21 Affordable New Hobby Ideas You Can Start Today
“What do you like to do for fun?” This is a common question people ask to get to know each other, but with increasingly busy schedules and limited budgets, it may seem like taking up a hobby or fun pastime is out of reach. But many hobbies require just a few affordable materials or tools you may already have at home.
If you’re not sure what hobby to try, start small. If you enjoyed writing growing up, you could set aside some time to write a few short stories or poems. If you like to be outdoors, walking, hiking, or nature collecting are low-cost, stress-relieving hobbies. You could also just try a few different things and see what sticks. With hobbies, there’s no pressure to master a skill, complete a certain task, or keep a regimented schedule. How much (or little) time you’d like to devote to your hobby in your free time is up to you.
Hobbies can be a great way to unwind or relax, or a way to socialize with others. You can pursue a hobby solo, like knitting or learning a new instrument, or opt for a hobby, like puzzles, playing tennis, or baking, which can be done with friends or family.
If you’re looking to try something new this year, we’ve got you covered. From pickleball to photography, we’ve rounded 21 for a few low-cost hobbies for you to check out.
Reading
Reading has numerous stress-relieving benefits, and it's a great way to unwind and escape from the daily grind. Getting lost in a good book can boost your creativity and allow you to learn from different perspectives. To save money, head to your local library to stock up on titles, check out your local thrift store, or host a book swap with friends.
Walking
Walking is a hobby that not only gets you outside and active, but it can also foster social interaction. Forget about step goals or filling a daily quota. Instead, just put on a pair of sneakers and enjoy the outdoors. You can also get social by including friends and family and catching up during your walk.
Journaling
Journaling can be a therapeutic and relaxing hobby, allowing you to reflect on your experiences. There’s no need to pressure yourself to keep a daily log or write on a prescribed schedule. Whenever the mood strikes, you can find a quiet place, grab your journal, and write down your thoughts and feelings.
Doing puzzles
Putting puzzles together has several brain benefits. It can improve short-term memory, sharpen motor skills, and boost mental speed. A good jigsaw puzzle can be purchased for under $10, and when you’re done, you can trade it with a friend or family member or display the finished piece.
Gardening
Starting a home garden has a few tangible benefits. You’ll get to spend some time outside, and you can grow your own vegetables or herbs like basil and mint. If planting your own garden seems a little intimidating, you can start small by tending to a few windowsill plants like aloe vera or bamboo.
Baking
Baking is a great hobby that offers delicious rewards. Those who bake rave about its therapeutic qualities, and homemade muffins, bread, cookies, or cupcakes can earn you “brownie points” with your loved ones. Consider getting the family involved to try out new recipes or swap desserts with friends.
Drawing
Adopting sketching or drawing as a hobby is pretty low cost. You’ll just need a notebook and pencils, but you can also enhance your drawings with colored pencils, pastels, or charcoal sticks. There are many ways to draw in your downtime, such as using reference photos, drawing still-life objects, or following tutorials online.
Film Watching
Grab a bucket of popcorn and get seated for an entertaining hobby: film watching. Instead of passively scrolling through streaming services, make a list of movies you want to watch and organize them by theme, like 80s romantic comedies, black and white westerns, or foreign films. Watching movies could spark conversations with friends and ignite other interests.
Learn a new language
It’s never too late to become bilingual or even trilingual, and today, it’s even easier with free and low-cost language apps. Spending just 20-30 minutes daily on an app or watching television shows or movies in other languages will make you fluent in no time.
Play cards
It may be a long time since you’ve brought out a deck of cards, but playing cards is good for your memory and for practicing your problem-solving and decision-making. You can play card games by yourself, like Solitaire, or get a group of friends together to play Rummy, Spades or Crazy Eights.
Scrapbooking
While most of us have smartphones equipped with cameras to document our memories, there’s something special about printing photos and arranging them in a scrapbook. You can head to your nearest craft store to pick up supplies and create a book around themes like holidays, birthdays or family vacations.
Dancing
If you’ve ever wanted to learn salsa or you’d like to dabble in country line dancing, consider it for your next hobby. You don’t have to spring for expensive lessons, either. There are thousands of video tutorials on YouTube, and if you’d like to hone your skills in a social setting, you can sign up for a beginner's meet-up.
Learning an instrument
There's no need to shell out big bucks to sharpen your musical talents. There are several affordable instruments to learn on, like a keyboard, recorder, or harmonica. For more expensive instruments like the violin, guitar, flute, or clarinet, swing by a swap shop, thrift shop, or garage sale to pick up a used instrument at a reasonable price. YouTube is a great resource for lessons, and sheet music is also inexpensive online.
Photography
Photography can be expensive, with photo equipment costing thousands of dollars. But if you want to practice photography as a hobby, you may already have a perfectly good camera in your pocket. You can practice your photography skills using an iPhone or digital camera and explore local areas, focusing on good techniques like composition, lighting, and exposure.
Pickleball
Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports. It’s played on a court smaller than a tennis court with a paddle and oversized plastic ball, and the low-impact sport is great for all ages. Though the sport has been around since the 1960s, the recent reassurance of the sport means that it won’t be hard to find a free court or a league near you.
Knitting
If you want something that will keep your hands busy, try knitting or crocheting. You can get started for just a few dollars with some yarn and knitting needles and purchase knitting patterns inexpensively. If you're a beginner, you can start with a scarf or potholder and work your way up to knitting blankets or sweaters.
Painting
Want to express yourself with paints? Watercolors are one of the least expensive options. Once you’ve bought a set of paints, you’ll need just a few brushes and paper. Other affordable paint options include acrylic or tempera paints, which can be purchased at your local craft store. You could enroll in an online course, check out a few books for beginner painters, or experiment on your own.
Creative Writing
If you’ve had a story brewing for a while, it might be time to take pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and write without any pressure. You don’t have to be a “natural-born” writer to enjoy creative writing as a hobby. Set aside part of your day to write without distractions and create poems or short stories at your leisure.
Nature Collecting
Nature collecting is both creative and fun. You can collect things like leaves, flowers, seashells, or rocks and display them or use them for crafting. Nature collecting can be done at home or during your travels.
Swimming
Swimming is a great full-body cardio exercise that can be done alone or with friends. All you need is a swimsuit and access to a pool in your community at a gym recreation center. If you’re fortunate enough to live by the water, you can go to the nearest beach or lake.
Thrifting
Thrifting is an inexpensive way to shop for clothes, accessories, or household goods. There’s no pressure to buy anything, and if you like to browse, head to your nearest thrift store, flea market, or garage sale to find hidden gems. Some thrifters search for collectibles, while others purchase items to add to their wardrobe or home decor. The best part of thrifting is the element of discovery.
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