5 Best no spend activities for the weekends

As a weekend escapist, there is nothing I love more than finding the best no spend activities for the weekends. I am someone with itchy feet and always travel somewhere every weekend, more often than not, I am either enjoying local adventures or I am somewhere in Europe for a nice weekend getaway. When I am not doing either of these I am often looking for ways to stop me from spending money unnecessarily and this includes stopping myself from booking another flight before I even go on my next scheduled trip.

This year has obviously been challenging for many as we have not had an opportunity to travel as much as we normally do. I have taken most of this year in a stride and decided to focus on finding the best no spend activities for the weekends that I can do without getting bored or itching to spend money. When you are spending too much time at home doing nothing, the temptation to spend money online can be quite high (hello Amazon Prime!). I am excited to share some of my 5 best no spend activities for the weekend.

5 Best no spend activities for the weekends

As a budgeter by nature, almost all my monies that I earn from various income streams are counted for because when I am not careful, I could easily slip into my spender self. Every week I make a point of writing down a budget and plans I have for the week, any money I don’t spend is saved or invested and I work hard not to go over my weekly budget. I have found that when I actively think of activities I can do that doesn’t require me to spend money that is what I will focus on.

Over the last couple of months, I have not had much chance when it comes to travelling abroad. I have found myself on more than one occasion lamenting where I should spend the money I would have previously spent on flights on. Even though I am a saver, there are times I am tempted to just spend my money on whatever especially if the goal I was saving for is no longer necessary or has been replaced by something else. It can be tough but with self-discipline, it is possible to forgo spending and look for no spend activities.

The activities I have included in this post are not things that are out of the ordinary, its something anyone can do if you put your mind into it.

1. Netflix and Binge

I am addicted to reading and watching TV so much that when I was younger, my mum made me pay for our families TV license (it was only £11 a month). Once I cooked, clean and did my homework, you wouldn’t hear from me until I am being forced to go to bed. This addiction has not gone away except now I am more mature to limit my own screen time (well, TV time). On weekends when I don’t want to spend money unnecessarily, I often cue up many of my favourites series and watch front to back.

When it comes to shows that I watch, I am a repeat offender and often go back to the same shows I have seen multiple times, I never get bored. There are TV shows and movies that I have rewatched every single weekend for an entire month and I still get the kick out of seeing something that I did not see before. I can rewatch the Die Hard movies back to back the entire weekend and do the same during the following weekend. When I am watching TV, I am not thinking about spending money.

2. Paint your own nails

During the initial lockdown, I realised I can actually do my own nails than go to a nail parlour. With a little patience, practice and the right equipment, anyone can paint their own nails. I am sure like many people we discovered given enough time to practice we are really good at a lot of things. For me I discovered I could do my own gel nails, I could treat my nails and nurture them more than my nail parlour. Even after lockdown, I continued to do my own nails and in the process, I am saving money.

It doesn’t have to be doing nails, it can be anything that you often had to pay someone to do it. I used to get my eyebrows waxed or threaded, even though it was painful I loved that they looked normal for a longer period. In lockdown, I picked my tweezers and learned how to do them effortlessly although it still flipping hurts pulling on those hairs. I now have a small tool that I use to trim and shape them and don’t need to pay anyone anymore.

3. Bake

When I was young, I grew up watching my mother spend most of her weekends baking up a storm in our kitchen. Our weekend kitchen always smelled of freshly baked, scones, banana bread and muffins and even now I still remember that scent. I am glad I picked up the baking skill as every now and again and most weekends, I often bake my favourite banana bread or banana and vanilla muffins. You too could learn how to bake, buy the ingredients and make the desserts at home yourself instead of buying them.

These days I have realised I like pastries and I have been making a lot of mince and pork pies. What’s funny is when I was younger I had zero interest in pork pies and now I make them in dozens and eat them throughout the week. Not everyone is good at baking but everyone can learn how to bake a simple Victoria sponge cake or even fritters as they don’t require much work. Think of something you would like to give a try in your kitchen and go for it.

4. Reading

As mentioned other than TV, I am also addicted to reading and at the moment I am working through 3 books at the moment. When I was younger, my mother gave me a box loaded with books to read and I absolutely loved this. I spent hours on end hiding under the bed reading my books and when our school library opened, I would go there whenever I was free and read the newer books that had been brought into the library. The funny thing is books related to my schooling I did not like but everything else I enjoyed.

Over the last few months I have slowly but surely gotten back into reading and most weekends you will find my tucked up on my sofa flipping page after page. There are times when I am enjoying a book so much I don’t want it to end so I pause and start another book and when I feel ready I go back and finish the book, I know it’s weird but it works for me and stops me spending money.

5. Go for a walk

For days when I don’t feel like binge-watching TV shows or movies, I don’t fancy reading or baking, I often go for long walks around my neighbourhood. When I want fresh air and even longer walks I often visit the National Trust properties in Oxfordshire and spend my time walking the set trails that they have set up for walkers. It is always liberating to be one with nature and do nothing my fill your lungs with fresh air and clear your mind.

This year has been tough for many of us and I have found going for long walks enjoying the peace and solidarity helps manage any anxious thoughts that often creep in. Take a moment and just got for a walk, let go of everything focus on just breathing and taking one foot in front of the other.

I hope you find my 5 best no spend activities for the weekends useful and I dare say inspiring. Do something out of the ordinary from your normal schedule, change your scenery and visit another town and be a tourist. So, what are you best no spend activities for the weekends?