It can be hard to carve out time for hobbies because everyone has such a busy schedule these days, but even if you do make the time, what are some good ones that won’t break the bank?
Well, today we’re gonna find out!
Check out some good and inexpensive hobbies that AskReddit users think we should all know about.
1. Sounds cool.
“Citizen Science.
Record the plants and animals around you, even if it’s stuff you find in your backyard or the local park, and share it online. Many sites connect with GBIF, which allows scientists to use the data in their research, and just learning more about the nature around you can be an interesting and enlightening experience.
I’ve had some of my beewolf photos cited in a research paper, have been contacted about collecting seeds and mites for researchers specializing in those areas, and have been contacted about potentially finding a species new to science. In 2015, scientists recorded 30 new fly species from Los Angeles backyards, so even urban areas can yield interesting finds.
On top of that, it can be a lot of fun to learn about the differences in things that look the same and the relationships between organisms.
iNaturalist and eBird are both fairly large international sites but there are local ones as well. (Here in South Korea we have 모야모/Moyamo and 네이처링/Naturing, for example.) All it takes is a cell phone camera to get started – and sometimes not even that! – and I do highly recommend it.”
2. There you go!
“I collect the rubber bands the postman drops and now I have a rubber band ball 18” across.
All free, all mine.”
3. Get started!
“Learning knots.
It’s not 100% free if you actually make things (like bracelets, guitar straps, etc.), but it doesn’t hurt to learn a few knots.
Just buy some paracord, go on animatedknots.com or some other knot tutorial website (Youtube works too), and start tying.”
4. No doubt!
“Reading. Library is free if you return books on time.
Thrift stores and used book stores are good as well. I have stacks on stacks of books that I’ve paid less than a dollar for.”
5. It’s good for you!
“Hiking
If you have a comfortable pair of walking shoes and the ability to get to a large park, walking is pretty cheap and relaxing.”
6. Let’s see what you can do.
“Cooking can be a pretty cheap hobby.
I mean, you have to eat anyway, might as well enjoy the processes of making your own food.”
7. Use your brain!
“Learning.
Despite having a fairly good degree, I found the ability to learn through mediums like YouTube to be invaluable and free.
I have access to more subjects and direct access to specialists in their field without having to be in a university theatre.
The internet is beautiful at times.”
8. Up in the sky.
“Bird watching is underrated.
Knowing a lot about local ecology is cool.”
9. Keep your hands busy.
“Cross stitching is very cheap and relatively easy to learn.
I’m pretty fidgety so it’s nice keeping my hands busy while watching or listening to something.”
10. Time to get creative.
“Writing.
It is the cheapest hobby in the whole world and does nothing but make you and others happy.”
11. Get moving!
“Exercise.
You can do plenty of routines like crunches, squats, pushups, situps and jogging and not spend a cent beyond a decent pair of shoes for jogging in.”
12. Fix it up!
“Fixing stuff.
Most things can be taken apart with a cheap screwdriver set. Grab something of yours that broke, pull it apart and try to figure out what’s wrong.
Researching how to pull things apart, how they work, and what causes them to break is free. If you fix it, you’ve just saved yourself money from having to replace it. Worst case scenario you can’t fix it and you’re back where you started.”
What do you think about this?
Talk to us in the comments and let us know.
Thanks a lot!
