Three Ways You Have Fun on the Cheap
Posted on April 08th, 2009 in Frugality
Idaho Old Penitentiary
Frugal folks know that fun doesn’t have to be expensive. I actually had a ton of fun last weekend without spending a dime. (Blame it on my weed-pulling obsession!) So as we head into a beautiful spring weekend, I’d love to hear your suggestions for having fun without draining the wallet.
Here’s what I love:
1. Board games (or vintage video games) and a cheap bottle of wine
2. Playing hide-and-seek with a willing dog
3. Exploring any historic attractions in the area (We found an old penitentiary completely fascinating. $5 for a few hours of sight-seeing and a handful of goosebumps.)
What about you? What are your favorite budget activities? Please dive into the comments and share!
photo credit: markhillary
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Tags: Three Things
This post has 17 comments
April 8th, 2009
We found this game called Left, Right, Center, which you can purchase for $5 or so. Part of the fun is, just when you think you are out of the game, you get pulled back in because someone to the left or right of you has to give you their chips if they roll an L or R. Our kids love it and we’ve spent hours playing it, definitely getting our money’s worth. It’s a relatively short game so we can pull it out before dinner or bed for a bit of fun.
http://www.amazon.com/Left-Center-Right-Dice-Game/dp/B000F9YDKY
Christopher Laneys last blog post..Don’t Look Back
April 8th, 2009
My wife and I go to yard sales and flea markets just about every Saturday.
First we get the breakfast buffet at the casino for $4.95 each, hit the yard sales and flea markets mapped out Friday night from the newspaper and craigslist, then the local library to return and pick up more books, dvds, etc., and on to Costco for hot dogs and soda for $1.50 each.
A fun and cheap way to spend a Saturday morning.
Steve Costellos last blog post..BRCS Webmail / Screentoaster
April 8th, 2009
Going for a family walk.
Hubby and I have gotten into Sequence.
I love me some Mario Kart on Nintendo64
Nicki at Domestic Centss last blog post..Frugality Builds Character
April 8th, 2009
Going to the park with the kids.
Going to the library to pick up some great books and some videos and books on tape.
Playing tennis on the elementary school tennis court in the evenings.
Taking a walk.
Playing Blockus (a really fun board game).
I have done all of these with my kids and husband in the last two weeks. It has been loads of fun and we did not spend any money, except I guess for gas when we drove somewhere.
Taylor at Household Management 101s last blog post..Apr 8, Uses For Vinegar – What Vinegar Can And Cannot Do Around Your Home
April 8th, 2009
Playing with my cat
Sharing a DVD, bottle of wine and many laughs with friends
Being invited round to a friend’s place for dinner! Of course, this has to be reciprocated, but that can be done for less than my share of the bill for dinner in a restauant, and when you do the rounds as a group you only have to be the host once every dozen or so dinners. Always good fun : )
Hildas last blog post..Lessons learned from Adversity
April 8th, 2009
Steve, I wholeheartedly believe that Costco dogs are one of life’s true pleasures.
April 8th, 2009
Oooh, I LOVE board games (but, for some reason, can never find anyone who is willing to play). Here are some other ideas for cheap fun: check out a free museum, people-watch in a well-populated area, go to a local play or comedy show (usually pretty cheap), invite friends over for dinner and create something using ingredients you already have, and, of course, start a blog.
Positively Presents last blog post..getting to know you
April 8th, 2009
our city’s primary museum (slam.org) is free all of the time, except for special exhibits, but on friday evenings, even those are free — and we pounce!
besides the costco hot dogs, there are those free samples throughout the store, which can add up to a small meal it seems.
we watch an on-demand movie, instead of paying 3-4 times as much for the theatre.
April 8th, 2009
We live about 40 minutes away from the beach. Driving there is so much fun and doesn’t cost much. Once we get there, I run to the water and jump in. Of course, I recommend doing this when the water is warm but if you do it when it is cold, you sure do wake up!
Then at the boardwalk by the beach, there is one store that sells the best fudge in the world and it costs under 10 dollars. So for me, my favorite budget activities would be the beach and fudge!
Nadia – Happy Lotuss last blog post..Pain, Suffering and The Theory of Relativity (Happy Lotus Style)
April 8th, 2009
Another vote for the library. Lots of good books, dvds. etc for free.
Going for a walk or bike ride.
Watching a movie with friends. Sometimes a bad movie where you can all make fun of it is a kick (a bottle of wine or a couple of beers helps).
April 8th, 2009
GREAT ideas. Getting friends together for a potluck is also fun, as are movie nights. And in the winter, tobogganing is a must! (Fires in the park are the summertime equivalent, hehe)
Sagans last blog post..Interpretations of Marketing Strategies: The Evolution of Advertising
April 8th, 2009
Board Games!
Reading
Knitting
Slinkys last blog post..It’s official!
April 8th, 2009
It’s too bad museums are so expensive now – when I was a kid they were very affordable…now? Not so much (unless you are in Washington, DC).
Going to the park is great or walks in the woods. Board games absolutely. I scour the alt-weekly paper in my area every week for events going on.
Christophers last blog post..Toddler Caught by Two Men After 40-Foot Fall from Window
April 8th, 2009
Pre-kids, my husband and I loved going out for cheap diner breakfasts. You can get a meal and coffee for around $5, and usually get a good chance to people watch at the same time.
Now we will often go out for dessert instead of a full meal, or take the kids to 7-11 for 5 cent candies — they still feel like they’re doing something special, but it doesn’t cost us a lot.
I second the library, renting videos with friends, walks, picnics, parks and semi-planned potlucks.
jills last blog post..Stash Sunday
April 8th, 2009
We like to take the kids roller skating on Tuesday which is Dollar night. We also love to go to the park or library — both free.
Veronicas last blog post..Travel Gadgets for the Whole Family
April 9th, 2009
We go to different parks in the area instead of always going to the nearest one.
We go to a pond nearby and feed the ducks all our leftover breads.
We have an outdoor mall with a stream and some walking paths and I like the combo of nature trail/window shopping!
Riding bikes and taking walks in the neighborhood.
Notice all this involves nice weather? Oh how I love spring!
Wendys last blog post..Two months till swimsuit season…
October 1st, 2009
Watching TV I taped during the week; having friends over for dinner; baking muffins and making soup; social networking; going for walks in botanic gardens.
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