It is important to stay on budget, but it is also important to have fun in life. You have likely heard the expression “all work and no play” and hopefully you know that this is not a motto to live by.
Having Fun Without The High Costs
Enjoying life without spending a fortune can be quite challenging these days, because it seems like even the simplest activity comes with a price tag. This does not mean that there are not cheap or free activities and hobbies though, you just have to get more creative.
Take a look at these 5 ways to enjoy life without spending a fortune. These ideas only scratch the surface of what is actually out there.
Get Back To Nature
If you love the outdoors, try going for hikes or camping in the woods. This is a nearly free activity that you can get into for less than 50 dollars worth of gear. For hiking, all that you need is a good pair of boots and camping gear can be found for pennies on the dollar on Craigslist.
Take Up Crafting
There are many crafts that are inexpensive to start and can provide hours of entertainment. Try knitting, making pottery, painting, scrap-booking or photography. All of these can be done for supplies that only costs a few dollars. Even photography can be considered if you use your phones camera instead of a 1200 dollar Nikon. When you think about it, the phone on your camera is easily as sophisticated as professional cameras from just a few years ago.
Start Playing Board Games
Remember the days of Monopoly and Risk? These games could kill hours and hours of free time. Try playing board games with friends and family members and if you do not have any that are interested, look to your local recreation center. Most have programs with organized game days or nights.
Volunteer Your Time
Volunteering can be a very rewarding and cheap hobby. If you have time to give, there are a number of charities that would love to have it. This could be anything from volunteering at an animal shelter to restoring wilderness habitat to playing checkers at retirement centers.
Go Mountain Biking
Yes, mountain bikes are expensive, but this is only if you buy them new and top of the line. But who says that you need to buy a 1500 dollar Trek to get into the hobby? On the used market, it is very common to find them for well under 100 dollars, making mountain biking an affordable hobby to get into. After you purchase the bike and the helmet, you can take advantage of free state parks and enjoy a substantial money savings over other hobbies.
Choosing an Inexpensive Hobby
One of the best ways to choose a cheap hobby is to think about what you like doing. Sit down and really think about how you like spending your time the most and then head that direction. Do you like nature, do you want to learn, are you sporty or do you just want to feel good about yourself at the end of the day?
Once you have a direction, you can choose a hobby and the cheapest hobbies are usually those that people already enjoy doing.
For example, gardening is an inexpensive hobby because it doesn’t require much money or time investment. It’s also low-cost because you likely already have a garden that you can work on. If not, there are many habitat restoration charities that can find work for you.
The Top 10 Inexpensive Hobbies
Still not sure what you want to do with your time? These top 10 inexpensive hobbies are not only fun and engaging, but they are also inexpensive. These activities can be done on a budget and can be great for anyone looking to have some fun.
1. Painting
2. Photography
3. Knitting and Crochet
4. Sewing
5. Pottery and Ceramics
6. Gardening
7. Yoga
8. Scrapbooking
9. Board Games
10 . Playing an Instrument
How to Find Affordable Activities Near You
When you are looking for a low cost hobby near you, it is important to find one that is affordable. That is the entire point of this article after all.
One last way to find such an activity is to simply network on social media. A quick search on Facebook will reveal many groups dedicated to the city you are in and cities near you. Simply post, what can I do for fun and you will get dozens of ideas. Best of all, you will get answers from those already engaged in the hobby and likely get invites to join.
The Importance Of Staying On Budget
In this article, we have talked about the different ways in which people can start living their dreams and creating memories with these inexpensive hobbies. If you are spending your free time on the couch, because you think you can not afford to have fun, think again. Get creative, take some chances and put yourself out there. You will be glad you did.
Staying on budget is important, but so is living your best life. Many people often make the mistake that living your best life involves money. This is not always the case, as there are obviously dozens of hobbies that you can enjoy while staying on budget.
