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25 Cheap or Free Ways to Have Fun

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Do you want to have fun without having to spend any money? If so, then you might want to try these free or ridiculously low-cost things to do (no matter where you live). And, no, I’m not talking about cleaning out your garage or rearranging your furniture. I mean real fun, entertaining things to do with your gal-pals.

We all need to relax and unwind sometimes, but it can be hard to do it on a tight budget. Fortunately, there are plenty of free or inexpensive things to do that will leave you feeling refreshed and relaxed, and you can still have fun this weekend (or during the week) without breaking the bank! 

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Ways to Have Fun With Little to no Money

1) Go on a Picnic   

Gather your friends and meet at a park, a lake, or the beach for a picnic. Make it a potluck where everyone brings something.

2) Do Yoga and Beer   

Many cities and towns offer yoga and beer at local breweries, and it’s typically less than $5 per person to attend. It’s a great way to try new IPAs and meet new people.

3) Host a Movie Marathon with Friends   

Are you a horror movie buff? Do you love romcoms? If so, then get all your friends together and host a movie marathon night. And, don’t forget the popcorn.

4) Host a Game Night  

If you like playing board games or cards, pull them all out and host a game night with your friends. Have everyone bring snacks and drinks.

5) Visit a State Park  

Many states don’t charge any admission fees to enter their state parks, and those that do are very affordable, with the average entrance fee being around $5.

6) Feed the Ducks  

If you live in an area with lakes that have ducks, buy a head of lettuce and spend your Saturday sitting by the lake and feeding the ducks.

7) Host a Campfire  

Grab your friends and folding chairs, light up that fire pit, and have fun roasting marshmallows and telling stories.

8) Take a Day Trip  

There are tons of places where you can take a “one-tank trip” or day trip. Google “day trips near me,” and you’re bound to find plenty. Pack some food and snacks, so you don’t have to pay to eat at a restaurant and enjoy your trip. Add several friends to help with the cost of gas.

9) Attend Free Workshops 

Many communities offer free workshops every weekend for something. You can find usually find out about free workshops in your newspaper or community flyer.

10) Host Craft Nights  

Get your craft-loving friends together once a week and learn how to make new crafts. And, if you’re a Cricut crafter, Jennifer Maker has hundreds of free YouTube tutorials.

11) Go Camping  

Camping is a relatively inexpensive activity, provided you like to camp and own a tent. You can camp at a national park, state park, or a friend’s property if they have the room.

12) Learn a New Recipe 

Invite your friends over to learn and cook a new recipe. There are tons of them for free on YouTube.

13) Join a Wine Club  

You can join a wine club for as little as $25 per month. But, if you split that with several friends, it’s affordable. Most wine clubs send six bottles of wine per month, so get everyone together and taste your wines every couple of weeks.

14) Go on a Nature Walk   

If your area has nature trails grab your camera and enjoy a walk while snapping wildlife pictures.

15) Visit a Farmers Market  

Almost every community has a local farmers’ market, and they’re free. Plus, you never know what healthy bargain you may find.

16) Go for a Bike Ride  

Many communities have bike trails and paths for riders to enjoy nature. If you don’t own a bike, borrow one friend.

17) Host a Karaoke Night   

Gather your friends and have fun singing karaoke. You can find tons of karaoke videos on YouTube. (This would go well with the wine tasting).

18) Go on a Brewery Tour  

Craft breweries are a huge thing now, and they’re everywhere. Many offer free tours and tastings to lure in new customers. If you have one near you, find out if they offer free tours.

19) Host a Backyard Cookout   

Invite all your friends to bring a covered dish and throw those ribs, burgers, or dogs on the grill. 

20) Visit Local Open Houses  

This is one of my favorites. I’m not in the market to buy a new house, but I absolutely love going to open houses, especially if there’s a model home to view.

21) Go Site Seeing   

Many towns and communities have historic houses, landmarks, or monuments that can be viewed for free. Sometimes you don’t even need to get out of your car.

22) Go Downtown  

Gather your friends, go downtown, and walk around window shopping and discovering new things. You’d be surprised how much fun that can be.

23) Go Hiking   

There are hiking trails near almost every community. Grab a friend, pack some snacks, and hit a trail.

24) Visit a Museum  

The average price of admission to a museum is $7; however, many museums offer free days. Check your local museum for special days and times.

25) Visit Local Craft Fairs  

There are always craft fairs going on somewhere. Find out when your community will be having one, grab a friend, and enjoy an afternoon.

Have Fun Without Overspending

The best way to stave off impulse spending is to stay ahead of it. If you want to keep yourself from spending on impulse, then keep a list of free or cheap activities. If you find yourself with extra money, then you can do something else. 

If you follow a list like this, you won’t run out of inexpensive or free things to do in your area! And if you want even more ideas, try going to the library and asking the staff for help. They have tons of resources and can help you plan fun excursions. 

How to Make Your Budgeting Fun

The more, the merrier. If you’re on a budget, you need some friends (or some Facebook groups) to help you out. If you’re stuck with some boring financial tasks, like paying bills or setting up a savings plan, invite some friends to help. You’ll be surprised how much fun it can be – and what you can accomplish with a little help from your friends.

The secret to successful budgeting is consistency, and if you can make your budget fun, you’re more likely to be consistent. 

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