With my birthday fast approaching, I thought it would be fitting to write about a topic that is near and dear to my heart. That’s right, I’m talking about freebies and there sure are a lot of them available nowadays. In the past, I wrote about how to get free stuff on your birthday where restaurants and retailers that gifted their customers with free meals, desserts, and presents. This time around, I’m going to focus more on no cost things to do on your birthday. After all, even though it’s a time to celebrate, you don’t have to break the bank doing so.
Here are five ideas that you can do for free:
- Go Letterboxing. This beloved pastime is a scavenger hunt of sorts. With Letterboxing, you read clues and look for landmarks so that you can locate a waterproof box filled with a notebook and a custom stamp. To get started, you select a “trail name,” a rubber stamp that reflects your personality, a pencil or pen, a small sketch book, one or more ink pads or brush markers, a simple compass, and clues. Once you have located a box, you remove the stamp from it so you can stamp your own sketch book. You repeat the gesture using your stamp and the notebook found within the box. This is a great activity to do with kids as well as adults.
- Attend a free concert in the park. Summer is the perfect time to be outdoors. Look through your local newspaper and city’s calendar of events online for free activities that fall on your birthday. Pick up your favorite take-out food and spread out a blanket. You’re in for a fun and entertaining night. If you like a particular genre like Jazz or Classic Rock, look around town for posters and flyers advertising local bands and musicians.
- Borrow a movie from the library and invite your closest friends over. Stop by the library and see what types of titles they have and choose the one that interests you the most. Invite a few close friends and family members to stop by for a “Matinee”. Make a couple of bowls or bags of popcorn and serve up some cold drinks. (These items can be acquired very inexpensively at a dollar store or purchased in advance when on sale.)
- Finish one of your projects. If you like to knit, finish that baby blanket you started. If you like to draw, get outdoors and recreate the scenery in front of you. If you sew, create a new piece of clothing or add another panel or two to that t-shirt quilt. Write an original song, create a piece of jewelry, screenprint a shirt, start a collection….You get the picture. Whatever makes your heart sing, indulge!
- Spend the day volunteering for your favorite non-profit or charity. Spread a positive message by giving back to a community that has given to you. Your birthday is a great opportunity to spend time with the elderly, feed animals at the local shelter, tutor underprivileged youth or participate in a sports-related fundraising event. The smiles and conversation you will receive because of your efforts is better than any other birthday present you will receive.
Author: Charissa
Charissa is into frugal living and saving money.