Ideas For a “No Spend Weekend”
What is a “No Spend Weekend”?
The primary goal of a “no spend weekend” is to save money. It’s a weekend where you plan activities, meals, and time with friends and family without spending any money. You don’t have to spend money to have fun! You just need a little creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. Saving money you otherwise would have spent over the course of a weekend can help you achieve your financial goals faster such as paying down debt or growing your savings. What are some ideas to kick off your “no spend weekend”? Here are some to get you started:
1. Walking or Bike Riding
Taking a walk is great for your overall health and wellness, and it can be fun! Maybe you live near some great hiking trails, lake, beach, or mountains. Spending time outdoors can be lots of fun, and you can even bring along some food to have a picnic lunch. If you have a bike, and enjoy riding, it’s another great option!
2. Camping
You can really get creative with this one. If you already own some camping gear, why not plan a weekend camping trip! It can be lots of fun to spend quality time with your loved ones, cook meals over a campfire, and taking time to enjoy nature. Spending time outdoors (likely with little to no cell service) is a great way to do a “digital detox” from your smartphone. If you don’t own any camping gear, no need to go out any buy it (since the idea here is not to spend any money). You can plan to “camp out” in your backyard, or in the living room with some yummy snacks and your favorite show or movie!
3. Baking
A lot of us have all the pantry staples needed to bake something delicious. Take an inventory of what you have in your panty and fridge, and start looking through some recipes to make. This is something you can do with the whole family, and is a great indoor activity if the weather isn’t great for spending time outside.
4. Arts & Crafts
You don’t need expensive supplies to have a fun arts and crafts day. You can use materials you likely have around the house already such as empty bottles, cardboard, old books or magazines, scissors, glue, string, rubber bands, markers, etc. and use your creativity! Kids tend to be very imaginative and can really have fun with this activity.
5. Gardening
Whether you already have an established garden, or want to get one started, this is a great low-intensity activity for your “no spend weekend”. You can even dry your own seeds that you’ve saved from things like tomatoes, peppers, and beans to dry and plant. Maybe your friend or neighbor can give you some of their already established plants for your garden. There are lots of possibilities that don’t require you to spend any money.
6. Visit Family or Friends
Spending quality time with family and friends is fun and great for our physical and mental wellbeing. Enjoying time with people we care about is great for mental health, stress reduction, and self-confidence. Social interaction is important for creating strong bonds, happy memories, and a meaningful life!
7. Game Night
Almost everyone has board games or cards collecting dust somewhere in their house. Brush the dust off those games, invite friends or family, and plan a fun game night with your favorite snacks. Game nights can help strengthen relationships and reduce stress. When you include your children in game night, you help teach them conflict resolution, good sportsmanship, and communication skills.
8. Relaxing!
We really underestimate the importance of taking a day to relax. This can mean curling up on the couch with a good book, sleeping in a little later than usual (going to bed earlier than usual), or even just sitting outside on a nice day. Whatever it takes to feel calm and relaxed to fully recharge for the week ahead. 🙂
