13 Frugal Hobbies That Cultivate Your Creative Side

Simple living is about enjoying your life without spending too much money. It means living simply and happily.

People are sharing their creative, frugal hobbies, and they are just perfect! These are simple and cheap activities that are great hobbies.

Recently someone asked for ideas for creative, frugal hobbies, and the answers were perfect!

Read through some of the top responses, and maybe you can find your own new cheap hobby!

1. Writing

Image of joyous woman smiling and writing down notes in diary book
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“Writing. I adore writing. I have an idea for a book for the first time in 10 years, and it’s been exciting to finally have something I’m passionate about. I’ve been spending 6 hours writing some nights. It’s very fun and creative. Even if it never goes anywhere other than my google docs,” someone said.

Writing is such a great cheap hobby!

2. Puzzles

Unfinished white jigsaw puzzle pieces on blue background.
Image Credit: Kenishirotie/Shutterstock.

“I haven’t done this yet, but I’d love to set up a local puzzle swap so everyone can exchange their puzzles for new ones!” wrote one person. Another added a great tidbit of information, “I just found out my local library does this, and I am thrilled!”

3. Embroidery

Hands of girl / woman / female in ukrainian traditional shirt sewing embroidery pattern in embroidery frame.
Image Credit: Monstar Studio/Shutterstock.

“Embroidery and cross stitch. The supplies are cheap, and each project takes quite a while, so a little goes a long way,” someone wrote.

4. Running

healthy lifestyle young fitness woman running at seaside.
Image Credit: lzf/Shutterstock.

“Best hobby in this universe!” they exclaimed. It certainly is cheap!

5. Yoga

Senior Woman Resting After Exercising In Park
Image Credit: monkeybusiness via DepositPhotos.com.

“You technically don’t even need a mat,” someone commented.

You can find free yoga videos on YouTube and use a blanket or towel as a mat.

6. Cooking

young woman about to start cooking in kitchen
Image Credit: snowwhiteimages via DepositPhotos.com.

“Cooking. I have to eat anyway, and I feel like I can be creative with ingredients 🙂 It’s a huge creative outlet for me,” wrote one person.

Another added, “Same. It’s also fun to see how cheap you can make a meal while having it taste like a $20 plate. Yesterday I made a Taiwanese dish for $2 a plate, and it tasted better than anything I could have gotten as takeout.”

7. Upcycling

Young woman decorating DIY jars with paint.
Image Credit: Ground Picture/Shutterstock.

“Mending/upcycling/repurposing. Making pretty stuff out of cast-offs is sooooo inexpensive and satisfying,” wrote one person.

Another agreed, “I love being able to think, ‘oh, I could really use a ______’ and being able to make it from materials I already have.”

 

8. Crocheting

woman laying under knitted blanket
Image Credit: serezniy via DepositPhotos.com.

“Crocheting blankets,” wrote one person wrote.

Another expounded on how they do it cheaply, “Ask on NextDoor or a buy nothing group if anyone has yarn to get rid of. Lots of knitters have plenty to ‘de-stash’ for cheap or free, and others also end up with yarn they don’t know what to do with. You can knit a blanket with many different yarns as long as they are close to the same weight.”

9. Trash Collecting

Team of young volunteers picking up litter in the park.
Image Credit: wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock.

“Trash collecting. It’s super cheap (just have to buy gloves and bags), good for the environment, good for your body, good for your self-esteem. Also, people will thank you for this! Give it a try. I personally find it to be super rewarding,” someone wrote.

That is not a hobby you hear recommended every day!

10. Digital Photography

woman holding camera in front of face taking picture.
Image Credit: izzet ugutmen/Shutterstock.

“Digital photography. You can use a cell phone or spend as much as you like,” wrote one person.

Most people have a smartphone already, so trying photography isn’t expensive. Phones take very good pictures!

11. Calligraphy

Calligrapher hands writes phrase on white paper.
Image Credit: Elizaveta Galitckaia/Shutterstock.

“Hand lettering/calligraphy for crafts and card making—I end up having to send or give cards for birthdays and events, so making something that looks professional because of the handwriting style is super cheap compared to buying expensive cards at the store,” wrote one person.

12. Hiking

First person perspective shot from a hiker sitting at the edge of a cliff at Angel's Landing in Zion National Park
Image Credit: DanRoss via DepositPhotos.com.

“Hiking. Buy a NW forest pass. Get maps, dress appropriately, bring water. Pack a lunch. Gas can be pricey, but depending on where you are in the country, it’s extremely accessible. Bonus points if you make a generic Instagram account to post photos of cool views you saw while hiking,” one person shared.

13. Watercolor Painting

blonde woman artist paints a colorful picture
Image Credit:
bezikus via DepositPhotos.com.

“Watercolour painting. I found a lady on Insta who uses cheap (like $5 a set) kid’s art supplies mostly and makes fun little things. Andrea Nelson. Painting watercolor stuff makes me happy. It’s cheap and “small”- doesn’t require expensive or large supplies,” one person wrote.

They later added, “Edited to add… I have no artistic talent, but painting watercolor circles makes me happy… and looks sweet with a few of her tips.”

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woman laying under knitted blanket
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Mushroom Cloud of Atom Bomb exploded over Nagasaki, Japan, on August 9, 1945. World War 2.
Image Credit: Everett Collection/Shutterstock.

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Senior sporty woman smiling out of the pool with swimming goggles and cap in hand - active retiree enjoying swimming on a sunny day.
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Portrait Of Young Man Taking Cold Shower In Bathroom,
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Committing to frugal habits will help you live a frugal lifestyle. Making frugal habits part of your everyday life could save you money in the long run.

Saving money is about creating a frugal life that allows you to save money on the things you don’t need and use them for the things you do need.

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This post originally appeared on A Dime Saved.

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Hi! I am a millennial mom with a passion for personal finance. I have always been “into” personal finance but got inspired to start my blog after a period of extended unemployment. That experience really changed the way I viewed my relationship with money and the importance of accessible personal finance education.