Let's face it: being a broke college student applies to vacations and breaks just as much as it does to the middle-of-semester grind. But don't let that ruin your Summer - there's plenty to do for free, or for very little money! Squad up with your best friends, roommates, significant other, or even a sibling, and head out to make the most of your time off!

1. Go on a local restaurant tour.

Odds are, there’s plenty of those super cute restaurants downtown, just 20 minutes from home, and you always drive past them, telling yourself that someday you really will try them out. Pick an afternoon or evening to get a little dressed up for a date or a night out with your friends, and go from restaurant to restaurant, trying a signature appetizer and a drink from each one. You’ll likely be full from the variety of small plates, but if you only plan on trying a few places, plan to eat a real entree from your final selection.

2. Get thrifty.

Take your bestie to Goodwill, Plato’s Closet, or any other consignment store with cheap, gently used clothes, and put outfits together for each other! You can keep it simple and build one cute outfit for each other, or challenge yourselves to find different kinds of outfits - casual, date night, and maybe even a formal option!

3. Cook something new.

Skim through some cookbooks from a local bookstore - or mom’s kitchen - and pick something that’s a little out of your comfort zone. Some recipe websites have the option to randomly select a recipe from a certain category, which you can always go to for inspiration. If you have someone to do this with, have them pick their own recipe; maybe you have an appetizer and a dinner, a dinner and dessert, or even a cool breakfast and a drink. Head to your local grocery store - or, even better, a farmer’s market - and challenge yourselves to pick the best ingredients you can find to prepare your dish.

4. Find an impromptu photo-op.

This is simple enough - scope out some local parks, storefronts, etc. - get creative! Maybe the hardware store isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think of photo backdrops, but maybe one side of the building has a neat brick overlay that could look cool in a picture. Get dressed up with a friend and fill your Insta with some cute shots!

5. Have a backyard camping adventure.

You can have all the fun of sleeping under the stars, but with a fridge full of cold drinks and a real bathroom just a few feet away. Stock up on snacks, bug spray, and of course, the stuff to make s’mores.

6. Be ~naturally~ artistic.

Look for flowers or leaves that you think are cute, and try drying or pressing them; it’s really easy! You can use these to create jewelry, small centerpieces, cute bookmarks, and more. Try sites like Etsy and Pinterest for some ideas!

7. Fight for first place.

Many cities have trail races, 5K runs, or similar events, usually for a charitable cause. Many people turn up just for fun - not necessarily to race. Most of these events are themed or have a twist, like running through bubbles, dressing up like a princess, or even getting a little messy with paint. Sign up with your besties, make your donation or pay your participation fee, and have fun!

8. Be realistic.

Don’t feel like putting on a bra or finding a clean shirt? I feel you. It’s Summer, after all. At least try to branch out with your Netflix selections, though. There are plenty of websites that recommend shows and movies based on things you already like.