20 ways to have fun on a budget (or for free!)

Although it can be great for preparing for the future, saving money can sometimes feel as though you're depriving yourself of any fun in the present. So here are a few ways to do some of your favourite things for a bit less. You could think of them as a little treat to yourself for being frugal throughout the week or month.

Look out for deals. This can be applied to almost all areas of entertainment, and it can help you do activities that you wouldn't usually have considered - for less. Keep your eye on sites like Groupon and Livingsocial - and always check whether there's a discount code, voucher or deal for your purchase.

Ways to save money on.

Food:

Go to restaurants in the afternoon - it can be a fair bit cheaper. You might get a three-course meal for considerably less than if you'd gone in the evening. As an added bonus, people are probably less likely to drink as much with a meal in the middle of the day - so you'll save money there too.
Ask for a jug of tap water for the table - as you'll probably be less tempted to spend money on drinks (and drink what you have bought more slowly) if you have a plentiful supply of water.
If you can't afford to go out for a meal, ask your friends round for a dinner party.
You could also ask your friends to bring their own drinks and, if they're up for it, a dish of their own or their favourite snacks.

Click here for more ways to save on food.

Films:

As with restaurants, cinema tickets are often cheaper the earlier you go in the day - so try to grab a film in the morning or afternoon. It's dark in there anyway, so it doesn't really make much of a difference to the experience!
Take your own snacks in, instead of buying expensive cinema snacks. If this is frowned upon at your local cinema, try to make sure that you're full/not thirsty before you go.
Stay at home and rent a film with your friends or family. Services like Netflix and LoveFilm allow you to stream films to your devices for a monthly subscription or small fee - or you could just see what's on the telly. Create a 'movie' atmosphere by turning off the lights and filling bowls with snacks.
Watch a play instead. The seats are often cheaper - especially in the week - and you'll be less likely to buy lots of snacks because they tend to rustle a lot (and distracting the actors is definitely frowned upon).

Nights out:

Attend an open-mic night. They're usually free to get in, and who knows what kind of music, comedy or poetry you could experience! If you feel up to it, you could even go up there yourself.
Before you go out, take a certain amount of money - say £10 - and pledge not to spend any more. You can force yourself to do this by only taking that amount out with you - no cards or extra cash. Do take into account, however, whether you'll need money for buses or taxis and so on.
Be the designated driver. That way you can still go out with your friends, save money on drink, and save them all cab or bus fare. If you feel like it, you could ask them for a couple of quid each for your trouble.
At the end of a night out, convince yourself to go straight home without looking at a takeaway. Motivate yourself by thinking of something you could make yourself at home.
Have a party or 'gathering' at your house instead. Put a few snacks out, clear some space in the fridge and put some music on.

Ways to have fun for free:

Borrow CDs, DVDs, games and - of course - books, from your local library.
Go outside. To the park, the beach, for a walk, cycling, fishing, hiking.
Go to a museum or art gallery. They're usually free in the UK - or they may ask for a small donation. Just try to resist the café and gift shop, unless you see this as a good way of making a donation.
Find something interesting that's already in your house. There's sure to be a book you haven't read, film you haven't watched, game you've never played or craft kit you've never assembled.
Keep your eye on what's going on in your local area, like free festivals and events.
Take some time out. Sometimes you may feel as though you need to spend money to relieve stress, but finding a private place in your home where you can have some 'you time' could be what you actually need.

If you're planning to go on holiday this year, you could find ways to do it for less here.

First image - Kids having fun on the beach in Cornwall, UK © iStockPhotos / Willsie; Second image © Yuri Arcurs / Fotolia; Third image © Deklofenak / Fotolia; Fourth image © Patrizia Tilly / Fotolia; Fifth image © Pavel Losevsky - Fotolia.

Tags: money, money saving, fun, fun on a budget, frugal, frugal fun, vouchers, voucher codes