1. Check out MapMyRide to discover new bike trails in your neighborhood and hit the road.  Bring a picnic lunch to prolong the adventure.
2. Peruse this list of the 250 best movies of all time and try and find them at your local library.  You'll be surprised how many they have.   You can also find free documentary movies online here and free indie movies here.  Homemade popcorn and hot cocoa are mandatory.

3. Pick up ethnic cookbooks at the library and select a new-to-you dish to make each week. See if there's an ethnic grocery store nearby where you can explore and find unusual ingredients.  Finally, check on Pandora for coordinating tunes to accompany your adventurous meal.
4. Make your own "free" calendar, listing all the free hours your local museums and attractions offer under the corresponding day of the week, so you'll always know where/when you can head for free fun.
5. Head to the button and trim store and find cute, new buttons to dress up old clothing items.
6. Volunteer to walk animals at your local animal shelter.  Ask ahead of time if you can bring homemade treats for them and see how quickly you can make new, furry friends.
7. Make your own spa treatments and indulge immediately.
8. Host a themed board game night with friends.  Anyone for Miss Scarlet Martinis and Colonel Mustard Canapés?
9. Join a local Road Runners group and sign up for short, themed fun runs.
10. Bowling isn't as cheap as it used to be, but check it out anyway.  You should be able to find budget-friendly discount hours or nights.
11. Make a "vision" journal or board and collage photos and phrases from magazines that illustrate your plans, goals and dreams.

12. Make easy, peasy homemade donuts and decorate them wildly with homemade icing and sprinkles.
13. Make homemade postcard art and submit them to mail-art shows.  You can start here and find other exhibition opportunities by googling.
14. Take a walk in your prettiest local park and bring breadcrumbs for the birds. If you want to be a really good citizen, bring a pair of gloves, a trash bag and pick up litter.
15. Start a Tumblr blog on something you're really passionate and follow other like-minded passionistas.  It can open up a whole world for you.
16. Have a "Mini-Me" night o' fun by making your favorite meal as a kid and watching your favorite movie.  Mine would be Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, Lucky Charms, Fruit Punch flavored Kool Aid (it doesn't have to be healthy) and Pippi Longstocking.
17. Find something pretty on P.S. I Made This (like these gorgeous "fur" earmuffs) and make it.
18. Free concerts, lectures, exhibitions, wine tastings and readings are likely right on your doorstep.  Get on the mailing list for local bookstores, colleges, galleries, community centers and churches that offer no or low-cost events.
19. Learn a language online (I didn't do too badly with French on About.com) and check out interesting foreign films from the library to support your efforts.  You can also start planning your dream trip in your vision journal (See: #11)

20. Make a set of lovely wall planters for your favorite plants or herbs by scaring up old coffee cans (or any type o' plant-worthy vessel), and giving them a good scrubbing and painting.
21. Take one of MIT's free courses online. They have over 2,000 options and they're all FREE!
22. Attend high school or college sporting and entertainment events and reminisce about your favorite years as a Wee Savvy.  Give yourself temporary tattoos before you go to remember what it felt like to be BAD.
23. Take a long walk listening to an interesting podcast. My personal faves are Fresh Air, This American Life and The Moth.
24. Redecorate a room by replacing all your framed artwork with prints from museum shops, clippings from used art books, pressed botanicals, pretty fabric remants, whatever you like.
25. Tie-dye plain white t-shirts to wear during your new workout routines.  You were aware of your awesome new online workout routines, right?

Photo credits (top to bottom): iStock.com, Easy Menu Ethnic Cookbooks, Salim Virji via Flickr, re-nest.com