Without Spending a Dime

In honor of Labor Day, here’s a quick Top-Ten list.

1. Jump in a lake: It’s officially the last day of the summer. Find a cool lake and take a swim.
2. Bike ride: Head out to the country, or explore a new neighborhood in the city. Two wheels are always better than none.
3. Watch the fireworks: Plenty of cities are sending the summer off with a bang. Grab a picnic, a date and settle back for fun.
4. Hit the street fairs: There’s bound to be a street fair somewhere nearby. They usually have free admission, and free browsing of local goods and wares.
5. Volunteer: There’s no better way to make yourself feel better than by helping someone else. Head to a local soup kitchen or church to find out how you can help.
6. Fall cleaning: Just like spring cleaning, but later in the year. Inside the house and out, make sure everything is clean for the new season.
7. Balance your checkbook: Grab that stack of bills and bank statements and don’t stop until everything adds up.
8. Read a good book: Maybe The Jungle by Upton Sinclair.
9. Crash a neighborhood barbecue: Heck, your neighbors probably have so many friends, they won’t even notice an extra person or two mingling in the crowd.
10. Go to work: Lots of businesses give employees the day off for Labor Day, and plenty even give workers the chance to work for overtime pay. Why not rack up a few hours at a higher wage than usual!

Whatever you end up doing, just make sure that your celebrations don’t break the bank. Keep to your budget!