Cheap, Fun Activities with Friends
Thinking back on my childhood, so many of my memories revolve around spending time with my friends. Whether it was playing in the backyard with the neighbors, playing with my friends on the playground at school, or playing soccer with my teammates, so many of my memories center around the people I was spending the most time with. As kids, our friends usually consist of the people we see around us on a daily basis: our neighbors, our friends at school, friends from after-school activities like sports or clubs.
Even in college, my friends were the people I physically saw the most - my teammates, my roommates and my classmates. But after graduating college, my friends and I lamented how much harder it became to make plans and get together. I went to a small, liberal arts college so on any given Thursday or Friday night, you could go to the one local bar and be guaranteed to run into someone you know. Walking around campus, you often saw friends and classmates and could catch up, hang out or make plans spontaneously. That kind of spontaneity did not follow us into adult life. Now, with friends spread out over more cities and busier work schedules, we have to pencil-in time together months in advance. It becomes easy to excuse a $100 dinner out because you never see Melissa these days and she’s only in town for the weekend.
I’ve found that my social plans as an adult tend to revolve around food or beverages - a $50 lunch or, at the very least, an expensive cup of coffee at the local cafe. In middle school, my social plans with friends involved a Slurpee from 7-Eleven, a couple bags of candy and sitting in a friend’s basement talking.
Thinking back to that basement where I spent my early teen years, I realize that money was barely involved in how we spent our time (truthfully, sour gummy worms were a much more valuable currency than the dollar). With the limited budgets of twelve year olds, we spent a couple dollars on candies and then hours together talking, bonding and developing our friendships. The quality time we spent together made our friendships strong. Moving into adulthood, that truth never really changes. Catching up with an old friend has a unique way of filling your heart, but that feeling has very little to do with the monetary value of your plans.
Of course, there’s nothing inherently wrong with spending money while hanging out with friends. But I’ve found that with just a couple minutes of planning, I can find activities to do with friends that are both cheaper and more fun. Rather than planning drinks at a local bar, I may check for local festivals or free concerts in the park. Instead of lunch at a local restaurant, why not go for a hike and pack a picnic? There are tons of ways to spend time with the people you love in a way that is fun and budget-friendly.
Daytime activities
1.Check out local parks
With a quick internet search, you can likely find lots of local parks where you can walk, hike or picnic. Getting outdoors is a great way to spend time with friends. Most recently, I went to a local state park where the entry fee was $10 per car. We did some short hikes, had a picnic lunch, and spotted a few bald eagles while we were at it.
2. Be a tourist in your home town
Invite your friend to tour your hometown like a tourist. Check out the local museums, monuments, and gardens. Research festivals, parades and other events. If you live near a city, I guarantee that there are tons of free, local, family-friendly events you can attend. I live near Washington, D.C. where most of the museums are free. I love checking out new exhibits or re-visiting my favorite museums with friends.
3. Invite your friends over for brunch at your house
Rather than going out to an expensive brunch, invite your friends over for pancakes at your house. If you have a usual “brunch group” you can take turns hosting. This is also a great option if you have kids. Invite your friends’ kids over to play in the basement or backyard, while the adults catch up over mimosas.
Evening Plans
1. Check for local events in your city
Chances are that your city has tons of free festivals, concerts, outdoor movies and parades, especially in the spring and summer. Check local newsletters and publications on places like Nextdoor. Talk to friends and neighbors. When I was a teenager, I found out through a friend that one of the local theaters in my city had a “pay your age” policy for any patrons under 30, which meant that I could see incredible, professional plays for less than $30 when I was in my teens and twenties.
2. Host a movie night
Invite your friends over for a movie and popcorn at your house. Friends can’t get a babysitter? Put on a movie for the kids and catch up with your friends in another room.
Holiday Bonus
The holidays are a time of year when people want to get together and reconnect with friends and family. Holiday parties and gift purchases can get expensive very quickly. Try to think of some ways to spend time with your loved ones doing fun activities with a low budget. My mom and her friends do a cookie exchange party every year. Everyone makes a different cookie and they exchange (and eat) them. My best friend and I have had the tradition of making a gingerbread house together every year since we were in high school. One of my neighbors hosts a party for the kids in the neighborhood and they make graham cracker gingerbread houses. When I was a kid, we used to drive around the neighborhood and check out everyone’s holiday lights. There are tons of possibilities out there if you’re willing to get a little creative. Remember, it’s about making memories and any sort of holiday tradition can be fun with the right people.
Think back to your early childhood friendships. How did you and your friends spend your time? I’d be willing to bet that those memories had very little to do with money. Remember, it’s not about the money spent, it's about the time spent with your loved ones. Be imaginative. Is there a local nature center you could visit? A park you could ride bikes in? A pond where you could watch the ducks? An outdoor movie event? Invite a friend to join you. The possibilities are endless.
Action Items
Research 1 free local event you could go to with a friend
Think about how you spent time with friends as a kid. How does it compare to today?
Your life may not be perfect, but it is imperfectly yours. The only way to live it is your way.
