Your social life doesn’t need a massive budget, just creativity. Here’s how to level up your hangouts without draining your wallet.
The Reality Check: The average teen spends $50-75 per weekend on entertainment, but most of that goes to overpriced movies, food, and impulse buys. What if you could cut that to under $20 and actually have MORE fun?
Here’s the game plan: 15 tested activities that won’t make your bank account cry.
1. Host a Dollar Store Extreme Challenge ($10-15 total)
How It Works: Hit Dollar Tree with $5-6 each and compete to create the wildest taste-testing station. Think sour candies, ghost pepper chips, bizarre soda flavors, and mystery snacks.
Expected Spend: $5-6 per person = instant entertainment for 2-4 hours
Action Step: Grab a basket, hit the snack aisle, and document reactions on video. The cringe-worthy faces make perfect TikTok content.
2. DIY Escape Room at Home (Free)
How It Works: Print free escape room templates online (complete with puzzles, codes, and missions), gather basic supplies like scissors and pens, and transform your basement into a mystery zone.
Expected Spend: $0 (uses stuff you already own)
Action Step: Search “free printable escape room” and pick your theme—spy mission, zombie outbreak, or treasure hunt.
3. Mall Scavenger Hunt ($0)
How It Works: Create a photo scavenger hunt list (find someone wearing purple, take a pic with a mall Santa, spot the weirdest product, etc.) and race through the mall without buying anything.
Expected Spend: $0 (window shopping only)
Pro Tip: Make it competitive with a point system. The winner gets bragging rights or the loser buys frozen yogurt (still under $5).
4. Backyard Movie Marathon ($8-12 one-time setup)
How It Works: Project a movie onto your garage wall or hang a white sheet between trees. Use a phone, tablet, or laptop as your projector. Add blankets, pillows, and homemade popcorn.
Expected Spend: $0 per hangout after initial setup (sheet/projector app)
Action Step: Download a free projector app, set it up after sunset, and create a whole vibe with string lights.
5. Thrift Store Fashion Challenge ($5 each)
How It Works: Each person gets $5 to buy ONE outfit they’ll actually wear to school. Set a timer, split up, and reconvene to show off your finds.
Expected Spend: $5 per person = new wardrobe piece + hours of fun
Challenge Mode: Do it in teams and vote on the best outfit. Post before/after pics for maximum engagement.
6. DIY Food Creation Night ($10-15 total)
How It Works: Make personal pizzas, build-your-own tacos, or create signature smoothies using ingredients from home. Everyone customizes their meal and rates each other’s creations.
Expected Spend: $10-15 split between friends
Bonus: It’s way cheaper than ordering delivery (which runs $40-60 for a group) and you actually learn to cook.
7. Free Community Events ($0)
How It Works: Check your town’s website or social media for free concerts, outdoor movies, festivals, farmers markets, and sports games. Most high school events are free or $5.
Expected Spend: $0-5 per person
Action Step: Follow your city’s parks department and community center on Instagram for weekly event drops.
8. Stargazing + Deep Talks (Free)
How It Works: Throw blankets in the backyard, pull up a stargazing app (free), and actually talk. Add snacks from home and you’ve got a memorable night.
Expected Spend: $0
Real Talk: This beats scrolling on your phones for hours. Plus, meteor showers and eclipses make it next-level.
9. Volunteer Together (Free + Feels Good)
How It Works: Sign up for a local beach cleanup, food bank shift, or animal shelter visit. Most accept teen volunteers and provide the supplies.
Expected Spend: $0 (often includes free snacks/t-shirt)
Win-Win: Looks great on college apps AND you’re hanging with friends doing something meaningful.
10. Bike to New Places ($0)
How It Works: Map a route to a spot you’ve never explored—a viewpoint, hidden park, weird local landmark, or cool neighborhood. Pack water and snacks.
Expected Spend: $0 (uses bikes you own)
Fitness Bonus: Burns calories while you socialize. It’s a workout that doesn’t feel like one.
11. Game Tournament at Home ($0)
How It Works: Set up brackets for board games, card games, or video games you already own. Make it official with a trophy (homemade or thrifted for $1).
Expected Spend: $0
Competitive Edge: Tag-team Twister, Minute-to-Win-It challenges, or Mario Kart championships keep everyone hyped for hours.
12. Photo Challenge Walk ($0)
How It Works: Create a themed photo challenge (golden hour portraits, weird angles, urban exploration) and walk around taking pics. Use your phones; no fancy camera needed.
Expected Spend: $0
Content Gold: You’ll end up with fire Instagram content and memories. Plus, photography skills level up.
13. Free Museum Days ($0)
How It Works: Most museums offer free teen admission days or discounted student rates. Check websites for monthly schedules.
Expected Spend: $0-5 per person
Action Step: Screenshot your student ID and plan around free days. Art museums, science centers, and history museums all count.
14. Frozen Yogurt Hangout ($3-7)
How It Works: Places like Menchie’s charge by weight, so you control the cost. Get a small cup and fewer toppings, and hang on the patio for hours.
Expected Spend: $3-7 per person for 2+ hours of hangout time
Cost Hack: Share toppings with friends to try more flavors without paying for full servings.
15. Build Something Creative Together ($5-10)
How It Works: Grab cheap supplies like sidewalk chalk, tie-dye kits, and friendship bracelet materials, and create together. Everyone leaves with something handmade.
Expected Spend: $5-10 split between group
Memory Maker: DIY projects feel more personal than buying stuff, and you’ll actually wear/use what you make.
Quick Wins Summary
Total Potential Savings: $30-55 per weekend (compared to typical $50-75 spending)
Time Investment: Zero extra time—just smarter choices
Difficulty Level: Beginner-friendly (anyone can do these)
Best For: Teen friend groups, dates, or solo activities
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Q: Will my friends think these ideas are lame?
Not if you present them right. Focus on the experience, not the price tag. Most people prefer fun hangs over expensive boring ones.
Q: How do I convince friends to try budget options?
Be honest: “Let’s save money so we can hang out more often.” Or challenge them: “Bet I can plan something better than the mall for under $10.”
Q: Do I really need to track spending?
Only if you want to see how much you’re saving. Try it for one month; you’ll be shocked at the difference.
Q: What if we live in a small town with nothing to do?
Most of these work anywhere. Small towns often have better outdoor spaces, free community events, and cheaper thrift stores anyway.
Q: Can these work for dates too?
Absolutely. Some (like stargazing and backyard movies) are actually more romantic than typical dinner dates.
Level Up Your Social Life Without Going Broke
Here’s the secret nobody tells you: The best hangouts aren’t about spending money; they’re about spending time. These 15 activities prove you can have epic weekends, build stronger friendships, and actually save money for things that matter (concerts, trips, and that thing you’ve been wanting).
Challenge: Pick three activities from this list and try them this month. Track what you spend versus what you would’ve spent on your usual plans. Most people save $100-200 per month just by swapping two expensive hangouts for creative budget ones.
Your Move: Screenshot this list, send it to your group chat, and plan your first budget-friendly hangout this weekend. Tag us with your results; we want to see your Dollar Store challenge faces and DIY creations.
Join 50,000+ teens who’ve discovered that broke doesn’t mean boring. Start planning your next epic hangout now.
