How to have fun without breaking the bank

Thanks to Government austerity measures there is not much cash to spare anywhere. Fear not though, as this doesn't mean hair shirts are compulsory and all social activities must come to an end. There are still plenty of ways to have fun without spending a single penny.

Couple on beach

Get cultured

Don't forget that, for now, museums and galleries are still free so, even if you only have half an hour to spare, it is well worth popping in because you are bound to discover something new. The museum finder at www.eurocosm.com gives a useful guide to places in your area. Alternatively, why not check out local pubs and theatres that regularly hold amateur dramatic nights to give new talent a chance? Or, if books are your bag, keep an eye out for local bookstore events where well-known authors will conduct readings and question and answer sessions to promote their latest novels.

Turn on

DVD rental has come on a long way since the days when you had to slog to the High Street to choose a film before you could curl up on the sofa for a quiet night in. Now they simply arrive by post. DVD firms are not quite so generous with their free trials any more, but it is possible for the very organised to get a string of free rentals by signing up to free trials and then cancelling them when they expire. The main firms, www.lovefilm.com, www.blockbuster.co.uk and www.cinemaparadiso.co.uk all currently offer two weeks for free – just make sure that you keep a careful note of when the trials end or you could end up with a handful of unwanted direct debits.

Tune in

Whether you are into jazz, folk or pop music, enjoy a good carnival, or fancy some performance art with some pyrotechnics thrown in, there are hundreds of events for everyone and the best thing is they are absolutely free (although you may wish to buy an ice cream). Find out about events near you with www.free-events.co.uk.

Drop out

If you have an eye on mainstream festivals in 2011, such as Glastonbury, Leeds and Reading, it is possible to get in for nothing if you volunteer with big charities such as the Samaritans or Oxfam and put in some graft on an 8.25 hour shift. Alternatively try www.networkrecycling.co.uk, which will ask you to do up to 12 to 18 hours of picking up litter for your entry, or www.stuartsecurity.co.uk gives stewards free tickets in return for eight hours work. So why not make a note to apply for the 2011 festivals at the end of the year?

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