35 Ways to Have Cheap Fun With Friends

You don’t need to spend a fortune to have a good time. Here are 35 real-life ideas for fun, free (or super cheap) things to do with friends.

Socialising is essential for our well-being.

We’re social animals, after all.

Catching up with friends can add up if it involves drinks and bands and restaurants. But socialising doesn’t have to cost a fortune, or anything at all, really.

Whether you’re saving for a big goal or just trying not to blow your paycheck by Friday, there are heaps of fun ways to catch up with friends that don’t involve a $28 cocktail.

This article is packed with 25 ideas for having cheap fun with friends without overspending. Bring the snacks, round up your mates, and make good times affordable again.

Staying In: The Homebody’s Party Guide

Hanging out with friends is cheap when it’s done at home.

I’m old enough to remember just hanging out in a friend’s bedroom, listening to the latest release of a favourite band. Here are some other hanging-at-home ideas.

1. Potluck Dinners

Staying in and having friends over for dinner has come back in vogue over the last few years.

But you don’t have to do all the work.

Ask everyone to bring a dish to share — it spreads the load and makes for a fun, communal meal. Someone can bring nibbles, someone can bring a salad, two others some meat, for instance.

An alternative to potluck is to take turns entertaining at each other’s home so the cost is spread.

2. Progressive Dinners

Take the potluck idea one step further by eating each course at a different house (best if all friends live not too far away from each other – driving all over the city kinda negates the cost).

The idea is to have an entree at one house, mains at another, and dessert at a third. Built-in walks between courses are a bonus.

3. Game Evenings

Whether it’s board games, card games or charades, games can turn an ordinary night into one full of laughter.

I love a board game evening! So many good memories. An evening of Pictionary or Balderdash can be absolutely hilarious, with or without wine.

But you don’t need to have board games. Improv games like charades can also be a lot of fun.

You can do a Google search for after-dinner games, improv games, party games, and minute-to-win-it games for some ideas. Got a favourite game? Bring it along and rotate who hosts.

4. Movie Night

Pick a theme (rom-coms, musicals, 80s classics, Hitchcock, black and white) and queue up a mini movie marathon. Bring popcorn, dim the lights, and enjoy cinema vibes at home — PJs and mid-movie commentary allowed!

Local libraries loan and stream movies for free, and your local op-shop is a treasure trove of super-cheap DVDs (not to mention grandparents!).

5. DIY Cocktail Evening

Buying cocktails at a bar can be super expensive. Save a ton while enjoying all the sophistication of sipping martinis by having a cocktail party at home.

Plan a few cocktail recipes in advance and ask each friend to bring one bottle of booze and some nibbles – that way, the cost is spread out. It’s cheaper than a bar tab and way more relaxed, and if friends can crash at yours, then no one has to be the designated driver.

Consider making mocktails too for those who aren’t drinking — mint, citrus, and soda go a long way.

6. Theme Parties

Host a 90s night, a murder mystery, or a pool party if someone has one. Themes add a bit of silly structure and give everyone an excuse to dress up or bring a prop.

7. Craft Gatherings

Got crafty friends?

(And I mean that in the nicest possible way, not the mwah ha ha kinda way).

Bring your sewing, knitting, scrapbooking or hot glue gun and chat while you create. It’s low-pressure and hands-on — perfect for introverts who like doing while socialising.

Alternatively, if you’re wanting to get out, going to craft lessons can be a good way to learn a new craft, meet new people, hang out with your friends and start a new obsession hobby.

8. Have High Tea

High tea has come back into vogue because there’s something sumptuous about fancy china and little cakes.

Bake a few scones, slice up some cucumber, break out the good china (or scour the op-shop for a set), and bring back a little yesteryear with a high tea.

9. Jam Sessions

I’m not suggesting a day of chutney and preserves (although if that’s your jam, that would be a totally fun day too – see what I did there!).

But if you’ve got musical mates, get together and make some noise. My musical brother often has jam sessions with his mates.

For those of us who are not musically talented (that would be me), we can queue up a collaborative playlist and host a relaxed “listening party” with snacks and no pressure.

10. Chuck a Barbie

A few snags, a salad or two, white wine in the sun, and good conversation are all it takes for the perfect Sunday afternoon out in the yard, maybe with some backyard cricket thrown in.

11. Video Game Night

Dust off the Wii or boot up the PlayStation — Mario Kart, Just Dance, or trivia games can be a hilarious group activity (and surprisingly competitive).

A video games night (either in the same house or online) is a legit way to catch up with friends.

12. Host a Poker Game

Break out the chips and…chips for a friendly game of poker – no actual money down, though; let’s keep it frugal and fun!

13. Start your own Book Club

Love reading?

Why not start a book club with other book lovers?

The great thing about book club – apart from chatting about books with friends – is that it gets you reading books you normally wouldn’t, expanding your interests at the same time.

Check if your library has book club kits (ours does — and it’s free!). You get multiple copies of the same book.

Getting Outdoors: Frugal Fun That Doesn’t Feel Frugal

14. Go on a Picnic

Dinner in a container, blanket on the grass. Simple as that. Or make it a potluck-style spread in the park where everyone brings something. Thermos tea or a bottle of something bubbly is optional.

Picnics are so in atm. Pair a grazing platter with a free local concert, and you’ve got a chef’s kiss evening for next to nothing.

In Australia, many parks have bbq facilities, so consider a bacon and egg breaky on the beach or evening snags while the neighbourhood kids play on the swings.

15. Go Fishing

It’s not about the catch – I’ve never caught a thing. But like crafting keeps you hands busy while you relate, so does fishing, just in the outdoors, and if you’re lucky, in a tinny.

16. Support a Local Sports Club

Cheer from the sidelines of a local footy or cricket match — no expensive tickets required. You’re supporting the community and getting a night out with atmosphere.

17. Explore Your Inner Child

Do you ever look at a swing or a slide and think, “I want to go?”

Well, why not?

Swings. Slides. Footpath chalk. We don’t stop needing play just because we’re grownups. Embrace the silly — it’s free therapy.

18. Go Hiking or Biking

Pack snacks, pick a local trail, and explore together. If you’re lucky, there’s a swimming hole at the end. Or at least a good view.

Even if you’re in the city, you can do a historical walk or stroll the streets of an unknown suburb. Some places (especially tourist places) offer free or low-cost local guided tours that show you the historical attractions of your town or point out key flora and fauna in your local environment.

19. Casual Sport

Play some backyard cricket or shoot some hoops with your friends. No backyard? Take the Frisbee or even a hacky sack (throwback, anyone?) down to the local park or beach; it can be a great way to meet new people.

20. Join a Sports Team

There are loads of casual social sports leagues around — hockey, touch footy, even mixed netball. While not free, it’s a great low-cost way to get moving and meet new people.

21. Group Camping

Camping is fun, but camping is even more fun with a group of friends. Borrow, scrounge and share tents and other camping bits and bobs and enjoy some toasted marshmallows and ghost stories.

We’ve found a ton of camping gear at our local op shops for a fraction of the cost of new; also, our local scout group held a garage sale and sold off a lot of used camp gear, so keep an eye out for gently used bargains.

22. Walk and Talk

A couple of years ago, my friend and I got motivated and met every week for a walk and talk.

Exercising with a buddy or two takes away the boredom of exercise, and you can motivate each other to get fit, all while catching up.

Be Entertained for Less

23. Find Free Local Events

Check your local council’s website or Facebook Events and community pages — from free festivals and school fetes to jazz in the park, there’s often more happening than you think.

24. Try Low-Cost Events

As well as free events, keep an eye out for low-cost events.

Local drama society productions, school musicals, fashion parades, info nights, comedy nights, open mike, recitals, and open days.

The local University drama club can be a good source of theatre, and often the local TAFE has art showings as well as restaurants where you can get five-star food and service for a two-star cost.

26. Find Free Stuff

There are a ton of free things to do when you know where to look.

Libraries offer author talks, classes, and workshops. Many museums and art galleries are either free or have free sections for the public, while others have a free open day once a month.

And of course, parks, beaches, and nature reserves are your everyday free fun zone for outdoor recreation or just hanging with friends, coffee in hand.

27. Hunt for Deals

Keep an eye out for movie deals (or cheap-arse Tuesday, as it’s affectionately known in Australia), discounts, happy hour, daily specials, etc.

Other places to find deals include websites like Groupon, Scoopon, and Eventbrite, Facebook pages, and venue email lists.

Lunch is usually cheaper than dinner, as is dessert, so you could eat the most expensive meal at home and then head out for ice cream. BYO and drinks at home will also save you money.

28. Support Local Bands

While it’s always fun to see your favourite band or singer, it can be expensive.

For budget live music, skip the stadium and head to your local pub or café. Live music, no cover charge, and a much more relaxed vibe.

Not going to lie; we’ve sat outside venues with an ice cream or drink where we could listen to the music without the expensive drinks and meals.

29. Join Clubs or Memberships

From the RSL to your local cinema club, joining can save you heaps over the year — especially if you go regularly.

Take advantage of member discounts and services by joining your local RSL, football, surf or other club.

If you enjoy the local theatre society, art house movies, or museum, then membership to these venues can give large savings on the ticket price over the course of the year.

30. Celebrate the Holidays

Free public events like Carols by Candlelight or New Year’s fireworks, or Australia Day festivals make for great traditions without the price tag.

31. Learn to Dance

Community halls and local rec centres often host social dance nights for a small cost. A lesson followed by dancing – it’s super fun! I learned salsa once with a cheap lesson + dance evening combo.

32. Volunteer

Festivals, markets, and theatre groups are often looking for volunteers — and they usually throw in free entry, meals, or tickets as thanks.

Volunteering is a great way to make friends and get out of the house. It does involve some work, but that gives you a sense of purpose and helps you upskill. You won’t ‘click’ with every group, so if one group doesn’t vibe, try another until you find your tribe (the rhyming was unintentional, but I’m there for it!).

Modern Fun

33. Full Steam Ahead

Great for long-distance friends or introvert nights. You can vanquish dragons and conquer the Death Lord next level online with friends.

Many INDI games are cheap and the best on the market. Take the time to support a small developer and have fun at the same time.

(This section was fact-checked by my teenage son, who said conquering the Death Lord was factually incorrect. Mum note: try not to cheer too loud at 2 am; this does not make parents and neighbours happy.)

34. Start a Shared TikTok Challenge

Pick a theme (dance, recipe, DIY) and tag each other. It’s creative, silly, and costs nothing.

35. Chill with Guided Meditation Hangouts

Search YouTube for a free guided meditation or yoga workout to do together. Light a candle, make some tea, and chill together in total zen mode.

Entertainment and socialising with friends doesn’t have to break the budget, but you can have just as much fun (or more fun) by adopting a few frugal entertainment ideas.

What’s your favourite budget-friendly way to hang out with friends? Got a go-to idea we missed?

Drop it in the comments, or share this list with your friends and start planning your next frugal get-together.