1. Invest In A Good Bike
Portland is one of America’s most bikeable cities, and getting around on a bike is free transportation and exercise in one.
Join the bike commuter rush on Hawthorne between 8-9 a.m. and you’ll realize how awkward you would feel driving.
2. Eat Well At Home
If you think eating healthy has to be expensive, think again. Local and organic produce and foods alongside Oregon wines, freshly baked goods, and artisanal creations can be found at the Portland State Farmer’s Market along with other local markets for discounted prices.
3. Don’t Fear The Food Trucks
With over 500 food trucks to be found in the city, there are no shortage of ways to enjoy a good meal for under $10. A porchetta sandwich from People’s Pig and pierogis from Eurodish are just a couple of options you could be enjoying right now.
4. Lay Your Own Eggs
Well, you won’t be laying them. But the chickens in your backyard could. Chickens are popular pets in Portland and the city allows you to keep up to three of them. But note: no roosters allowed.
5. Get Free Entertainment From Mother Nature
The skies might not always be blue but you can always count on Portland to be as green as it gets. From all of the moss to the endless landscape of parks, there’s always somewhere to go to escape the city and get back to nature.
6. Being Cultured While On A Budget Is Possible In Portland
Don’t miss free days at the Museum of Contemporary Craft every first Thursday of the month from 11-8 p.m. and also at the Portland Art Museum on the fourth Friday of the month from 5-8 p.m.
7. Take Advantage Of Free Activities For Kids
Every kid in Portland loves the Portland Children’s Museum and parents love that admission is free the first Friday of every month from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. And sign up for the Oregon Zoo’s email updates to find out when they feature their special free admission days for residents.
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8. Hop On The Street Car
Portland was one of the first in the country to reintroduce streetcars back in 2001. A two hour ticket will only cost you $1 or you can get an all-day pass for just $5 and will get you around Portland without having to worry about traffic, gas, or parking.
9. Shop Local And Actually Get More Bang For Your Buck
With so many great places to shop in Portland, no sales tax makes a pretty big difference in those receipts. Shopping local helps keep all that money in your community’s economy, too, which is great for everyone.
10. Find A Cheaper Way To Enjoy Craft Beer
Portland is known for its stellar craft beer scene, and it doesn’t always come cheap. But you can still enjoy some time out on the town with a good brew without emptying out your wallet by taking the free tours of many of the local breweries for tastings at places like BridgePort Brewing Company and Widmer Brothers Brewery Company.
11. Think About Getting A Home Security System
If you’ve heard that Portland has a high crime rate, it’s actually true. You don’t have to walk around feeling unsafe, though, as most of the crime is property related.
Get a guard dog or invest in a security alarm. It will help keep your stuff safe, give you peace of mind, and even knock a few dollars off of your homeowner’s insurance.
12. Keep Away The Blues By Facing Them Head-On
There are plenty of ways to break up the overcast in the city with fun events and festivals. Check out the Worst Day of the Year Ride, which takes place in Mid-February which is listed as the year’s worst weather day, for a 16-mile fun bike challenge course which ends with beer and a bowl of soup at Lucky Labrador brewpub.
13. No Need To Contain The Science Excitement
Kids and adults alike love the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry with a variety of exhibits and hands-on fun. But the icing on the cake is that admission drops to just $2 every first Saturday of the month from 9:30 to 5:30 p.m.
14. Savor A Cup Of Coffee In Its Intended Form
Forget that $8 kitchen sink Frappuccino at Starbucks. Stumptown Coffee Roasters’ high quality coffee will make you never even want to drop the extra dollars for all the extraneous mix-ins.
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15. Don’t Worry About Buying Razors
Have you seen the price of razors lately? Who needs them when you live in a city so big on facial hair?
Grow yours out and maybe you can even join the Portland Mustache & Beard Club or the Stumptown Stash & Beard Collective.
16. Spend As Much Time Outdoors As Possible
With so many great outdoor activities that cost next to nothing after equipment, there’s no excuse to be bored in Portland.
Hiking, foraging, mushroom picking, fishing, kayaking, windsurfing, beach combing, and mountain biking are just a few ideas to get you moving this weekend.
17. Get Your Own Clams
Cutting your hands while digging Pacific razor clams from the coast is well worth having a plate full of them for dinner for free.
18. When You’re Hungry, Donuts Will Keep You Alive
Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t live off of donuts. Whoever tells you that is just jealous that they don’t have Voodoo.
And don’t believe the snobs who tell you that Voodoo is overhyped, either. They’re just mad that they’re standing in a four hour long line for a $35 brunch.
19. Have A Job Lined Up
If you’re moving to Portland from outside of the area, don’t just make the jump blind. You’re going to want to have a job sealed so that you can hit the ground running here.
It’s not that there are no jobs in Portland – they’re just mostly taken and sometimes slow to come by.
20. Take Public Transportation To The MAX
Navigating Portland without a car is easy. And when you need to get out to places like Washington Park, PSU, or the airport, the MAX is an awesome light rail system that will get you there. Tickets are $2.50 for a 2-hour ticket, $5 for a day pass, or $25 for 10 tickets.
21. If It’s An Option, Buy Instead Of Rent
Buying isn’t always an option for everyone. But with home values in Portland averaging around 35 percent higher than the Oregon average, buying a home instead of renting can be a huge investment, both financially and for your future in Oregon. See homes in Portland that you can buy right now.
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