50 Frugal Fun Activity Ideas for a Bored Weekend

Entertainment costs typically tend to be where a lot of money is spent, almost unknowingly. Movies, dinners and activities all add up quickly.

Being resourceful becomes an art form when it comes to frugal living and you’ve got to be creative in terms of finding ways to save and have fun.

So, to help you out when you are bored-silly on a Saturday, or any other day for that matter, here are some frugal living tips for some cheap fun:

Act Like a Tourist

1. Go to your local Chamber of Commerce or Visitor’s Center and find out about all the free stuff to do in your town. Most cities have complete brochures on fun, free things to do.
2. Go online and check out the same Chamber or Visitor Center resources.
3. Go to a local museum.
4. Check out your city-center or downtown area.
5. Visit the historical sites in your town. Most people know very little about the history of the town they live in.
6. Take a ride on public transportation. You see things differently when you are not driving.
7. Visit a state park.

Get Out and Play

8. Start a neighborhood game of kickball (it’s making a huge comeback).
9. Take a walk around a new part of the neighborhood.
10. Walk your dog.
11. Go to a local park.
12. Find one of the local rails-to-trails areas in your town and explore your area by bike.
13. Go roller-skating.
14. Take the family ice skating.
15. Go fishing either for the sport of it (catch and release)e or heck, catch your dinner.
16. Go for a bike ride in your neighborhood.
17. Have a picnic. Bonus points if you hike to the top of a mountain for a nice view.
18. Go bird watching.
19. Hike through the woods.
20. Go nature-watching.
21. Go to the beach.
22. Watch a sunset.

Volunteer

23. Whether it’s Habitat for Humanity or the Humane Society (two of my personal favorites), find a non-profit that you are passionate about and get involved. There are all sorts of local charities in need, especially given the current economic state with reduced donations. It’s a great family thing to do together. It teaches responsibility and allows you to embrace the feeling that doing good … feels good.

Nest Inside Your Home

24. Play “Design on a Dime” and change up a room in your home – swap out towels, placemats, flower vases, etc. and recreate a room with stuff you already have.
25. Bake something – cookies, a cake or a pie.
26. Make crafts that can later be given as holiday gifts.
27. Create a home movie or write a song.
28. Make sock puppets.
29. Have your kids put on a play.
30. Write a letter to a friend or family member (preserve the lost art of hand-written notes).
31. Plant an indoor herb garden.
32. Plan an indoor picnic if the weather is lousy – complete with the blanket on the floor.
33. Scrapbook.
34. Play board games.
35. Put a puzzle together.
36. Make a pine cone and peanut butter bird feeder.

Chill Out and Relax

37. Listen to music.
38. Plan an at-home spa day.
39. Rent a $1.00 movie at BlockBuster Express or Redbox.
40. Read a book or magazine.
41. Take a nap.

Play on the Computer

42. Find free games to play online.
43. Connect with friends on Facebook.
44. Reconnect with an old friend and send them an email.
45. Catch up on your favorite TV shows online.

Other Frugal Fun

46. Find a $1.00 movie theater.
47. Pile up in the car and go for a ride in the country
48. Go to a drive-in movie theater (yes, they do still exist).
49. Go to the library.
50. Power walk through the mall if it’s cold outside (leave your wallet in the car).

Bonus Frugal Activities

51. Start a side hustle that pays your extra bills.
52. Learn how to create passive income.

Sure, these last two may not be classic examples of having fun. Although, you might find that making some extra money is fun and brings you some extra joy.

Having fun doesn’t have to break the bank and cost a lot of money. There are a ton of activities that you can do for free or very cheap. Figure out what makes you happy and then see if there is a way to do it cheaply.