In my last job we got to hire the aircraft at VERY good rates (Firefly 260 at £58/hr dry) so used to do a lot of stuff outside work (aeros contests, trips around the highlands etc.) however that was, I think, the exception. Hiring a C152 to bimble S&L somewhere will swiftly lose its appeal when you're shelling out on a typical instrutor's wage, besides which there are usually some PPLs who will welcome the presence of an instructor on longer trips. Depending on your domestic circumstances you may also run into the immovable object at home
as well but only you can deal with that
