I wish I could bottle up and sell the ecstatic mood that a few hours spent with friends leaves me in. If I could, I’d be a billionaire by now. No matter what the activity may be, my emotional battery is always recharged when I get the chance to see my friends live and in person instead of just sporadically sending them excellent memes in our group chat.
And far be it from me to deny the power of a luxe weekend girls’ trip, a post-work happy hour, or a Friday dinner reservation at an impossible-to-book TikTok hotspot. But there comes a point when those hangout options feel like they’ve been exhausted — and sometimes (most times?) my budget doesn’t allow for plane ticket splurges or multiple rounds of £15 cocktails.
That’s where this list comes in with the assist. It shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg to bond with your loved ones, so I whipped up 55 ideas for fun shenanigans to get into with the folks you value the most without having to empty your wallet. Steal an idea and feel free to take full credit for it in your group chat. I won’t tell.
55 fun and affordable things to do with friends
1. Have an at-home spa day
You could drop an entire pay cheque on massages, or you could recreate the whole experience from the comfort of your living room. Pick up a couple of sheet masks, play some relaxing YouTube sound bath videos, and you’re golden.
2. Host a closet cleaning party
You’ve put it off for long enough, so make it a group effort for motivation. Once you secure some space-saving organisers to manage your many belongings, invite your crew over to tidy it all up/get the first dibs on your ‘donate’ pile. After it’s all said and done, whip up some cocktails to reward yourselves for the productivity!
3. Play some board games
There’s nothing better than a classic game night. Have everyone bring their game (and drink) of choice for a night of competitive fun.
4. Go on a biking adventure
Hop on a Lime bike (or your own wheels, if you’ve got ’em) with no map and see where the day leads. The best journeys are usually unplanned, right? Just make sure you wear a helmet, please and thank you.
5. Plan a scavenger hunt
It’s the best way to see your city in a new light. And the winner gets bragging rights. Download a fun clue template, throw on your comfiest walking shoes, and get to scavenging!
6. Host an at-home open mic night
Encourage everyone to channel their inner poet, singer, or musician for an evening. All you need is your crew, a karaoke mic, and maybe just a dash of talent. (But it’s even funnier if you lack that last one.)
7. Throw a potluck dinner
Potlucks bring everyone together for the best reason of all: to eat! Use this as an excuse to embrace your inner Nigella and try out a yummy new recipe that’ll impress your nearest and dearest.
8. Plan a retro movie marathon
Watching old movies is way better with friends. Collect your favourite classic films, find a friend who still has a DVD player (or just stream it), and prepare for some memorable throwback moments.
9. Have a picnic in the park
All you need is a blanket, some snacks, fun drinks, and a portable speaker for a relaxing hangout. Your adorable picnic outfits deserve their moment in the sun, dammit!
10. Manifest your dreams with vision boards
Go after your goals by visualising them together. It’s a crafting and manifesting activity.
11. Explore local nature trails
We guarantee that you’ll discover something new, and you’ll capture pretty nature content to flex on the feed along the way.
12. Go scouting for vinyl records
A record collection is hands-down the coolest kind of collection one can have. Stop by a couple of charity shops and record stores, and see which albums you find.
13. Find a charitable cause to volunteer for
Giving back is so much more fulfilling when you can do it all together. Look into organisations that focus on a cause you all share an interest in, and get involved as a group.
14. Have a friendly bake-off
Compete to see who can pull off the most delicious recipe, and vote for a winner. You can feast on the finished products when it’s all said and done, so really, there are no losers here.
15. Host a clothing swap
Tired of your wardrobe? Instead of shopping for something new, ask your friends to contribute to a clothing and accessories swap so you can all switch up your looks without pulling out your credit cards.
16. Start a community garden
It can be so fun to flex your green thumb. Even if nothing grows right away, you’ll feel more connected to nature, which is always a plus!
17. Head to the beach
Or lake. Or river. Or pond. Just any body of water, really. Grab your cutest swimsuit, and allow the H2O to provide you with a moment of zen.
18. Teach yourselves a new skill
From juggling to knitting to making origami, there’s a YouTube tutorial for that. The more niche it is, the better party trick it’ll be.
19. Visit a free or reduced-admission museum
Many museums offer certain days with free or reduced admission, perfect for taking in a little culture on a budget.
20. Make a time capsule
Have everyone bring a couple of items to throw in the capsule, bury it, and make a pact to open it up 10 years from now. It’s a great way to ensure you’ll all stay in touch!
21. Rearrange your space
Watching too much Grand Designs got you inspired to switch up your home’s layout? Ask your friends for their design suggestions as you move things around.
22. Start a book club
That stack of books on your bookshelf isn’t going to get read unless you motivate yourself somehow. Whether your group is into romance novels, celeb memoirs, or escapist reads, collective reading (with some slight peer pressure to actually finish the book) is the best way to do it.
23. Go on a dessert crawl
I mean, dessert is the best part of the meal anyway. Pick a couple of spots to visit and indulge your sweet tooth. Everyone knows the entrée is just the pregame.
24. Play hairdresser
I’m not saying you should try cutting bangs or doing a balayage on your besties, but a fun little updo never hurt anyone. Get your blowout on!
25. Channel your inner painter
Host a paint-and-sip party at home with a bottle of bubbly, blank canvases, and paint supplies.
26. Start learning a new language
Accountability is key when you’re trying to master a different language, so get on the language learning apps with your friends. Plus, you’ll need people to practice chatting with!
27. Write letters to your future selves
Curious about what you’ll be like in five years? 10 years? 20 years? Write to yourself at those various stages and give the letters to your friends for safekeeping. Who knows, maybe your 2036 selves will get a good laugh out of the worries/haircuts/partners that you have now. Make sure to use some extra-fancy stationery for the hell of it.
28. Throw a playlist-swapping party
Who better to get new music recs from than the people who know you best? Assign each of your guests a specific vibe (‘for when you’re feeling yourself’, ‘for when you need a good cry’, etc.) and have them curate a playlist to match the mood. You can present the soundtracks to each other over wine and snacks!
29. Sports!
Your inner child would really appreciate a good PE class game, I’m sure of it. Consider hosting a classic game of rounders or even a few (gentle) rounds of British Bulldog at your local park.
30. Have an over-the-top photo shoot
Get glam for a fun shoot with friends. You can be goofy and play model; plus, your friends definitely know how to find your light. Just make sure you’ve got a decent camera to shoot with.
31. Go stargazing
Set aside an evening to gather on a rooftop or at a park and soak in the stars. It’s wholesome fun with the galaxy.
32. Look up some free gigs
Whether it’s at a pub or uni campus, you can usually find some musicians performing for free somewhere.
33. Plan a camping adventure
Set up that camping equipment anywhere in the great outdoors. It counts even if it’s in your garden! (Which, for the record, qualifies as a staycation.)
34. Walk it out
But don’t just walk anywhere. Plan a cool, impressive walk, with some fun (food-related) breaks in between.
35. Belt your heart out with karaoke
Where else can you unapologetically sing Celine Dion, be off-key, and still get a standing ovation? You don’t even need to drop cash for stage time at a pub — invest in an at-home karaoke machine to have a fun night on standby 24/7.
36. Have a PowerPoint party
Never heard of it? It’s when groups of friends get together to do presentations on each of their niche interests. If you’re drawing a blank on subject ideas, we’ve got you covered here!
37. Have a puzzle and wine night
Ask everyone to bring a puzzle and a bottle, then see how quickly you can put the pieces together. It’s a great way to exercise your brain, and teamwork makes the dream work.
38. Visit your local animal shelter
If one of you happens to leave with a puppy in hand, don’t say we didn’t warn you (but volunteering is a great option, too).
39. Join an amateur sports league
If you guys haven’t played sports since high school but miss getting competitive, this option is definitely for you. It’s just official enough to feel like a nostalgic sports day, but with less pressure (except when you’re doing the egg and spoon race obvs). It’s a great time to don your adorable workout wear, too.
40. Try out an escape room
There’s nothing like an IRL brain game to test your problem-solving skills and the patience you have for your loved ones. Browse Groupon for deals at local spots, then round up your crew to put those minds to work!
41. Attend a book or poetry reading
These are always going down at local bookstores and libraries, normally at no cost for attendees! Look up the schedules at places nearby to get a sense of who’s coming to read.
42. Donate blood
If no one in your group is squeamish, this activity is not only ideal for bonding, but it’s also super helpful to those in need.
43. Make bouquets
How’s this for wholesome? A flower arrangement party! Have everyone bring a bouquet and a vase, then mix and match all of the pre-existing arrangements to create your own masterpieces.
44. Spend time at the local library
It may sound basic, but we should stay reminded that libraries are basically heaven on earth. Pick a few books that you can all read together and exchange when you’re done. A publicly-funded book club! What could be better?
45. Learn some TikTok dances
Just silly, active fun. I’ll give you bonus points if you film the final performance and actually have the confidence to post it.
46. Play ‘How well do you know me?’
Put your friendships to the test! Each of you has to come up with a handful of personal trivia questions and quiz everyone else on them. If the questions stump your friends, no harm, no foul. That just means you’re getting to know everyone even more!
47. Try rock climbing
Do you remember that scene in The Princess Diaries where Mia and her mom discuss her royal heritage during a rock climbing session? It’s clearly a great setting for deep convos, if you ask me. Take your friends to the local climbing gym and get your bonding on.
48. Head to the countryside
Sometimes you just need to get out of the city. Drive to the nearest small town to explore and do some window shopping in a brand-new locale.
49. Go charity shopping
Finding an affordable gem in a charity shops is a high like no other — but it’s even better when you spot a bargain piece with your gang around to hype up your keen eye. We love an adventure that’s easy on the wallet and a win for your closet.
50. Colour!
Order a couple of colouring books online, or print out free templates. It’s soothing to turn your brain off and just doodle, but it’s even more fun if you gather your closest friends together and do it as a group. Throw on some calming music, and use this activity as an excuse to meet up and unwind.
51. Give each other manicures
Trips to the nail salon are fine and all, but they can get pricey. If you grab an at-home nail kit and a couple of fun polish colours, you and your friends can be nail techs for the day and get to work. You can even master gel manis at home. Who knows, maybe you’ll acquire a skill that’ll save you plenty of nail appointment costs further down the line.
52. Find a new show to binge-watch
Watching trash TV with your friends is one of the greatest, laziest joys life has to offer. But discovering new trash TV with your friends is even more special. Reserve a few hours to sit on the couch and breeze through that buzzy new Netflix drama or the chaotic docuseries everyone’s talking about.
53. Play show and tell
It’s not often that we get to speak at length about our passions to an attentive audience. Let’s allow you to do just that by bringing back this grade school activity. Have everyone select a random knick-knack/clothing item/family heirloom they own, and pick a night for you all to explain your items’ lore to each other.
54. Do a photo app deep dive
It’s way more entertaining to walk down memory lane with friends. One day, take some time to hunt for hilarious throwback photos of each other in your photo albums, and take turns presenting them to the group on a TV screen. It’ll make for a very informative presentation. You’ll be truly shocked by all the gems you can find deep in your digital archives when you set out to find them.
55. Flip through magazines for an afternoon
When was the last time you read an actual physical magazine? Make it a whole experience with drinks and fun throwback tunes. Might we suggest… looking through our own?
Annabel Iwegbue is a culture editor at Cosmopolitan, where she primarily covers pop culture, lifestyle, relationships, and digital trends. She previously wrote for Harper's Bazaar, The Knockturnal, and Black Film. She's originally from Charleston, South Carolina, and is currently based in Brooklyn, New York. She holds a B.A. in Journalism and Cinema Studies from New York University. You can check out some of Annabel’s work here and also find her on Instagram and Twitter.
