CNBC and SurveyMonkey’s recent Your Money International Financial Security Survey finds 65% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.
Between 2020 and 2022, Americans spent upwards of $288 per month on entertainment and hobbies. However, a recent Wells Fargo survey finds more than two-thirds of respondents have cut back on spending, and 62% report they only have enough money for essentials. Further, a 2023 GOBankingRates survey found that 57% of Americans cut back on entertainment spending.
Medical researchers say hobbies are essential to mental health and wellness, but when finances are tight, funding an arguably casual activity presents a challenge.
How can you enjoy the benefits of hobbies when you can’t afford them?
Explore Inexpensive Hobbies
Hobbies don’t have to cost a lot of money.
Dabble in these ten fun, cheap hobbies to reap the rewards of a fun pastime without impacting your budget.
Drawing
If you have a pencil and paper, you can draw for free, and these items only cost a few dollars at the store.
Enhance your drawing skills by sketching the things around you. Draw your living room, your knick-knack shelf, or that vase of flowers on the mantel. Practice those perfect lines and curves while skillfully shading to match the light patterns.
Drawing can be creative rather than technical. Let your imagination lead the way as you draw aliens and monsters, or indulge yourself by designing your dream house. When you draw, the possibilities are endless.
Paper Mâché
If you have flour and old papers lying around, you can craft magnificent sculptures with paper mâché. A simple flour and water recipe allows you to make decorations, cosplay accessories, home décor, ornaments, and more with paper mâché.
To make your paste, combine one cup of flour with two cups of water and whisk your mixture until you have a smooth, consistent texture. Use old water bottles, boxes, egg cartons, or paper towel rolls as a base, and let your inner engineer take over.
Creative Writing
Grab your laptop and discover new worlds!
Creative writing puts you in the driver’s seat, allowing you to craft characters, build worlds, and explore the deepest recesses of your imagination.
If starting a story from scratch seems too difficult, try writing fanfiction or using prompts to get your creative juices flowing.
Reading
Reading can transport us to new worlds and offer fresh perspectives on our lives. You can learn new skills or wander through a fictional town, all without leaving your comfy chair.
Although books don’t cost much money, you can read for free by applying for a library card. Head to your local library and browse their offerings. You never know what juicy story lies beneath the cover.
Working Out
You don’t need an expensive gym membership to work out. You can do calisthenics in the garage, watch Tai Chi videos on YouTube, or go for a morning run.
There are many ways to work out for free, in your house, and around the neighborhood. Getting fit is an excellent hobby for both mind and body.
Upcycling
Upcycling lets you turn trash into treasure and use your creativity to decorate your home in a way that is uniquely yours. You can convert old tires into flower pots, clothes into purses, and jars into light fixtures.
Head to the thrift store or flea market for inspiration. Look for cheap items you can transform into wonderful home décor pieces or use the ideas to craft items from what you already have at home.
Upcycling provides a creative outlet and, as a bonus, gives you unique home décor pieces that no one else has.
Kintsugi
The ancient Japanese art of Kintsugi asks you to repair old items by highlighting their flaws rather than hiding them.
Start your Kintsugi hobby by fixing the chipped ceramic and glass pieces you have at home. Grab silver or gold glue, and mend these pieces with brilliant flairs of color.
If you love it, you can buy cheap dishware at garage sales, purposefully break it, and redesign it with kintsugi.
Dungeons & Dragons
For an inexpensive social hobby, consider getting a group together for an epic Dungeons & Dragons quest.
Dungeons & Dragons forces players to use their imagination to play the game, so you only need to invest in a dice set and rulebook to engage in this thrilling theater of the mind.
If you don’t have people to play with, head to your local comic book or gaming store. These geeky places often host game nights, letting beginners give their chaotic sides a free test run.
Geocaching
Would you rather quest for real treasure? Geocaching apps allow people to hide small prizes in public places and let treasure hunters follow the coordinates to find them.
When you find the prize, you should replace it with something else, like a dollar or small token, to keep the game going for the next person.
Download the app to see what hidden treasures await in your area.
Crochet
Crocheting is one of the easier needlework hobbies to learn, and it has low start-up costs. All you need is a needle and yarn to get started.
When you learn the process, you can create gorgeous blankets, quirky toys, comfy scarves, and more, which make fantastic gifts for your dearest friends.
Be forewarned: Although crochet is a cheap hobby to start, if you get really into it, you may find yourself overspending on yarn and patterns.
Enjoy Life on a Budget
The rampant inflation of the last few years has forced us all to cut back, but we can still enjoy life and hobbies on a budget.
Try these inexpensive hobbies and reap the mental health benefits of doing something fun for yourself.
