For many people, the weekends are a black hole for spending. You may go into the weekend with good intentions or "with no real plans," but you come out of it having made a huge dent in your spending cash.

As you head into the weekend, plan for some fun that won't cost you anything. Free weekend activities can mean you get to enjoy yourself without worrying about your budget.

Spend time in nature. During warmer months, there is no reason to spend the weekends cooped up indoors! Head out to a local park or trail. If you live in an area without well-maintained parks, try going to a safe area with sidewalks and just walking. Look at the sights; take in the smells; hear the sounds. In colder times, head to the mall - if you can resist the urge to buy! Some churches and schools also have indoor tracks that are open to the public.

Speaking of schools, check out a local sporting event. High schools typically don't charge ticket prices for sports outside of football, and many community colleges and even universities have some sports with free entrance. Keep tabs on the schedules of local schools and head out to see a game when you need to be around people.

Take on a home improvement project. Most of us, whether we are renting or buying, have a project that we need to do and just haven't wanted to take the time to complete. If you have the supplies, this weekend is a perfect time to get started!

Do some of those tiny tasks. If the idea of taking on a huge project isn't feasible or desirable, think about the small jobs you neglect. Perhaps your spice shelf needs cleaning out, or you have clothes to drop by to be dry cleaned. Letting those tasks build up is stressful and creates unneeded anxiety. While "spring cleaning" may not sound like your idea of a good time, you would be surprised at how wonderful you will feel at the end of the weekend if you starting knocking those nagging jobs off of your to do list.

Turn up the tunes and dance! Just because you're staying in doesn't mean you have to be calm and quiet. Put on some music and dance around by yourself or with your partner and kids. Make some simple finger foods out of pantry items and have a "dance in" at your home.

Read. Catch up on any books you picked up and meant to read. If you don't have a backlog of reading materials, the library is free! Head on over and spent a couple of hours relaxing with a good book.

Free weekend activities help you relax and save you money. Both of those benefits mean you're more likely to head into the week with a clearer head.