People Are Sharing Their Favorite Things To Do That Cost Little-To-No Money

With the cost of living constantly on the rise, finding ways to stay on budget is key.

We recently asked the BuzzFeed Community to share their favorite things to do that cost little-to-no money. Here's what they had to say:

Note: Some responses are from this Reddit thread .

1. "Virtual holidays. I pick somewhere I'd like to go, jump on a booking website, find accommodations, research things to do, places to see, the food, etc. I'll use Google Street View to walk around and see the local area. I started doing it during Covid and still do it every couple of months. It costs nothing and I'll be so well prepared when I do eventually get there!"

2. "I like embroidering my clothes to pass some time. They take me forever, but I already have the clothes, and embroidery thread and hoops are cheap. As a bonus, I can embroider over set-in stains. I like crafts that keep my hands busy and my mind free for other things."

— rnd13001

3. "Being outdoors. Fortunately, I now live in an area with beaches, mountains, lakes, and forests within a 30-minute drive. Some cost money for parking but there are enough free options that I can get outdoors, away from everything, and just breathe."

4. "Pet the cats at the animal shelter. It's free and at the shelter near me, it’s encouraged because it helps socialize them."

— snkr87

5. "Have people over and rotate who hosts. Mini golf, hiking, potlucks, BBQ with corn hole. There are so many activities, especially with warmer weather."

6. "Many communities have free and fun events, from concerts in the park to car shows and service opportunities to knitting clubs. I have my town's community calendar and it's very easy to find totally free events or clubs to join through parks and rec or the city library, especially during the summer!"

— spiritedscissors487

7. "This is simple…nap. Nothing is better than knowing you have nothing planned and you lie down and just nap."

8. "My favorite thing is going for a walk early in the morning before a bunch of cars are out on the road. It's SO peaceful and you can actually hear the birds, wind, etc. It's like Earth's music."

—Anonymous, Los Angeles, California

9. "I love trying new recipes, but the cost is sometimes prohibitive when you need expensive or hard-to-find ingredients. I invite a friend or two over, and we go shopping to get what we need and split the cost. Then we go home and cook our butts off. It's a lot cheaper and really fun!"

10. "I work on training my cat. She's really good at simple commands like sit, come, and kisses. She's also really good at being on a leash and gets excited when I take it off the rack. We're working on sitting and coming while on a leash so she can get comfortable with it. I'm hoping I can travel with her soon and take her to my favorite places."

— angelicpotato205

11. "Reading books from the library."

12. "I make my own dressings, herb, and spice mixes. Once you invest in the base items, it's easy to put them together each time you cook. Where I am, a mixed spice packet is over $5 each."

— a4eaff6f16

13. "Sometimes I like to go to my local antique store and just look at the items. There is always something new, and it's in a beautiful part of town."

14. "Gardening. Come together to create a beautiful piece of nature and use the harvest to create a big meal made from your work."

— u/Mconcello93

15. "I'm an elementary school teacher so I always have crayons and construction paper on hand. I doodle while watching mindless TV. I've made some pretty impressive drawings with just crayons. It's a nice way to decompress."

16. "My friend and I like to cut up magazines together for collage art. We have such different approaches so it's fun to see what we come up with from the same magazines!"

— u/thetealappeal

17. "Having clothing swaps with friends. It's a great way to get rid of unwanted pieces and refresh my wardrobe."

18. "I love going to garage sales with friends! It's so much fun. Make everyone iced coffee at home, get someone to make a playlist/run the aux, and then it's a day of driving around, seeing cool neighborhoods, getting some sun, etc."

— u/0bsolesencee

19. And finally, "I never had a great home before my adult years. That taught me to appreciate my peaceful apartment. I'm happy to just sit for hours at my coffee table with my friends, no screens or devices. Best fun ever."

What's your favorite budget-friendly activity? Share it in the comments!

Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.