Alcohol Free Activities on a Budget
Whether you're taking part in Dry January or looking to lower your alcohol consumption for a healthier version of you, check out our article for fun and affordable activities that don't involve drinking.
- Affordable Days In
- Enjoy a Mocktail Making Night
- Create or Join a Book Club
- Have a Date Night
- Host a Games Night
- Cook a BBQ
- Host a Netflix Marathon
- Play a New Video Game
- Read a Poetry Anthology
- Make Your Own Candles
- Cook a Three-Course Meal
- Affordable Days Out
- Enjoy a Free Day out in the UK
- Pack a Picnic
- Enjoy a Trip to the Spa
- Outdoor Cinema
- Enjoy a Girl’s Day Out
- Visit a Museum
- Watch a Theatre Show
- Alcohol-Free Drinks
- Non-Alcoholic Beers & Ciders
- Non-Alcoholic Wines & Spirits
- Mocktails
Gone are the days when you had to drink alcohol to have fun. Whether you’re having a go at dry January, looking for healthier ways to unwind, or simply don’t drink, we’ve got you covered. Read on for various budget-friendly activities that don’t require raising a glass.
Affordable Days In
Enjoy a Mocktail Making Night
If you’re looking for one of the best alcohol-free activities that is as fun as going out for cocktails, it’s making mocktails. Get your friends together and have a go at mixing some non-alcoholic drinks.
Not only is this just as enjoyable as sipping a cocktail, but it’s more affordable too. Instead of going out and paying for a mocktail each, have each person choose a mocktail to make for everyone, so that you’re getting more, for less.
Check out the mocktail section in our article on Date Nights on a Budget for some great mocktail recipes.
Create or Join a Book Club
For those who love to read, this one is for you. If you’ve got some friends who love to buy books on a budget as much as you, then create your very own book club. Randomly choose a book to read each month and hold monthly book meetings where you can discuss your thoughts.
A handy tip: assign a theme or genre for each month of the year. Have everyone suggest at least one book that fits this. Before the first day of the month, draw your monthly book out of a hat so it’s random. Enjoy!
Alternatively, scout out local book clubs near you and become a part of one instead. You’re sure to find like-minded people who also love to take part in alcohol-free activities too.
Have a Date Night
If you and your partner are looking for alcohol-free activities to do together, then why not opt for an affordable date night on a budget? From a romantic walk in the park or reading a book together, to exercising, having a dance party for two, and more, you’re sure to enjoy each other’s company, without a single bottle of wine in sight.
Host a Games Night
It’s time to brush up on your strategic skills with a family or friend game night. Have each person bring a game, and work your way through them. From Cluedo and Monopoly to the Fish Bowl Game, Heads Up, Charades, and more, you’ll be so busy having a laugh that won’t even realise you’re not drinking.
Cook a BBQ
Whatever the weather, everyone loves a good barbeque. If you know how to make BBQs on a Budget, then you’re sure to enjoy it even more.
If you usually pair your BBQ goods with traditional beers, why not opt for a non-alcoholic beer instead? You can find a variety of affordable, 0% beers at the likes of Tesco, Morrisons, ASDA, and Sainsbury’s.
Host a Netflix Marathon
As long as you know how to save money on video streaming services, you’re good to go. Invite some friends around, stock up on some movie night essentials like popcorn and sweets, and get settled.
Whether it’s a movie or series, you could even make this a regular thing by taking turns to host a monthly movie night at each person’s home. Why not take it up a notch by discussing your thoughts on the movie afterwards?
Play a New Video Game
If you’ve got friends or a partner who loves nothing more than video gaming, then why not do it together? As long as you know how to save money on video games and how to buy a gaming monitor on a budget, then you’re good to go.
When played in moderation, video games can be a great way to unwind after a long day that’ll make you forget to reach for a glass of wine.
Read a Poetry Anthology
For those who love to read and discover new pieces of writing, why not get your friends together and read a poetry anthology? Each week, fortnight, or month, choose a poem from your favourite anthology to read and discuss. Bring a mocktail to sip on while you do.
Alternatively, see if there are any poetry readings close by and take a trip with a friend.
Make Your Own Candles
Have a go at getting your hands dirty with candle making. There are loads of candle-making kits available on the market, ranging from affordable options for one to more expensive options where the cost can be split between friends.
Cook a Three-Course Meal
If you’ve got a few friends or couple-friends, get together and cook a three-course meal. Assign each course to an individual or a pair, or pick them out of a hat.
Between you, you’ll make a delicious starter, main, and dessert, for a fraction of the cost of eating out. It’ll be even more affordable if you know which supermarket brand is the cheapest, how much shopping in the reduced section saves you, and how you can save money on your groceries.
For those who aren’t confident cooks, fear not. Check out our handy article where you can find the best supermarket dine-in deals.
Affordable Days Out
Enjoy a Free Day out in the UK
Get outside and enjoy the sunshine with friends and family. Whether that’s going on a hike, visiting local attractions, or a free day out, it’s sure to put a smile on your face.
If you’ve got a furry friend who loves nothing more than the outdoors, then don’t miss our handy article on free & affordable days out with your dog so your fur babies can get in on the action too.
Pack a Picnic
Swap the bottomless brunch out for a budget-friendly picnic with your friends. Gone are the days when picnics are full of boring food. As long as you know how to save money on your food shop using supermarket reward schemes and vegan alternatives, and by shopping in the reduced section, you’ll be able to impress your friends with your trendy, picnic snacks.
Enjoy a Trip to the Spa
There’s nothing more relaxing and glamorous than a trip to the spa. Make sure that your bank account can relax too when you check our article on how you can save money on your next spa day.
Alternatively, if a trip to the spa is too costly, opt for an at-home pamper night. You simply can’t go wrong, and it’s affordable too.
Outdoor Cinema
Try something new and visit a nearby outdoor cinema for the ultimate cinematic experience. If you’re going in the winter, be sure to wrap up warm with an affordable winter coat, and if it’s the summer, make sure you’ve got the perfect pair of affordable sunglasses, and you’ll be good to go.
If just a regular cinema trip is good enough for you, then don’t miss our articles on the cheapest day to go to the cinema, and how to get free and cheaper cinema tickets.
Enjoy a Girl’s Day Out
Ditch the booze with the girls and have a girly day out. Whether it’s a luxurious spa day for less, a trip to the local zoo, or something a little more creative, be sure to check out our article on the Top 10 Girl’s Day Out Ideas that don’t require splashing the cash to have fun.
Visit a Museum
Whether you’re looking to learn something new or just fancy walking around a beautiful space, you can never go wrong with a museum visit.
If you’re worried about the cost, according to the Oxford Royale, ‘Since 2001, entry to more than 50 British national museums has been free,’ so you’ll be able to indulge in as much of the museum as you like, free of charge.
Watch a Theatre Show
As long as you know how to score cheap theatre tickets, there’s nothing better to put a smile on your face than going to the theatre. Whether you go every year or it’s your first time, it’s something you can certainly enjoy without a glass of something in your hand.
Alcohol-Free Drinks
Whether you’re looking for a new, fun beverage to sip on at your next alcohol-free activity, or you’re just after a healthier alternative to your favourite alcoholic drink, we’ve got you covered.
Non-Alcoholic Beers & Ciders
If you’re after non-alcoholic beers, don’t miss out on the following:
- Peroni Nastro Azzuro 0.0%, £12 from Tesco
- Heineken 0.0% Alcohol Free Lager Beer, £11.50 from Tesco
- Erdinger Alcohol Free Wheat Beer, £1.65 from Tesco
- Thatchers Zero Somerset Cider, £1.80 from Tesco
- Becks Blue Alcohol Free, £10 from Tesco
- Bavaria 0.0% Beer, £5 from Tesco
- Kopparberg Mixed Fruit Alcohol Free, £1.50 from Tesco
- Koppaberg Cider Strawberry & Lime Alcohol Free, £3.75 from Tesco
Non-Alcoholic Wines & Spirits
If you’re after non-alcoholic low percentage wines and spirits, don’t miss out on the following:
- Tanqueray Alcohol Free 0% Spirit, £17.50 from Tesco
- Gordons 0.0% Alcohol Free Spirit, £15 from Tesco
- Gordons 0.0% Spirit & Tonic with Lime Cans, £5.50 from Tesco
- Eisberg Rose Alcohol Free, £3.50 from Tesco
- Black Tower White Wine 0.0%, £6.35 from The Alcohol Free Co
- Ebony Vale Chardonnay 0.05%, £6.85 from The Alcohol Free Co
- Red Cabernet Sauvignon Alcohol Free, £9.99 from The Alcohol Free Co
- White Caribbean Alcohol Free Rum, £21.99 from The Alcohol Free Co
Mocktails
If you’re after ready-made mocktails, don’t miss out on the following:
- Funkin Nitro Passion Fruit Martini Alcohol Free, £6.75 from Tesco
- J2O Mocktail Strawberry & Orange Blossom Mojito, £1.29 from Tesco
- J2O Mocktail Blackberry & Blueberry Martini, £1.29 from Tesco
- J2O Mocktail Peach & Mango Daiquiri, £1.29 from Tesco
- Pina Colada Spritz, £2.70 from The Alcohol Free Co
- Non-Alcoholic Mojito, £2.49 from The Alcohol Free Co
- Non-Alcoholic G&T, £2.49 from The Alcohol Free Co
- Passion Star Martini, £2.49 from The Alcohol Free Co
- Espresso Martini, £2.49 from The Alcohol Free Co
I’m Layla, the home and garden editor, and I started working at MyVoucherCodes in November 2022. I have always loved to write, especially after getting my degree in English Literature and Creative Writing, and since getting my own place, I’ve gotten stuck into all things home and garden.
When I’m not writing about saving money on homely purchases, I’m either sitting with my head in a new book, painting a piece of art for my walls, or binge-watching an interior design programme on Netflix. I love to get inspiration and transform my space, usually with the help of a few Pinterest boards and a couple of tins of paint.
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