Weekend

The weekend is finally here, but don't get carried away and start spending like there's no tomorrow. No matter what you do this weekend, there are plenty of ways to save, so be sure to keep these budget-friendly tips in mind.

If you're grocery shopping . . .

Practice simple tips like buying store brands, not falling for supermarket tricks that get you to spend more, and avoid overbuying. If you bought too much, you can share them with a friend before it goes stale. Be sure to skip the nongrocery items because the prices are often marked up!

If you're looking for a good book to read . . .

Go to your local library and pick out a book to read. If you rather read from the comfort of your own laptop or Kindle, check out $1 ebooks by indie authors on Amazon.

If you're going to do some dry cleaning . . .

The weekend is the best time to get your chores out of the way, and if you're thinking of doing some dry cleaning, be sure to do research to scout out a dry cleaner's that will give you the best bang for your buck. You can even dry clean your clothes at home with certain products. Check out other tips to help you save on your dry cleaning!

Read on for more ways to save this weekend.

Adulthood isn't always fun, but at least when you have kids, you get to do fun kid stuff: building forts, visiting theme parks, playing Candyland, and hanging out on a swing set without getting weird looks. But what if you don't have kids and still want an excuse to act like one?

The best part about spending your weekend immersed in a childish activity is adopting a kid's attitude at the same time: don't be self-conscious, don't worry about work, and just have fun. Here are 16 ideas for how you can feel young again without spending too much grown-up money.

1. Spend a day at a water park.
2. Or just run through a sprinkler on your next jog.
3. Grab a ball and glove and play some good old-fashioned catch.
4. Build a sand castle at the beach.
5. Invite your friends over for a slumber party. Pajamas required, cocktails optional.

See the rest of the sweet 16 when you read more.

There's nothing worse than standing in front of your front door shuffling through your keys to find the right one. Instead of wasting time (and carrying around boring keys), give them a coat of paint to stay organized and look chic. This life hack tip already caught our attention, so we figured it was a great DIY to try. And even if you're not crafty, you can easily transform your set of keys into a cool and personalized collection. Just make sure to keep a list reminding yourself which color key fits which lock. Here are a few tips for decorating your keys:

• Go through your key ring, sorting keys into a pile of ones that are used daily, another pile for those that aren't used as often, and a pile to ditch.
• The easiest way to paint your keys is to coat them with fingernail polish. But, while trying this, we discovered that only saturated colors or glitter polishes really worked and that keys needed several coats to be brilliantly shiny. Pick your favorite dark shade or glitter polish, paint the top side of a key, let it dry, and continue coating until you're happy with the results.
• Another fun way to paint your keys is by using spray paint, which allows you to get a bit crafty. Use strips of painter's tape to create designs, or even letters on the top of the keys — or simply leave as is for a solid pop of color. Tape the bottom of the key to a piece of cardboard, covering the entire base. Take outdoors and give it a quick spray. Once dry, remove the tape, and you've got a really cool set of keys.

Have you tried painting your keys? Leave a comment sharing which method worked best for you!

If you need to get rid of old pillowcases, then why not turn them into something new and practical instead? Cut slits on the seamed end of the pillowcase, then hem up the openings. These garment bags are perfect for clothing that needs extra care. 

Want to find more new uses for old items? Check out our list of over 100 of the coolest upcycling projects. 

Hosting a party at your home doesn't always have to drain your wallet — you can be a hostess with the mostest on a littlest budget. The main thing you have to keep in mind is to focus on the experience. If the activity is fun enough, then there's no need for expensive decor and fancy appetizers. Read on for some suggestions on how to entertain your guests on the cheap:

Music swap: Ask friends to come over with their favorite songs, make sure you have speakers set up for all to hear, and listen to some jams all night.

Board-game potluck: Invite over a handful of friends, and ask each person to bring his or her favorite board game plus a snack to share. Take care of the drinks yourself or ask guests to pitch in if things become costly.

Nail party: Do something different from the usual movie or board-game night this weekend — organize a nail party with your girlfriends. Use this as an opportunity to try out fun nail art that would cost a lot of money to get done in a salon

Magazine article club: This weekend, instead of hosting a book club, plan a magazine article night. It's very simple: just pick an article you find interesting and ask your friends to read it too. Then you can all come together over a glass of wine to discuss what caught your attention, what was missing, and more.

Read on for more suggestions.

We waste so much money buying new items when we can easily upcyle something we already have into something we need. All it takes is a little bit of creativity. This weekend, make a watering can by poking holes in the cap of an old milk bottle. This will be a perfect tool to use with your indoor garden!

Want more upcycling inspiration? Check out our list of over 100 of the coolest upcycling projects.

Between Coachella weekend two going on and all the music festivals ahead, we can't help but be in tune with, well, our favorite tunes. That's why we're proposing a music exchange to get in the spirit of the season.

It's a pretty simple (and old-school) concept, but one that's gotten lost with all the current ways to listen to music out there. Just ask friends to come over with their favorite songs, make sure you have speakers set up for all to hear, and listen to some jams all night. Bring out wine and cheese, but it doesn't have to be too fancy of an evening.

Chances are you'll end the night either hearing songs for the first time or reviving old ones you haven't listened to in ages. How's that for an easy but fun way to spend the night?

You've worked hard this whole week, so it's time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the weekend! Give yourself a treat this weekend to feel rejuvenated and to make yourself feel good. Don't worry, treating yourself doesn't always mean pricey massages at the spa or weekend getaways. Here are plenty of wallet-friendly suggestions:

• Relive your Charlie and the Chocolate Factory memories and treat yourself to a bar of chocolate. Remember how Charlie savored each Willy Wonka chocolate bar? Eat yours in the same manner and relish every bite.
• Buy yourself a steak and cook it. It's much cheaper than going to a steak house! Eat it while drinking a glass of affordable red wine.
• Grab a few friends and go on a picnic in a nearby park.
• Watch reality show reruns or shows saved on your DVR with a bowl of chocolate ice cream.
• Explore a museum you've never been to.
• Reread your favorite book (maybe The Hunger Games?).
• Go to your local coffee shop and try a new coffee flavor. Bring your laptop with you and catch up with friends and relatives over email.

Read on for more.

Do something different from the usual movie or board-game night this weekend — organize a nail party with your girlfriends. Use this as an opportunity to try out fun nail art that would cost a lot of money to get done in a salon. Here are a few tips to get the party started:

• Have people bring nail polish: Have people contribute by bringing in their collection of nail polish so you'll have more colors to choose from.
• Use cheap materials: Get creative by using cheap materials such as toothpicks and Scotch tape to help make your nail designs more precise.
• Throw it midafternoon: Instead of throwing the party during dinner- or lunchtime, shoot for midafternoon so you won't have to prepare meals, just snacks and finger food.
• Scour Pinterest: To get inspired, browse Pinterest for the best nail designs. Pinterest is a great source because many of the nail pictures link back to the actual DIY tutorial.
• Serve affordable but great wine: If you want to serve some wine to spice things up, scroll through YumSugar's collection of the best Summer budget wines. There are plenty of great wines at an even greater price tag of around $12 per bottle.

Chances are you've heard of book clubs before, if not participated in one. But a magazine article club? That might be a different story. This weekend, instead of hosting a book club, plan a magazine article night.

It's very simple: just pick an article you find interesting and ask your friends to read it too. Then you can all come together over a glass of wine to discuss what caught your attention, what was missing, and more. It's much easier than a book club because you don't have to pick a date weeks in advance, your friends can most likely find the article online or at a kiosk, and depending on how long the story is, they can read it in less than an hour.

How's that for an easy but engaging weekend activity?