Times are tough these days. People are getting laid off and full time work is hard to come by, unfortunately. Most of us are just trying to make ends meet, but where does that leave us during our down time? We need some leisurely activities to partake in if we want to keep sane, but everything is so expensive today. Even if you don’t have a lot of money, it’s important you try to find some cheap or free things to do before life becomes stale and boring. This isn’t a guide to save money, but to help you find something, anything, for you to do when you don’t have any.
Lookup Your County
You’d be surprised how many events your county holds daily. All you have to do is Google the name of your county, and you’ll find its’ website. Browse around for a bit, and you will find a page dedicated to all the county’s happenings by date. I’ve gone to music festivals, fairs, and movies on the beach. I would’ve never known these types of events even existed if I hadn’t looked them up. The movies on the beach were in my own town and I had no idea! Add your county’s website to your favorites and look at it often because you never know what they’re going to add.
Casual Get-Togethers
A get together with friends is the one of the cheapest ways of having a good time. However, just hanging around someone’s house can get a little boring, too. This means you have to get creative. Last week I created an impromptu bonfire at my house. By telling my friends it was BYOB, I didn’t have to spend any money myself. I’m not telling you to mooch off friends, just return the favor next time they have something at their house. There are endless possibilities when spending time with friends: have a movie night, play video games, do something you can split the cost of like laser tag, or something cheap like mini golf. You don’t have to have a lot of money to spend quality time with your friends.
Bridal Expos
This summer I’ve been hitting up different bridal shows and wedding expos with my fiancé or my bridal party. There is usually no fee to get in, and all you have to do is register online. It’s like going to a small-scale reception. They offer free food and champagne, chances for prizes that go beyond just bridal gowns or accessories, and music and dancing. You don’t have to be engaged to enjoy one of these events. It’s fun to dress up for a fancy night out.
Sports
If you’re into sports like me, physical activities can be a really fun way to pass the time. You can get a group of people together to play a friendly game of football, or just a couple of people together to play a couple matches of tennis. Every summer my friends and I get together several times a week at our local park to play volleyball. It’s a fun way to pass the time and a great way to get a little exercise!
Hit the Beach
Summer is almost over, but it’s bound to be nice out for a little while longer. The beauty of the beach is that it’s free. It gives you a chance to work on your end-of-summer tan and take a swim. Bring your own food and drinks in a cooler, and an umbrella, and you can make a whole day out of it. Like I said before, sometimes beaches will offer free movies and concerts at night so you can turn your day trip to the beach into a night time event as well.
Host a Poker Game
Invite some friends over to play poker and make the buy-in cheap. Poker can last for hours. Just put out some snacks you have around the house and you’ve got yourself a game. Put something on the television that everyone will agree on, and those who get bumped out of the tournament have something to do. Poker is a fun game to play, and you might get lucky and win a little extra cash.
Hopefully these ideas will help you find something new to do, or maybe spark some ideas of your own. They’re better alternatives than the usual window shopping, or sitting inside and watching TV all day. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and most importantly have fun!
