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Top 9 Cheap Weekend Ideas

Some weekends are good for catching up on chores and doing adult things. Other weekends are reserved for special functions (weddings, birthdays, baby showers, and so on).

But, every now and then, you get treated to a free weekend – the perfect opportunity for some proper relaxation and fun with your partner, your family, your friends, or even just yourself.

You don’t need to make it rain dollar bills to make your free weekends worthwhile. These cheap weekend ideas will see you through to Monday without dipping into your savings account.

We’ve split the ideas into 3 categories to help you find the right cheap things to do this weekend:

  • Cheap weekend ideas for couples
  • Cheap weekend activities for families
  • Cheap weekend ideas for groups of friends.

Cheap Weekend Ideas for Couples

Couple Making a Playlist - Cigno Loans

1. Make a Mixtape/Playlist Together

Learn more about each other’s musical tastes while enjoying some tunes (and maybe some debates!) together. Will your individual playlists complement each other like Beyoncé and Jay Z on Crazy in Love? Or will they clash and burn like Britney and Iggy on Pretty Girls? There’s only one way to find out.

If all goes well, you could even make your shared playlist your go-to soundtrack for road trips together.

2. Take a Trip to the Markets

Take a stroll, grab some cheap snacks, bag a bargain – local markets always provide a fun day out, making them a great source of cheap weekend activities for couples. Just make sure it’s the right Saturday or Sunday of the month for the markets to be on.

Fun idea: Take 30 minutes apart to see who can find the quirkiest gift for under $15, then meet back up and exchange your presents.

3. Go Roller Skating

Head to your nearest roller blading rink or strap on your own skates and hit the local pathways. Either way, you’re sure to have a wheelie fun time rolling along together. If you’re taking to the streets, make a checklist of landmarks in your city and challenge yourself to stop by all of them.

Find other cheap date ideas in our Valentine’s Day on a Budget article.

Cheap Weekend Activities for Families

Family Playing Football - Cigno Loans

4. Play Footy in the Park

You don’t need many supplies or any money for this one. Just grab the football, pack the kids into the car, and find a free patch of grass at the park. Your backyard might even do the trick if it’s big enough.

5. Discover a New Cuisine (and Culture)

Choose a cuisine the kids have never tried before. Spend the afternoon reading about that country together (Wikipedia is a good starting point) while listening to relevant musical artists. Then, treat the family to dinner at a nearby restaurant that specialises in that style of food (or cook your own at home if you’re feeling brave!).

This is a great way to expose your children to a different culture as well as expanding their culinary horizons.

6. Make a Maze with the Lawn Mower

Bored kids? Overgrown backyard? Kill two birds with one lawn mower.

Find a simple labyrinth pattern online, then follow it as you mow the grass. Let your little ones solve the maze while you have a cold one, then finish the mowing.

Cheap Weekend Ideas for Groups of Friends

Friends Having a Picnic - Cigno Loans

7. Have a Picnic at the Playground

Gather your friends. Pack a basket full of snacks. Bring any card games, frisbees, musical instruments and picnic blankets you’ve got. Suddenly you’re ready for a great day outside.

Bonus points if your local park has a playground. Relive your childhood days by having a swing and a slide. Just don’t hog the equipment to yourselves if there are actual kids there playing!

8. Organise a Scavenger Hunt

  • Zany photos with strangers? Check.
  • Discovering new parts of the city? Check.
  • Rushing from location to location with your best mates? Check.

A scavenger hunt is a great cheap weekend activity for large groups of friends. You just need someone to volunteer to organise it all. Sounds like a job for the mum of the friend group.

9. Test Yourselves at a Trivia Night

Most pub trivia nights are relatively cheap to enter, and then you only need to pay for any food and drinks you consume along the way (eat beforehand to minimise your costs). If you’re friends with a bunch of brainiacs, you might even come away with a nifty prize at the end of the night.

A wonderful weekend doesn’t have to be expensive thanks to these cheap weekend ideas. But if you do need a little extra cash to get you through to Monday, consider a small cash loan from Cigno. We approve applications quickly – even on weekends.

Disclaimer: Please be aware that Cigno Loans’ articles do not replace advice from an accountant or financial advisor. All information provided is intended to be used as a guide only, as it does not take into account your personal financial situation or needs. If you require assistance, it is recommended that you consult a licensed financial or tax advisor.

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NOTIFICATION OF MISCONDUCT BY CIGNO AUSTRALIA

Ordered by the Federal Court of Australia

The Federal Court of Australia has found that Cigno Australia Pty Ltd (Cigno Australia) and BSF Solutions Pty Ltd (BSF Solutions) have breached the law by engaging in unlicensed credit activity and charging prohibited fees.

In the period from July 2022 to 3 October 2023, over 100,000 consumers have been lent a total of $34 million, and charged fees of over $70 million, under the ‘No Upfront Charge Loan Model’ operated by BSF Solutions and Cigno Australia. At no time has either BSF Solutions or Cigno Australia held an Australian Credit Licence.

The Court also found that Mark Swanepoel (director of Cigno Australia) and Brenton James Harrison (director of BSF Solutions) were involved in these breaches of the law.

With effect from 24 May 2024, the Court has granted permanent injunctions preventing Cigno Australia and BSF Solutions from:

  • demanding, receiving or accepting fees or charges, including amounts of loan principal, from consumers in relation to credit provided under the ‘No Upfront Charge Model’; and
  • engaging in further credit activity pursuant to the ‘No Upfront Charge Loan Model’, including by entering into new agreements with consumers, for so long as they do not hold an Australian Credit Licence.

Cigno Australia was ordered by the Court to, by 5th July 2024, send written communications to consumers who between July 2022 and December 2022 entered into agreements with Cigno Australia and BSF Solutions under the ‘No Upfront Charge Loan Model’.

The Court will later determine whether (among other things) Cigno Australia and Mark Swanepoel ought to pay a pecuniary penalty in respect of this conduct, and whether Mark Swanepoel should be restrained from carrying on a business engaging in credit activity.

Cigno Australia, BSF Solutions, Mr Swanepoel and Mr Harrison intend to appeal the decision of the Court and have filed an application for leave to appeal. If the appeal is successful, some or all of the orders of the Federal Court of Australia may be set aside.

Where can you get more information?

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You can access legal advice in your state at: Free legal advice – Moneysmart.gov.au.

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