Busy parents, you’re not alone if your wallet looks a little thin come Friday night. Between groceries, petrol, subscriptions you forgot you still have, and the random “emergency” unicorn toy, it’s easy to wonder how anyone funds family fun these days—short of mortgaging their future or robbing a bank.
Good news: the best memories are free, and your kids will forget the expensive stuff (but not that time Mum wore a cape made out of tea towels).
Ready for a weekend that brings everyone together—without draining your bank account or sanity? Here are 20 no-spend ideas that work for families with toddlers, tweens, and everyone in between.
1. Backyard Camping
Who says you need a fancy campsite? Drag out the tent, or make a fort from old sheets and garden chairs. Add torches, sleeping bags, and a suspiciously large supply of snacks.
Share ghost stories (age-appropriate, unless you want company in your bed at 2 a.m.) or listen to the night sounds. No tent? Try a “camp-in” on the lounge room floor.
2. Home Movie Night
Screen a family favourite or introduce the kids to your childhood classics. Get creative with popcorn—add a sprinkle of cinnamon, or go wild and mix in some pretzels. Bonus points for homemade movie tickets and an usher in a bow tie (Dad, are you listening?).
According to child development experts, sharing movies can spark conversation and connection.
3. Nature Scavenger Hunt
Write a list of things to find outside: a feather, a weird-shaped rock, a flower that isn’t yellow, a cloud that looks like an animal. The beauty of this activity: the only limit is your imagination (and p
ossibly your tolerance for muddy children).
4. Bake-Off Challenge
Open the cupboard and see what’s lurking. Can anyone make a dessert from what’s already in the house? Assign teams, agree on a “mystery ingredient,” and let the flour fly. This is less about Mary Berry precision, more about family silliness.
5. Visit a Local Park or Playground
Even if you’ve been to every slide in a ten-mile radius, kids will surprise you with how much fun they can wring from a stick. Make a game of trying a new park, or invent silly challenges (“How many swings can you try in one day?”).
6. Family Game Tournament
Break out the board games, cards, or even DIY your own. Winner gets to choose dinner, or, for the truly brave, control of the TV remote for an entire evening.
7. Creative Arts Afternoon
Gather whatever you have: old magazines, glue, crayons, cardboard boxes destined for recycling. Today, it’s an art studio. Make collages, paint rocks, or challenge everyone to draw a funny self-portrait.
Studies show that art plays a huge role in kids’ emotional wellbeing.
8. Take a Hike (Literally)
Look up a local nature trail, wildlife reserve, or even a public footpath you’ve never noticed. Bring binoculars for birdwatching. Pack some sandwiches to stave off the “I’m starving!” chorus you’ll hear ten minutes in.
9. Family Storytelling Circle
Light a candle, grab some cushions, and take turns telling stories—real or invented. Younger ones might love acting out their part. This is a brilliant way to boost imagination and family bonds, and it costs exactly £0.
10. DIY Science Experiments
Don your safety goggles (or, you know, sunglasses) and turn the kitchen into a lab. Vinegar and baking soda volcanoes, homemade slime, or growing a bean in a jar—all classics. For ideas that use household bits, The Royal Institution has a treasure trove of activities.
11. Family Photo Treasure Hunt
Hand out old phones or cameras. Make a checklist: “Snap a picture of something red, something round, something that makes you laugh.” Meet back up and share your best shots. This works indoors too, on especially rainy days.
12. Host a Toy Swap
Tired of the same old toys? Rummage through your own stash, or invite neighbours to bring their gently used ones for a swap session. Kids love new-to-them treasures, and you might free up space in the toy chest.
13. Free Local Events
Many libraries, museums, and community centres offer free events—storytime, crafts, or local history walks. Check online listings or community notice boards. You’d be surprised how many gems are just down the road.
14. Garden Olympics
Set up silly challenges in your backyard: egg-and-spoon races, sack races, wheelbarrow relays. Award medals made from cardboard and string (and eternal family glory).
15. Family Playlist Dance Party
Everyone chooses a couple of tunes—yes, even granddad’s questionable disco choices. Crank up the volume and have a living room dance-off. According to research, dancing together can boost mood and family cohesion.
16. Explore Your Family Tree
Share funny family stories, look at old photos, or call a relative and interview them. Kids love hearing wild tales about their ancestors (“Wait, Uncle Terry had a pet goat?”). Free online resources like FamilySearch can help you start mapping out your tree.
17. Try a New Recipe Together
Without heading to the shops, scan the pantry and fridge, then search for recipes using only what you have on hand. Let the kids be sous-chefs (or, at the very least, chief taste-testers). Bonus: dinner gets sorted.
18. Learn Something Together
Tackle a new skill—origami, a few words in another language, even juggling socks (nothing breakable, please). YouTube is bursting with free tutorials. The act of learning as a family sends a powerful message that curiosity is always in style.
19. Volunteer as a Family
Pick up litter in your favourite park, write thank-you notes for community helpers, or find a local group in need of volunteers. Kids develop empathy and a sense of pride from helping others. According to experts, volunteering boosts happiness in children and adults alike.
20. Star-Gazing Night
Wait for a clear evening, grab a blanket and head outside. Use a free app like Stellarium to help spot constellations, or just marvel at the night sky. Ancient humans did this for thousands of years—no subscription required.
Making It Stick: Why Free Fun Matters
Children don’t remember the price tag—just the laughter, the togetherness, the sight of Dad stuck halfway up the apple tree because he “used to be good at climbing.” No-spend weekends are a chance to slow down and say, “Yes, we have each other, and that’s more than enough.”
Pressured to keep up with Instagram-perfect outings or expensive play centres? That’s noise. What your kids crave is connection, not costliness.
And yes, there will be whining (this is parenting, not a fairy tale). But stick with it, tweak these ideas to fit your crew, and you’ll find your family’s favourite traditions are the ones money can’t buy.
Try one—or all—of these activities this weekend. Your wallet will thank you, your children will surprise you, and you just might rediscover the joy hiding in plain sight.
And if the kids say they’re bored? Hand them a broom. Boredom never lasts long after that.
