Wise Bread readers are masters at saving more and spending less. You
know how to shop smart, how to stretch a budget, and how to find the
best deals on just about anything.
But what about when you want to cut loose and relax?
Life, after all, is about balance and having some hobbies is a key
component of living a happy, healthy life. If only those hobbies weren't
so expensive.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to stay true to your frugal
principles and still have a good time in the process. Here are 35 ways
to enjoy yourself without breaking the bank.
1. Reading
Too obvious? Maybe, but it's cheap, cheap, cheap, and if you enjoy doing it, you'll never run out of new material. Find an endless supply of stuff to read on the Internet, pick up used books at garage sales and thrift stores, or take advantage of your free library card and gain access to everything from the old classics to the latest best-sellers.2. Journaling/Writing
Writing offers a number of benefits, not the least of which is learning to write better by constructing your thoughts on paper. Work through your issues by journaling or leave something memorable for your descendants by writing your memoirs. If you're not yet ready to put your life on paper, try writing about someone else's life instead, or write about a cause or event that you think is important.Or just make the whole thing up. One of the great things about writing fiction is that you have control over how the story develops. Not sure where to start? Let this handy online plot generator start for you.
3. Writing Poetry
There is an art to making words rhyme,A rhythm that requires those words to keep time,
But master it and you will see,
There's nothing quite so creative as poetry.
Where to start? Turco's The New Book of Forms and Hollander's Rhyme's Reason are classic introductions to English rhyme and verse, with clear explanations and plenty of examples.
4. Performing Slam Poetry
If traditional rhyme isn't your thing, consider slam poetry instead. Meant to be spoken, slam poetry is much more visceral in content, often used as a means to vent about political issues, humanitarian injustices, and personal milestones. It's also much more flexible when it comes to style and syntax. You can use rhyme if you want, but it's not required; in fact, the only real "requirements" of slam poetry is that it's passionate, and if you're going to compete, your poem must be three minutes or under.
5. Sewing
When I was in elementary school, my mother made matching outfits for me and my best friend. They featured faux suede vests and skirts with cream-colored satin shirts, and since this was the '70s, we were hot stuff in those outfits to say the least.I never really got into sewing after a dress-debacle in my 8th grade Home-Ec class, but now, with a daughter of my own, I've pulled out mom's sewing machine, and I'm slowly but surely learning how to make my own garments. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. Sewing is a wonderfully creative outlet and the perfect way to fashion a custom wardrobe for a fraction of what you'd spend buying off the racks. Plus — and this is my goal — if you get really good at working with patterns, you can start working on your own designs. Move over, Jaclyn Smith!
6. Walking
Despite the obvious cardiovascular benefits, walking is a great way to clear your head, let off some steam, and just enjoy the outdoors. You can walk the trail at your local park or just walk your neighborhood after dinner. The benefits are the same, and it's free.7. Gardening
When we moved out of the city some seven-plus years ago, I wanted to fully experience the whole "country-lifestyle," so I promptly tilled up an area for a small garden. It was one of the best things I've ever done. Not only do you get to commune with nature, but if you grow edibles, you can cut down your grocery bill to boot. And just let me say, there's nothing like homegrown tomatoes. Plus, you don't need lots of space to enjoy this hobby — container gardening works well even in the smallest of spaces — and if you grow heirloom plants and harvest your seeds, you'll only have to buy your starter plants once.8. Bird-Watching
When we moved to said country home, we noticed a mud nest on our front porch. Hubby wanted to tear it down — and I wanted to know what lived in it. As it turns out, that nest belonged to a pair of Purple Martins, birds known for eating their weight in mosquitoes. And because they come back every spring, I've never had to buy a can of repellant. The moral of this story? Learning more about the birds in your backyard might be worth your time.9. Painting
Years ago, my girlfriends and I decided to try our hand at painting. We began with oils, which I loved as a medium, but they were a little pricey and a pain to clean up. Then I discovered acrylics. Water soluble and much, much cheaper, they have been my go-to medium ever since. You can find canvases and brushes — also inexpensive — at most craft stores, and there's an endless supply of how-tos on the web.10. Drawing
If painting isn't your thing, try drawing. Sketchbooks are relatively cheap and easy to tote, so you can take your hobby with you wherever you go. And like painting, you can self-teach using books, online instruction, and lots of practice.11. Cooking
Forget about prepackaged mixes and store-bought cans — there's something about cooking and baking from scratch that feels almost spiritual. Maybe it's the creative aspect of pulling it all together, tasting and adjusting along the way to be sure your recipe is just right. Maybe it's the satisfaction of seeing your creation turn out well, a manifestation of all the love and intention that went into making it. Maybe it's the presentation, with all the little drizzles and sprinkles that turn your dish into art.Or maybe it's just that it tastes better.
Depending upon what you have in your cabinets, you may need to purchase certain spices and staples, but I've found that it's not too hard to keep a well-stocked kitchen, and it's definitely cheaper than eating out. Plus, it's nice to get a craving for something and know that I have the ingredients to make it, meaning fewer spontaneous trips to the grocery store.
Where to start? Pick a cuisine or style you like, and decide to master its ingredients and recipes.
12. Genealogy
I can't tell you what got me started in genealogy. But I can tell you that once I started digging, I was forever hooked. There's something absolutely fascinating about tracing your past, learning where you came from, and even (occasionally) stumbling upon photos and stories of ancestors you never met. I have an ancestor who was a Revolutionary War Patriot, for example, and there's a memorial built in his honor in his hometown.I have another ancestor who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth and he, too, is remembered in a memorial, this one placed in an Abbey in Somerset.
Not all of my ancestors have notable stories, of course, but following their trail is interesting nonetheless. You can splurge for an Ancestry.com membership or you can begin by exploring the free genealogy websites online and the genealogy section at your local library.
13. Become an Expert
When I discovered that I had an ancestor with ties to Queen Elizabeth, I couldn't help but learn more about that particular era. Between the assassination attempts on the Queen and all the betrayal and beheadings during her father's (King Henry VIII) reign, there's more than enough information to keep my interest piqued. And in the process, I've become a bit of an expert on this topic.Now, think about something that interests you. Are you a history buff? Fascinated by science? Passionate about climate change? Dig in deeper and learn everything you can. In a world where we're bombarded with information 24/7, it's a nice change of pace to cover more than just a few fleeting details. (See also: 11 Ways to Learn Something New)
14. Jewelry-Making
If you've got kids, then you've probably seen the rubber-band bracelets that are all the rage. My daughter loves making them, and has even branched out to woven friendship bracelets using string and cord. Helping her figure out new techniques and patterns reminded me of how much fun those smaller craft projects could be and while the rubber-band variation isn't really my thing, wire jewelry offers some great possibilities.There are literally hundreds of websites where you can get ideas and inspiration, along with step-by-step tutorials to walk you through a complete project. You can find wire at most craft stores, but you'll pay less if you order from some of the jewelry-supply websites, such as Fire Mountain Gems. Beads can be found at most of these sites as well, or you can order them in bulk from Amazon.
And if you find that you're especially good at jewelry making, you can sell your stuff on Etsy for extra cash
15. Guitar
Of all the musical instruments you could play, the guitar is probably the most practical — easy to take with you, and if you buy it used, you can get one relatively cheap.There's also plenty of free lessons to be had. Justin Guitar and GuitarLessons both offer free instruction as do many other websites. Or, you can just head over to YouTube — you'll find both generic lessons as well as instructions for specific songs, meaning you can finally learn how to play that 80s tune that you love so much.
16. Card Tricks
Who hasn't seen a card trick and wondered, "How did they do that?" Well, here's your chance to find out! The beauty of learning card tricks compared to other types of magic is that you can buy a deck of cards for a dollar — one dollar, and you have everything you need to start learning new tricks.Granted, some are more complex than others, but many are relatively easy and if you add a fancy shuffle, you'll look like a pro when you perform your trick.
Cards not your thing, or a dollar to high a price to pay? How about coin tricks?
17. Play Cards
Want to stretch that dollar even further? Learn to play Texas Hold 'Em or Five Card Draw or Bridge for that matter. Playing cards is a fun and easy way to relax and unwind, and it's also a great option when the Internet mysteriously goes down and you decide to reinvent family time.18. Star-Gazing
There is something magical about looking out at the night sky, even if you don't have a telescope. Learn to spot the different constellations with one of the many astronomy apps available (I use Star Chart — it's free!) and subscribe to some of the astronomy websites (such as Astronomy Magazine and Sky and Telescope) to learn more about space and upcoming celestial events.19. Fishing
You'll need a place to fish obviously — a lake or a stocked pond, for example — but that's about the biggest challenge you'll find with this hobby. Fishing requires patience, but it can also be a great way to get outside and clear your head. It's also a great way to take care of dinner.20. Photography
No need to spend lots of money on expensive cameras; many smartphones can now take some really nice pictures and you can always upgrade later. If you've got an eye for photography, you can sell your images on sites like iStockphoto and make a few extra bucks in the process.33. Singing
Everyone — everyone — likes to sing along to their favorite songs. So, why not improve that singing voice and share it with the rest of the world? There's plenty of singing tutorial videos on Youtube or you can take free lessons from Free-Singing-Lessons.
