24 April 2008 192 views One Comment Print This Post  Email This Post

It seems like our hobbies can quickly become the biggest chunk of our budgets, which, considering our priorities, may not seem like a good plan. But if you’re looking for a hobby that doesn’t require you to break the piggy bank to participate in, you might find a few suggestions here.

1. Cooking. You have to eat, no matter what — so why not enjoy the process of getting food on the table? And if you’ve been eating out or eating prepared foods (like Hot Pockets or Hamburger Helper), you may even be able to save a significant chunk of change.
2. Hiking. Taking a hike in your local national park isn’t going to cost you much. If you’re the outdoorsy type — even if you normally go in for something more extreme — a hike may be a nice way to relax. Hiking doesn’t require the sort of equipment camping, backpacking, rock climbing, etc. require, either.
3. Writing. Do you have an interest in telling stories? All it takes is a pen and a pad of paper and you can spend an enjoyable afternoon crafting a short story, a poem or a chapter.
4. Genealogy. Researching your family tree can offer you an opportunity to pursue a hobby that lets you easily involve your family. And, if you need a distraction for your great aunt at those family reunions, asking about family members you don’t remember can provide you with an easy conversation.
5. Bird-watching. Beyond an initial investment in a pair of binoculars, bird-watching is free. It’s a hobby that you can indulge in on vacation or at home. I’ve even known birdwatchers who enjoy just sitting down on their back porch and seeing what they can spot.
6. DIY. Doing just about anything yourself — from creating your own clothes to homebrew electronics — can be an enjoyable hobby. You may need to purchase some special tools, but, in the long run, you can often save some money. Personally, I love the unique clothing I can make myself.
7. Gardening. You’d be amazed at the amount of plants you can get for free: you can grow plants from seeds you find in melons and other food, many neighbors are happy to transplant overgrowing plants and some people just flat out give away plants

Beyond these suggestions, there are hundreds of options. Hobbies are important because very few of us want to work all day or sit around watching television all the time. The key, though, is finding a hobby that we not only enjoy, but that won’t eat up money that could go to other uses.