15 reasons to be psyched you were sacked

11. Baseball games are less irritating.
Those without daytime obligations can drink and cheer to their hearts’ content at midday baseball games without having to contend with the rowdy postwork and weekend crowds. Tickets for Wednesday 20’s 1:05pm White Sox game against Seattle start at $8.50. Good luck getting a seat that cheap at Wrigley, though you can snag a $15 day-of-game standing-room-only ticket at Wrigley’s box office for sold-out games.

12. You can become a matinee idol.
Catch a second screening of Music Box Theatre’s (3733 N Southport Ave, 773-871-6604) midnight movies every Wednesday afternoon. Don’t miss the Stanley Kubrick classic Barry Lyndon at 1:30pm Wednesday 20. If that’s not your thing, you can save $2 at theaters across the city by checking out matinees while the working world slaves away.

13. You’re free to join the circus.
Beat the theater crowds by attending a Thursday matinee performance of Lookingglass Alice, Lookingglass Theatre’s (821 N Michigan Ave, 312-337-0665) whimsical/totally freakish interpretation of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Though tix are normally a wallet-breaking $45, savvy unemployed folk can see the show for free by volunteer ushering through the Saints organization—evening-show ushering spots are a lot harder to come by than matinee gigs. Cha-ching!

14. Ellipticals are wide open from 9 to 5.
“It’s sad, but being in between jobs, I’m really looking forward to going to the gym,” says Steve Jacobs, a former Web associate for the American Hospital Association. “Nobody’s there, and I can use whatever equipment I want.” The unemployed can also take advantage of midday exercise classes that aren’t packed with adrenaline-fueled workers just getting off their jobs.

15. It’s time to let someone else worry about finances.
While you’re working on trading up to a better job, check out how the pros trade with the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s midweek tours of the Chicago Board of Trade ($5). Running on select Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the year, the one-hour tour gives attendees an insider’s view into how the commodities exchange works. CAF’s next tour runs September 10 at 12:15pm.

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