How to Have a No-Spend Weekend: 15 Free Things to Do at Home
Bank account looking a bit worrying? Don’t worry, your weekend doesn’t need to be a right off! No matter if you are saving up or just skint until payday, there’s still loads of fun (and restful) stuff you can do without spending a single penny.
To help you enjoy the weekend no matter what your bank account says, here are 15 completely free ideas for a no-spend weekend that’ll still feel full of fun.
Have a Film Marathon
Dig out your old DVDs or stream something free online. You could even go full cosy mode with blankets and snacks from the cupboard, even if it’s just a crunchy apple and your favourite hot drink.
Read That Book You’ve Been Ignoring
You know the one. It’s been looking at you from the shelf, and you keep telling yourself, when you have time. Well, now is the time.
Take a Long Bath
Bubbles optional, dramatic music strongly encouraged, and your favourite candle a must. Throw in a face mask you might have lying around, and make it a whole pamper session.
Declutter One Drawer
No, starting to clean the whole house, we are just talking about one drawer to unlock that feeling of satisfaction.
Bake with What You’ve Got
Bread, flapjacks, banana mush? Turn those ingredients into a challenge and see what you come up with.
Try a YouTube Yoga or Stretch Session
Free, calming, and possibly hilarious if you have no balance or if your dog joins in.
Do Something Creative
Colour in, doodle, write poetry about biscuits, set up a blog, do whatever creative pursuit you enjoy.
Have a Cuppa and a Stare
Yes, this counts. Sometimes doing “nothing” is doing exactly what you need. So grab your drink and watch the world go by.
Take “Aesthetic” Photos Around the House
Find the beauty in your teacup, your dog, or your curtain folds. Be the artist you were born to be and enjoy it!
Puzzle, Board Game, or Card Game Time
You’ve got one somewhere, dust it off and get competitive with yourself (solitaire totally counts) or your family.
Reorganise a Little Space
Turn that chaotic shelf into a Pinterest-worthy zone of peace (or at least shove things in baskets, hide them and call it a win).
Print Out a Free Zine
There are loads online, from mindfulness to silly comics. Fold it up, colour it in, and perhaps even learn something.
Nap
This isn’t lazy. It’s an economically efficient regeneration of one’s self.
Write a Letter or Nice Note
Send an actual letter or just text a friend something warm. Big feelings, no postage required. You will pass the time and make someone else smile.
Make a Playlist for a Vibe
“Soft Sad Girl Vibes” or “Songs That Make Me Feel Like the Hero in a Coming-of-Age Movie” go wild and make it yours (or share it with friends).
Final Thought
A no-spend weekend doesn’t have to feel like punishment; instead, it’s a chance to pause, play, and reclaim your time without swiping your card. You might just enjoy it more than you think you would.
What’s your favourite way to spend a no-spend weekend?
Compeition
To help you kick off your own no-spend weekend, I am giving away a Lush gift set to help you relax and have a pamper.
All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is follow the options on the Gleam widget below.
Win a Lush Thnak You Gift Box.There is no mandatory entry option in this competition; all entries are optional. However, entering via multiple methods gives you more entries into the final draw.
Good Luck!
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recently we have started playing family games with the Nintendo wii again which is fun
Always do some cooking and baking.
I like to go for walks and watch some films
My favourite way to spend a no spend weekend is going for walks from my doorstep.
Definitely a combination of reading and researching my next holiday on YouTube!
My favourite way to spend a no-spend weekend is to definitely read one of the books on my TBR pile…or use the libby library app to borrow an ebook or audio book from my local library without even having to leave the house!
Reading and movies
Lots of great ideas. I really enjoy colouring books
I love going for long walks at weekends.
I love these brilliant self care tips!
I like to walk on nature it costs nothing and I always feel better afterwards
I love to curl up with a good book, turn off the TV, and just immerse myself in a great story, accompanied with a nice cup of hot chocolate!
Cooking from what I’ve got, I hate wasting food and love coming up with new recipes from leftovers trying unusual combinations
My perfect no-spend weekend would be me curled up on the sofa in a blanket, reading.
I love a no spend weekend – a good book and a box set and I’m totally happy
Doing some organising of the house in the mornings and then movies and snacks under a blanket in the afternoon and evening.
Very Nice
I love going for a walk with the dog, then have a lovely bath and read a good book!
i love to crochet and watch TV on a no spend day. If I have anything in the cupboard then I love to bake too!
I love baking, crafting, reading, comping, all good ‘no spend’ weekends, also like walking with my dog
I love baking, crafting, reading, comping, all good ‘no spend’ weekends, also like walking with my dog
fab ideas for a much needed no spend weekend and a fab prize
I love to knit so sitting in front of a favourite movie under a blanket. I can’t wait for the cold weather to come to have the excuse
Curling upon the sofa with a good book.
This competion sounds amazing love to win fingers crossed
Make sure you follow the instructions on how to enter! Your comment needs to answer the question or your entry wont count.
For me, a no-spend weekend means staying at home, a good boxset to binge, and now the cooler weather is coming, being able to snuggle into a fluffy blanket
On no-spend weekends, of which we have many, we enjoy walking the dog locally and then home to watch a good boxset and then have a nap.
A visit to the library to choose a few good books, go home and make a hot chocolate, settling down on the settee and enjoy some time reading.
normal crochet or painting. I not best painting but love making fun signs for the garden
I enjoy having a bubble bath and curling up on the sofa with a good book or a catch up with something on the telly
Watch a a good film
Mine would be spending time watching a movie with my children at home
I really enjoy reading a book on my tablet. Good luck everyone.
I love curling up on the sofa with a blanket and a movie
Lying on the sofa, a good book & a nice cup of tea
Gardening and meals in the garden watching the birds x
Sitting in my garden with family and friends is my favourite way to spend a no-spend weekend.
I love to catch up on my unfinished crafting projects, currently a crochet blanket for my daughter.
I love to sit in the conservatory and read my book. Sometimes I make a cake.
I like to spend some time reading books or watching Doctor Who with my kids
I walk along the coast path and maybe a swim in the sea.
I love packing a few bits to eat and drink and going off walking with the grandchildren and my dog exploring our local National Forest. The girls build dens and climb trees in the activity area and love doing the barefoot walk.Having a long bath after and putting pjs on before watching a family film rounds our days off nicely.
I love to snuggle on the couch with my kids and watch a movie, maybe even have a cheeky takeaway!
that was meant to say fake away lol
I love just relaxing in my garden with a cuppa and a good book
Love to tackle those little jobs that I never seem to get around to doing with plenty of rest and movies in between
I love going exploring in the local area. Spotting wildlife is a particular favourite activity
I like to relax with a combination of a good book and a good boxset on the TV.
I love to binge watch a series or read a book
These are great ideas, especially as we have been over-spending recently!
Big huge walk down our local canal, if we have some spare bread, feed the birds, have a sit on a bench, eat some packed lunch, just what’ve we’ve got.
Get home, all tired, have a lovely snooze of the sofa, make a fakeaway, or a slow cooker meal, a then snuggle up on the sofa for a ‘movie night’ what evers on, you can make it exciting! Perfect
I like to cosy up on the sofa with a cappuccino and slice of homemade cake and read a good book.
I can lose myself in a book for hours on end and I do enjoy a daily walk
Go for a walk
Music on – loud!
At home with a good film and a few yummy snacks!
Go to the park and read a good book in the sunshine
I love a walk to the beach, take the dog and watch the waves
Cooking from what I’ve got, I hate wasting food and love coming up with new recipes from leftovers trying unusual combinations
Family beach fishing for me, the kids love it and my wife catches more than me
A long walk in our local woods with the dog
I enjoy going on a long walk with my children and taking a packed lunch x
hopefully on a nice warmish day, doing some gardening with the odd ice-cream to break it up too
I like to catch up on some good Netflix series or movies, or do some artwork such as painting.
I love to garden and read a book, if its sunny I read outside if not I take my book to the bath or in a cosy chair
I love to garden and read a book, if its sunny I read outside if not I take my book to the bath
Sometimes I do the bake something, or go for a new walk.