For me, September is the time to save money. The holidays are coming up, and I love spending money on decorations and seasonal lattes! Last year, I even did a no-spend September, where I took the entire month of September off from unnecessary spending. When I couldn’t spend money on movies and concerts, I turned to alternatives like free and cheap activities.
This was an incredibly difficult task, but so worth it in the end. I learned so much about myself and my impulsive tendencies, which are especially bad during the fall and winter.
Although saving money can sound boring, you can still find ways to enjoy yourself without spending too much money. Instead of focusing on everything you can’t do since a lot of things cost money these days, think about all the things you can do! There are so many free and cheap activities around you, you just need to know where to look!
Luckily for you, if you are struggling to come up with ideas, I have done that work for you! This post is going to be full of free and fun activities for you to do when you are trying to save money. These are great for your next “no-spend” weekend, week, or month.
1. Host a Book Club
If you are looking for some social interaction, but don’t want to spend. a lot of money, a book club is a great place to start. For the price of a book, or free if you use the library, you can have some stimulating conversation and connect with others in your community.
Look around Facebook or check in with your local library, there might already be some clubs you can join. Or, host one yourself! Contact your friends and see who wants to read a book with you! You can find discussion questions for almost any book online, which is a great place to start.
As an introvert, I know how hard going to clubs can be, but it can be fulfilling and a lot of fun! You can check out my tips for going to book clubs as an introvert as well!
2. Nature Walks
There is nothing like getting outside and connecting with nature. This is especially true during the darker months of the year, fall and winter, when I could use all the vitamin D I can find. Gotta avoid that seasonal affective disorder!
So, one of my favorite ways to pass the time when I am trying to save money is to head to my local park or nature preserve, bring my dog along with me, and take a walk.
I also love bringing my phone along with me on these nature walks. I know it’s nice to unplug, but there are so many amazing views around. I love taking pictures of the season changes, beautiful scenery, or even a bug that I found. It helps open my eyes and pay attention to the world around me rather than being stuck in my head!
Some exciting places to have nature walks include beaches, mountains, nature preserves, parks, mountains, and more. Look what is local and experience it!
If you live in an area that gets a little too cold for sitting around outside in the fall and winter, turn it into a brisk walk instead. Just don’t forget to bundle up, so that you don’t get sick.
3. Stargazing
In a similar vein to taking a nature walk, if you are looking for something to do at night, a completely free activity is stargazing.
I personally like to set out right before the sun sets. I grab a picnic blanket and some snacks from my fridge, and I head to a local park. I like to go somewhere with as little light pollution as possible, which is difficult living in a city! But at least at a park, there are only a couple of lights!
Anyway, I settle in and watch as the sky turns from light to dark. I watch as the stars start to speckle the sky, it is beautiful!
4. Talking to a Friend
While going out with friends can often lead to spending money you didn’t want to, staying in and talking with a friend on the phone, or over Facetime, is a pretty safe activity! The only danger is online shopping, just hide your wallet!
5. Look for Free or Cheap Museums
Although a lot of museums have an admission ticket, if you look hard enough you are sure to find some free or discounted museum entry fees near you! Some establishments have “pay what you can” days or free events that are open to the public just do a little research!
I would also recommend checking your local library. Often times they are able to help you get free or cheap tickets to events and museums!
6. Yoga
I am a huge believer that finding ways to relax and take care of both your mental and physical health is essential to living a good life. Lucky for us, there is something that does all of this, yoga!
Without heading to a studio with an expensive yoga mat and Lululemon leggings, check out YouTube! There are so many free yoga classes online for every experience level. Just clear out enough space in your home to move and you are all set! This is one of my favorite free ways to pass the time when I am trying to save money.
7. Have a Movie Night
This can be a solo date idea or something you do with your friends/family. However, spending the evening watching some of your favorite movies is a great cheap activity!
You can even do this completely free if you want! Watch movies you already own, eat snacks you already have, and pass the night away escaping into different films.
However, if you want to grab some cheap snacks, make your way to Walmart or other grocery stores. They usually have boxes of candy for a couple of dollars each. Popcorn is also relatively cheap. It adds a little fun to the evening and makes it an occasion.
8. Go Thrifting
For this to be a cheap activity, you have to know where to go. Unfortunately, a lot of big thrift chains like Goodwill have been inflating prices like crazy, which makes thrift shopping a little less fun.
However, jump on Google and look for local, family-owned thrift shops. Those are usually cheaper and they have better finds!
9. Local Live Music
Depending on where you live, you might be able to find free live music in your area! I love seeing local artists performing sets in a park or at a local cafe. For the price of a coffee, you can get a show and spend the evening in good company and a cozy ambiance! Plus you get introduced to some small artists, you might find new music to love.
It can sometimes be difficult to find these local events, so I recommend keeping an eye on Facebook. Look to see if your town has a Facebook group, where people post about these events. Or check your library! They might have a message board where people will post events.
10. Plant Swap
You can either find a local plant swap or figure out how to host your own! But if you love houseplants and getting them for free/cheap, look into seeing if there are any plant swaps near you.
A plant swap is basically an event where people come together and exchange plants! It is exactly how it sounds. It is a fantastic way to connect with others in your community and expand your house plant collection!
11. Volunteer
If you are looking for some free and cheap activities, but also want to make an impact in your community, a great place to start is volunteering. Organizations don’t just need donations of items and money, they need donations of time as well. Helping in your community can be so fulfilling and a great way to spend your day with friends and family.
I am always recommending your library, but I promise, it might be the most useful resource in your life. Libraries often know of places you can volunteer your time in the community. Also check out websites like Idealist, where you can find in-person and remote volunteer opportunities.
12. Pick up a New Hobby or Skill!
Although this might involve a little spending, it doesn’t have to be expensive. A lot of hobbies and skills can be learned with a few items and YouTube!
For example, you can learn the basics of crochet with supplies under 10 dollars and some YouTube videos. I wrote all about it in my Beginner’s Guide to Crochet post!
But besides crochet, there are so many skills you can learn through YouTube. Whether it be cooking something you already have ingredients for, or learning to draw, the options are endless!
13. DIY Spa Day
You might be surprised to find that you already have a lot of the makings of a DIY spa day already in your home! With a couple ingredients from your kitchen, you can make your own lip scrub and more. Look for some DIY face mask recipes and YouTube guided meditations! You don’t need to go to a fancy spa to get some much needed relaxation and self-care.
Make it even more fun by inviting some friends! That way the cost of ingredients is spread out amongst everyone. Plus you get the pleasure of spending some time with your besties!
14. Learn to Propagate some Plants
There is nothing like free plants! And plant swaps aren’t the only way to get them! Once I learned what it means to propogate a plant, I couldn’t be stopped. From just small cutting, you can create a whole new plant!
And propagation is pretty easy! You can find thousands of articles about this topic online. The Still has a great article on how to propogate plants. My personal favorite method is water propagation, becuase you get to see the roots grow and flourish, I think it’s beautiful!
So, do a little research, learn all about propagation, then go for a walk! See what plants you have in your community that you might be able to steal cuttings from! Just don’t go on anyone’s private property, that might get you in trouble. Parks are a great place to look!
15. Create an Art Journal
I love being creative. Whenever I am struggling with something to do when bored, I immediately go to my various creative persuits, one of which is art journaling!
There are so many benefits to art journaling, from activating the right side of your brain to expressing your thoughts and feelings through art. Plus, it’s just fun.
And it can be cheap too, you don’t need a bunch of fancy art supplies! A lot of the materials you might have laying around your house like an empty notebook, some glue, and some old magazines. You can also check out places like Dollar Tree and Dollar General. They often have art supplies for very cheap! From there you can go wild, and start creating something that is both beautiful and also sometimes therapeutic.
I know often times, it feels like stepping outside of your house is incredibly expensive, and it can be! However, with some planning and this list of ideas for free and cheap activities, you can still enjoy your free time while while trying to save money!
What kind of cheap and free activities do you like to do? Let me know in the comments below!
