Enjoy casual street fun

• Take time to appreciate street artists in Busker Festivals in your part of the world. [For Canadians, catch the busker festival in Halifax, Street Performers Festival in Edmonton, Celebrate Toronto Street Festival, Saskatoon International Fringe Festival, Visit www.festivalseeker.com for a complete listing of festivals across Canada.]
  
  
• Laugh a lot for little. Attend a local comedy improv troupe show for just a few bucks.

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Sweet shopping

• Spend your Saturday at the flea market -- snack on free samples while touring relics from your parent's era. Pick up toy icons from your childhood like an old My Little Pony or My Buddy doll for nostalgia's sake and offer that as a Christmas gift to a friend who will appreciate it.
  
  
• Attend a country flea market or auction for the experience and fresh produce.
  
  
• Think like a tourist -- go for a stroll your city's shopping districts, window shopping only. Visit the historic spots you've only driven by.

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Go girly

• Instead of girl's night out, host a sleepover. Pop popcorn, watch a chick flick, and reconnect with your girlfriends.
  
  
• Spend an afternoon with the girls giving each other manicures, trying out new hairstyles, and gabbing.
  
  
• For a small donation, you can get a free makeover at the Body Shop.

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Share your (non-monetary) wealth

• Swap old magazines with friends or family members for a little light reading.
  
  
• Chances are, one of your friends is a movie freak. Share your book collection in return for access to your friend's DVD collection, and you both get to enjoy something new, for free!

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Enjoy the comforts of home sweet home

• How long has it been since you've had home-made cookies? Spend a day baking proper cookies, or a pre-packaged cake mix, and invite friends over to share the calories.
  
  
• Grab a deck of cards and round up a few friends for card night. Play a few favourites, and have everyone try and teach the group a new game.
  
  
• Dust off the Monopoly board - invite friends over to play old board games from your childhood. Have them bring their favourites.
  
  
• Cable TV may just be your biggest entertainment expense. Most nights you can find a show or two to watch instead of going to a movie or going out to the bar. If you're busy a few nights in a row, tape your favourite shows to watch when you have more time. Tape a few weeks of shows and have a personal television marathon.
  
  
• Instead of going to a movie theatre, rent the latest flick to watch them from the comfort of your home instead. The seating is more comfortable, the food cheaper and better, and you can pause for a bathroom break.
  
  
• Connect with an old friend by writing them a long letter and sending it by regular mail.

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Sarah Deveau is a graduate of the University of Calgary. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, she spent her teenager years living in Hamilton and Calgary, where she now resides with her husband Keith, and her cat, Parker. During her five years in university, and her husband's seven years, they incurred a combined debt of just $6,000. Through the use of scholarships, part-time and full-time jobs, Sarah and Keith paid for their education even while getting married, moving out, and buying vehicles. She is the author of Sink or Swim: Get Your Degree Without Drowning in Debt (Dundurn), a 'how to' guide to obtaining a post-secondary education without incurring massive student loans. This book guides students through their post-secondary education, encouraging them to live within their means by being creative with their lifestyle. Article reprinted with permission of author.

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• Tired of studying? Cheap fun ideas from a student's point of view
• Affordable and fun date ideas
• Top 10 tips to survive university