120+ Things to Do For Free to Save Money

When you’re trying to build your savings, you might focus on only purchasing the necessities and not leaving much room for fun. But cutting down your entertainment budget doesn’t have to be boring.

Below, we’ve compiled a list of 120+ things to do for free to keep you entertained while saving money. That way, you can enjoy your life without breaking the bank.

Table of contents:

Free things to do by yourself
Free things to do with friends
Free things to do as a couple
Free things to do with kids
Free things to do at home
Free things to do in town
Free things to do outside

Free things to do by yourself

Take a workout class: Work up a sweat at a group fitness class. Many studios offer a free trial for new clients.
Volunteer: Look for a cause you want to support and spend time giving back to your community, like volunteering at a food bank, cleaning up a local area, or building a home for someone in need.
Explore a museum: Some museums offer free admission indefinitely or on certain days of the week.
Visit a local library: Visit your local library and spend some time selecting a book or checking out other free resources.
Attend a free lecture: Many colleges and museums offer free lectures you can attend if you want to learn more about a particular topic.
Visit a local animal shelter: If you’re an animal lover, consider visiting your local shelter and spending time with the dogs, cats, and other animals in need. Some shelters even let you take a dog for a day outing.
Attend a free book reading: Many libraries and bookstores host free readings of an author’s book followed by a discussion.
Practice yoga: Many yoga studios offer a free introductory class for beginners.
Play with your pet: Spend some time walking, playing, or cuddling with your pet.

Free things to do with friends

Host a potluck: Ask each of your friends to bring a dish and enjoy each other’s company.
Play board games: Invite your pals over for a competitive night of board games.
Have a photoshoot: Dress up in your favorite outfits and take turns taking pictures of each other.
Attend a free concert: Listen to local musicians at a free live music event.
Host a clothing swap: Ask your friends to gather clothes they don’t wear anymore and swap pieces—everyone leaves with a brand-new wardrobe for free!
Have a karaoke night: Sing your favorite songs using a karaoke machine or by following along to a YouTube video.
Host a trivia night: Find free trivia questions on the web and test your knowledge. You can even choose a theme like sports or food.
Attend a cultural festival: Find a free event in your area and grow your appreciation for different cultures.
Host a DIY paint night: Use your creativity to paint beautiful works of art. You can even make homemade paint using flour, water, and food coloring.
Start a book club: Read a book together and discuss your thoughts.
Host a talent show: Gather your friends and take turns showcasing your unique (or silly) talents.
Have a themed dance party: Choose a theme like country or rock and roll and dance along to the music.
Create a shared playlist: Take turns adding your favorite songs to a shared playlist on Spotify or Apple Music.
Make scrapbooks: Print out photos and put together a scrapbook of your favorite memories.
Host a PowerPoint night: Have each person choose a topic they’re knowledgeable about and create a slideshow to present to the group.
Make homemade cocktails: Use ingredients you already have to create unique cocktail creations.
Play video games: Bring your favorite video games and enjoy a night of friendly competition.

Free things to do as a couple

Have a picnic: Lay out a blanket, open your picnic basket, and enjoy some quality time together outside.
Take a scenic drive: Drive along the countryside and admire the beautiful views.
Build a blanket fort: Use couch cushions and blankets to create a fort in your living room.
Create a relationship time capsule: Gather mementos from your relationship, like concert tickets, letters, pictures, and dried flowers, and put them in a container. Set a date to open the time capsule in the future.
Have a cooking competition: Create a fun cooking competition using ingredients you already have in your pantry.
Make a relationship bucket list: Write down a list of things you would like to experience or achieve together.
Tour open houses: Whether you’re looking to buy a house or not, touring houses for sale can be a fun activity.
Make a DIY charcuterie board: Create a charcuterie board out of meats, cheeses, and fruit you already have in your refrigerator.
Look through old yearbooks: Break your old yearbooks out of storage and spend time learning what your significant other was like in high school.
Find a beautiful view: Find a scenic view near you, whether it’s on top of a parking garage or overlooking an airport. Bonus points if you go for sunrise or sunset!
Plan your dream trip: Create an itinerary of a trip you’d like to take one day.
Go to a drive-in movie: Find a park or community center playing a free drive-in or outdoor movie. Don’t forget to bring your own popcorn and snacks.
Play chess: Challenge your partner to a game of chess.
Learn a ballroom dance: Look up a tutorial online and follow along to learn a ballroom dance.

Free things to do with kids

Visit a playground: Enjoy the fresh air and let your kids play on the equipment.
Play in a local fountain: Many cities and towns have interactive fountains that children can play in for free.
Write letters to family members: Let your kids channel their creativity and write heartfelt cards. Your family and friends are sure to treasure them!
Make homemade playdough: Mix cornstarch, baking soda, and water to make DIY playdough.
Visit a local fire station: See if your local fire station offers tours for children. This is a fun and engaging way to get your kids familiar with fire safety.
Do a science experiment: Find a science experiment online you can do with materials you already have and conduct them with your kids.
Play charades: Divide into teams and act out words that your team members have to guess.
Have a living room camping adventure: Turn off the lights, grab a flashlight, and pitch a tent in your living room for a makeshift camping adventure.
Play dress-up: Try on different outfits and act out your kid’s favorite characters.
Create a sensory bin: Fill a bin with interesting items like rice, sand, small toys, cotton balls, and other things for your child to interact with.
Make cards to send to a children’s hospital: Write and decorate cards with your children and drop them off at your local children’s hospital.
Paint rocks: Look for rocks outside with your kids and then paint them for a free craft.
Play outside with a hose: Utilize your hose on a hot day and play water limbo or tag.
Visit a children’s museum: Many children’s museums offer free admission on certain days of the week.
Play hide-and-seek: Take turns hiding and seeking with your kids.
Make paper airplanes: Look up a tutorial for creating paper airplanes and then see who can fly theirs the farthest.
Go on a treasure hunt: Make a route around your home or backyard and hide clues along the way.
Teach your children the basics of cooking: Make a meal and let your children practice basic tasks like measuring ingredients.
Create a homemade obstacle course: Use hula hoops, pool noodles, and parking cones to create a DIY obstacle course in your backyard. Take turns racing through and recording your times for a fun competition.
Throw a ball around: Take turns passing a ball or playing keep away.

Free things to do at home

Read a book: Pick up a book you’ve been meaning to read and dive into the story.
Watch a movie: Put on your favorite movie or watch one you haven’t seen before.
Cook a meal: Whip up a new dish using ingredients you already have at home. Check Pinterest or cooking blogs for inspiration.
Complete an online certification: Complete a free course and earn a certification. Choose a course related to your career, a hobby, or any topic that interests you.
Make a craft: Get creative and repurpose something you already own into a fun craft. For example, you could tie-dye a T-shirt or turn old candle vessels into flower pots.
Write out your goals: Spend some time reflecting on your life and set personal or financial goals for the future.
Have a yard sale: Gather some of your belongings you no longer need and host a yard sale.
Journal: Write down your thoughts, feelings, and ideas in a journal.
Bake a dessert: Experiment in the kitchen and whip up a delectable dessert.
Spruce up your home: Vacuum the floors, dust surfaces, rearrange furniture, and light a candle to breathe new life into your home.
Listen to music: Create a playlist of your all-time favorite songs or explore a different genre.
Create a vision board: Cut out magazine clippings or print out pictures to create a vision board of what you want your future to look like.
Start learning a new language: Download a free language learning app or watch videos online to learn key phrases in a new language.
Meditate: Look up a guided meditation online and follow along.
Listen to a podcast: Stream a podcast on a topic that interests you. There are podcasts on a wide variety of topics, from personal finance to pop culture.
Visit a virtual museum: Certain museums across the world let you virtually tour exhibits for free.
Try a home workout: Find a home workout on YouTube and follow along.
Have a DIY spa day: Take a bath, light a candle, apply a face mask, and enjoy some rest and relaxation.
Work on a puzzle: Exercise your mind with a puzzle you have at home or try to solve a free one online.
Watch TEDx Talks: Discover motivational TEDx Talks on YouTube.
Organize your closet: Sort, fold, and hang your clothes in a methodical way that works for you.
Video chat with out-of-town relatives: Take advantage of free video conferencing platforms and engage in some (virtual) face-to-face time with loved ones.
Start a blog: Create a blog and write about your life or a hobby. Who knows—you could even end up earning passive income from it.
Write a gratitude list: Create a list of all the things and people you’re grateful for in your life.
Write a song: Follow a tune and write out lyrics to a song.
Create a budget: Use a free template to make a monthly budget.
Try an adult coloring book: Unleash your creativity with an adult coloring book or print out free coloring pages online.
Practice calligraphy: Grab a pen and a piece of paper and practice different calligraphy techniques.

Free things to do in town

Visit a historic site: Learn about the local history of your area and see where it all took place.
Go for an art walk: Find an art walk tour online and appreciate the work of local artists.
Explore a local university’s campus: Stroll through a local college campus and admire the architecture or visit the library.
Window shop: Browse the window displays of shops and boutiques around town—just try not to whip out your credit card.
Attend a free wine or beer tasting: Some breweries and wineries offer complimentary tastings.
Visit a local community center: Participate in free recreational or social activities.
Attend a free comedy show: Some bars and restaurants host open mic events that are free to attend.
Go to a grand opening: Support a new local business and attend the grand opening event.
Explore a new neighborhood: Stroll through a neighborhood you’ve never been to and take in the sights and sounds.
Go people watching: Sit in a busy area and observe the crowds of people.
Visit a different town: If you already know your town like the back of your hand, why not explore a neighboring town or city?
Join a running group: Many cities have running clubs that hold weekly events where you can meet new people while exercising.
Take a self-guided architecture tour: Look up a local architecture tour online and follow along to learn about the different styles.
Explore a public garden: Many towns have free public gardens to stroll through on a nice day.

Free things to do outside

Go for a hike: Enjoy the health benefits of hiking while taking in the beauty of nature.
Walk around a park: Take a stroll around a nearby park and enjoy breathing in the fresh air.
Visit the beach or lakeshore: Spend time swimming, lying in the sand, and searching for seashells at your local beach or lakeshore.
Play a sport: Whether it’s tennis, football, or soccer, go outside and get moving with friends or family.
Ride a bike: Ride around your neighborhood or local trails and enjoy the fresh air while getting some exercise in.
Go camping: Do your research and find a free campsite near you. Pitch a tent, bring ingredients for s’mores, and enjoy a relaxing night in nature.
Fly a kite: Gaze up into the sky and watch your kite soar in the wind. You can even make your own kite out of materials you likely already have at home.
Play Frisbee: Go to a spacious park and toss the Frisbee back and forth with a friend or family member.
Watch the sunset or sunrise: Watch the colors form in the sky as you take in the beautiful view.
Visit a local farmers market: Stroll through a local farmers market and browse the seasonal produce.
Go fishing: Cast a line and enjoy a peaceful day on the water—bonus if you catch dinner.
Visit a local farm: Find a farm near you that offers a free tour where you can learn about agriculture and meet animals.
Take a nature photography walk: Practice your photography skills by taking pictures of the flora and fauna in your area.
Go birdwatching: Use a free bird identification guide online and observe different species in your area.
Have a bonfire: Gather around the fire with friends or family, tell stories, and roast marshmallows.
Go stargazing: Put a blanket down, gaze up at the stars, and try to identify constellations.
Explore a local skate park: Head to a skate park and watch local skaters practice their tricks.
Float in a river: Bring an inner tube and enjoy floating down the river. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen!
Visit a community pool: Some neighborhoods and apartment buildings have free pools where you can swim and soak up the sun.

Opting for these free activities over expensive entertainment can help you build up your savings in no time. And here’s one more free thing you can do: Check your credit score. Your credit score is a number that indicates your credit risk, and maintaining a good credit score can save you money in the long run.

Check your credit score for free today to see where you’re at.