Looking for a hobby that requires little or no money? Here are some ideas from the Reddit community…
Whittling
You do not need much to get started, notes one user, “You can start with a $3 knife from a gas station and some sticks. Learn the basics (take off the bark, make a point, make a sphere), then work your way up.”
Another warns that whittling could also be dangerous, “Whittling is how I cut through 3 tendons in my hand when I was 8 years old. Still recommend it; it’s a fun hobby. Just don’t be an idiot/child.”
Origami
Origami allows people to be creative; according to another user, “There are tons of free patterns online, and you can even get whole books with a little ingenuity. Usually, the small unit is very easy to fold; putting them together is quite simple, and you can make something really amazing.”
Juggling
You can juggle almost anything, notes another user, “I used to make my balls out of rice and balloons.”
Drawing
Drawing is a simple yet hugely creative activity, says another person, “$2 plus tax at the dollar store and you’ve got yourself a notebook and a pack of pencils. Go wild.”
Playing Basketball
“A cheap ball costs 5 bucks, you can shoot and dribble by yourself, and both skills are impossible to master. Most towns and all cities have courts and pickup games. I know dudes that play into their late 50s – honestly, one of my biggest regrets was to not play for most of my 30s,” says a different user.
Gardening
One person says that you do not need to have a lot of capital to garden, “You get a lot of satisfaction from very little money. You also learn a lot. You can start for free with some cuttings or seeds.
Some public libraries host a Seed Library where you can come find all sorts of seeds and supplies, all for free.”
Writing
darrinahenry via DepositPhotos.com.
Writing is one of the cheapest hobbies; according to another user, “It can be done for virtually no money. Between public libraries with computers and google docs, you have everything you need. Or you can pick up a free pen at your local bank and random paper fliers around town if you want to go old-school.”
Hiking
Hiking allows one to enjoy nature and keep fit. One person says, “Short day hikes don’t cost much; if you hike a well-maintained basic trail, you could even do it with your tennis/athletic shoes. You don’t need fancy backpacks and water bottles either, just something basic. And if you live in an area with great hikes nearby, you won’t spend much on gas.”
Volunteering at Your Favorite Charity
Why not spend time on a good cause? “I love Leader Dog for the blind. You get to be around puppies all the time while helping them train to be someone’s eyes. Amazing cause and a great time,” says a user.
Language Learning
Learning a new language is an invaluable hobby, says another user, “Not sure about every language, but as a native English speaker learning Spanish, there are lots of free resources. It’s time-consuming but very fulfilling and doesn’t ever have to cost a dime.”
Free Learning
Go to the library and learn for free, urges another person, “I picked up a library card about a year ago and used it for audiobooks on the way to and from work. I caught myself sitting in my car or driving a little longer to finish a chapter. I have listened to about 10 or so books since I got the card, but I need to use it more.”
Bird Watching
Birdwatching is therapeutic. “I recommend the Audubon app,” says a user, it “… lets you identify birds by season, location, wing shape, bird call, activity, etc., super handy.”
Sourdough Bread Baking
A user notes that this is a hobby that may cost some money, but it is refreshing, “It does cost money for flour, but once your starter is mature, you get to cook and eat all the flour, so that’s minimal. It sucks a bit the first few weeks as you are trying to get the starter going and having to discard a lot. Even so, I still got a good loaf out of my first bag of flour, so it wasn’t a total waste.”
Running
Running is one of the easiest ways of keeping fit without hitting the gym, says one user, “I don’t use a gym, just run round the streets or by the river, and run at Parkrun every week, which is free. Now I’m a bit better off financially than when I started; I pay for race entries to local race events (I am lucky to have a few close by) and am about to do my first half marathon next week. Really rewarding hobby, and you get fit too.”
Stargazing
As long as it is dark enough, this is a hobby anyone can do. “Stargazing if you live somewhere dark enough! You don’t need a scope to still see and identify stars/planets,” says one user.
Bushcraft
This hobby takes you back to the pre-civilization era, but as one user says, it can be addictive, “Technically don’t need anything but the wilderness. Maybe some gloves and a pair of pliers/knife. Cut some bramble or vines, and you can start weaving cool {things} like baskets. Very addicting hobby IMO. Like you’ll probably start off making the same basket over and over just because it’s so fun, and you don’t know how to make anything else.”
Cat Spotting
This hobby is strange but rewarding for cat lovers: “Go out in your neighborhood and count the cats. Go multiple times at different times, and you’ll never see the same ones. You can even draw a map of where you’re guessing they live/have their territories. And, like, half of them will want you to pet them!” advises one user.
Cycling
A user advises others to buy a used bike from a thrift store and enjoy the ride, “You can get an old road bike at a thrift store and ride it until you have the cash to upgrade. I rode a $20, 30-pound mountain bike on the road until I saved up to buy a decent ride. You don’t have to have the best equipment and the latest tech to have fun.”
Coloring
This is becoming a popular hobby among adults; according to another user, “Coloring for adults is a big thing these days. You can find sites for it and everything, or you can download images from Google, fire up a program like Krita, and turn them into art.”
Photography
Taking great photos does not have to be expensive, says a user, “You don’t need an amazing camera. Just any. Point and shoot at something you think looks beautiful or intriguing.”
Knitting
You could knit some neat gifts, says one, “Knitting is pretty cheap, or at least it can be if you stick to yarn from a big box store. You end up with more hats and scarves than you could ever use, so you can give them as meaningful presents or donate them to charity.”
Fishing
Fishing as a hobby is a bit expensive when buying initial equipment, but it becomes cheap afterward, “Once u do the initial purchase, u can teach yourself everything. Now that I have a rod and tackle (<75$), all I need to spend cash on is gas getting to the fishing locations.”
Meditation
Meditation lets you get in touch with your inner chi, and one user explains how to do this, “Let you breath lower into your belly. Let your awareness rest in your breath in your belly. If we want to be precise, it’s three finger lengths downward from your belly button. If you notice you have gotten lost in your thoughts, just come gently back to your breath. If you notice you have gotten lost in your thoughts, just come gently back to your breath.”
Calligraphy
Love beautiful handwriting? You could make a career out of a calligraphy hobby, notes another user, “People love calligraphy once you get the hang of it, and people will pay a lot of money for you to do some calligraphy work for weddings and other events!”
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