It's been said that money doesn't buy happiness, but I've had my doubts when short on cash and bored out of my mind. Luckily, whether you live in a metropolis or the middle of nowhere, a little planning and research will help you get to know your hometown better.

Road tripping to a concert can make for a fun, albeit expensive, weekend. Use the following resources to find inexpensive concerts close to home:

• Music.myspace.com helps find new and established musicians and lets you search for shows by location.
• Livenation.com lists event details for local concerts and sends email updates on upcoming events. 
• Epitunes.com allows you to search nearby concert venues, listen to the bands that will be playing, and set alerts for when certain bands come to town. It also lets you befriend local people who like the same bands, or create a page to promote your band.
• Local radio stations are also a good source for news about the local music scene.

Arenas and concert halls don't have a monopoly on live shows. During the summer look for performances at parks, outdoor restaurants, universities, and other open-air venues. These are often free and open to the public. 

Finding an inexpensive restaurant that serves delicious food isn't always easy. But a hole-in-the-wall café might have great food for less than a meal at a chain restaurant. For restaurant information and reviews check the following:

• zagat.com features member-generated restaurant reviews.
• local.yahoo.com is a great resource for listings on restaurants, as well as other local businesses and services.
• Chambers of commerce usually offer restaurant directories.

Whether you want to watch, participate or even work in sports, the following resources will help:

• City parks and recreation departments often offer activities at a reasonable price, as well as information about local sports leagues, events, parks, and running and biking trails.
• Some fitness clubs offer discounted youth or student memberships. Ask your school's athletic department about intramural sports programs or gym access.
• Teamworkonline.com compiles sports-related jobs.

Some activities require equipment. Renting is an option, but if you plan on using the equipment regularly, buying is better.

• Look for "gently used" merchandise at secondhand sports stores. Get almost-new gear at a fraction of the cost.
• Many sporting goods stores have end-of-season sales. Plan ahead for next year and buy equipment at reduced prices this year.
• Check websites like craigslist.org or ebay.com. Items are sometimes listed for much less than they're worth. Make sure to research the item before contacting a seller.
• Look for local garage sales.

Local events highlight hometown culture. For example, the Relay For Life raises money for cancer research while providing local food, live music and a bit of exercise.

Other possible events might include:

• 5k runs for charity
• Arts and music festivals
• Museum exhibitions
• County fairs

Look for seasonal activities like Warren Miller ski films in the winter, or fairs and other outdoor activities in the summer. Check your town's official city and tourism websites for announcements about these types of upcoming events. Also, go to eventful.com to search for, or add to, listings of local events.

Not satisfied with what's available in your town? Do something about it. Here are three ideas to get started:

• Battle of the bands: Some cities lack traditional music venues, so organize an outdoor concert or coordinate with a local school, church or charity.
• Young entrepreneurs club: Share knowledge, experience and ideas with other peers interested in starting or running a business.
• Charity event: There's always an organization in need of funding or volunteer support.

If you need help with event ideas or organization, look to the following:

• Libraries or universities: Put a finger on the local cultural pulse.
• Blogs:Create or join a like-minded community that spans the globe.
• Friends, family, coworkers: Drum up support for creating a local event.

Sources:

teammarketing.com; sunset.com; bargainist.com; volunteermatch.org