Everybody knows that its rough out there. Between wall street bail outs and main street unemployment, lots of people are looking to keep expenditures to a minimum, especially if its something that’s not considered a “necessity”.
But……you’ve got to relax right!
Here are five ideas for going out without breaking the bank.
#1 Take a hike!
Almost any city has hiking trails. With a packed sandwich and a couple bottles of water, you are now ready to enjoy nature without breaking the bank. Plus its good for you! Typically hiking trails provide parking either on site – for a small fee – or you can just park on the street somewhere nearby. Bring your friends along and you can share the gas money and the parking fee, so you’ll have more for that smoothie with extra protein boost after the hike! Of course you can share each other’s company as well.
Check out http://www.localhikes.com/ for a hiking trail near you. The web site provides hiking trails by city and even has ratings and user reviews so you can choose the best place!
Typical cost:
Sandwich: $3
Bottled water (2): $3
Gas: $3 (assuming you are drive distance is 20 – 30 mi and your car is not a gas guzzler. If not add +$5)
Parking: $2 – $3 (will buy you a couple hours of hike time)
Smoothie: $4 + $0.50 (for protein boost)
Total: $16.50 – $21.50
Useful links:
http://www.localhikes.com/
http://www.trails.com/
#2 Outdoor picnic
Outdoor picnics are another great way to go out and have fun without spending your retirement savings! If you are a couple and want to get away and do something romantic, this is a good bet. Take a look at “The Top Ten Most Romantic Picnic Spots in USA” for some picnic spots people just can’t get enough of. If you live nearby any of these, then plan a picnic this weekend and remember to send us some pictures!
Picnic spots are popular during the weekends and summer time. So, if you are looking for peace and quiet, then do some research and find something during off-peak hours. Of course, if you like meeting people, then pick a spot and go! Many local parks have picnic areas and are free to use, although you may need to make a reservation. If you don’t mind spending a little more money to find something more tailored to your liking – then more power to you!
You can check out “109 picnic areas near you” for some ideas.
Citysearch also has some good ideas and info on picnic spots in your city.
The best way to find a great picnic spot near you is to Google it and make some calls to check on availability. Here are some links if you live in the following states -
California
New York
Texas
Illinois (Chicago)
Typical cost:
Picnic Spot Fee: FREE – $$
Food & Provisions: $5 – $20 per person (check out “How to plan a picnic” for some ideas)
Gas: $3 – $10 (assuming your drive distance is 20 – 30 mi and your car is not a gas guzzler. If not add +$5)
Parking: FREE – $10
Total (for 2 people): $75 – $100
The cost is really upto you. You can even find a great beach if you live near one and simply go with a beach towel and a picnic basket and spend less than $25. Use your imagination and have fun!
#3 Discovering your city
Another great way to spend less and enjoy more is to grab a map (you can get one for free online or buy one for under $10) and discover the city you live in. It’s amazing how little people know about their own city/town. So, plan a route that you have not taken before, add some pit spots to check out the local eats, carry some bottled water (or just fill your water bottle with tap water – go green!) and be prepared to be amazed by what your own city has to offer.
Check out MyCityMate for some ideas. You can pick a city almost anywhere in the world and checkout what other locals have to say about the places to see – from bars to clubs to thai restaurants – take a peek.
Typical cost:
Map: FREE – $10
Gas/Bus/Metro: $5 – $10
Parking (if driving): FREE – $10
Food & Drinks: $10 – $15
Total: $20 – $45
If your city/town has good public transportaion, then hop on a bus or a metro and save on gas and parking fees. Plus you’ll be doing the environment some good by keeping your car parked for a day.
Other useful links:
http://www.discoverourtown.com/
http://www.citisync.com/
#4 Fairs & Festivals
Many cities have local fairs and festivals. These are typically free to enter (although many do charge) and you pay for the rides, food, etc… This is a great way to spend a weekend with family and friends. Before you go, allocate a budget for each item like food, rides, drinks, etc… because its easy to spend more than you wanted to. Carry some sunscreen and wear something comfortable. If you are health conscious (or at least thinking about it) – then take a look at “Burn It Off: How Much Cycling to Undo a Soft Pretzel?”
Typical cost:
Map: FREE – $10
Gas/Bus/Metro: $5 – $10
Parking (if driving): FREE – $10
Food & Drinks: $10 – $15
Total: $20 – $45
Other useful links:
http://www.festivals.com/
#5 Free museum days
If you have a local museum in your city/town check if they offer free museum days and plan a trip on one of those days. It’s a great way to spend a few hours learning about the artifacts and it doesn’t put a dent in your pocket. This is perfect for couples and families with children. After your free museum day, get a bite to eat at a local restaurant to round the day off!
Here are some that I found -
The smithsonian offers free museum day admission cards at “Museumday”
If you are in Los Angeles, then check out “ExperienceLA”
The best way to check for free museum days is by Googling for one near you.
Typical cost:
Museum Pass: FREE
Gas/Bus/Metro: $5 – $10
Parking (if driving): FREE – $10
Food & Drinks: $10 – $15 per person
Total (for 2 people): $30 – $50
Other useful links:
http://www.chicagohotblog.com/chicago-museum-free-days
Discalimer: All links posted here are publicly available by doing a Google search. None of the content on these websites are mine. So, please use at your discretion. The estimates are only that and you can end up spending more or less depending on your specific activities. This post is meant to be a guide only and doesn’t make any claim of accuracy. Please be safe when you go out and take appropriate safety precautions.
