It’s easy to spend a lot of money on entertainment. I know that I can quickly slip into spending on fun. However, there are so many places to find free entertainment. It really doesn’t make sense to spend a lot when you can do so much for free! Here are our top ten places to places to find free entertainment:
1. Library
I am a huge fan of my local library. Yes, it’s a great place to borrow books for free. And yes, that’s great free entertainment. But they also offer so much more. You can borrow DVDs and music. Most libraries also offer classes, events, workshops, and more. In San Francisco, we can get free museum passes, attend film screenings, and hear authors speak. All for free.
2. Parks
Head to your local park and enjoy what it has to offer. In some cases, it might just be a swing set and a beautiful short walk. In other instances, you might have ball fields, gardens, outdoor concerts, and more. Challenge yourself to visit every park in your local area. They’re among the best places to find free entertainment.
3. Beaches
If you happen to live near the beach then don’t forget that they’re also among the best places to find free entertainment. Just walking along the sand is fun. Build sandcastles, play in the water, take photographs, collect shells, fly a kite, play a game of catch, run with the dog.
4. Your Own Backyard
If you have a yard then you don’t have to go far at all for free things to do. What outdoor items do you already own that you can entertain yourself with in the backyard? From reading a book in the sun to playing catch or tag with the kids, there’s a lot that you can do without leaving your own yard.
5. The Neighborhood Around You
Whether or not you have a yard, you might live in the kind of neighborhood that offers entertainment. Is it the kind of place where you can walk, bike, and skateboard down the sidewalks? Can kids get together from different houses to play tag under adult supervision? Do you have a few neighborhoods that would be thrilled to come together for a potluck dinner under the stars? You don’t have to look far to find the best places to find free entertainment. Most of them are right under your nose.
6. Check Your Own Cabinets and Shelves
In fact, you might not even need to go outside for some great entertainment. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the idea that everything fun is outside your front door. However, you already have so many things to do inside. Keep it simple. Check your cabinets, shelves, and drawers for fun, free family activities. Board games, craft projects, card games, art projects, science experiments, and cooking together are all great ways to pass the hours while bonding as a family.
7. Local Museums
Many cities have free local museums. If you’ve never checked out what’s in your area, then you might be surprised to discover the unique small places available there. Moreover, most museums offer free days for locals. Therefore, you can head to those museums on the free days for a day of entertainment and education.
8. Art Galleries and Open Studios
Where are the artists in your area? Some of them host open studios regularly. In other words, you can visit them, see what they’re working on, and maybe even learn a little bit about art. Additionally, art galleries have exhibits that are free to attend. In fact, many have free wine and snacks, too!
9. Free Online Classes
Learning something new is a great way to entertain yourself. There are so many free online classes these days that you don’t have to look far at all. From Coursera to YouTube clips, you can learn just about anything you want in a variety of formats for free online.
10. Meetups
The Simple Dollar has a great selection of ideas for free things to do. Right at the top, they remind us about local Meetups. Find the people who are doing free things that cater to your same interests. Meet new people, do fun things, and spend little or no money. It’s a win-win-win.
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Kathryn Vercillo is a professional writer with more than a decade of experience writing about healthy living and personal finance. She lives in San Francisco, where she has learned to maximize frugal living tips in order to thrive as a freelancer in one of the nation’s most expensive cities. When she’s not writing, she’s exploring the city on foot with her rescue dog. Learn more about her at www.kathrynvercillo.com. Kathryn also writes about saving money with coupons over at GroceryCouponGuide.com .