Day Four

Fun (and FREE) Ways to Enjoy Life Without Spending

Welcome to Day Four!

Ever feel like saving money means sitting at home staring at the wall? Yeah, no thanks.

The good news? Having fun doesn’t have to come with a price tag. Some of the best things in life really are free—like sunsets, library books, and watching your kids play with the box instead of the expensive toy that came in it.

Today, we’re ditching the idea that spending = happiness and diving into a goldmine of free (or dirt-cheap) ways to have fun, treat yourself, and make memories—without blowing your budget. Let’s get into it!!

Wait, You can Have Fun Without Spending?!

This is by far my favorite part of the challenge. I've always had a frugal mindset. I’ve never needed to spend money to have a good time. So when I started doing challenges like this (whether I wanted to or not, thanks to my bank account), I always found ways to have fun without breaking the bank.

Now, when I was still with my children's father, this whole "spending less, having more fun" idea was almost alien to him. He grew up with little money, like I had—but when he did have any (money), his mindset was all about spending it for himself. It was like, “Holy s**t, I can actually buy stuff now!”

I tried to show him that there’s more to life than retail therapy. How we could grab a book from the library, swing by McDonald's for ice cream, and hit a park for a perfect family day. But his mindset just wasn’t there. And, honestly, eight years later, I don’t think I ever got through to him. But, you know what? Good riddance. Now I have total control over showing my kids that you don’t need money to have a good time.

So, hopefully now I can show you the importance of having a good time without swiping your card.

How Do You Usually Have fun?

Let’s start with what you like to do for fun. Money or not. Make a list! The journal you’ve hopefully been keeping will be great for this as well. Write things you and your family or friends love doing on your down time or the weekends. Things like:

  • Movie Night Out

  • Dining Out

  • Amusement Parks

  • Spa Days

  • Shopping

  • Gym Memberships

  • Concerts or Sporting Events

All of these things have great free or low cost counter parts! Get your family involved in thinking of ideas that could be done at home or in your neighborhood. 

  • A Movie Night Out - Could turn into a drive through theater or movie night at home. Check if your town has summer movie nights. These are often free or very low cost and is a great way to meet some new people!

  • Dining Out - Could turn into meeting friends at the park for a picnic. Or trying a new drool worthy Pinterest recipe.

  • Going to Amusement Parks - Look to local events, fairs, festivals. Just like summer movie nights many cities offer free events all year round that offer tons of good fun for all ages.

  • Spa Days - Make your own experience at home! Invite your friends or keep it calm and solo. Experiment with DIY bath bombs, face masks, and aromatherapy. 

  • Gym Memberships - Have you heard of the great outdoors? Yeah that’s still a thing. And probably the best swap for the gym. Hit the trails at a local hiking area or take up yoga at home or at the park with friends!

  • Concerts or Sporting Events - find local community music. It may not be Green Day or Pierce the Veil (is my age showing?) But your city could have some really great free or low cost concerts during certain seasons. 

A co-worker I had once told me that she had a jar that her older kids and family members would write down on a little paper low cost things to do for fun, then every Sunday someone would pick out a paper from random and the family would participate in that activity! I thought that was such a cute idea and gets everyone involved in showing the whole family a good time.

If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas just look on Pinterest. I’m sure you’ll find hundreds of ideas. You won’t even have enough time!

Parents Fear Not

If you’re a parent, sometimes going out to have fun isn’t always an option. That's where open ended toys come into play. Maybe you just want  nice quiet time at home but your kids are bored out of their mind with the million toys they have. The problem is, they have too much. And too much stuff that all do the same or just one thing. 

Making the switch (slowly) to some high quality toys that they can play with all day long and not get bored is the golden ticket. 

Personally, we just got the Makedo set. Which are tools specifically made for working with cardboard. My 5 year old (and myself) loves working with these tools. It keeps us busy for hours (for free!) We can create anything we put our minds too (as long as we have enough cardboard). It builds his confidence and creativity as well as the capability to work as a team and problem solve. If you’re looking for a low cost way to keep your child entertained I highly recommend getting this set!

If you're wanting more ideas, I’ve got you. Check out this list and see if anything resonates with you.

Fun (and Free or Low-Cost) Activities

  • Outdoor Adventures

    • Hiking or nature walks

    • Beach day or lake trip (if you're near one)

    • Picnic in the park

    • Backyard stargazing

    • Bike rides around the neighborhood

  • At-Home Fun

    • Family game night (board games, card games, charades)

    • DIY movie marathon (complete with popcorn and homemade tickets!)

    • Arts and crafts projects with supplies on hand

    • Cooking or baking together

    • DIY spa night (face masks, baths, relaxation)

  • Cultural Fun

    • Visit free museums, galleries, or historical sites

    • Local library trips (storytimes, free workshops)

    • Virtual museum tours or online concerts

    • Attend free community events (fairs, markets, outdoor performances)

  • Socializing Without Spending

    • Potluck dinners or brunch with friends/family

    • Host a potluck-style playdate or picnic

    • Scavenger hunts around the neighborhood or park

    • Free local events (farmers’ markets, free festivals)

  • Learning & Creativity

    • Free online courses or YouTube tutorials to learn a new skill

    • Start a DIY home project or repurpose old furniture

    • Try out a new hobby (crochet, drawing, journaling)

    • Create vision boards or personal goal-setting sessions

  • Family & Kid-Friendly Fun

    • DIY obstacle course or scavenger hunt at home

    • Neighborhood walk or nature scavenger hunt for kids

    • Play with old toys in new ways (make-believe, building forts)

    • Have a "themed day" at home (pirates, space explorers, etc.)

    • Host a talent show with homemade tickets

Goal for the Day

Take this weekend to practice a no spend challenge. Plan ahead and research some fun free things to do in your area. Chat with your friends or kids about what they think could be free fun!

By making these simple shifts, you’ll be surprised at how much fun you can have without spending a dime (or at least not a lot of dimes).

Remember

It’s not about cutting out the joy in your life—it’s about getting creative and finding fulfillment in what’s already around you. The beauty of living frugally is realizing that the best memories don’t come with a hefty price tag. You don’t need to spend money to laugh, bond, or make amazing experiences. Now, take these ideas, get out there (or stay in!), and enjoy everything life has to offer without the stress of overspending. You’ve got this!

That’s it for day 4. You’re almost there! Financial freedom is just around the corner.

You can skip ahead to day 5, or go back to day 3 if you need to recap.