How to adventure with no money

No money? No problem… You can still adventure with no money!

Being Broke: A fine American Tradition

This country was build by many people who had nothing. Having no money is not a new concept.

The Puritans arrived with a lot of ideas but not a lot of coin.

Native Americans? Well, money was a European concept. Did being broke stop the likes of Pocohantas? Captain John Smith? NO!

Adventure is a state of mind and a whole body experience. Somewhere along the way us Americans decided we needed to be completely outfitted by REI before setting off on adventure! Wrong! Listen, I love REI! Heck I remember when REI was a true Co Op in a funky little down town Seattle building that only big time adventurers knew.

But a great adventurous quest should never be equated to a full wallet. Let’s face it, when you buy tickets to a cruise or a theme park, you kind of already know what the adventure is. And one must question, is it really an adventure? Or just another structured activity?

Creativity is born from adversity! Embrace it!

Redefine what Adventure Is

I already touched on this but it doesn’t have to be a grand and expensive vacation. Local outings work! Sometimes they even work the best! They certainly work with limited budgets and limited time frames. So do stay at home adventures.

A pirate or explorer outfit goes a long way to set the tone! (Just saying) Seriously, how can you not make a memory when dressed for the occasion?

Get it in writing

A good adventurer knows anything can happen so get the important stuff in ink! Planning family vacations is tough with busy schedules. The more in the family, the more there is to juggle.

Between work and school obligations, extra curricular activities, and everything else, it just makes sense to consciously plan what used to just come naturally.

Just get it on the calendar so it’s a conscious thought and a commitment made by everyone. When it’s on the calendar it becomes a priority and not so easily let go.

Happy Planning

In This Family, we convene our family planners monthly but you can do it seasonally, or even every six months. I compare my immediate family calendar with the grandparents a couple times a year too. It really doesn’t matter how often, as long as you make the commitment to do it and follow through.

Josh and Madison Bella prefer their calendars on the computer and we for sure use that but my FAVORITE planner for multiple schedules is HERE and it’s Pretty and Happy too!!!

Free Adventures

(In my best Morpheus from Matrix voice) What if I told you that you could go on an epic adventure right now that involved treasure hunting and would cost you absolutely nothing!

It’s true! Welcome to the world of Geocaching.

All you need is a phone with an internet connection. Well, and a keen sense of adventure of course! Recommended items include snacks, water, a back of your own treasure to leave in the geocaches, a pencil, and a camera.

Here’s The Complete Idiot’s guide to get you started! Fair warning! It’s SO much fun…it could become a new pastime! We’ve done it dressed as pirates (and dressed normal). There are so many different ways to geocache and once you have done it, you will never look at parking lots and parks the same way.

Want more ways to adventure with no money?

You got it!

Adventures in jammies

Some of the best adventurers in history simply went where they were ordered and the rest just sort of happened.  Never underestimate the epic adventures waiting in the kitchen or on the dining table. Just find a recipe, a craft, or a science experiment. (If you are reading this you have access to a search engine to sleuth out ideas) But here’s a head start. A friend of mine does amazing vivid crafts. Check her out HERE! 

Want to bake? Check this out!

Adventure into History

MY JAM!!!! Make history come alive with some historical crafts! Sage put together this series of COLONIAL CRAFTS! You can watch and do the crafts (most supplies are around the house)…OR…Get even more creative and do your own how to movie! BAM! Two ideas for you, just like that!

Adventure into your Family

Need more ideas for adventuring with little to no money? Check out FIVE WAYS TO ADVENTURE IN FAMILY HISTORY for some creative thoughts!

Use Your Notebook

Remember that notebook from HOW TO PLAN YOUR FAMILY ADVENTURE? Take a page and write down all your ideas for cheap and free adventures. Best to do this when you are all creative and in the mood. Then when the time comes, all you have to do is reference the list, not actually think of something.

Final Notes

Hopefully you are super inspired right now and are already planning how to adventure with no money! SO many ways but if you still need more, let me know!

I’ve spent a lot of time being broke and never let that stop me so feel like I have a lot of creative ideas to offer here. 🙂

Ready to move on and start planning your own family adventures? Read the next article on how to create your treasure map to adventure!

Next Article: Create your own local adventure list

Previous Article: How to Adventure in the Car

Return to: Adventure 101

What have you done that was an epic adventure that cost little to no money? Comment below!