Fun Things For College Students To Do With Little or No Money

I originally wrote this on another site, I thought I should update it, and move it over here.

What Can We Do On Campus?

This is both an easy and tough question at the same time. There are a great many things you can do cheaply and even free...but you can be limited by where you're at. I'm going to start with a fairly generic list of things that you should be able to accomplish anywhere, and we'll move on from there.

Lucky for you, being a college student means lots of chances for free activities. Check around campus for starters, and you should be able to find a number of things that you can do for low cost, or no cost.

Even at the local Jr. College you can usually find some type of concert, play, or event happening on campus. Often these are free, or very cheap with your student ID. We have a small art exhibit area, where the art students display their current works, there's a self guided tour of the dinosaur exhibits that run you across most of campus, and we have a small museum with a bunch of animals (stuffed).

Even if you're not into sports, it can get you out of that dorm room! Most colleges and universities have all kinds of sporting events, Football, Basketball, Baseball, Tennis, etc. Students get in free, and you can show your school spirit GO TEAM!. You can also often find intramural teams, and get involved instead of just being a spectator.

Most campuses have open swim times for the pool and weight rooms. If you explore around some, you might also find open times for students to go in and play basketball, racquetball, and other sports type activities. Have fun, meet others, free, and stay in shape, its an all-around win!

We'd best not forget all the sponsored activities as well, are the Greeks hosting a "casino night", dances on campus, speakers (we have a hypnotist show every year here), movie nights... You should be able to find out what's going on by checking with your local "Student Life" department. Some campuses have a "play room" also, with ping-pong tables, pool tables, and a place to hang out and meet others.

Off Campus ideas after the jump!



What About Off Campus?

Leaving campus has its perks, but sometimes takes a bit more effort on your part. Make sure transportation is arranged (Do people need to pitch in for gas?), everyone has directions, and don't forget anything. Its not quite like running back to your dorm.

There are things that get harder depending on where you are, how much time you're thinking of spending, and what kinds of things you like to do.

Some of the funnest times I've seen had are "group dinner nights". You'll have to adapt this one a little to your situation but take say, six friends. You all jump into the car and head to the local store. When you get there, split into groups of two and each group gets a set amount of money, say $10 ($5 each if you want to have everyone pitch in). Now assign each group something, say the first 2 get "appetizers", the second 2 "main course", and the third 2 get "dessert". Split up, and spend. I always liked to have a prize for the pair that spends the closest to the full dollar amount. Encourage creativity, appetizers could be chocolate dipped bananas...it doesn't have to be traditional. Feel free to even come up with a theme people have to try and stick to. When everyone is done, head back to the house, and "make dinner".

Have a picnic, but not just any old picnic, spice it up. One of the best picnics I ever had, we dressed up in formal attire, and laid out a blanket and had a picnic...IN THE MALL! You might need permission depending on where you go.

Get together and watch the sunset...and maybe the sunrise too, filling the night with whatever activities strike your fancy... Play some wiffle ball (usually found pretty cheap), Frisbee golf down at the park, take some time and make out a scavenger hunt for your friends that runs them around town, or campus.

If you're friends are into writing, share a story. One person starts the writing, go for a few paragraphs, and pass the paper. Start it however you like, one writes, the rest can work on a drawing to illustrate it...or everyone starts a story, and passes the paper...so you have multiple stories happening. Start a "Choose Your Own Adventure" type story, where you do the writing, and your friends make the choices...writing as you go!

If you have friends that are outgoing, and willing to be embarrassed, there's a number of improv games http://fuzzyco.com/improv/games.html that are great fun, and even more fun if you take them on the road (remember the mall...or some well traveled area on campus).

Remember you're only limited by your imagination on what might be fun, and be willing to be silly. You'd be surprised how much fun college kids can have with a big box of Crayola's and a few coloring books!

I'll send happy and fun thoughts your way, make sure to post some comments on ideas you try, or more ideas you have!