When you work hard for your money on the weekdays, it’s easy to spend that money freely on the weekends. Unfortunately, that doesn’t jive with saving money to reach your financial goals.
That’s where a no-spend weekend can help. No-spend weekends might sound tough and boring, but there’s a lot you can do without spending money and still have fun.
What is a No-Spend Weekend?
A no-spend weekend is exactly as it sounds. It’s going Saturday and Sunday without spending any money. Some people are stricter about it and make it two days and three nights (Friday included) of no spending. For some people, just thinking about a no-spend weekend is enough to make them miserable. For others, going two days of not spending money is easy peasy. If you don’t find it a challenge, aim bigger. Go for a no-spend week or more than one no-spend weekend in a row.
- Check out your local calendar
You’ll be surprised at how many free events happen around your town every weekend. There are often free music concerts, galleries with free exhibitions, and other cultural institutions that are free on a regular basis. Or perhaps, if the weather is warm, you might find a parade or outdoor market you can visit that is completely free. Be open to new things, you might find a new activity or annual event that you’ll want to keep on your calendar.
- Curl up with a book after a library visit
Head to your local library and pick up a book you’ve been wanting to read. This no spends weekend is the perfect opportunity to log some good reading time.
Borrowing the book won’t cost anything (and even if you don’t have a library card, now is the time to sign up and start benefiting from all the free books and more you can borrow!). Plus, maybe you can actually show up to book club this month and say you read the book!
- Take a walk in the Park
Why enjoy the great outdoors this weekend? Nature is free, and exploring your area for fun hikes is an excellent way to avoid spending money but still have fun. If you’re lucky enough to live near the hinterland, you probably have access to some amazing hikes, so check it out and see where your feet can take you.
- Clean out your closet
Yep, it’s time. Open that closet that you’ve been shoving stuff in since you moved in and dig deep. Use your free time this weekend to take everything (yes, everything) and get rid of what you don’t use (or forgot you even had), and organize what you want to keep. You’ll come out of the weekend feeling super accomplished without spending a bunch of money. And, if you want to get yourself into the green for the weekend, you can sell some of your clothes on Facebook.
- Binge a show
What’s a no spend a weekend without Netflix? Assuming you already paid for your monthly access to Netflix or whatever your preferred streaming service is, then get comfy and decide which show you want to binge-watch this weekend. Create meals out of whatever is left in the pantry and fridge — get ready to get creative! — and come back to the office on Monday full of spoilers.