and the ability for a parent to parent well. Review the coverages you already have with a broker, and add anything that's missing. A quick note on health insurance: many plans now offer fertility treatment coverage. If you know you want to start a family it can be worth exploring this coverage option should you need it. The third cost of getting a will. New will-making technologies through companies like and can help reduce those costs at around $100 for a digital will. If anything happened to you, your will directs the executor who would care for your children, how your money would be managed and when it would eventually flow to your child. Contributing to a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is another great move to start once your baby is born. Budget how much you can afford each month and set up regular payments. Those 17 years will fly by and you'll be surprised at how much you've banked for your child's higher education. And there's free money! Not only do your contributions grow tax-free, the government chips in 20 per cent on the first $2,500 saved each year (up to $7,200 total) through the Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG). Even small monthly contributions can grow significantly — a huge gift for your child's future. When you become a new parent, your budget will likely see new line items, typically grouped under a 'baby' category. This includes recurring costs like creams, diapers, wipes, food, and any necessary prescriptions. The importance of money in a relationship is right up there with sex, trust, family and work. Beyond baby-specific expenses, parents may also find themselves spending more on groceries, physio, medicine, and even audiobooks for those long stroller walks. All of these new costs should be incorporated into your budget. If there doesn't seem to be enough money to go around for all of this, it's important to see where you can cut back or cut out other expenses to make room. Welcoming a baby means welcoming a whole new financial reality — one that's manageable with a thoughtful budget, smart planning, and a clear focus on what truly matters for your growing family.
