If you have a BA degree, why isn’t there “much” to do? get a job? Most new grads share with roommates; that’s how you afford an apartment.
DC is filled with opportunities for someone with a degree in econ. And assuming that by next summer the last of the Covid waves are over, you could be targeting World Bank, IMF, every single Congressional office, all 50 states have offices in DC to follow legislation and figure out the economic impact of changes to entitlements to their state budgets, etc. And that’s just the government- banks, corporations, etc. all maintain offices in DC and hire young econ grads. Think Tanks, non-profits.
Your choices are most definitely NOT sit at home or go to grad school!