15 Activities for a no-spend weekend

We are headed into the biggest consumer season with the holidays coming up. Perhaps you’d like to save a bit of money in preparation for Christmas and Christmas presents, or perhaps you simply want a simpler life, one with less consumption. When I was little, going out and spending money was not something I thought I had to do to have a great weekend. In fact, majority of my fun when I was little was free. I spent the days riding bikes, or climbing trees, playing hide and seek with the neighbors, having water fights, or baking with my mom. It surprised me when I recently found myself wondering what fun I could have on a day off that didn’t involve money. I realized how I’d come to equate having a good day with consumption, and just how backwards this thinking is. Below are 15 activities to have a wonderful No-Spend weekend:

  1. Read a book with hot tea

  2. Take a hike

  3. Have a picnic

  4. Go to the beach (beach day!)

  5. Browse local art galleries (our local galleries are free)

  6. Movie night with movies from your local library

  7. Do some art or creative project

  8. Cook and enjoy a special brunch at home

  9. Bake something yummy

  10. Spend the day reading magazines at your local library

  11. Host dinner with friends

  12. Work a puzzle

  13. Play board games

  14. Tackle a fun Pinterest DIY project

  15. Go for a bike ride

There you have it. A no-spend weekend is a great challenge for yourself or the whole family. It calls on your mind to begin thinking like less of a consumer, to get creative, to simplify, and to enjoy all the simple pleasures that life has to offer. I plan on having a no-spend weekend before Christmas time as a reset button for all the wonderful gluttony that holidays bring. Hope you got some ideas for a no-spend weekend as well.