Go for a walk in the park – beach – hills, whatever is nearest and if that’s too far then there usually is a small green space even if you are in the middle of the most urban of cities.
Have a picnic
This is one of the best things to do on a sunny day. There’s no need for expense, for showing off to anyone with strawberries and champers, just a lump of very good mature cheese, some tasty bread and some lovely tomatoes. This was how picnics were when I was a kid and they are still the best, something about biting into a juicy warm tomatoes, breaking off a hunk of cheese and ripping off a piece of bread too. Just remember the blanket.
Garden Open Days
Open days in local people’s gardens, obviously these are not always on but when they are it’s usually for the weekend and for a small donation you can satisfy your need for a cheap day out with your curiosity for what’s behind closed doors or really the garden walls
Free Gardening and After Party
Get your friends around for a day of sorting out your garden and followed by a BBQ, everyone likes to get outdoors and achieve something so if it’s hacking back some overgrown area or mowing the lawn get them around for some lemonade or beer.
You could even reward your mates by sorting out a water slide in the garden, get some old tarpaulin, and lay them out as long as you can, get some soapy water on the go in a lather and then let the most energetic loose.
House-sitting
Say you’ll look after a relatives / friends house whilst they are on holiday, they’ll appreciate their house being taken care of and you get a free get away – bonus! Just make sure that you leave it as good a condition as when you got there.
Parkrun
Parkrun is a worldwide organisation that arranges 5k runs every week; they are free and are for everyone whether you are new to running or not. There’s no reason not to get out exercising when it’s for free, outdoors and has the potential to make new friends.
Learn Something New
Try learning a new skill or sport, there are all the regular things to do like guitar, football etc but especially if you live in a university town then there are Softball clubs which let people try out for their teams, but for a price there are things like circus skills, drumming, burlesque dancing etc. Use this time to learn something new.
Car Boot Sales – Grab a Bargain!
Car boot sales are the weekend treat for the bargain hungry thrifty of us, some are free others a couple of pound but always a surprise as to what you’ll find, if nothing else there’s always a bacon butty waiting for you.
If you’re up for doing some clearing then take your car or borrow a friend’s and get car booting yourself. Usually it’s a fiver or so for the privilege of having your stuff riffled through but if you weren’t wearing it, using it or even knew it was there before the clear out then let someone else make some use of it. Whether you are shopping or selling it really is worth checking out different boot sales as they do all vary, a duff experience at one does not make it the rule.
Summer Festivals – Many local ones are Free!
Check out your town’s foodie festival, beer festival, poetry or music festival. Make use of your local activities and get to know people.
Give something back and Volunteer
Volunteering happens everywhere and in many guises in the summer on a nice day the best involve being outdoors. Check out your local council website and make note when you’re out and about. If you live near a canal there may well be an opportunity to help out on maintenance work, if there are projects that are Lottery funded there might be the same case. Local parks and nature reserves all like the help of volunteers and it all makes for an enjoyable time.