Who doesn’t like free activities? Whether you’re saving for retirement, living on a fixed income, or just looking for new ways to be smart about how you spend your money, consider the many ways that you can trim your entertainment budget and actually increase your fun. Here are 10 great free activities we’ve found.
Gallery openings and art walks
Attend art gallery openings, free activities which often include wine, hors d’oeuvres, and a chance to meet the artists and gallery owners. You can get on the mailing list of sites that list all new openings such as www.art-almanac.com.au www.strobed.com.au
Open mic nights
Check out local pubs that regularly provide an open microphone and performance venue to amateur and aspiring musicians. At these free activities you can support local artists and to hear some comedy or poetry talents or maybe even sign up and share your musical talents.
Free activities at museums. Many museums offer free admission at least one day or night each week. Same art, same exhibits, but no admission fees.
Volunteer to usher
To stretch tight budgets, many professional theater, opera and dance companies offer free activities, you might not have thought of passing out programs and helping the paying customers find their seats. For an afternoon or evening or your time, you will receive free admission to the performance, an inside look at what happens before the curtain goes up, and the opportunity to provide hands-on support to a dynamic arts organization in your community.
Literary readings
When authors go on tour to promote their books, they may be heading to a bookstore near you. Check your local newspaper, public library, and bookstores for free activities like readings, where you’ll have a chance to meet the authors and sample their new work.
Free lectures and community events
Colleges and universities, especially those that receive public funding, are great community resources for free activities, or events and services at little or no cost. Community and nonprofit organizations also host many free activities. Check libraries, newspaper listings, and neighborhood bulletin boards for schedules. You can also find a lot of free online courses check out https://www.futurelearn.com/courses
Free lunchtime concerts
During nice weather, many communities offer free lunchtime concerts in pleasant locations where there is a high concentration of office workers and a lot of pedestrian traffic. For these free activities, pack a picnic or a brown bag lunch, grab a friend, and tap your feet to some good music while you enjoy the sunshine and the energy of the city.
Join a book club or discussion group
Whether you organize your own with a small group of friends, discover an established group through your local library or bookstore, or plug into a national movement like the Socrates cafés (whose members use the Socratic method to discuss important life issues), book clubs and discussion groups are free activities that offer a great way to exchange ideas and gain new insights.
Be a tourist at home
We all establish routines and patterns, get into ruts, and eventually see only a narrow slice of our own community. Make a conscious effort to step off your usual path, and take a day to explore a neighborhood or nearby attraction that you have never visited or haven’t seen lately. You may find a wealth of free activities, close to home.
Go to the library
Still the single greatest resource in almost any community, the public library offers a rich collection of books and magazines, research and reference materials, and free Internet access. Whether you just drop in to check out a book you can read on the bus, attend a public meeting about a critical local issue, or spend a rainy afternoon surfing the Web, your local library is a great place to find free activities.
Go to a museum
You will find that museum’s offer one free day a month, for example The Australian Maritime Musuem offers free entry to the galleries and exhibitions on the first Thursday of the month. http://mgnsw.org.au/organisations/australian-national-maritime-museum/
If you know of any other great free activities, please let us know.
