Alright, it's Labor day weekend.  Most of us have a three day weekend or some additional time this weekend to have some fun.  

“What are we going to do this weekend?”  The kids ask the parents, or the spouses ask each other.  “I don't know, we're broke.  Can't really do anything this weekend.”   Sound familier?  We've all been there. There are quite a few people that are strapped for cash nowadays.  Here are some ideas for fun things you can do this weekend with your family or with each other that cost little or no money.  As well as a few ideas to make a few bucks.

Camping – It doesn't cost much of anything to take a camping trip if you have the equipment.  And if the weather is decent, you don't need a lot of equipment.  Some blankets and pillows, maybe you'll need to get some wood to build a fire.  You can find old broken pallets behind stores that work great for firewood.  If the pallets you find happen to behind a grocery store, maybe grab a bag of marshmallows to toast while you're there.

Swimming – Public pools are pretty inexpensive, or go to a friends house who has one.  In many parts of the country, this is the last weekend public pools are open.

Little League Sports – Don't have a kid involved with any little league sports?  Don't matter.  These events are happening in school yards and parks all over the place.  Go to the game; pick a team: then root and cheer to your heart's desire.  They are a lot of fun to watch.

Bicycling – If you have the bikes, this is a great activity for the whole family or just with a significant other.  Great exercise as well.

Go for a drive – Yeah, you've got the cost of the gas, but it's relaxing and a blast to take a drive.  Go places you rarely go or have never been.  Explore.  Go sightseeing.

Develop new friendships  - Life is so busy.  How many times do you say to people at your office “We've got to get together and do something” ...but never do it.  During the week, after work you've got dinner, cleaning up after dinner, homework and then it's time for bed... or a little TV before bed.  On weekends, you have chores, church, sleeping in and maybe a little quality time with each other.  We never seem to find the time to actually follow through and get a chance to meet those business associates or those people you want to get to know better.  This weekend you've got some extra time to make new friends.

Get together with friends – Maybe some of your friends are in the same boat with their financial situation.  You don't have to go to a dinner or movie with friends. Invite some over.

Visit old friends and family - Been a while since you've seen someone you care about or who you used to care about?  Ask them over.  The telephone and the computer are not the only form of communication.

Buy the Book of Questions and read it with each other – This book is available at practically all book stores.  It may even be available at your local library.  I can't imagine the book would cost more than 5 bucks or so.  It is crammed full of hundreds of thought provoking questions.  We've done this many, many times.  You can spend hours asking questions of each other.  Questions like: “Would you be willing to eat a bowl full of live crickets for $50,000?”  “Would you be willing to give away your favorite pet if it meant there would be an end to world hunger?” ...That kind of thing.  Have everybody answer and expand on their answers.  It's a riot and you also get to know each other much better.  There is also a Book of Questions Love and Sex and Book of questions for kids.

Buy a book or go to the library and get a book -  Do you read as often as you would like?  I'm sure there are books out there about subjects you are interested in.  Reading a book or books could take an entire weekend.

Another book you might like - All About Us.  This book also asks questions, but in this book you write your answers in the book.  It has questions like “What was the first restaurant we dined at?”  “What are current events that are happening in the news right now?”  “Who are your best friends?”  It also has places where it will ask questions like “What is your significant other's favorite color?"  Then you each get a chance to answer questions about each other.  See how well you know each other.  It's a book that couples fill out together.  It's a great way to get to know each other better and it's something you can look at years down the road and see how your lives have changed.  

If you don't have someone else to spend your weekend with, there is also a book called All About Me.  You can fill out this book yourself and it really asks some tough questions.  It's a great way to get to know yourself better.

The cost for these books are a little more though.  I'm guessing about 15 bucks apiece.  They take hours to complete though.

Do some creative writing – Is there a writer in you?  What is your favorite subject?  Once you get started it's hard to stop writing about it.  You can also write a letter to the editor of your local paper about a subject you're passionate about.  It feels good to get it off your chest and it might even get published.

Rent a movie from Redbox – I think that Redbox is all over the country and it's only a dollar a day.  Heck, you could probably find a buck in your couch cushions.  You do need a credit or debit card to rent them though.  

Unbeknownst to a lot of people, your library also has movies available... at no charge.

Gardening – If you're in a State down closer to the sun belt, you can start a garden with seeds and it will cost you next to nothing.  Get the kids involved.  You'll also receive the rewards of having fresh fruits and vegetables when it's time.

Arts and Crafts – There are a million ideas online for Arts and crafts projects you can do that cost very little to set up.  Often times you'll be able to find all the material you need around your house.

Cooking – You've got to eat anyway.  Find new recipes online, at the library or you might even have some old cookbooks around the house.

Picnic – Again, you've got to eat anyway.  Put a nice meal together and go to a park or a canyon or a beach.  It's fun for the family or romantic for a couple.

Visit Museums – You might be able to find public museums that are free.  If you do have to pay an entrance fee, it's usually pretty reasonable.

Hiking or walking -  Great exercise and you get to see things that you don't get to see while you are driving to work.

Are you in a loving relationship?  Intimacy – Don't need to say much more here.  One of the greatest fun free things to do.

Stargazing – Once again, online or at your library there are free consolation guides. Star formations.  Planets to find.  I can almost guarantee you'll learn a lot.

Explore the world of podcasts – There are thousands and thousands of podcasts to listen to.  Stories, music and informational newscasts are available at no charge.

Volunteer – I know, I know, many of you might not look at volunteer work to be “fun”.  But you can feel good about doing it and you might be surprised just how fun it can be.

Explore Craigslist and other free websites -  On these sites you'll find “free stuff”.  Maybe there are things you need around the house that are there for the pickin.

Form a clothing swap – Get together with friends and get together all your clothing and shoes you really don't use anymore.  A great way to update your wardrobe.

Garage Sale – Winter is coming.  Maybe it's time to do some housecleaning.  All you need is some cardboard signs to hang around busy streets in your neighborhood.  A good way to generate a few extra bucks.

Put a Christmas gift list together – Yes, I said it.  Every year do you find yourself scrambling at the last minute, fighting crowds, wondering what gift to buy, running across products that are sold out?  If you start planning months early, you can get a good idea of what money you're going to need to come up with.  I know you may not come up with gift ideas for everybody, but many of them you can.  This does a couple of things... first, you can watch for sales on some of the gifts you need to get.  Secondly, if you buy things along the way, the financial sting won't be as bad in December.  Also, use this time to think about gifts you can make, so you can save money.  Candles and scrapbooks are inexpensive gifts and they will mean so much more to the recipient knowing that you took the time to make them.  Plus, you'll have the time to make them.

Have a potluck party – Maybe even with the whole neighborhood.  Assign entrees, appetizers, deserts, snacks.  No huge expense here, and it's a great way to meet neighbors or get back together with friends.

Get a regional plant identification guide or bird guide – Go in the mountains or parks and try to spot some of these plants and wildlife.

Develop a workout routine you can do without equipment – For those of us who are not in shape, it's a great way to get started without having to spend the money on a gym.  For those of us who are in shape, it's a great way to augment what you're already doing.

Play Sports – Yep, sports aren't just for watching.  Pull the baseball gloves out of the attic and go out and play ball.  Get a football and tee and go to your local high school and see what you can do.  Just because you have golf clubs doesn't mean you have to go to a golf course.  Go hit some balls in an empty field.  Set up a blanket with a rope across two trees and practice your drive into the blanket.  Most of us have frisbees.  If you don't, you can buy one for a few bucks.

Free games online – There are a ton of websites that have free games.  New games that you've never played.  Challenge yourself.

Board games – Do you have any?  Maybe you have an old Monopoly board around.  If not, There are a bunch of board games that cost less than ten bucks.  There are also a bunch of card games that you can find online or at the library.  Don't have a deck of cards?  Buy one for a buck. If you're alone, there are sites that you can play games with others.

Design your Facebook page or redecorate it -  Add music, graphics, wallpaper... all at no cost to you.

Blogging and chat rooms – There are blogs about virtually every subject you can think of.  Pick a subject you're passionate about or you care about, and discuss it with others.  See what others are saying about it.  Chat rooms give you the same opportunity as blogging.  Just be careful.  You don't really know who you're talking too.  But, it's also an opportunity to make some new friends.

Take the time to learn your cell phone – You've seen the books that come with your cell phone.  There are like a million different functions they have.  Most people never use them because they've never taken the time to learn them.

Pull out the guitar – Many of us have musical instruments that we intended to learn that are tucked away in basements garages, closets and attics.  What better time to get started? Or maybe... we learned them and were even good at them at one point in our lives, but haven't spent the time because life is too busy.  What better time than when you have the time?

Train your pet – How many of us have pets we wish were trained better?  There ya go!  A great time to spend some time with that animal you love so much and get them learning something new.   They will appreciate it.

Spend time with your kids – People always talk about how they don't have enough time to spend with their kids.  Take the time.  It doesn't matter what you do.  Your kids just love spending time with you.  If fact, that's how kids spell love, T-I-M-E.

Puzzles – I've kinda been hooked on these lately.  I dunno, it's really relaxing.  It gets your mind off things.  We just completed a really cool one of some snow leopards and framed it.  Bought it for eight bucks and working on it off and on, it took us a week and a half.

There's a lot of things out there that you can do for little or no cost that are fulfilling and rewarding.  It just takes the time to do it.  That's what you might have this weekend... some extra time.  Make the most of it and enjoy.



Peace and Success,





Kevin Halper