75 Free Things To Do This Weekend

If you’re anything like me, you might tend to spend a majority of your money over the weekend. Why? Because most people like to have fun, relax, catch up with loved ones during the weekend etc.

However, one of the best ways to get your finances back on track is to commit to having a no spend weekend to reset your spending habits.

I’ve talked about having a no spend week before, and a no spend weekend is not much different. You simply set your guidelines by determining the necessary things you will spend money on like groceries, bills or gas, and avoid spending money on anything else.

Think you can’t have fun on the weekend because you won’t be spending money? Guess again. Here are 75 fun and free things to do this weekend broken down by category.

At Home

1. Listen to podcasts
2. Teach yourself a new skill. – Watch some YouTube tutorials and figure out ways to create something or cook/bake something. You might even want to give that old instrument that’s been lying around in your house a try.
3. Join a fantasy sports league.
4. Make a list of all your favorite movies, then binge watch them at home. -Not the most productive on this list of free things to do this weekend, but sometimes you just need to decompress and relax during the weekend.
5. Have a yard sale. – This is a great way to make money instead of spending it!
6. Play video games.
7. Utilize free online tools to practice learning a new language.
8. Read a good book.
9. Start planning a vacation or staycation.
10. Call out-of-town family members to catch up via Skype or Face Time.
11. Paint or draw.

12. Start a scrapbook. – You can also create one online so you won’t be tempted to spend money on supplies.
13. Give yourself an at-home spa day.
14. Build a bonfire outside and roast marshmallows.
15. Learn to cook or bake something from scratch. – Start with an easy recipe like homemade bread.

Related: 4 Delicious and Cheap Recipes to Make in the Fall
16. Play games online.
17. Start a blog. – This can literally take all day but it’s so fun to create something of your own.

Bonus Idea: Learn how to start a blog that makes money with my new free course!
18. Start a DIY project. – Refinish some furniture or create some decorations.
19. Plant a garden.
20. Exercise.

Outside of the Home

21. Watch or play community sports. – See if you can get a group of friends together to play a gam of basketball or volleyball, or you can watch a free game in your neighborhood.
22. Go visit with your neighbors.
23. Visit historical attractions in your town and practices your photography skills.
24. Visit a free museum.
25. Visit a free zoo.
26. Take a walk or go or a jog.
27. Take your pet to a Frisbee park.
28. Ride your bike.
29. Visit a national park to hike.
30. Volunteer at an organization.
31. People watch.
32. Organize a tour of your neighborhood and pack a sack lunch.
33. Volunteer at your church or hang out after service to talk to new people.
34. Attend a free craft class at your local Michael’s store.
35. Join a local meetup.
36. Visit a soft opening of a new restaurant. A lot of brand new restaurants serve free food to the public for one 37. day as a practice round when they first open up.
38. Go to the store around lunchtime and try free samples.
39. Camp out for the weekend at a local campground. Borrow any extra supplies that you may need and bring food and snacks from your pantry.
40. Walk other people’s dogs for cash.

With Others

41. Play board games.
42. Cook a meal and invite your friends over.
43. Go fishing.
44. Have a lunch picnic in a park or your backyard.
45. Play card games.
46. Have a karaoke night at your house.
47. Go canoeing, kayaking or paddle boarding. If you don’t have a friend with any of these items that you can borrow, see if there are any free lessons in your area. We take a free kayaking or canoeing class every year.
48. Attend a free festival in your neighborhood.
49. Go to the beach and collect lost items.
50. Go sledding in the winter.
51. Instead of going shopping, organize a closet swap with your friends.
52. Participate in any family activities at the library.
53. Go swimming at your community pool.
54. Join a book club.
55. Sign up for a free trial at your local fitness center.
56. Go to a concert in the park event.
57. Check out a movies in the park event.
58. Attend a holiday parade.
59. Stargaze.
60. Fly kites.
61. Let your kids put on a magic show for you.
62. Go outdoor ice skating.

With Kids

63. Decorate a shoe box and turn it into a time capsule and include some important memories that your children have at the time. It’s a fun way to freeze some unique memories and experiences so they can look back at it later. In 8th grade I made a time capsule at school and I still have it.
64. Finish a puzzle together.
65. In the winter, go outside and play in the snow or build a fort.
66. Organize a scavenger hunt. – I created a pirate-themed scavenger hunt for my son’s birthday celebration this year at our home and he loved it.
66. Take the kids to the park.
67. Build a fort and ‘camp’ indoors or tell stories inside.
68. Take your child to a free movie at the library.
69. Read stories and play games at the library.
70. See if you can visit the local fire station.
71. Take the kids to a free workshop at Home Depot.
72. Create a play.
73. Make cards for nursing home residents and drop them off.
74. Make bubbles or play dough at home.
75. Create an online storybook together on MyStorybook.com.

Some of these activities are quite productive while others are not but then again, it’s the weekend. If you usually have more free time during the weekend, it’s okay to relax and be non-productive; especially if it involves not spending any money. Keep this list in mind as you plan a no spend week or weekend to reset your finances, or just prefer to spend less money.

What free activities do you like to do?

My Favorite Resources

CapitalOne 360 – My favorite high-yield online savings account. Earn $25 when you open an account.

Survey Junkie – Earn money taking surveys online

Opinion Outpost – Another legit survey company I like. My husband uses this site to earn extra money we can spend on dining out

Airbnb – Whenever I’m traveling and don’t want to spend money on a hotel, I use Airbnb for a more authentic experience. You can also rent out spare rooms in your home to travelers on Airbnb too to earn some extra income #sidehustle