Free Basketball / Swimming

Price: $0

Almost every fitness club allows a free week trial for walk-ins. Just try walking into an LA Fitness or Lifetime and tell them you want to try working out for the day and you will probably join if you enjoy your experience. They will put you through a quick meeting with someone working there, but it only last about 10 min. Come with a friend and enjoy a quick workout, some basketball, and a sauna. Be aware, this will only work once every 6 months or so, but you can go to different clubs in the meantime.

Cheap and fun things to do around Minneapolis/St.Paul

Punishments

We like to play drinking games that involve punishments. Not punishments like "you have to drink every time someone _______." That is lame. You should be drinking without someone telling you you have to. It is better to play games where the loser has to do something embarrassing. A few ideas that have been tested are:

-Take a mystery shot
-Hit on someone at the party with your pants wet (like you peed)
-Sing a song of the groups choice
-Speak in an accent of the groups choice
-Everyone else does their impression of you

These are pretty generic. The best ideas really depend upon the people there and the surroundings. The only constant is that you need people who don't care if they make an ass of themselves. Stiff people aren't fun.

Price: $0
Location: Indoors

Cheap and fun things to do around Minneapolis/St.Paul

Mystery Shopper

Price: -($25)

Location: http://www.bestmark.com/

Have a date and no money? Anyone can be a mystery shopper and get their meal paid for. Websites like bestmark offer people to be reimbursed for a meal or hotel etc. if they are willing to fill out a survey of their experience after online. They usually ask you to ask for the manager, ask certain things of your server and talk to the host. The challange is getting through your mystery shopper checklist without letting your date know you are taking her on a "business deal." You'll probably look like a wacko when you ask your scripted questions, so act your ass off and never break character! Your already "acting" like a normal person in front of your date so why not take on one more role and save the $25?

Cheap and fun things to do around Minneapolis/St.Paul

Drug Dealer

Price $0

This is a simple game that should be played while casually drinking or just hanging out. Usually I have played with about 8 people, but you can do as many as possible, even in the middle of a party. Cards are dealt to denote one person as the drug dealer and one person as the Cop. Everyone else is a bystander (drug addict). As everyone is casually hanging out and talking, the drug dealer winks at people to make a drug deal. When they wink at someone, the player winked at is required to lay their card down and say "a deal has been made."

The goal for the cop is to catch the dealer and the goal of the dealer is to make deals with everyone at the table / in the room. Everyone else just plays the game as a bystander and tries to help the drug dealer make their deals.

The strategy is basic. The cop tries not to look like a cop and the drug dealer tries to not look like the drug dealer. Everyone else does whatever they want to throw people off. You can play 2 ways...one is every time the cop accuses someone, that person is out of the game if the cop chooses incorrectly and the game ends if he/she chooses the true drug dealer. The second way is that the cop only gets one guess. The second way is better if you have fewer people, but the first is better if you have more than 10.

This game is really fun as an early night party activity, and is pretty simply so anyone can play.

Cheap and fun things to do around Minneapolis/St.Paul

Ice Skating at Rice Park.

Hopefully if you're living in Minnesota you have a pair of ice skates or you can bum one off of a friend. Bring your girl or A girl to Rice Park in Saint Paul and enjoy a romantic skate. Rice park has beautiful Christmas lights all around. If you want to be real classy you should pick up a little Swiss Miss and some marshmallows, and fill up your Thermos. By the way choclate is an afrodiziac if you are thinking about the end of the date kiss. With the hot cocoa in her she will like nothing more then a cold late night lip lock in your arms.

Cheap and Fun things to do around Minneapolis/St. Paul!

Puppy Passion

What's better than playing with a puppy??? The darn things are sooo cute and they can barely stand up. One of the best and also most giving things you can do for these animals is go visit a animal humane society around your area. You can check out the dogs they have on site by clicking the link, so this way you can pick your favorite one to play with when you get there. Now don't be afraid to visit one of these animal shelters because the staff truly enjoys any help they can get with the animals. Being able to run and play with these animals is fun for both you and them so consider giving this idea a shot. AND I've heard through the grapevine that girls can't resist a puppy so it might not be a bad place to bring them. Just pretend like your looking for a dog and ask if they want to come with. Once they're at the shelter they won't be able to control themselves... and who knows what might happen next?

Cheap and fun things to do around Minneapolis/St.Paul

Crazy Quizes for all Folks

Try these brainbusters if you get bored one day. Sporcle.com offers many types of quizzes ranging from history, geography, sports, entertainment, music and many more.... These are timed quizes that put you to the true test so if you're ever bored at the airport, it's raining outside, or your at work with nothing to do. Check out this great site to test your knowledge and then forward them to your friends to find out who is the TOP DOG.

Cheap and Fun things to do around Minneapolis/St. Paul

Axe bomb

Price: $4

Buy an Axe deodorant spray. Sneak up to someone's bedroom (when they are in there). Tape the Axe spray button down and throw the spray in the room. Hopefully it lands under the bed or somewhere whey they can't find it. The smell will completely fill the room pretty quick.

Cheap and fun things to do around Minneapolis/St.Paul

Punishments

Regularly we will be publishing good ideas for punishments. Here is a continuation of the list:

1. Loser lays flat on their back and winner drops the TV remote on the loser from 3' above them. Winner chooses where on the body to drop the remote.

Cheap and Fun things to do around Minneapolis/St.Paul

Landmark Uptown Theater

Price: $7

Landmark offers throwback movies with late-night screenings, but you'll need to check ahead of time. If you’re planning on going to Uptown eventually for the night, it’s a good stop to have a few drinks and catch a cult classic like The Big Lebowski or Psycho with a bunch of other people who know the movie by heart.




http://www.landmarktheatres.com/market/minneapolis/uptowntheatre.htm

Cheap and fun things to do around Minneapolis/St.Paul

Sports Betting

Pick any sporting event, preferebly something that has a decent amount of scoring. The game won't work for sports like soccer. You may have heard of people doing this for the superbowl, but it gets pretty fun on just a boring night. You make a table 10x10 with numbers 1-10 listed as the column lables and row labels. You then fill in each square randomly with everyone's initials who is with you, filling all squares eventually. There is a winner every time the game goes to commercial or every X number of minutes. At each of these "checkpoints" you find the score on the table by looking at the home team's combined digits (score of 5 = 5, score of 27 = 9) as the row indicator and the away team's comibined digits as the column indicator. You determine who wins by finding the corresponding cell and that person gets a point.

I prefer having punishments ready for whoever doesn't win each "checkpoint." Again, like any poormansweekend, your game is only as good as your punishments.

Cheap and fun things to do around Minneapolis/St.Paul

No Car? No Problem!

Price: $8
Location: anywhere



So you are going on a date and don't have a car? Well, you can suffice within your $8 budget. Uhaul small trucks are $19.95 +$0.59 per hour in most places. That means, if you get 3 other people (double date), your $32 budget puts you around 20 miles. This is a good idea if you want to go on a road trip with some buddies. You can fit about 8 people in the back of these things. Plus you can drop them off at a different location! A cheap road trip idea: put an old mattress in the back of one of these things, stop at a walmart along your journey to park free overnight. Drive all day and you will be across the country in no time & at little cost. Just don't be surprised if you get pulled over by the immigration police.

Cheap and fun things to do around Minneapolis/St.Paul

Super Scavenger Hunt

Hey, we've all participated in our fair share of Scavenger Hunts when we were younger so it's safe to say this one shouldn't be too tricky to explain. however, scavenger hunts don't have to be square and boring. If you want to spice up a scavenger hunt try using digital cameras or camera phones to add a lasting memory to a great adventure. To max out the fun level of this HUNT you'll want to be sure to have a healthy amount of people. Probably enough to have team of at least 2 people and at least 3 teams, plus at least one person that will come up with the scavenger hunt list.

Its important for the scavenger hunt list to be kept secret to all those who will be hunting to ensure a great journey. These hunters should be flying by the seat of their pants with spontaneity. Come up with different ideas that will have the Hunters slightly embarrassed by the end of the game. The camera is the key tool during the game and will provide the proof of each item or task being done. Feel free to have some tasks on the list that require judgments, such as "the best picture with a funny person", or "being part of a picture where a random couple is kissing". You'll be surprised what people will do if they can help out a scavenger hunt. Of course in a typical scavenger hunt each listed task/item is worth one point. Try giving certain tasks higher point values to help promote the better items. If you're willing to organize this hunt, make sure to offer a free dinner to the winning team or give them some sort of prize. It's more than worth it once you see the pictures and these memories will last for a life time, or until someone gets rid of the pictures.

The last thing is to be strict on your rules and put a time limit on the game so it doesn't take forever.


sample list:
-specific signs or buildings
-statues
-friends at work or friends anywhere in general
-old people
-funny looking people
-nude people
-drunk people
-traffic cones
-restaurants
-equipment or devices


Another variation of the game is taking a picture of items for the each letter of the alphabet??? Try them out and be creative!!

Cheap and fun things to do around Minneapolis/St.Paul

Shrimp Progressive

Price: $8
Location: Long John Silvers, Applebees, Red Lobster, Bubba Gump Shrimp

A Shrimp Progressive is where you go to different restaurants and taste different kinds of shrimp (I made this up so don't think you should know this already). Take $8 from each person (the poorman's limit) and go to 4 different restaurants and order one shrimp dish to share at each restaurant & drinks. The plan is to ask for the manager and tell the manager you are shrimp connoiseurs and you will be tasting their best shrimp dish and writing a review. Tell the manager you would like his/her card so you have the email address to send the review to (use these cards to show the next managers you are for real). Have one person drive & not pay while everyone else throws down $8 for 4 different restaurants, one-two dishes each restaurant & drinks. Maybe the manager will give you a discount, if not, write a bad review and use "shrimped" as a verb so you sound like a true connoiseur.

Cheap and fun things to do around Minneapolis/St.Paul

Wine & Cheese Tasting

Price: $0
Location: France44

Occasionally it is enjoyable to see the other side of life. Namely, paying $30 for wine and $20 for cheese. Well, France44 and other wine shops offer free wine and cheese tasting on Fridays and Saturdays. Just be sure to know how to say things like Gouda & Merlot before going or you will look like an idiot -I've been there.

Cheap and fun things to do around Minneapolis/St.Paul

Red Box Party (Movie Night)

So it's raining outside or you just don't feel like getting out of the house tonight. Don't worry we've got a cheap trick for you to enjoy a nice relaxing evening indoors with your family, friends or significant other for nearly nothing.

That's right, it's time for a free red box movie. There are plenty of promotional codes out on the internet that will allow you one free night with a movie from red box. I will give you a couple that I've used in the past and a website that can be helpful finding other codes.

Promo Code for any red box: (CAN USE THIS CODE ONCE PER CREDIT/DEBIT CARD)

breakroom

dvdonme

Those two codes will work on any red box. The promo code will get you one free night but don't forget to return the movie the next day before 9pm or else you'll end up spending a dollar each night you keep it after the first one.

I've had many friends end up purchasing these dvd's for 25 bucks after they forgot to return them so don't be that GUY!

Cheap and fun things to do around Minneapolis/St.Paul

Hockey (Cards)

A pretty simple card game. You need exactly 4 people 2 teams of 2. Teammates should sit across from each other. Deal out all of the cards from one deck. One player starts by laying a card down. The next person tries to lay the same card, if they do, the 2 cards are set aside and a "goal" is scored. The game continues as cards are played going clockwise around the table. The simple strategy is to try and figure out what the person in front of you does not have. The 8 card is a "block" which cannot be scored on whether or not they have an 8.

Cheap and fun things to do around Minneapolis/St.Paul

Snow Golf

Price: $0-$8

Find an open area, such as a lake, golf course or park. Buy a can of bright spray paint. Spray paint sticks or beer cans as hole markers. Using tennis balls, get within a club length of the stick or can and play a round of golf. If you use beer, the highest stroke number for each hole drinks the beer.

Cheap and fun things to do around Minneapolis/St.Paul

PoorMan's Party Bus

Party buses are fun mainly because you have tons of people all together in one vehicle and you visit multiple locations. Well, poor men/women can accomplish this too. Bus tickets are $1.75 and transfers last up to 2.5 hours. The $8 goes toward a 500mL of vodka for shots at each stop and $1.75 toward your ticket. So, naturally you are looking at some cheap booze. Below is the Friday night schedule from Hopkins & a link to the map of the bars / bus stations. See you out this Friday!

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?oe=&ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=44.950442,-93.339642&spn=0.089172,0.21904&t=h&z=12&msid=200453132061496815148.00049e04ec3d93937e9fc

8:46 PM	Depart from Hopkins (4th & Excelsior)	Depart
9:10 PM	Arrive Uptown (Hennepin & Lake)	Arrive
30 min	Stella's	Bar
10:01 PM	Depart from Uptown (Gate B) #17W	Depart
10:15 PM	Arrive Downtown (9th & Nicollet)	Arrive
45 min	Gluek's Bar (6th & Hennepin)	Bar
11:00 PM	Depart from Downtown (9th & Nicollet) #9C	Depart
11:15 PM	Arrive West End (Park Place & 16h St)	Arrive
120 min	Toby Keith Bar & Grill	Bar

Cheap and fun things to do around Minneapolis/St.Paul

Snowshoeing / CC Skiing / Biking

For some reason walking in the snow is much more fun than walking not in the snow. Think about it..."What did you do this weekend?" a) "me and my friend went for a walk" or b) "me and my friend went snow shoeing" Who knows why, but it is more fun. Crosscountry skiing is even better if you have the legs / butt for it. Plus MN was built from Norweigans / Swedish, so you probably have to try it once. In the summer you can go for walks or bike.

A good site for outdoor activities in MN is Explore Minnesota

Price: $7 (for snow-shoe rental)
Location: See: MN Trails

Cheap and fun things to do around Minnesota/St.Paul

Rec Center Swimming

Highly underrated and forgotten about after age 10, many local community centers offer swimming for discount rates. For example, Chaska has a sweet rec center, with hot tubs, slides, and a lazy river. Entrance changes, but there is a heavy discount for residents. It’s a good way to get out during the depressing winter months.

Price: $5-$8

Cheap and fun things to do around Minneapolis/St.Paul