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Welcome to the fun and free hobby ideas zone. No expenses allowed! It’s like an exclusive club for saving money and having fun.
It seems like a rare occurrence where there is time to participate in a hobby. Between work, adulting (mostly never-ending house cleaning!), and human relationships which require maintenance like ever-growing chia pets, there seems to be little time for anything else.
If I can spare 15 minutes to enjoy a hobby, I can boost my happiness and health which has been scientifically supported. Hobbies are a great way to relax, expand knowledge, and adds layers of richness to my identity. All with the perfect price tag of free!
Rebel Reader
Reading. A personal favorite of mine.
I love to consume the written word with its tips, tricks, and hacks to make life better. In the 21st century, there are many places to find free material.
As an avid supporter of all things public, one of my favorite institutions is a library My local library (it’s on the small side) has many items to peruse, from fake fiction and sci-fi tombs to romance novels. My nerdy side hangs in nonfiction where I can find everything from self-help to investing knowledge.
Along with ooddles of physical books many libraries have Overdrive which is a digital ebook system. This software allows a checkout of books for any mobile device.
If there is one thing that brings humanitarian pride, it’s the invention of libraries where everyone has access to entertainment or enhancement. Way to represent, humans.
Paper Pieces
There are many things I do that are fun, free, and involve paper. There are traditional uses like drawing, writing, and to-do lists. The remix version is card making, scrapbooking, or origami. I frequently have all sorts of colorful confection lying around.
Even when my paper stash looks barren, I use nontypical slices of trees like newspapers, magazines, outdated calendars, old cards, and scrap paper.
Recently, I took half sheets of blank scrap paper and turned it into a book that I used for learning how to draw. I knew the pictures would be…awkward. And I was right on so many levels!
Instead of glorifying these horror shows, I challenged myself to not buy a notebook. The result was starting a hobby with a zero start-up but 💯 fun!
Capturing Free Fun
I have a smart phone. That is my photography equipment.
Smartphones have cameras that are shockingly good. I used an old point-and-shoot and an old SLR that doesn’t have the same quality as my current smartphone.
Along with preserving and sharing memories, they can be used to make cards or as decoration. The possibilities are limited to the imagination!
Exercising A Fitness Win
Since the Rona is still raging, I have opted to suspend my gym membership indefinitely. Having 30 minutes of gym time is not worth it. Instead, I work out at a super awkward yet efficient time, at work!
Exercising is more expensive at a fancy club. Instead, a 15-minute walk during my break, or a 20-minute run during my lunch, or a walk around the block in the morning is way cheaper.
A Deeper Relationship with Nature
There is one place where expectations are free, it’s anything starting with nat and ending with ure. Recreating in nature is a great way to keep expenses low thanks to the plethora of walking paths or hiking trails. Nature makes everything better.
Some weekends, I had for the mountains which is a couple hours away.
I cruise the dirt trails and bring plenty of snacks and water to keep energy high. Hiking becomes cranking when I’m hungry and dehydrated.
If I don’t have time for the mountains, I go local. City parks and trails are ways to cut expenses and time down to the essential.
As with any outdoor activity, fun and fitness are built in.
Unlimited Fun and Free Hobby Ideas
In the end, there are many hobbies that I can pursue for free or that are close to free. I use this statement as a challenge, how can I make this free with the items I have at hand? Sometimes I can’t win but more often than not, it’s successful.
Necessity is the mother of invention!
Looks like you are well versed in fee free hobbies! What kinda books do you like to read? I am dabbling in nonfiction as of late, mostly self-help and investment knowledge.
Great tips. My favorite pastimes are reading and recreating in nature.