24 Free Activities To Do When Cash Is Tight

Don't Want To Spend Your Cold Hard Cash? Try One Of These...

If you're looking for activities to fill your time, but are strapped for cash, these 24 items are sure to give you some ideas. Being cheap doesn't have to be boring!

Things to do while out and about:

1. Visit a local museum. Art museums often have amazing grounds to explore.
2. Visit the library. They still exist. And they are better than you remember.
3. Take a walk. And not with iTunes, Spotify, or Pandora blaring. Get to know your area.
4. Exercise. You’ll feel better and get healthy. Skip the gym and find somewhere outdoors.
5. Find the most beautiful place within 100 miles and go there. Explore it. Or, just find a bench and take in the view.
6. Make time for romance. Maybe it is time to get back in the saddle again!
7. Find a heavily trafficked spot and people watch. Reality TV has nothing on an hour of people watching.
8. Go to a high school sporting event. Some sports don’t cost a dime.
9. Get a second job. The only thing better than saving money is making money. Find a part-time job you enjoy with people you enjoy.

Things to do at home:

1. Read a book. Start with a classic like *Catch 22* or *Great Gatsby*.
2. Clean your house. There’s never a bad time to check it off the list.
3. Write. Anything. It doesn’t have to be the next great American novel, and no one else has to read it. But putting your thoughts on paper can change your life.
4. Clean out your email box. It’s time to get organized.
5. Find your next hobby . . . learn a new language, learn to sew, start a garden, or even take up a sport.
6. Experiment in the kitchen. Use all those ingredients that got shoved to the back of the pantry.
7. Sell something! We all have something that we no longer want or need... Craigslist (it’s free) and eBay can become a second income.
8. Host a game night or any kind of night. Play cards and board games. Make it a potluck to save money.

Things to do for others:

1. Spend time with a friend. In person! Sometimes we all need someone to talk to!
2. Volunteer. There are hundreds of opportunities daily to make a difference. Today’s the day.
3. Bake! Take those baked goods to a shelter or blood donation center.

Things to Ponder:

1. What brings you joy?
2. What can I do to bring joy to others?
3. What do you wish that you would have known 10 years ago? 20 years ago? Can you help other people learn what you wish you would have known?
4. Which 3 items on the above list interest you?

All it takes is a little creativity to fill an afternoon with free, but still fun activities. Making an effort to lower your expenses one day at a time, will pay off in the long run.