What To Do Around UCLA When You’re Broke AF
As college students, we can’t deny that we have limited budgets. Whether we’re unemployed but feel too old to ask our parents for money or if were employed at a meager minimum wage of $10, we all need a breather from studies. Are you wondering what to do even though you’re broke AF?! Here are some ideas for a good yet AFFORDABLE (*emphasize affordable*) time! Keep reading for what to do around UCLA when you’re broke AF!
1. Go to the Hammer Museum in Westwood!
It is a walking distance (from the dorms maybe 30 minutes) and admission is completely FREE. You can hang around and look at the exhibits, sit on the cylindrical chairs, or just play some good old ping pong. You can also find a list of events they are hosting here.
2. Picnic at Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden.
The botanical garden is a hidden gem on the southeast portion of UCLA. Filled with a lush variety of plant and flower species, this is the perfect small getaway and the perfect place to have a small picnic! There is a lot of shade and a good amount of benches to sit on. Have a picnic here and exit though the south exit into Westwood and make a stop at the Hammer while you’re at it!
3. The Big Blue Bus, line 1, takes you all the way to Santa Monica/ Venice for only fifty cents if you swipe your bruin card upon entering!
(This is like a 90% discount from an uber/lyft so take advantage!) If you go on a Saturday, UCLA takes you to Santa Monica completely FREE of charge from the hill. It’s my go to for what to do around UCLA when you’re broke AF. In Santa Monica you can walk along the pier, shop on 3rd street, tan, or whatever you’d like to. In Venice you can walk along the street vendors and look at all the crafts they’re up to! Venice is a quieter beach and may be suitable if you want to enjoy the waves without a bustling crowd!
4. Go to the UCLA Planetarium!
Ok, so this is definitely something that more underground and less known about at UCLA—but it’s great. There are planetarium shows and telescopes for use. This is located on the roof of the MS building so if you’re looking for a beautiful night view under the stars or to spend time with that *special somebody* this is the perfect thing to do and it’s right on campus!
5. Explore the Fowler Museum.
The Fowler Museum is the museum right on campus! Admission is *free.* Current and upcoming events are listed here. It’s located right next to Janss steps and is a great break from classes, or a fun place to visit over the weekend.
6. Thrift shop!
For y’all out there who practice retail therapy on the daily, (because who doesn’t love buying stuff for themselves?!) thrift shops are definitely your new thing. You can find unique articles that NO one else on campus will have for super super super cheap. Some popular thrift shops are Goodwill and Council’s.
Pro tip: Take the Big Blue Bus line 1 to 6th street, and the bus will drop you off right in front of a Goodwill!
7. Attend CEC free events.
One thing UCLA is good at is keeping their students entertained. They even have a committee, the CEC, to plan concerts, free movie screenings, and other fun events that students would actually want to go to. In the past, they’ve brought artists like Louis the Child, Kamasi Washington, and have showed movies like Deadpool! Follow their Facebook page for upcoming events here.
