Having Fun on the Cheap

Here at SQ, we like to have fun. Who doesn’t? But having fun is sometimes better when it doesn’t cost anything. We’ve all had those days of nothing to do, nowhere to be, and no money to spend. It can be a downer. But with a little creativity and a certain amount of curiosity, you can find so many fun things to do without spending any money, you might just never spend on an outing again!

1. Check Your Neighborhood/Community Schedule – Calendars of events and local schedules are often posted online, in newspapers, or even on the radio. You could be missing out on tons of local events! Many churches have events, as well as town parades, local festivals, trivia nights, and more.
2. Learn Something New – Learning is a great way to keep yourself entertained and lighthearted, and studies even show that using your brain can stave off Alzheimer’s. Learning is also a great conversation starter – “Hey, did you hear that the letter ‘a’ is vowel?” Your friends will totally think you’re a genius. Most new topics, like cultural revolutions, beauty tutorials, and more are posted online, so dive in!
3. Host a Girls’ Night In – Call up your best girlfriends and have a DIY spa night. Break out the nail polish, chick flicks, and fuzzy PJs. Maybe even some popcorn! For some awesome movie night recipes, go here!
4. Do something intellectual – Read that book that’s been sitting on your shelf, catch up on that scientific study, grab a camera and head outside, paint a picture, write a poem – whatever inspires you. Take some time to let your creativity fly.
5. Volunteer – You’d be amazed how at how good it feels to help other people. Good karma for nothing? Yes, please! Head down to the local soup kitchen, donate to a charity, or offer to volunteer at a nursing home. You’ll surprise yourself by having fun, helping out, and feeling awesome.
6. Get childish – Grab a coloring book, play with finger paints, build a fort, go outside and play basketball, race go-karts – whatever activity reminds you of your childhood, do it! Bonus points if you complete the activity with a kid of your own (you still get the points if you’re a babysitter).

I hope you enjoy these tips on doing fun things for free – after all, we could all use a little saving now and again. If you’d like more ideas, check out this site.