I’m trying to economize, and would like suggestions of ways to entertain myself without spending tons of money. I work for the public library system, so I already know all about that great resource (free books, magazines, videos, DVDs, etc.). What do you do for low cost/free fun?
Well, I have this thing about designing and decorating houses, so I spend an awful lot of time with my Home Design 3D software, which cost less than $50… maybe more like $30. It lets you do layout, furniture, wallpaper, carpet, everything inside the house (and they have a new one with a garden designer also, but it crashed my computer), and then do 3D walkthroughs. I really enjoy it.
I also like to take walks around nice neighborhoods, and imagine nice things about the people who must live there. I live in a campus town, so there are lots of free things happening on campus all the time. And there are always campus coffeeshops, where one eventually meets all the other regulars, so there’s always someone to talk to.
See if any museums in your area have free or discounted days.
I play a competetive sport. My club dues are $30 a month but I spend at least 15 hours a week down there so cost to time spent ratio is really low. I also volunteer coach high school kids which can be really fun and is also totally free.
I spend more free time on the local hike and bike trail either running or walking. It borders the lake I row on and it’s kinda cool knowing an area so well.
I also take language courses at the local community college. Relatively cheap and a fun way to spend time.
There’s a couple of pubs locally that have trivia nights. Sometimes, my team will go down and play trivia and drink beer. If I wasn’t so busy, I’d go more often. Trivia is really fun.
I keep thinking I want to find time to tutor ESL students but haven’t looked into it yet.
Swimming hole!
SDMB is rather entertaining for only $5 or $15.
Well, UV you’re doing one of my three most favorite low cost pastimes. Surfing the web and message boards.
The second also uses the computer. Computer games. Some are free. Others cost very little. The best full price ones have enough replay to justify the cost. Like Baldur’s Gate, or Civilization, or Unreal Tournament, or Starcraft…
The third one can be free. And it may also use the computer, if you can use it one-handed. 
Hiking is fun, healthy, relaxing and very inexpensive, in my experience.
Get a couple boomerangs. Equipment layout is your only expense $10-15 maybe - all you have to do then is find a place to throw. If you like it, you can carve your own boomerangs which is pretty easy once you’re good at throwing and catching them. You can google Ted Bailey Boomerangs or The Boomerang Man for some good beginner sticks. Your library may have a book or two on how to make boomerangs.
[ul][li]I construct origami out of used paper and junk mail.[/li][li]I build Sierpinski tetrahedra with paper, scissors, and clear tape.[/li][li]I walk or run around the city and its beautiful scenic areas.[/li][li]I experiment in the kitchen and learn/discover new recipes.[/li][*]I download song lyrics or poetry and memorize the words.[/ul]
Go to your local animal shelter and ask if you can walk dogs. Good for everyone.
Fly a kite. I used to love that.
Take bus rides.
Seriously, if you live in a place that has a bus system pick a random bus and ride it for the loop, or even ride the one you know past where you usually take it.
Window shop. Find wherever it is that has all the cool little shops and just wander up and down the road checking out the different stores. You may come across something cool that you’ll be able to buy later too.
Role play. Find a group near you, some are pretty casual others more structured. The ones I played there was a fee, but it was a lot. One group cost me $2 every couple weeks the other $7 per month. You meet lots of people and I found it’s as much fun as going to a movie only for a LOT cheaper and at least a couple hours more entertainment.
Go to the park and feed peanut butter sandwiches to the squirrels.
If you’re of a political and/or legal bent, then you can have endless hours of enjoyment sitting in the public gallery at your local council chambers/town hall/parliament/legislature/court.
I don’t know where in BC you’re at but there’s a lot of wonderful scenery out there. If you’re not the hiking sort, like me, take a folding chair, set it up in a pretty place and watch the birds and other critters. Maybe go to the local swimming beach. I like to bring my crocheting along, which can be a very cheap craft, by the way. So are knitting, cross-stitching and embroidery. Or you could go to local Little League games, Little Theatre plays, or other nearby free or cheap event. Go beachcombing or riverside combing. Maybe there’s a place near you where you could watch people hang gliding or bungee jumping. Check you local paper for free or cheap things to do. There’s a lot of small town street fairs this time of year. Look online for a site that offers a variety volunteer positions. I found one that lists all the places in my area that are looking for volunteers, often listing exactly what kind such as mail room help, leading kids in craft projects, counting birds in a park, informing people about toxins in their community, helping out an arts and crafts fair and all sorts of other things.
I like the topic because I was just making a side point in another post regarding happiness and material wealth.
I am very hobby driven. I like to make things, go places, operate machines, take pictures and explore history. Recently I was putting together a display for a history tour by downloading satellite images. After studying them I realized there must have been a structure in a certain location so I hiked back and found what I was looking for. I took side-by-side pictures and merged them on my computer to make panoramic shots. I used a cheap 3 Mb camera and the results were spectacular. The whole project was a mini adventure for me.
My example aside, I would ask myself if I’m looking for a hobby or social interaction. These are not mutually exclusive (just the opposite) but it will give you a starting point. If you are looking for companionship then I would lean toward biking, hiking, canoeing etc… If you think you’re looking for a hobby then you are working in the best place on Earth to explore the possibilities. Hobbies are infinite in scope.
Haven’t actually done it yet, but I have been thinking about trying to get involved with working on a Habitat for Humanity House. Is there anything like that up where you are?
many cities have free concert series (outdoors), just pack a picnic, call a few friends and listen to music under the stars
there’s also a free outdoor film festival in my city that’s great fun
museums have free days, but private art galleries never charge admission and once a month or so most of them have opening receptions in the evening, often with free wine and sometimes even hors d’oeuvres… gallery hopping can be a wonderful evening’s entertainment
If you like cards, volunteer at a Senior Center and cheat old people at cribbage. 
(Don’t look at me that way, everyone cheats at cribbage, it’s part of the game.) Or set up a trivia game for them.
I have some recent experience in looking for a cheap hobby. I was out of work for about 10 months and really needed a CHEAP hobby to keep busy.
I’d recommend learning a musical instrument, preferably one you can borrow from a friend or something. I borrowed one of my brother’s old acoustic guitars and loved it.
Frisbee golf is another super cheap sport; there are organized courses all over, and special discs you can buy, but all you really need is a plain old frisbee and a target to throw it at. “Hey, the telephone pole behind the mulch pile is a par 3!” endless entertainment.