Takeaways
- Spending fasts can jolt you into finding new ways to spend time and money.
- Americans spend an average of $3,658 annually on entertainment.
- Cutting non-essential expenses can give you a surplus of cash.
- Budgets like the 50/30/20 budget set guardrails on how much to spend monthly.
- Reducing spending can free up discretionary income to accomplish high-impact financial goals.
Detoxing from constantly spending money can be challenging at first. Whether you are starting a 30-day no-spending challenge or want to curb overspending, it can feel like you always need to swipe your credit card to have fun. But once you get the hang of where to look for free things to do, there are countless opportunities to have fun for free, save money, and explore.
- $3,658 is the average annual amount Americans spend on entertainment. [1]
Pressing pause on spending can be a fun and rewarding experience. It’s all about finding fun, free, or cheap alternatives to your current lifestyle. Let’s explore where to get started.
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15 Free Things to Do
To stay on budget or keep yourself within spending parameters, here are 15 free things to do to keep yourself entertained:
1. Read a Book
Getting absorbed into an excellent nonfiction novel or devouring a fiction book can be a fantastic use of time. Not only does reading work your cognitive functions, but it can also let you escape for free.
You can pick up a used book at a local bookstore, use your Amazon Prime Membership to order a book on the cheap or borrow a book from a friend. Reading a fun book can take up the time you would otherwise be shopping or spending money.
2. Host a Picnic
Whether you are dining inside or outside, you can throw a picnic by yourself or with friends and family. All you need to pack is a fun meal, a blanket, and beverages. You can head to your local park or camping grounds.
You can search for local parks with playsets and slides if you have a family. To break the monotony of focusing on savings, you can even have a picnic in your backyard or on your kitchen floor. Breaking up your routine is what makes this activity fun and cheap.
Read Also: 10 Easy Steps to Create a Meal Plan
3. Explore Local Museums
In almost every city, there are local museums honoring local heroes, like congressmen and women. You can usually find art museums too. The good news is that most of these are entirely free to attend. You can spend the day getting lost in a museum with friends or by yourself.
4. Volunteer
Countless nonprofit organizations that specialize in helping local communities. These organizations range from cleaning up public parks to servicing soup kitchens. Check out organizations like Habitat for Humanity, which can always use a willing hand.
Research shows that volunteering is not only good for your wallet and boosts physical and mental health.[2]
5. Start a Business
While starting a business might not seem like the most apparent use of time, you can start your own sole proprietorship or freelancing business for virtually no cost at all.
Pick something that you are passionate about and get to work. This could be writing about your favorite topic on a new blog, using your marketing talents to consult, or tutoring students.
Read More: 10 Popular Freelance Jobs
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6. Walk Your Neighborhood
Walking can be a great way to start your day, take a much-needed break, or explore a new neighborhood. You can pop in your Airpods and crank up your favorite new album or podcast. Plus, you don’t need to pay for music; you can always download free apps like Spotify to get access to music, news, and podcast thrillers.
Grabbing your sneakers for a quick walk is an excellent use of time. Not only is it perfect for a mental reset, but it’s also free.
7. Go Camping
Pack some gear and head out to free campgrounds. You can find state and local campsites that only cost a nominal fee. If you don’t feel like packing up your car and heading out into the great outdoors, you can always opt for a night under the stars on your rooftop or in your backyard.
8. Exercise
You don’t need to sign up for a fancy gym to workout. You can focus on working out at the local recreation center or opt for bodyweight exercises like sit-ups, push-ups, and pull-ups. You can also head to a local high school track and field for speed work.
9. Create Art
Distracting yourself by getting into artistic flow is a fantastic way to spend a free afternoon (or days). You can get lost in water coloring, trying to craft the next vase for your living room table, or building that side table you have always wanted.
Whether your work of art will be your next centerpiece or simply a cathartic outlet, flexing your artistic muscles unleashes inner creativity.
10. Launch a Garage Sale
Making money while you are enjoying free time is a win-win situation. If you need to avoid spending money, you can focus on making money by selling unused or unneeded items in your home or apartment.
Ideal items for a garage sale include technology or gadgets you don’t use anymore. If you don’t want to host an in-person garage sale, you can use places like Facebook Marketplace or Craig’s List to list your items in a virtual garage sale.
Read Also: 12 Ideas to Make Money in One Hour
11. Create a Music Playlist
Music is a constant well of free entertainment. You can write music, play music, or create music playlists. You might need to create playlists for your morning workout, afternoon journaling session, or upcoming road trip. Music streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music have made it super easy to curate playlists for any occasion.
12. Play a Board Game
Head to the closet or game room and whip out your favorite board, puzzle, or card game. You can have hours of endless free fun with friends. By hosting friends and family over for “game night,” you can make a routine of this free play.
13. Visit Your Local Park
Getting outside is free for anyone. Head to your local park and take a stroll around the grounds. You can gawk at wildlife, enjoy people-watching, or contemplate everything going on in your life.
You can always walk with a spouse, friend, or coworker for some companionship. Walking spurs the creative mind, so if you are entrepreneurial, visit your local park to get your creative juices flowing.
14. Go to the Movies
While going to the movies isn’t free, it certainly can be cheap. If you don’t spend an enormous amount of money on popcorn and drinks, you can see re-runs or movies currently in theaters.
Matinee movies are cheaper than evening showings, so try going to these shows. For example, AMC offers a 25% discount to the evening shows.[3] Search for deals at your movie theater websites.
15. Cash in rewards points
Distracting yourself from spending money is a learned skill. You probably have accrued credit card reward points if you are a hypereffective credit card user. You can cash in these reward points to buy books, pay for movies, or get discounts.
While you aren’t spending money, you can make the most out of reward programs. Sign up to optimize your spending by tethering your budget to your highest reward areas.
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Smart Summary
Finding ways to enjoy free things while saving money can be the key to improving your personal finances. By not spending money, you free up more of your disposable income to tackle goals like paying off debt, saving an emergency fund, or investing in stocks. Periodically, getting a grip on your spending provides clarity and an opportunity to reevaluate your financial priorities.
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(1) Bureau of Labor Statistics. Consumer Expenditures—2023. Last Accessed April 1, 2025.
(2) Mayo Clinic. Helping people, changing lives: 3 health benefits of volunteering. Last Accessed April 1, 2025.
(3) AMC. Save Any Day with Discount Matinees. Last Accessed April 1, 2025.
