Living in the city I realized it’s hard to have fun without spending money. This can be quite a downer when you’re on a budget. So in this blog post, I’d like to share some ideas for budget friendly activities.
Explore Your City
If you live in a big city chances are you haven’t been to every part of it. There’s probably different districts, parks and walking routes you can explore for free. Many cities also offer free attractions such as one day in the month where museum tickets are free, scenic walks or public events like free concerts. I recommend spending some time researching what your city offers so you can have nice day trips for free.
Podcast Walks
This one may sound a bit weird but hear me out. Finding a podcast you like and listening to an episode a day while you’re walking is not only fun but also beneficial for your health. Time flies by when the podcast is good and the walking makes you feel good. I can recommend the Choose FI Podcast if you’re into the FIRE movement.
Picnic With Friends
This one is one of my favourites in the summer. You can bring snacks that you prepared at home like fruit salads, sandwiches or energy balls. This way you don’t have to spend money before at the grocery store. When everybody brings something, suddenly you have a whole buffet of nice food. Chatting and enjoying the sun while sitting in the cool grass is certainly a fun way to spend an afternoon.
Use Free Resources
Some of the most inspiring books I read were random finds from the library. Many libraries are completely free, some charge a small fee per year. Going to the library feels like shopping in a gigantic book store; you get the same hit from checking out your books than you’d get from buying them. If you’ve never used your public library, I can only recommend you try it out and find some good reads.
Another great option for free books is the little free libraries some cities or towns have. These are small bookstands where you can drop off and take books. Exchanging books this way with your neighbours is both exciting and fun.
My city has a rather rich area close to where I live. Almost every time I walk through there, I see free things on the street that people give away. I’ve seen furniture, decoration, flower pots, books, kitchenware… the list goes on. Walking in that neighbourhood is pretty fun, almost like a treasure hunt. Maybe look up which areas in your city are more affluent and see if you can find some treasures!