Four Ideas for Free Summer Entertainment

Do you find yourself with some extra time this summer, but not extra cash? Here are some ideas to help you beat summer boredom, without even breaking out your wallet.

Library Movie Rentals
Netflix costs money.  The theater costs money.  Blockbuster costs money. What is a frugal movie buff to do? Try your local library! Sounds cliché and lame, I know, but I've found that the key to a successful library DVD rental is preparation. You might not find anything you like if you go to the library on a whim and browse their selection. You're much better off to put together a list of movies you would like to see and search for them on your library's online database. You can usually make reservations online and pick up the movies when they're ready. If you live in a bigger city, there's a good chance that the movies you want are in at least one of the libraries around town, or you might be able to reserve from another city's library through InterLibrary Loan. The only downside of library rentals is that it's hard to get new releases, and you might have to wait a few weeks to get your movie. I recommend finding a list of top ten movies in a genre and reserving as many as you can. It's a great way to check out older movies you might not have wanted to spend money on renting. Right now, I'm working my way through the movies on Design*Sponge's "living in" feature.

Geocaching
Do you like puzzles?  Do you have a GPS device or a smartphone (or have a bored friend that does)? Then give geocaching a try!  It's a great way to get outdoors, explore new places, and play detective. Geocaching is a game where you try and find “caches” hidden by other players all around the world. Even in my small hometown of less than 10,000 people, there are geocaches hidden all over the city and countryside! Go to http://geocaching.org/ to find geocaches in your city. (Disclaimer: If you don't have a GPS device, you may have to spend about $10 on a smartphone application, but the fun lasts all year long!)

Free Events
Summer is a great time for festivals, fairs, parades, workshops, and outdoor concerts. Check your local newspaper and news websites in your area for fun, free, summer events. This can be a great opportunity to try a new activity, learn more about a hobby, and meet new people.

Volunteering and Teaching
Volunteering doesn't have to mean working at the soup kitchen, and teaching doesn't have to mean standing in a classroom all day. Volunteering and teaching can be great ways to enjoy your favorite activities for free, while helping others along the way!  Check with your local park office, community college, or other organization that provides summer clubs, camps, or classes, and ask if you can volunteer to help out. Swimming, gardening, dance, arts and crafts, music, sports, cooking; the possibilities are endless! If your favorite activities aren't being offered anywhere, consider finding out how you could start your own class. Either way, you'll be able to have fun and gain useful experience in your interest of choice.