By now, you know that I strongly believe that hobbies are vital for achieving work-life balance. Unfortunately, one thing that holds people back from starting a hobby is the additional cost. The reality is that, with inflation, many of us don't have the budget to pick up a hobby like playing a new instrument or making jewelry. I will admit that this girl loves a good deal. Luckily, many hobbies are very budget-friendly, even virtually free, and I'm here to share them with you! Here is a list of the top 10 budget-friendly hobbies, covering all categories including physical, creative, and cognitive.
1. Hiking/Walking/Running - These activities are virtually free, though you may want to invest in a good pair of shoes designed for the terrain you'll be on. I love these activities because they allow you to get your steps in and get you out of the house (especially important for my fellow work-from-homies out there!). My favorite of the three is hiking because trekking on new trails feels like a mini-vacay to a new place, even if it's just 20 minutes away from home. I highly recommend AllTrails.com to find trails in your area; it's basically the Yelp of hiking.
2. Sports requiring one ball such as basketball, soccer, or football- One-ball sports align with the spirit of budget-friendly hobbies, keeping them low to no cost. These sports are guaranteed to bring people together. You can call up some friends who want to get in some exercise and friendly competition, find a meetup through an online platform, or, for those true extroverts, create your own meetup on a platform like your city's subreddit page or Instagram stories. Meetup.com is a great site to discover groups seeking like-minded people like you! I've found everything from a group of people in need of an extra player in their pick-up soccer game to a dancing potluck meet-up on the beach (very specific, I know).
3. Dancing- Dance classes are an option if you're seeking more formal training, but since our focus is budget-friendly hobbies, you can easily search for dance tutorials for any style you want to learn. Additionally, both my sister and I can attest that watching your favorite music videos from the past will trigger dance routines that you may have pushed back to the recesses of your brain. Dancing should feel free and full of expression, so I suggest dancing with a group of people who are not afraid to let their freak flags fly!
4. Board games/puzzles- Board games and puzzles are also budget-friendly, especially if you attend B.Y.O.G. (bring your own game) game nights with friends. You can also find free puzzle games on your smartphone. Personally, I love Sudoku, Wordle, Wordscapes, and my first gaming addiction, Tetris. These games are gratifying because they challenge the strategic side of your brain (I think that's the left side, right?) and can teach you new things.
5. Reading- The library is a treasure trove for finding books in any genre that pique your interest. The Libby app also offers free e-books and audiobooks for those who don't have time to browse the library. *Please note: You will need a library card to use the Libby app but luckily, it's free!
6. Writing- Writing can be very intimidating, especially to people who haven't written since the days of learning MLA format in high school. However, it is so multi-purpose. Writing can be a tool to record your thoughts, experiences, or interests through journaling or blogging. Writing can give you an outlet for creative expression, like songwriting, poetry, or writing a story. Prompt writing can give you guidance and inspiration for writing.
I suggest first thinking about what type of writing truly interests you. When I first started conceptualizing my blog, I made a list of blog themes I thought I could give insights on like traveling, teaching, or art. I then made a list of headlines on which I could write a whole article. When I looked at my list, I found that hobbying was the theme that inspired the most headlines leading me to create a blog around that.
7. Knitting or Crocheting- Beginner knitting and crocheting is relatively low cost because all you'll need are knitting needles or a crochet hook and yarn. Admittedly, these hobbies get expensive depending on the yarn you want to use but you can keep it budget-friendly by using low-cost material, asking a friend who has leftover yarn waiting to be repurposed, or even checking out estate sales. Learning the craft is virtually free. You can search for online tutorial videos and articles or check out how-to books at the library. I also love knitting and crocheting because you can create handmade gifts for your loved ones or even sell them if you want to earn some money.
8. Baking- I categorize baking as low-cost because it involves tools and ingredients that most people have in their kitchen. Cooking is a hobby for some, but I see it more as a labor of necessity since we kinda need food to survive! Baking, however, is a labor of love, and you'll make many friends when you share your creations (or you can hoard them for yourself, whatever floats your boat!). Baking is also a great way to celebrate the changing seasons. I love creating warm, spiced treats in autumn and winter, like pumpkin cheesecake or gingerbread, and lighter, flavored confections in the spring and summer, such as lemon bars.
If you're not really a sweets person, never fear—bread is here! My husband is our official in-house bread baker, and he can attest that, while the process is lengthy, the feeling of working the dough, the intoxicating smell of bread proofing and baking, and tasting the freshly baked loaf out of the oven are incredibly rewarding.
9. Drawing or Coloring- All you need to start is paper, a pencil, and/or a box of crayons. If you need guidance in drawing, surprise! You can watch tutorials online or check out a book on drawing at your local library. If you're daring, take your pencil and notebook outside for inspo, and start your masterpiece!
If you don't have the drive or patience to draw your own lines, coloring books for adults have been proven to reduce stress and can put you in a meditative state. Pretty powerful stuff! Coloring books are relatively cheap and can be found at stores like Target or ordered online.
10. Origami- All you need to create some origami is some paper, and a tutorial or instructions. Origami can be challenging to grasp at first, but my tips are to be patient, take it slow, and ensure your folds are as crisp and accurate as possible. A credit card can do wonders for crispy folds.
If you're looking for beginner projects to start your folding journey, Gathered. has some great options. I have many fond memories of making trips to Little Tokyo with my mom to pick up fresh new patterned origami paper, picking up some gooey ice cream mochi, and stocking up on shrimp chips from the Japanese market. Of course, if you don't have the time for that, you can order some online, or create your own origami paper out of good old copy paper. Fancy origami papers can be pricey but there are always more affordable options a Google search away.
Thanks for listening to my TED talk on budget-friendly hobbies. I hope I've convinced you that there is a variety of options across all categories—physical, creative, and cognitively oriented—for you to choose from. I would love to hear which hobbies from the list have inspired you or if you've tried any other affordable hobbies that I didn't mention!
Follow my blog for more helpful posts on how to find your perfect hobby and more.
-Julie C.
These are such great ideas and tips! Baking is something I recently started getting into and it is very rewarding. Maybe your husband and I can make some bread together one day for you!