It’s true that laughter is the best medicine, and some of the best belly-aching laughs come from moments spent with friends. Not only can friendships provide a valuable support system to get you through any hardships that life may throw your way, but they also offer a way to unwind and improve your mental health through reducing feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety.

Spending time with your friends doesn’t have to force you to rearrange your monthly budget. There are so many things to do with friends that can be done for little to no cost–all it takes is a little planning and creativity.

Enjoy a Coffee Date

Support local businesses, explore tasty new brews, and enjoy conversations with good company by exploring local coffee shops in your area. Instead of going to your daily coffee spot, try a cafe that neither you nor your best friend have visited!

Start a Book Club

Immerse yourself in different worlds and gush over superb plots together! Creating or joining a book club allows you to tackle the reading list you’ve been building, participate in deep discussions, and encourages you to explore new stories you wouldn’t typically choose. Most physical copies of books have a list of discussion questions in the back to help inspire conversation.

Volunteer Together

Find a charity or nonprofit organization you’re both passionate about and see if volunteer opportunities are available. Organizations such as local food pantries and animal shelters are almost always seeking new volunteers. Sign up for a shift with your best friend and  give back to the community while spreading positivity!

Go Fruit Picking

Spending the day outside at an orchard or berry patch can be a relaxing and rewarding experience. The perfect time to catch up with one another and forage for fresh produce to turn into a tasty pastry, simple syrups, or snack trays. Many you-pick produce patches charge by the pound, so plan accordingly!

Spend the Day Crafting

Unwind from your hectic schedules and spend the afternoon working on craft projects together. Head to your local craft store and pick up some inexpensive paints or DIY kits and start creating. Try decorating mugs, complete a diamond painting kit, or make little paintings for each other!

Visit a Museum or Gallery

There’s nothing like spending the day at an art museum with your best friend admiring the works of art and discovering more about the world. If you’re an artistic duo, you may even want to grab a sketchbook and create your own renditions of the artwork! Many museums and galleries offer discounted or free admissions during specific times and days of the week; if possible, try to schedule your friend date during these times to reduce your spending!

Make Friendship Bracelets

Take a page out of Taylor Swift’s handbook and spend the day making friendship bracelets. Grab a set of colorful plastic beads, letter beads, and elastic thread. Add your initials, create rainbow gradients, or spell out your inside jokes!

Try a New Recipe

Friend dates are the perfect time to try all the mouth-watering recipes you have collected on your Pinterest boards. Whether it’s an easy sushi roll or cookies, find a recipe or two that looks appetizing, shop for the ingredients, and get to cooking. To diversify your menus, try a recipe you wouldn’t typically make. Who knows–you may find a new favorite. 

Run Errands Together

Not every hangout session needs to be extravagant. Activities that allow you to spend time with each other while checking off tasks from your mile-long to-do list can be just as fun. From shopping for groceries to shipping packages, spend the day cruising (or walking) around the town tackling both of your to-do lists. And of course, don’t forget to get a little coffee treat along the way.

Try New Workouts

If the thought of going to the gym alone brings on feelings of anxiety, try a new workout with your best friend. There are so many tutorials you can follow online, so you can stay active in the comfort of your home. For a more fun workout, opt for a dance lesson. Dancing together to cheesy ‘80s aerobics videos is a great way to stay active and create lasting memories with your friends.

Go On a Walk

If you’re in need of some fresh air, head outside together and walk a bit. Enjoy the scenic views of local parks or go to a different neighborhood in town to discover new shops and cafes. A short walk not only helps get your body moving, but it allows for plenty of time to catch up with your best friend!

Go To a Live Show

Experiencing live entertainment with your closest companions can help you let loose and celebrate the joys of life. Share laughs at a comedy club or dance like no one is watching at a small artist’s concert. While you’re planning your date, check Facebook or Instagram to see if any performances are happening near you.

Have a Movie Night at Home

Some of the best memories made are those nights at home. Grab your fluffiest blankets, more snacks than you can eat, beverages, and melt into the sofa with your best friend. Take turns selecting movies and enjoy a marathon of each of your favorite films. If you have opposite tastes in genres, this is the perfect time to show each other the films and characters that inspired who you are today.

Create Vision Boards

Conversations with your closest friends about your hopes and dreams for the future can help inspire and motivate. Put these dreams into a vision board to help keep you each inspired year-round. Collect all the magazines laying around your home and begin snipping images of homes, clothing, food, and phrases that align with your goals.

Try a Side Job Together

In this economy, everyone could benefit from a side hustle. Whether you’re walking dogs or delivering meals, make your side hustle more enjoyable by doing your jobs together! Then, at the end of your shift, split the earnings! 

Go Thrift Shopping

Spend the day hitting your favorite thrift stores and search for the most unique finds for your home or closet. Thrifting is a budget-friendly way to refresh your wardrobe and decor. If you’re looking for a challenge, try shopping for each other! Curate a capsule wardrobe that fits each person’s style, or pick an outfit for them to wear on your next night out!

Visit the Farmers Market

Wander the stalls at your local farmers market together and discover new varieties of produce you didn’t know existed! The farmers market not only offers delicious treats, but you can also learn more about seasonal produce and get recommendations from the farmers on new ways to cook your ingredients. Once you’re done, head back home and prepare a mouth-watering meal from all the treasures you found!

Go On a Picnic

If the forecast is calling for sunny skies, head outside and enjoy a picnic. A great opportunity for good food, conversation, and plenty of laughs, pack a basket packed with an assortment of fruits, vegetables, and cheeses, along with a quilt. If you’re looking to make a day of outdoor festivities, bring a book, art supplies, and a camera! Together, you can watch the clouds, catch up on your reading list, and paint a new masterpiece.

Take a Tour Of Your City

Pretend to be tourists for a day and tour your city. Choose a landmark or historical site that interests both of you in your city or nearby. If available, sign up for a guided tour to experience the sites through the lens of an expert. This can help create a deeper understanding of the past and provide a great opportunity for meaningful conversations with friends.

Host a Cocktail Night

Practice your mixology skills and take turns creating unique cocktails or mocktails. The perfect activity for a group of friends, choose a theme and share your creations! Cocktails inspired by your favorite book, your favorite celebrity, or your ex are a few fun themes you can consider.

Sign Up For a Class

Many small businesses and organizations host classes for the community to learn new skills. Choose a skill you both want to enhance or learn and spend an evening in class. Whether you’re interested in cooking, crocheting, or dancing, learning something new can provide an enriching experience and help you discover new hobbies to share with each other!

Host (or Attend) A Trivia Night

Do you and your best friend know everything there is to know about Taylor Swift, Gilmore Girls, or classic literature? If so, it’s time to flex your combined knowledge at a trivia night! While many coffee shops and cocktail bars host trivia nights, if there are no events happening near you, host your own! All you need are some questions and prizes!

Have a DIY Spa Night

A night of pampering yourself is a must, especially when it’s done with your best friend. Turn your home into a spa and create face masks, lip scrubs, and exfoliators with the ingredients in your pantry. To create a relaxing ambiance, queue a soothing playlist and relax as you rejuvenate your skin and give your best friend a one-of-a-kind manicure.

Explore New Cities

Spend the day exploring a neighboring city! Whether big or small, every city has hidden gems just waiting to be discovered. Take a drive or train ride to a new city near you to begin your adventure! While you’re there, explore historic landmarks, try a new restaurant or coffee shop, and check out a few of the small businesses!

Visit a Greenhouse

Plant nurseries can instantly boost your mood. Whether you have a green thumb or kill every plant you touch, wandering the aisles of a greenhouse together can be a fun and relaxing experience to enjoy together. If you’re in the mood to expand your garden or collection of houseplants, take turns choosing plants for each other!

Have a Puzzle & Wine Night

Unplug from your devices and work on a jigsaw puzzle and enjoy a glass of wine together! A great way to exercise your mind, a puzzle provides hours of fun, and maybe some frustration as you try to shove mismatched pieces together. 

Host a Fashion Show

Who else remembers the fashion shows held at home after going back to school shopping? It’s time to bring them back and make them better with your best friend. Go through each other’s wardrobes and create the most stunning or the most silly outfits possible. Don’t forget to create a super professional runway with pillows in your living room!

Go Mini Golfing

Enjoy stomach-clenching laughs as you challenge each other to a friendly game of mini golf. This fun and affordable activity allows you to show off your skills, or lack thereof, while providing endless laughs and memories.

Make S’Mores

Enjoy gooey goodness and spend the evening making s’mores by the fire. A cozy activity for fall, sit around the fire and share stories and memories while you snack. If you don’t have access to a fire pit, roast them in an airfryer or over the stove!

Find a New Comfort Show Together

Take a break from rewatching Gilmore Girls or New Girl and find a new comfort show you can binge watch together. This will give you new memories to share and new characters to love!

Go On a Hike

Breathe in fresh air and get your body moving by going on a hike together! Research hiking trails near you and set off for an outdoor adventure. While you’re hiking, look for pretty rocks to add to your displays, or find wildflowers to press!

Have a Photoshoot

Grab a blanket or curtain to hang as a backdrop, put on your best outfits, and start snapping pictures together and solo. Perfect for refreshing your social media pages, this activity can be done without spending a penny - just use what you have lying around your space and get creative! 

While you can easily video chat with your friends over the phone, nothing can replace in-person interaction. Every relationship requires time and effort. A nurtured friendship can be one of the most rewarding aspects of your life–when you invest time into your friendships, you’re investing time into yourself, your happiness, and your personal growth.