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Cheap things to do on a Saturday: Grandma says rest is a chore you're allowed to finish

Meet Grandma and Auntie, and pick the faces that feel like family.

Mm-hm. It's Saturday, the calendar is empty, and the wallet is thin. Plenty of folks are typing the same thing into their phones this morning: cheap things to do on a Saturday, free things to do this weekend, what do I do with a day that has no plans? Grandma's answer starts with something people forget to count. Rest is a chore too, and it's one you're allowed to finish.

Here's what I've learned. We treat a free Saturday like a test we're failing if we don't fill it. So we either spend money we don't have trying to look busy, or we lie on the couch feeling guilty about lying on the couch. Neither one does you any good. A good Saturday doesn't cost much. It mostly needs a little plan and a little permission.

Start with rest, on purpose

Put rest at the top of the list, the same as you would the laundry. Then do it all the way, not halfway with one eye on your phone.

  • Sleep in without setting a reason. You don't owe anybody an excuse for an extra hour.
  • Make a slow breakfast. Pancakes, grits, eggs however you like them. Eat it at the table, not standing at the counter.
  • Take a real nap. Shoes off, blanket on, curtains pulled. Twenty minutes or two hours, both count.
  • Sit outside for a spell. A porch, a stoop, a bench, a window with the sun coming in. Watch the leaves and the neighbors. That's free entertainment folks used to know about.
  • Call it done. When you get up from that nap, tell yourself, "That chore's finished." Then you can move on without guilt following you around.

Free and cheap things to do around town

Once you're rested, a little getting out does the heart good. Most towns have more free things going on than people realize.

  • Go to the public library. Books, movies, music, magazines, and often free classes or story hours. Your library card might be the best deal in town.
  • Take a long walk somewhere new. A park you've never tried, a trail, a different neighborhood. Fall leaves don't charge admission.
  • Check the community calendar. Your city's website, the library board, or the local news usually lists free concerts, markets, church fish fries and craft fairs. Many museums have a free day too.
  • Walk the farmers market. You can enjoy it with five dollars or none. Smell the bread, talk to the man with the honey, take a sample.
  • Window-shop with no card. Leave the cards at home, bring a little cash for a coffee, and just look. Looking is free.

A cheap Saturday at home that doesn't feel like a waste

Staying in can be just as sweet if you treat it like an occasion instead of a leftover.

  • Cook one big pot of something. Red beans, soup, chili. It fills the house with a good smell and feeds you half the week.
  • Do a little project you keep putting off. Hang the picture, fix the drawer, repot the plant. Finishing one small thing feels better than starting ten.
  • Have a movie or game night. Popcorn on the stove, a free movie from the library, cards or dominoes at the table.
  • Call or invite somebody over. A potluck costs everyone one dish. Company makes a cheap meal feel like a feast.
  • Write in a notebook. What went right this week, what you want next week. It's a quiet way to clear your head.

And if the day gets a little too quiet, there's somebody to talk to. That's what Ally is for. Grandma Grounded is around any hour, and you can type, send a voice note, or call. Tell her how your Saturday's going, or what's on your mind. She listens, and she'll be honest with you. Then Auntie Grounded comes in at the end to send you off right.

Auntie's last word

Okay now, listen to your Auntie. Nap without apologizing. You earned it, chile. You worked all week, you handled your business, and nobody's handing out medals for running yourself ragged on a Saturday. Take the walk, cook the pot of beans, read the library book, and when your eyes get heavy, let them. A good day doesn't have to cost a thing. I see you taking care of yourself. Keep it up.

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