Low spend activities for young adults

My New Year’s resolution? I want to spend time with my friends that doesn’t involve buying a $13 dollar drink I don’t finish. Cheap thrills usually have a negative connotation, but these days, fun, low-spend activities among good company is exactly what I’m looking for. 

All of these activities pair well with alcohol or mocktails, friends, and your budget. 

Return to hosting

The renewed emphasis on hosting started with Nara Smith, then Instagram users hosted coffee shops and baked goods in their homes, and now Martha Stewart’s Entertaining is back in print. Between authenticating our emails and passwords, AI integrating its way into everything, Y2K being “so back,” and the consistent chokehold of social media, the hosting trend may reflect our culture’s craving for simpler times. Or at least provide excuses to be unplugged. 

“The return of analog” is a cultural shift that influencers are promoting on social media. It emphasizes activities with tangible items like coloring, reading a print magazine, or watching movies on DVDs. It’s about a quiet rebellion against technology’s chains of addictive doomscrolling and parasocial relationships. The trend embraces what makes us human, creative, and nostalgic. You don’t have to look any further for a lifestyle shift in 2026 because this one comes with the perk of being conveniently cheap!

Cut, paste, stay awhile

The allure of crafting isn’t your skill level, but to expand your mind, relax, and break the barriers between you and the creative act. Sift through the junk drawer or make a quick stop at Michael’s or Hobby Lobby. Bring out your inner child with a coloring book, a collage, or try your hand at those cute paperchains from Pinterest.

The literary group chat  

You know that award winning novel you’ve been using as a coaster on your coffee table? Your friends would probably benefit from reading it, too. Pick a date once a month to catch up, share a baked good, tea, or coffee. It’s a great excuse to see friends consistently rather than trying to schedule catching up and never following through.

Plays well with others  

Boardgames are so underrated! Want to find out which one of your friends has a mean streak, ahem, is competitive? Here’s your chance. Netflix games or Jackbox are interactive online group games that use your TV blending trivia, writing, drawing, and suspense for a leveled up game night.

The (un)scheduled scenic route 

Walks and hikes are the perfect debrief with beautiful views. Wake up early for a sunrise or enjoy a sunset at the end of the day. Walking to your local farmer’s market or a vendor’s fair are great third places that usually have free entry. 

A warm excuse to linger 

Fire it up, literally. Bonfires and BBQs provide a great space to hang out at night, and the best part is there’s no closing time. 

Listening party or dance party 

Have a fan favorite podcast? A new album just dropped? Invite friends over and watch the podcast together with popcorn. Dance like nobody’s watching to a concert that was recorded on YouTube. No tickets, no line, and a VIP section from the comfort of your home? Say less. 

Entertainment reconsidered  

Free live music can become an easy, laid-back ritual for friends, family and anyone else you want to invite. Try turning your living room into a theater by hosting a movie night. Host a PowerPoint party where everyone shares hot takes, life updates, or niche obsessions via your TV for an evening that’sequal parts unserious and oddly intimate. And volunteering? A built-in way to spend time together, laugh, and do something meaningful for your community, all without spending a cent.

Cuticles, cucumbers, and chill

Skip the expensive massage. All you need is an at-home manicure (maybe some press-ons if you want a new set), a face mask, and cute pajamas. This is the cheat code to relaxation and rejuvenation. No appointment required.