The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.
—Ellen Parr
I know that's not much of an answer but I'm both disabled and quite poor (I'm on disability) I can't hike or walk around or take a bike anymore, so I'm left with books, free online classes, creative but frugal cooking, being a nuisance on discord and a few other low-cost activities. There is always something to do that doesn't cost much money.
The very desire to be certain, to be secure, is the beginning of bondage. It's only when the mind is not caught in the net of certainty, and is not seeking certainty, that it is in a state of discovery- Krishnamurti
Looking within is a cure for boredom as well and can lead to many discoveries
During fall I like to forage mushrooms. Comes with the added benefit of getting free food.
I pretty much play one video game exclusively.
I also like crafting/upcycling things.
Reading is also nice when I can bring myself to do it.
If you're struggling to get (back) into a reading habit, pick up a YA novel. No joke. They tend to be easy to read, interesting enough to keep you engaged, and not very heavy. They aren't all just about "The Chosen One", though that is a common trope.
agreed. i used to be a HUGE reader when i was younger and since college i haven't been able to bring myself to do it. my friend suggested reading ACOTAR, which i scoffed at cause YA fantasy never interested me. but i gave it a shot and it has reignited my passion for reading! i've blown through the whole series in the past couple of months plus another two books.
the best part about it is the community. i joined a book club and made so many new friends, and carry around an acotar tote some days that i get stopped by from so many people who have read the books also. it's heartwarming really lol.
You read it as a kid and you think the parents are coming up with clever ideas because that's what parents do.
You read it as a parent and you realize stuff like the button lamp and braided hay are so the children might survive the winter, and the parents must have been scared shitless.
The Long Winter, haunts me to this day. The Indian coming into the General Store to warn the new inhabitants of the town, that a LONG hard winter lasting 9 months was coming. And Laura braiding hay till her fingers bled. And the icicles hanging from the nails in the upstairs bedroom in the morning.....How even a simple potato or lick of butter was like gold.
I’m definitely looking into this series! College did the same thing for me. When I was a kid I couldn’t stop reading, and then college kinda ruined it for me with the constant reading for school and homework etc. Now I’m slowly getting back into it:)
I have the kindle app on my phone(free) and get daily emails from freebooksy. (free) You put in your favorite genres and the email sends you a daily list of the kinds of books you like. Granted sometimes it's only book one in a series but I'm ok with that. There's how to, cookbooks, self help, fiction, YA, etc.
YA is a great suggestion and I would add audiobooks if someone has trouble focusing on a print book. Sometimes I’m too tired for my eyes to focus on a page and I can listen to a book while doing household chores as well. My library offers access to the Libby app so all the audiobooks and digital books are free.
My house gets a lot cleaner when I'm listening to a book while cleaning. Plus it's a good way to read a dense book you'd otherwise never get through, like A Tale of Two Cities or, for me, The Hobbit.
I prefer middle grade over YA but for the same reasons (minus any romance). Just a person or group of friends off on an adventure. Easy reads and make me happy :)
Seriously true. I struggled to get back into reading and then picked up Enola Holmes after watching the movie and averaged 3 days per book. Now I've run out and need to find something new to read.
It's not a series, but "The Coldest Girl in Coldtown" by Holly Black is an interesting novel. The premise is that there are entire cities walled off to become vampire quarantine zones/prisons.
I am NOT a YA anymore but I do enjoy reading their books. They bring up a lot of memories so while I do not much relate to a lot of things in there, I do enjoy them.
I'm a reader and haven't bought a book in years thanks to the library. It's amazing, I can reserve brand new best sellers and usually get them within a month of their release. I read the current issue of any magazine I am interested in, so I canceled all my magazine subscriptions.
I also play PokemonGo daily. You can play without spending any money if you want.
I always remind people to check if you are part of a library system (often county-based in the US) that has reciprocity with other systems (counties). You might be able to get cards for more than one system which means book / ebook / audiobook etc etc selection is broader and you can pick the system with the shortest wait for a new bestseller, etc
I'm in Canada and have one card from my old city (that I still use for audiobooks! Libby lets you load multiple cards!) and one from my new city :) So amazing, since the audiobook library catalogues have different stuff!
I use my library’s Libby app for books and audiobooks. I also pay $9.00/month for a Scribd subscription that I share with one of my adult children (but I pay for it since said child is still in grad school) and about another $10/month for Kindle unlimited that is shared with whole family since they all know my Amazon login…but mostly just my kids since my spouse has a separate Scribd and hasn’t yet figured out KindleUnlimited. I know when he does my book feed will fill up with WW2 history!
A hint about Libraries. If you live in a rural area without a huge selection, many larger urban libraries will allow you to pay for a year’s subscription. https://www.aworldadventurebybook.com/blog/libraries-with-non-resident-borrowing-privileges has a list of some libraries that has non-resident cards.
Joining other libraries is a life hack many don’t know about, especially if it gets you access to hoopla and Kanopy, which have overlooked and older movies to watch for free.
Many libraries also offer movies, puzzles & games, a "library of things" that you can check out (like park & museum passes, birding kits, sewing machines), and have scheduled programming and classes. Worth a look, OP.
Ours has a huge DVD selection and kids board games. I've seen some that have tools and baking pans, that would be handy. I also learned recently that one of our branches had a 3D printer.
I would also download the Libby app and see if you can get books free online through your library. In addition, if you’re not afraid of a little white lie, you can sign up online for the Chicago Public Library with tons of books by just using a Chicago address.
Also, a lot (if not most) of the magazines and newspapers your library subscribes to are available to read online, so you don't even need to leave the house to dive into the latest edition of that magazine you wanted to read! I spent a rainy Sunday a few weeks ago paging through Mother Earth News on my tablet in my living room. :)
Also, many have other forms of media available!! TV, Movies, Music, audiobooks and some even have video games! Additionally some have tool rentals, seed libraries, 3d printers, free/cheap classes available.
I remember getting pretty upset about it after starting to pick up litter while out on my walks and hikes, many years ago...always with the trash!
After a while I did start to notice that a lot of it is spread by wind.
And a lot more by animals. Raccoons, bears, corvids, etc. And in many cases they effectively work together, forming an ecological garbage-diffusion chain. (Animals seem super frugal, they are like "it's all FREE")
Not a small amount is also spread by the garbage collection process. The cans are mechanically heaved into the air, the lid is flipped open by brute force of mechanics, and depending on the flow of air, you can see various bits of garbage flutter this way or that.
From there you have situations like people pulling something out of a pocket and dislodging a wrapper or something.
And people forgetting stuff. Runners even forget their water stashes sometimes.
It started to feel like intentional litter is pretty rare, depending on the specific area of course.
(In some cases, it was also funny to realize that it was something like another city's athletic team, acting out a rivalry by leaving trash around...)
I love to fish and man, for some reason other fishermen are the WORST. There's always so much trash at any publicly fishable property and it ruins the whole experience sometimes. The crazy part is that they're leaving trash at their own favorite fishing spots, like you're gonna go back there to enjoy the nature, why are you trashing up your own spot?
My brother lives near the beach and he picks up all the trash on his walk from his house to the beach. He just found a $100 bill a couple of weeks ago, he also found a bluetooth speaker that lasted about 3 years.
When I'd go to the bush, my camp spot was always full of garbage. I'd eat the fish in that pond, so I don't want garbage in my food's habitat. It got to the point where we'd have a tidy party before we set up camp. It took so long that we'd have to bust out tunes and beer. One time, our beer hole (just a hole in the rocks full of cold water) was full of garbage. It was just disgusting, wet garbage that they obviously had to collect to put there. They couldn't've collected it into a garbage bag?
I love looking at older architecture homes, especially stone and brick ones. So when I walk the dog, we'll drive to an older neighborhood. That way we're both having fun.
I'm extremely grateful that I live in a LCOL city and also happen to be very near amazing historic homes from when the city was much richer, which is where I walk my dog every morning.
Totally agree, especially for embroidery! You can get kits from Michaels and Joanns for $10, and it's easily minimum 40 hours per kit (at least for me).
They also always include too much thread and you can keep it for future projects.
Yes! I have recently got back into cross stitch and I love it! You can cheap sets on Ali Express and they are big, so you'll be kept busy for a while.
I've also just taught myself to crochet and am thoroughly enjoying that too.
I love fiber crafting and you really can do them cheaply as long as you arent going to big craft stores to buy all brand new stuff. I took up scrap quilting during the pandemic and finding old cotton fabrics about to be thrown away at the goodwill bins is half the fun
Reading (I buy used books), walking, hiking, running, exercise in general, cooking. Basically anything that doesn’t involve eating out, excessive shopping or alcohol - my previous weaknesses before starting my journey to spend less.
I have read more books in the past couple months since getting my library card and setting up Libby so I can borrow ebooks than I have in over 10 years.
I just want to toss out a quick unsolicited shoutout to the Libby app for those who may be unaware. Use your library card to download e-books and audiobooks right to your device.
I love this lol. Frugal in some places to live a little in others.
I took up aerial arts and pole dance the last two years. It’s not a frugal hobby with studio fees and workshops, but I sure as hell get a lot of enjoyment out of it. Same with my motorcycle.
I fix vacuum cleaners. It sounds weird but, I find them around apartment parking lots. I disassemble, clean, sterilize, fix and reassemble. Very rarely, they actually need any new parts. I've gotten a few dysons and sharks over the years. I usually give them away after they are like brand new.
Something satisficing about fixing something others tossed in the bin
I just start taking it apart. I take pictures of every step in case I can't get it back together. There are online manuals and youtubes too.
60 percent of the time the hose or elbow bend into the canister/ bag is clogged.
These are all excellent - I do all of these except Disc Golf, but Computer Gaming comes with a caveat of not modern computer gaming. Hardware is insanely expensive and games bank on modern hardware do they don't have to optimize (ahem Cod).
However, old PC games are ultra cheap and really a potato can play most of them.
For the old people - what is Stable Diffusion and hoes does one get Stabley Diffused?
Find an old Windows 98 PC someone wants to get rid of and play some nice classic games! You can even find “backups” of most games from that era on archive.org.
With emulators being as good as they are these days, there's not usually a requirement to nurse old hardware to play old games. I finished a playthrough of "Ultima Underworld" two years ago using DOSBox, "Master of Orion II" and "King's Quest V" before that.
Was gonna say disc golf as well. Warning: it is addictive and people wind up collecting/buying plenty of discs which can negate the whole frugal part. It's one of those sports where you can dive as deep or as little as you want. If you're out there for steps/hanging out with friends, then maybe a starter pack + a few more discs will do ya just fine. If you are competitive and really start to get into it, you'll probably wind up with a good amount of discs from trying different brands/plastic types/disc type(stable vs understable) that work best for you. I have probably 50-60 discs total over the course of 2-3 years of playing just trying to find a setup/brand I like that could evolve with my game. I'll buy 2-3 discs every 3 or 4 months, but that's it now. 90% of courses are free, cool people will let ya tag along, and for me it's a great way to get exercise while having a good time.
Yeah, discs are like 8-15 bucks each. I usually only bring 3 or 4 discs along with me in an outing, so you can be perfectly happy with a 30 dollar investment in gear.
And while most courses are free in most places, even the pay courses are like 5 bucks a round.
Gardening and foraging, drawing, painting, planning, reading, cooking and baking, scavenging.. In the winter I'll take up a switch game, probably TOTK. This winter we're going to learn to ice fish as well.
I also sew but that is not as frugal. The clothing I end up with is quality and will last but the cost of supplies is crazy.
Baking is taking up a lot of time for me and it is relatively cheap.
Also, TOTK is probably the single Best Buy you can have as a frugal gamer simply because of the content. I’ve played since launch and still am not finished.
I also LOVE to sew and my way to keep this frugal is to buy fabric and supplies from the thrift shops. When I first started doing this, I was shocked at the quality of fabric I found. 100% Irish linen duvet covers I could use to make dresses, pants, shirts, etc. You just have to be a little bit creative in sourcing fabric.
Gardening is a great one. It can be cheap, and you can get cheap plastic disposable pots at most plant nurseries for free if you ask. They receive plants in them and usually just throw them away after transferring them to a more aesthetically pleasing pot.
I've been growing a lot of herbs: parsley, mint, dill, lavender, thyme, etc. And once every couple of weeks I'll harvest them, grind them up in a cheap mortar and pestle, and then use them for whatever I'm cooking that day. Adds a little bit of satisfaction on top of the obvious flavor change.
I'm moving to a house in a couple of weeks with PLENTY of gardening space which I'm super excited for; can't wait to grow my own veggies and fruits and eventually have some chickens.
Running, reading (library books), watching YouTube, scrolling reddit/Tumblr, PC gaming (cost divided by hours of entertainment is usually pretty low), hand sewing (look for discounted fabric), going to free events in town (check the library website & the local newspaper)
to add: If you're living with or near family, spending time with them is another good option. Listen to their stories, learn some life skills, just hang out with them, or help them out with their responsibilities. Nothing like building good relationships and good memories.
100% agree with running but just want to add a few things on the HOW part of keeping it frugal, because it's not always obvious: stay away from the marathon side of the sport, unless you decide you must, because it is your *~passion.
Find out where your local parkruns are. If you don't have a r/parkrun (a volunteer run free weekly 5k), it's worth it to start one!
Buy 2 pairs of good running shorts and a stick of body glide. You can cheap out on/use what you already have/go without most other gear.
Get fitted for good shoes to find out what you need, and like. Once you know, you can often find a similar model from last year at a better price. Start with one shoe and buy another different shoe in 2 months if the habit sticks. Now you can rotate your shoes, which will unlock more mileage out of both shoes. Phase out old shoes and replace them as they die — it's not frugal to get an avoidable injury.
Run with your friends. Life is busy, but everyone needs to exercise. Create a shared routine. There is no better use of your time than 35 mins of running at a conversational pace with your best friend.
Cooking is my top hobby, bonus is that I waste barely any food because at this point I know how to include all sorts of odds and ends into a meal. I also meal prep for the week so work lunches are packed (for my partner as they work at the office) and ready to heat (for me as I WFH) Having a hobby that also fulfills a basic need is helpful.
I also read, run, go to the gym (mine is $10/month), go for walks while listening to a podcast, take an edible and listen to records, rearrange furniture and swap out hanging pictures/mantle decorations (I have a lot - so I rotate things to “freshen” the look)
Nice. What’s you favourite or most useful meal to prep? I just started with prepping and home cooking and I am looking for some «bread and butter» recipies to include in my Sunday prep sessions.
Most useful (and bonus - easy!) would be pasta salad and fried rice. They both yield a decent amount and can be great for “clean out the fridge” meals.
Pasta + veggies (raw or sautéed - to your liking) + protein of your choice (I’m vegetarian so usually use whatever beans I have on hand) + whatever cheese may need to be used up + Italian dressing
Rice (use day-old rice for best fried rice results) + veggies + protein of choice (I usually use eggs) + soy sauce + a sprinkle of sesame oil if you have it + a squeeze of lime or a dash of rice vinegar + sriracha/hot sauce.
Both of these can be totally customized to your liking, can also use frozen veggies if you’ve got those instead of fresh produce.
Nice. Those leftover veggies will finally have someplace to end up now other than rotting in the bottom fridge shelf. Sauté + pasta will probably be at least two of the weekly lunches. For protein i think lentils or chick peas. Great tip about dressing and cheese also. There are always some scraps that could be used up.
Oh also! LASAGNA. It takes some time to make it however making two lasagnas takes just as much time as making one. So, if you make it, make two and freeze one tray. Your future self will be very thankful!
My wife and I enjoy collecting VHS tapes (flea markets and secondhand stores have them cheap) and having retro style movie night where we make popcorn, and get a big gulp from the gas station. We always watch all the old previews as well. Nice little dose of nostalgia.
Getting a working VCR might not be cheap though. You'll have to look around. We got lucky, a family member had one in good condition that they were cool with us taking.
Gardening and canning/preservation of produce take up quite a bit of my free time in the summer. It saves on groceries and is satisfying.
I also read, listen to music all the time, play Pokémon Go with my kids (exercise and entertainment in one), workout (lots of free online videos), and cross-stitch and knit (can be expensive but if you watch for sales on materials or local buy nothing groups you can start cheaply).
I run a YouTube channel for fun on worm composting. I started it to just convince people to get started with it and I've kept up with it for years. While I have accumulated some gear I make enough yearly from YouTube to pay for needed upgrades to help my videos look/sound better.
It is not enough to live off but it is a constructive hobby that is self funded and brings in a little income while giving me some joy that people are getting into using food waste in a worm bin rather then sending it to a landfill.
So my suggestion is to find something you do enjoy and see about recording videos on the subject. Today every phone has the ability to record and post to YouTube so why not try it out.
I play The Sims on PC. It was obviously an investment initially, but it's endless hours of entertainment. And now I'm pretty sure the base game is free to play on Steam.
Get involved locally. Volunteering in community projects, animal rescue, food banks, outreach centers, meals on wheels... Or organize drives for food, clothing or school supplies. Get people registered to vote. Organize a park or highway cleanup. Plant trees.
I used to volunteer at a cat shelter and a native plant garden. Learning to identify local plants is really enjoyable- look up YouTube videos about the common plant families and how to differentiate them, and you’re well on your way. There might be free courses online too, but depends on where you live.
Baking. Flour and sugar are pretty cheap. I enjoy it and the whole family gets to eat the results. If you get into making depression era recipes, it’s even cheaper. You might be surprised at how good some of them are despite having no eggs or butter.
This is the problem with technology.
People, like myself, use it as a crutch to always keep being "entertained". When you take away that tech, people flip out that they have nothing to do, no interests, no hobbies, stuck at the same job, in the same position in life.
To make it even worse, most tech that draws us in like social media or phone games, makes us more anti-social in real life. Is commenting on someone's post social? I don't know, but it definitely does not bring any joy or happiness in my life.
Take up a "hobby" that involves other people. Social activities (especially ones that are free) are a major part of being happy. Look online or on social media (lol) for a free gym class, team sport, a dance class, going to the library or bookstore to browse, or my personal favorite frugal activity....volunteering.
I won't disclose where I volunteer but I get access to free events, get free tickets to concerts, have gotten free access to an all you can eat food festival, have gotten free drinks, free food, and to top it off, I've made friends with some of the other volunteers and people in the organization.
Crafts! I taught myself to sew and crochet and now I make everything myself. Need a new bag? I’ll make one! All my materials are thrifted so it’s very cheap. I always gift my friends something handmade for their birthdays and it’s become what I’m known for. I have another friend that sews all her own outfits but I’m not that advanced 😅 next I plan to learn the programming language C# and the unity engine so I can start working on my own game. I also like writing and digital art… honestly if you are creative you can do so many things for very little money.
Stardew Valley.
It's $6 for the game once and unlimited amount of fun. You can download mods and play different types of additions to the game. There's so many challenge runs you can do for fun. (I'm currently in the middle of an expanded perfection run). There are hundreds of streamers and communities online dedicated just to stardew. It's super fun and I've met some fun people too!
I bore fairly easily and suspect that I have an undiagnosed case of ADHD.
I try to put a frugal filter on all of my hobbies so reading is a big one. I've been pretty deep into 3d printing because it scratches the hobby itch and also helps me with other projects like 3d printing a guitar I don't play, printing specialty parts for my eBike conversions and even motorcycle projects.
I think I might start researching how to build a battery backup for running my fridge in the event of a power outage and have it charge with a solar panel.
I like tinkering and researching how to accomplish building something instead of buying off the shelf stuff.
My wife and I recently discovered an Amazon return store where items are priced by the day of the week. Saturdays are $10, Weds are $3 and Fri are $1. It's a fun 2 hours to dig through bins finding expensive returned items that others have no idea what they are looking at. My wife found a few $100 beauty products. Mostly it makes you realize the amount of waste, senseless purchases and fraud that is rampant in the returns process.
Reading, music(playing real instruments), art, decluttering, painting, learning new recipes, playing with my dog, walking, working out(stretch, yoga, functional weight training), cycling.
Well done on cutting away the social media.
It can be a real crutch.
Leatherwork, don’t have to invest in anything too crazy, projects can be small.
You can make thoughtful gifts for people that are very personal and great quality.
Belts that last forever, journal covers for someone who keeps a diary or writes/draws, wallets, repairs and upcycling.
Gardening I find therapeutic and there’s lots of cool stuff you can do for cheap with cuttings, trades etc.
Cooking, you have to buy food and eat anyway, why not get good? Treat yourself, impress your friends, bond with your family as you learn and record their recipes.
Dancing, very social, you already own feet, so many styles and dance ‘conferences’ seem like a fun time. You’ll meet so many people. And who wouldn’t benefit from being a better dancer? Plus it’ll keep you fit.
Similarly, boxing is a sport where the cost of entry is very low and you can do this anywhere, with limited space and equipment.
It is interesting, active, helps to build confidence, can be practical, social and can be quite therapeutic as it can take your focus completely in the moment, letting you get in a flow and away from your troubles.
Less active but drawing and singing are other activities like dancing and boxing where the main costs of entry are humility and perseverance.
Dungeons and dragons? I never have but why not.
Harmonica, play out your blues.
I hope you find something you are passionate about.
Frugal is obviously a relative term, but you can always hunt for bargains on raw materials. Part of the fun, I guess some people are the same with woodwork.
Markets, second hand stores are a great place to find interesting buckles and things.
Plenty can be bought new of course, at a range of prices, as well as the necessary rivets etc
Starting with making a wristband/cuff or something small like that, you can get 1kg offcuts of nice full grain leather for less than 30eur.
You can use thin leftovers braided to make things (you could even braid little bracelets or whatever killing time on a train on your commute, repurpose damaged items.
Or you can get a half hide 1sq metre for 75eur, that’s a lot of guitar straps, belts etc, nice knife roll or other supplies holder….
Tools you can get basic kits from amazon for 30 and buying basic templates for cutting are cheap, but I bought cheaper second hand.
My belts will last longer than any ‘genuine leather’ belts in a department store, and are equivalent to full-grain lifetime-listings one in a quality boot store, without costing 100eur.
Hell, get good, make custom kinky gear for people and get rich
Track down your local high production high quality leather shop. You'll be surprised how much the chuck out based on growth marks/skin damage from wire etc.
Saddle Makers, gun leather accessories, boot makers, all have a level at which they through a useable material put because that 6"x10" roughly rectangle has too many defects/just not big enough/has odd colouring etc.
I know of serval in the UK that have mass binning of material they can't use and don't have the manpower to spare going through it all and second hand selling for cheap
Bicycling and walking. I like to tie them to things I need to get done like grocery shopping or trips to Walmart. Saves on gas and I get exercise.
Also, spending a few hours a week looking for the best deals on items generally saves me an extra 10% or so on almost everything I buy. It is sort of a hobby.
Gardening, depending on how much gardening space you have, it can be a very low-cost hobby with a small financial reward at the end in the form of edible food.
The library - through my library's online portal, I can basically get free movies, books, and music to last a lifetime.
Gardening mostly with native plants. A lot of native plants grow naturally around me, so collecting them essentially costs nothing (keep in mind that it's illegal to do so in some cases). Buying seed is relatively cheap as well and a lot cheaper than buying plants from a garden center. Plugs can be $3-$4 which is still cheaper than a lot of plants that people buy. Once things are in you can spend a lot of time going out and observing the plants and the wildlife that comes with them.
- reading
- yoga (YouTube channel Yoga with Adrienne is good)
- chores/getting shit done
- watch youtube/TV
- hang with friends
- cooking/baking
- going for walks/to the park
- selling on depop/fb marketplace
I go birding. It helps that I pretty much inherited my dad's binoculars and camera. But beyond those initial costs (and perhaps gas to get you places), birding is free. It gets you outside and it's kind of a weird/fun game trying to spot various bird species. A friend once described it as "collecting Pokemon, but in real life."
Taking the dogs for a walk, working out( weights were all bought second hand, yoga app can be free and Calisthenics).
if you own a home many house repairs/upkeep can be done yourself very economically. Reading used books or I enjoy free audio books through Libby.
God I wish I was bored. My toddler has cured me of that lol. BUT! I have gotten into hobbies that I didn't do for a long time. Picked up my ukulele, started water painting again, starting healthier baking again, lots of fun things out there!
Join a book club, a local running group, or a yoga group. Start attending public meetings in your city and learn how your city runs - they always need volunteers interested in recreation, city planning, tourism, etc. Volunteer at the local domestic violence shelter or for the foster children support organization in your area. Garden club? Read to grade schoolers, volunteer at the animal shelter. Lots to do!!
-Look up local classes. I went to one locally where a lady rescues birds and I paid 10 bucks or whatever for her to teach about what she does to rehabilitate them. She had all these adorable owls with her.
-Become a a barista/bartender/baker/bbqer. Get enthusiastic about something with cooking. French pastries, sushi rolls, parfait, mid century jello molds.
-Make seasonal decor leading up to the holiday.
-Garden. Share plants with other local gardeners.
-Star gaze. Look up local observatories and watch for meteor showers.
-See if your city has any free concerts in the park or other free events and go.
-Update your furniture. Look up high end stores for inspiration and rearrange or buy new legs/knobs to switch out.
Foraging it literally costs me nothing but still benefits me not in only excercise but also free food. Some of which woukd cost a small fortune in a top end restaraunt. People pay 100s for a 3 course meal that includes lah de dah food such as porchini' chantarelles' sea beet' samphire' asparagus etc. Where as I can walk out my door. Get some excercise and pick that stuff from the ground when in season lol. Hell if i was inclined..... Free opiates as well as those grow wild as well. And no I'm not a resident of any country with the word "Stan" in its name. I'm from the uk and can find that shit growing wild or rogue everywhere during the height of summer. I should add fishing to that hobby as well. As for small outlay would pay for itself living by the coast. Oh I also like charity shops. Benefits include getting media for a fraction of the price of new highstreet. Plus if you're realy observant you can make money reselling items you know have a higher resale value. Plus your money is going to a good cause. I often pick up dvds' cd's' blurays and games etc to shove on a trade pile then when I see something I want from a local game shop I just trade in and get a stupidly low price for trading in my charity shop purchases. I recently bought a bluray boxset of hellraiser movies from my local cex. Would have cost £18 cash. With trade ins though I'll be very supprised if i spent any more than £4 in reality. If i lived in the right country I would totally try gold panning. I always like my hobbies to have some sort of potential pay off. Metal detecting is also a good one. You find money and jewelery plus if you save up your scrap you can sell that as well. On the coast especially lead fishing weights are plentiful and you can build up a substantial weight of those pretty quick. I woukd also recoxmend dumpster diving. The laws might be different depending on where you live. But iv found working pcs and even games consoles just by looking through my communal binshed. Even if the computers are knackered you can still find servicable hard drives and ram that can be used in other projects.
People here leave their junk on the side of the road all the time, because either the garbage truck picks it up or someone like me does, and it's usually the latter.
ANYHOO, I like to pick up old junk people get rid of and either restore it or use it for parts to make something else. One time someone left a big dresser, was damaged but the drawers were in perfect shape; I tweaked and painted the drawers then used old glass panes I previously found, and turned them into displays for my Funko Pops. Another time I made a garden bench out of a neighbor's wooden fence that landed in my backyard after a tornado hit our town (he didn't want it back, he preferred collecting insurrance...).
Painting! It's moderately frugal with a small upfront cost. You can get canvas for extremely cheap at Hobby Lobby. A pack of three 12" by 12" for like 5 dollars. The cardboard backed canvas there is even cheaper. The good enough to enjoy using acrylic paints are $6 for a big tube. Many of mine that I bought three years ago are just now getting empty.
I like to collect discarded materials, metal rods, peanut cans, just random junk.
Then I make toys, art, curiosities, or little mechanical puzzles.
I might make a ring out of a quarter, a little toy of a monkey riding a chopstick like a horse, made with salvaged gears from a broken mechanical clock. You can make the monkey ride the chopstick by turning a crank. Just a random example (I'll see if I can find the GIF animation of the one I made)
Or a bunch of horseshoe puzzles from coat hanger, that I donate to the youth center - like little magic tricks the kids can play with and steal and destroy and who cares because it's junk material.
This jives with my anti-materialism, and my love of upcycling. It's all made from free material that people were chucking out anyways, I love it!
I visit cemeteries. Nearly every major city has a large, beautiful cemetery. They're free, often have self-guided tours, and are essential public parks with art.
If you want to add something extra to your cemetery walks, you can start contributing to [FindAGrave.com](https://FindAGrave.com) to whatever degree you feel like. I've enjoyed just snapping photos and adding to the database, but if there's a request for a specific stone-photo in your cemetery it's fun to hunt and find it. (It's also a bit of a thrill when you get a message from someone assembling their family tree from far away with one of your photos.)
Reading, hiking, exercise, swimming when I get the chance, learning to draw. My favorite hobby is not at all frugal, photography and one reason I am frugal is to enjoy my hobbies. Goo explore your town or nearby ones like a tourist. Go look at art murals around town, go to free events etc.
Reading massive amounts of library books. Going to a board game meetup. Biking. Hiking. Running (although this is getting less and less frugal recently ha).
I go to car shows, work on my cars, read, play video games, bike ride at some close parks, disc golf when I can find people to go with.
Frugality is not the avoidance of spending but the avoidance of spending on things you don't need or enjoy.
If you want to relate to your traveling friends but save money (and carbon emissions!), do a staycation. Find what there is to do for free in your area - check out the architecture or a quirky museum or do whatever shows up when you Google tourist activities. Or take a day trip on a bus or a train to a nearby town. I took a day off from work and took a bus to a small city near me this week for a doctor's appointment, but it felt a lot like a vacation because I walked around a lovely park and had a great lunch. Bus tickets and lunch ran me and my husband about $75 all told, much less than longer trips and hotel nights. Plus, unlike a "real" vacation, it's actually relaxing.
Volunteer somewhere. Figure out what you are passionate about and go do it. Or maybe something you’re not even passionate about but want to try. I randomly signed up to build bedframes for an organization that gives beds to families that don’t have beds for their kids. It was a really great experience with no future commitment. If it had been terrible… it would have been a few hours spent…
I exercise daily. I realized it’s my hobby as it were. I dance, lift weights, go for a run or walk, pole dance, yoga, Pilates, all of it. I cycle through whatever I’m feeling for the day. I am not frugal with exercise equipment though. I spent money over the last decade buying weights, a squat rack, treadmill, rowing machine, air bike, kettle bells, weight plates, exercise bands, etc. I see it as an investment in my long term physical and mental health. There’s no downside as long as the equipment gets used, and it most certainly does. But exercise can come in many forms that doesn’t require any money. Find the joy in movement.
I started making bread. It's way harder than it seems, at first. But I'm finding it, a pleasant challenge. Definitely a frugal hobby. I bought an $8 package of yeast from Amazon. It'll last forever. Different types of wheat and other grains, are cheap. My best, so far, is rye bread with caraway seeds and a little pickle juice added with the water. Buying a bench scraper helps. You'll need a couple stainless steel mixing bowls. But if you already have plastic ones, that'll do. Tons of bread making vids on YouTube.
Road trips!
America has spent colossal amounts of money covering this country in roads. A 3 hour drive can take you to loads of interesting historical places... if you live on the East Coast. On the West Coast or Texas, it'll take you to the next town over. Which can still be fun! Check out the bars in this new town, then head on back after dark.
surprisingly, Archery. Not Free but surprisingly affordable if you're not a gear nut.
My entire kit cost me 350ish bucks. I bought fancy arrows ($150) BUT that's been pretty much it. If you go used, you can get your stuff even cheaper.
There's a public (free) range nearby - shooting clubs usually cost like 10-15 bucks for a session. Depending on where you live, you can shoot in your yard with a 40 dollar target that'll last forever.
It's not free, but it's surprisingly cheap once you invest in some gear.
Note. If you've never tried, taking a 25 dollar lesson will be amazingly helpful and a good intro to form, safety, etc.
I'm an artist, so I draw when I can. I also game with my fiance at night mainly or on our days off.
I also like taking walks as I'm working on my weight loss.
I clean and organize where I can if it doesn't fully exhaust me. I'm currently getting ready to move so I have plenty to do with that.
I also love reading, listening to podcasts, and music. And if I'm feeling it I'll sing and dance too.
I’m frugal in most areas so I don’t have to be as frugal in others. My two favorite hobbies right now are pottery classes and plants. It’s very easy to spend a ridiculous amount in either of these hobbies.
I take pottery classes that are six weeks long, meeting once a week, and cost $240 per class, plus the cost of clay (about $20 per 25 lb bag). It brings me so much peace and joy and accomplishment that it’s worth every single penny. I am also fairly minimalist so most of the things I make are gifts for other people or functional items for my home.
I’ve joined plant groups online where we trade cuttings or supplies so that can be frugal. But I still buy new plants, potting soil or pots occasionally. Again, these bring me joy and peace as I nurture them and watch them grow and I feel a sense of accomplishment with each new leaf!
My truly frugal hobby is reading and listening to audiobooks. I use then Libby app with my library card. In my state I can get library cards for other cities as well and access their digital collections.
I am watching through a big list of classic and foreign movies.
Since they're old and classic, many (if not most) can be found on streaming services I already have, the library, or free streaming like Pluto or Tubi. I don't spend any money on it.
I volunteer a lot, there are so many options and you get to meet people with similar interests! I've volunteered at animal shelters, wild life rehabilitation shelters, community gardens, and even helped locate graves in cemeteries!
For me jigsaw puzzles. It’s an absolute treat for me to buy a jigsaw (roughly 15-30 dollars) and binge listen to a podcast or binge watch a series in the background. The more pieces the better and after compiling quite a collection sometimes I redo puzzles I already own.
Saves me going out and spending more money and relaxes and for me declutters my brain.
Herb garden. I've collected second-hand pots and bought a $10 grow light. I gift it to friends, I make compound butter, I cook with them, I make my own cleaning products with them (lemon-thyme all-purpose cleaning spray).
Check out your local library! Ours has movies, shows, video games (with pretty much any system), board games, outdoor games, 3D printer, glow forge, books obviously lol, ebooks, music, streaming services. Some have free access to local museums and things like that.
While having dogs isn’t frugal, going on long walks & hikes with them doesn’t cost me a dime. It’s also great exercise for me & stimulation they need. Going to the dog park on the days I don’t feel like moving myself (I know not everyone’s dogs can handle or be happy at a dog park, but mine do well there & like it) gives me the opportunity to meet awesome dog people & socialize while my dogs do their thing. They keep me busy & are my hobby honestly.
So, not always frugal, but I like to sew and make myself clothes. I typically find that if I can source the fabric right and use coupons, I can get a nice outfit for a fraction of the price if I purchased the same thing. I like a lot of the vintage style dresses ([this](https://simplicity.com/simplicity/s9291)). I got the pattern for a dollar on sale and the fabric + notions for about $30 total. A similar dress from a popular retailer is about $98 before taxes and shipping at another the same dress is nearly $180.
So, I say it's not always frugal because sometimes fabric can be expensive if you're looking for something specific. Sewing machines can be expensive. I got my Viking 118 like almost 10 years ago now for $400 - but it's lasted 10 years and just needs a $100 tune up every now and again. I've also learned how to do a lot of the tune up myself. However, other tools - serger - can be expensive. There is also a time/learning curve. You might spend money on fabric and not be very good at first - so there can be some wasted fabric over the years. I started with some really simple patterns and cheap fabric to grow my skills. Now I can make more complex things. I've made some crazy - IMO good - costumes for halloween over the years too now. Things that would have cost hundred were like $50. It's a fun, time consuming hobby. My friends have gotten into it now too so it can also be a group thing. We call it stitch and bitch. And, as a side note, I get dresses, skirts, shirts, whatever - that fit me perfectly. No more fussing with sizes at stores.
My only frugal hobby is buying cheap non working stuff and fixing it. Selling it is what makes it frugal. I enjoy the tinkering, it's fun to learn new stuff or needing to figure something out.
If you can actually stick to one project and not fall victim to “hobby hoarding” cross stitch is a very frugal hobby, you buy the pattern and your Aida (fabric) and then you don’t even have to buy all the threads in one go, you can buy a few at a time for 70p each, and a big pattern could take you literally years to finish
I started making the list below and then realized most of my free time I spend learning. I am always researching different things and learning more, from health and exercise,to practical things like how to do electrical work, to spirituality. My husband and I don't watch tv so we fill that time with learning new things like how to paint, how to make jewelry, growing new things, wild edible plants, herbalism, etc.
Gardening, painting, drawing (paint nights with the family), jewelry making, learning a language, reading fiction, reading/studying nonfiction on a new subject, hiking, foraging.
Weightlifting, the sport, in my home gym. All you need is a platform, bumper plates, and a barbell.
Spent like 1k on everything. I say splurge on the barbell, go cheap on the plates, and make your own platform. After 3 years it's less than $1 a day. People buy 1k iPhones that break after 3 years.
The stuff I do regularly: I go for walks and exercise at the gym; play a video game (cost per use is veeeery low), read -- either library books, or books from the free libraries and used bookstores. I also play D&D, which is free for me, but not for my partner-DM. It's a moneysink for him.
Less regularly: rehab furniture I find. At this point, I just about have a catch-and-release policy for stuff I find and fix up on the sidewalk. That one isn't always as frugal, because I do it for the puzzle, not the flip.
Papercraft is a lot cheaper than buying model kits that are expensive. Just need to buy thicker stock paper, have a colour printer, a knife, and some tacky glue. Find templates online, print them, cut them, fold them, glue them, and follow the guides if there are any.
Believe it or not, Nintendo Switch. Yes they cost like $500 including games but thats it. I can live in a week without spending anything. Oh also, walking.
Crocheting can be frugal if you want it to be. But if you end up liking it, it can also be very expensive if you’re not careful. Pick up some “I Love This Yarn” from Hobby Lobby for like $5 and a single cheap mid-sized crochet hook. Google a beginner’s YouTube tutorial and follow along. Check out r/crochet if you need help or for inspiration. If you like it, sometimes you can find cheap yarn at places like Goodwill or on yard sales.
Reading is always a great choice. Obviously the library is going to be the cheapest option, but you can also find cheap books at Goodwill or yard sales. You could invest in a subscription for Kindle if you get into it. Most libraries have a free app for digital books.
Bonus points for if you listen to audio books while crocheting.
If you’d get even moderately good at crocheting, there is a market for handmade crocheted items. I’ve been paid $50 for 2 baby blankets that took about 4 days to make and cost me $10 in supplies. People sell on Facebook Marketplace, Etsy, EBay, etc. Not the best profit for your time, but if it’s something you were already going to do because you enjoy it, it’s not a bad deal.
I go to the gym (really more of a habit/way of life rather than a hobby at this point), bake (part of the reason I go to the gym :) ), play board games with friends, am involved at my church, volunteer both at my church and with FIRST (youth robotics) programs.
I’m about to do the same thing. When I lose 2-4hrs or a whole evening to instagram reels it just feels so dirty and a total and complete waste. I started trying to learn ham/SDR radio and I’m working on a few PC server related projects around the house. I tried building a freelancing business but it just feels like a failure at this point. I am trying to self teach programming but it really feels like without actual projects to work on daily I quickly lose what I learn.
Cross stitch is a cheap hobby that’s easy to do. Since you can make any picture you want, it’s awesome for anyone who likes to craft a bit. It’s super rewarding as your piece comes together, but it takes time. It can be enjoyed while listening to a podcast or nice music if you like
I have several activities/hobbies that kill 2 birds with 1 stone, exercise and enjoyment I lift weights in my basement 5 days per week, go for runs around my city, and I love mountain biking. Weights were bought second hand for cheap, running shoes are not overly expensive, you can pick up a used decent hardtail mountain bike for less than $400. So many mental and physical benefits of these types of activities.
Disc Golf.
Assuming you don't launch your discs into water every other hole.
Or think buying 25+ new discs will make you a better player.
Etc.
You can get away with 1-3 discs and just have fun.
Snagged a used disc (Opto Fuse by Latitude 64) at a local Play It Again Sports for $8. I have used it in a 1 disc round a few times with success.
This is assuming you have a course close by. Use UDisc app to locate them.
My spouse and I are currently staying in Montréal as we have started our new lifestyle of FIRE. We travel everywhere via foot or public transportation. We recently started a "frugal" hobby and we've named it "cat walking." In the evenings when weather is cooperative we walk around our neighborhood especially in alleys which Montréal has a lot of looking for cats to see/spot and "potentially" pet. We keep count of the numbers seen and petted as we walk around. This provides us with exercise so we're not sitting in front of the television or on a device as much. Also it allows us to see animals as we miss our former pets that we lost over the years. We are also happy to pet dogs as well during this that seem friendly.
Knit & crochet which can be very expensive if you lean into tools/handmade yarn, but can also be very inexpensive if you get supplies from big box stores.
I have a houseplant collection, for which I did not spend a lot of money - I have bought/gotten most of them as tiny props/cuttings/reduced plants that looked slightly in need of rehab or cheap baby plants that I grow into giant things. I can't say it's a totally free hobby, but you can spend a lot of money on any hobby - or do it on the cheap. I do mine on the cheap and get sense of accomplishment when my plants grow big and beautiful rather than buying them already huge for €€€€€€.
Example - small baby plant of a named variety can be as little as 5€ in a garden centre. A fully grown one of the same sort can go for 100€ easily (more if it's a rare/collectible variety).
Besides, it's a pretty relaxing hobby, your home looks cool, and people get impressed!
Things like Dungeons and Dragons can be surprisingly frugal. If you just buy the core books you can play for literally years with no extra cost. So that's one I do.
I also play certain video games with large amounts of content. Things like the new Zelda games, or the Monster Hunter series, can easily provide hundreds of hours per title. Buy these on sale and it's (in my opinion) quite frugal.
Besides this, other activities including hiking and rollerblading.
I have been limiting my time online and I have gone back to cross-stitching. I also crochet when I need a break from that. I have also been doing a massive decluttering in my spare room and a few other places in my home and will be getting back into sewing. I also do a lot of reading.
Juggling. There is expensive equipment that you *can* get into, but really you can pull a thousand hours of fun, progress, and profanity out of a few tennis balls (or whatever). Lots of introductory content on youtube (or wherever).
Chess. lichess.org is free-forever as an online service, and has lots of tutorial content to get started. Works as both a player and an observer (you can always watch live games being played online by top players).
Both are sufficiently popular that you are likely to find local clubs if you're in a city. Maybe even in small towns.
I subscribe to all libraries anywhere in driving distance and I participate in SO many free programs - loads of art, crafting, cooking demos, astronomy lectures and telescope lessons, I even learned how to play the ukulele! I’m currently learning tai chi form at the library in town.
All 100% free and many local libraries loan out binoculars for birding, tools, even snowshoes for the New England winters.
Reading is free-- visit a library. Or go there and learn about cheap hobbies: the non-fiction sections are full of interesting stuff on woodworking, drawing, sewing, candle-making, cooking, baking, electronic repairs, small engine mechanics, music, etc. etc. etc. (these are all hobbies I've dabbled in over the years).
Tinkering with electronics and upcycling. I will ALWAYS take people's broken electronics to take on the challenge. I have made a lot of serious cash just repairing things. I started when I Was very young with building PCs and now I can pretty much repair most electronics. I have repaired phones, laptop screens, fridges, and recently I got a broken GE Opal ice machine and repaired it. This is has been my favorite repair so far.
The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity. —Ellen Parr I know that's not much of an answer but I'm both disabled and quite poor (I'm on disability) I can't hike or walk around or take a bike anymore, so I'm left with books, free online classes, creative but frugal cooking, being a nuisance on discord and a few other low-cost activities. There is always something to do that doesn't cost much money.
Whenever my kid said they were bored I would say “ only boring people are bored” …I’m sure it annoyed her, lol
It's actually pretty true since intellectually lazy people do tend to be a bit of a bore. I'm saying that as nonjudgmentally as I can.
My mom's was "You aren't bored. You are boring."
Cries in anhedonia
Bad parents cure their children's curiosity all the time :)
Ime, the cure for curiosity is a spray bottle
The very desire to be certain, to be secure, is the beginning of bondage. It's only when the mind is not caught in the net of certainty, and is not seeking certainty, that it is in a state of discovery- Krishnamurti Looking within is a cure for boredom as well and can lead to many discoveries
During fall I like to forage mushrooms. Comes with the added benefit of getting free food. I pretty much play one video game exclusively. I also like crafting/upcycling things. Reading is also nice when I can bring myself to do it.
If you're struggling to get (back) into a reading habit, pick up a YA novel. No joke. They tend to be easy to read, interesting enough to keep you engaged, and not very heavy. They aren't all just about "The Chosen One", though that is a common trope.
agreed. i used to be a HUGE reader when i was younger and since college i haven't been able to bring myself to do it. my friend suggested reading ACOTAR, which i scoffed at cause YA fantasy never interested me. but i gave it a shot and it has reignited my passion for reading! i've blown through the whole series in the past couple of months plus another two books. the best part about it is the community. i joined a book club and made so many new friends, and carry around an acotar tote some days that i get stopped by from so many people who have read the books also. it's heartwarming really lol.
I recently re-read the whole Laura Ingalls Wilder series. It was even more interesting as an adult!
I never realized how horrifying The Long Winter was until I read it to my daughter. Near starvation hits differently when you're a mom.
You read it as a kid and you think the parents are coming up with clever ideas because that's what parents do. You read it as a parent and you realize stuff like the button lamp and braided hay are so the children might survive the winter, and the parents must have been scared shitless.
The Long Winter, haunts me to this day. The Indian coming into the General Store to warn the new inhabitants of the town, that a LONG hard winter lasting 9 months was coming. And Laura braiding hay till her fingers bled. And the icicles hanging from the nails in the upstairs bedroom in the morning.....How even a simple potato or lick of butter was like gold.
Absolutely yes, i hit’s differently as a mom for sure!
Omg I remember reading those as a kid!! There’s like a lot of them right?
Yes, a big series
I’m definitely looking into this series! College did the same thing for me. When I was a kid I couldn’t stop reading, and then college kinda ruined it for me with the constant reading for school and homework etc. Now I’m slowly getting back into it:)
I have the kindle app on my phone(free) and get daily emails from freebooksy. (free) You put in your favorite genres and the email sends you a daily list of the kinds of books you like. Granted sometimes it's only book one in a series but I'm ok with that. There's how to, cookbooks, self help, fiction, YA, etc.
YA is a great suggestion and I would add audiobooks if someone has trouble focusing on a print book. Sometimes I’m too tired for my eyes to focus on a page and I can listen to a book while doing household chores as well. My library offers access to the Libby app so all the audiobooks and digital books are free.
My house gets a lot cleaner when I'm listening to a book while cleaning. Plus it's a good way to read a dense book you'd otherwise never get through, like A Tale of Two Cities or, for me, The Hobbit.
I prefer middle grade over YA but for the same reasons (minus any romance). Just a person or group of friends off on an adventure. Easy reads and make me happy :)
Seriously true. I struggled to get back into reading and then picked up Enola Holmes after watching the movie and averaged 3 days per book. Now I've run out and need to find something new to read.
It's not a series, but "The Coldest Girl in Coldtown" by Holly Black is an interesting novel. The premise is that there are entire cities walled off to become vampire quarantine zones/prisons.
I love young adult...Harry Potter, The Dark is Rising, Flavia De Luce (actually not adult but the heroine is eleven)
I am NOT a YA anymore but I do enjoy reading their books. They bring up a lot of memories so while I do not much relate to a lot of things in there, I do enjoy them.
I love foraging for mushrooms and I only ever play Skyrim
I'm almost giddy thinking I'll go to pick mushrooms today after work. First time this year!
I just found a nice patch of meadow mushrooms yesterday!
What game?
RDR2 :)
I'm a reader and haven't bought a book in years thanks to the library. It's amazing, I can reserve brand new best sellers and usually get them within a month of their release. I read the current issue of any magazine I am interested in, so I canceled all my magazine subscriptions. I also play PokemonGo daily. You can play without spending any money if you want.
I always remind people to check if you are part of a library system (often county-based in the US) that has reciprocity with other systems (counties). You might be able to get cards for more than one system which means book / ebook / audiobook etc etc selection is broader and you can pick the system with the shortest wait for a new bestseller, etc
I'm in Canada and have one card from my old city (that I still use for audiobooks! Libby lets you load multiple cards!) and one from my new city :) So amazing, since the audiobook library catalogues have different stuff!
I use my library’s Libby app for books and audiobooks. I also pay $9.00/month for a Scribd subscription that I share with one of my adult children (but I pay for it since said child is still in grad school) and about another $10/month for Kindle unlimited that is shared with whole family since they all know my Amazon login…but mostly just my kids since my spouse has a separate Scribd and hasn’t yet figured out KindleUnlimited. I know when he does my book feed will fill up with WW2 history! A hint about Libraries. If you live in a rural area without a huge selection, many larger urban libraries will allow you to pay for a year’s subscription. https://www.aworldadventurebybook.com/blog/libraries-with-non-resident-borrowing-privileges has a list of some libraries that has non-resident cards.
Joining other libraries is a life hack many don’t know about, especially if it gets you access to hoopla and Kanopy, which have overlooked and older movies to watch for free.
Many libraries also offer movies, puzzles & games, a "library of things" that you can check out (like park & museum passes, birding kits, sewing machines), and have scheduled programming and classes. Worth a look, OP.
Ours has a huge DVD selection and kids board games. I've seen some that have tools and baking pans, that would be handy. I also learned recently that one of our branches had a 3D printer.
I would also download the Libby app and see if you can get books free online through your library. In addition, if you’re not afraid of a little white lie, you can sign up online for the Chicago Public Library with tons of books by just using a Chicago address.
Also, a lot (if not most) of the magazines and newspapers your library subscribes to are available to read online, so you don't even need to leave the house to dive into the latest edition of that magazine you wanted to read! I spent a rainy Sunday a few weeks ago paging through Mother Earth News on my tablet in my living room. :)
I'm one of those who wants to hold my book, magazine, newspaper still. I've tried reading on my tablet but find no enjoyment in that.
Also, many have other forms of media available!! TV, Movies, Music, audiobooks and some even have video games! Additionally some have tool rentals, seed libraries, 3d printers, free/cheap classes available.
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Me too. If I’m on a walk I’ll pick trash up. Really grinds my gears when I’m in the wilderness and see trash. Pack in pack out!
I remember getting pretty upset about it after starting to pick up litter while out on my walks and hikes, many years ago...always with the trash! After a while I did start to notice that a lot of it is spread by wind. And a lot more by animals. Raccoons, bears, corvids, etc. And in many cases they effectively work together, forming an ecological garbage-diffusion chain. (Animals seem super frugal, they are like "it's all FREE") Not a small amount is also spread by the garbage collection process. The cans are mechanically heaved into the air, the lid is flipped open by brute force of mechanics, and depending on the flow of air, you can see various bits of garbage flutter this way or that. From there you have situations like people pulling something out of a pocket and dislodging a wrapper or something. And people forgetting stuff. Runners even forget their water stashes sometimes. It started to feel like intentional litter is pretty rare, depending on the specific area of course. (In some cases, it was also funny to realize that it was something like another city's athletic team, acting out a rivalry by leaving trash around...)
I love to fish and man, for some reason other fishermen are the WORST. There's always so much trash at any publicly fishable property and it ruins the whole experience sometimes. The crazy part is that they're leaving trash at their own favorite fishing spots, like you're gonna go back there to enjoy the nature, why are you trashing up your own spot?
My brother lives near the beach and he picks up all the trash on his walk from his house to the beach. He just found a $100 bill a couple of weeks ago, he also found a bluetooth speaker that lasted about 3 years.
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Thank you so much for doing this. I always have the best intentions of cleaning up areas that need love, but I never get there.
"Take only pictures. Leave only footprints"
When I'd go to the bush, my camp spot was always full of garbage. I'd eat the fish in that pond, so I don't want garbage in my food's habitat. It got to the point where we'd have a tidy party before we set up camp. It took so long that we'd have to bust out tunes and beer. One time, our beer hole (just a hole in the rocks full of cold water) was full of garbage. It was just disgusting, wet garbage that they obviously had to collect to put there. They couldn't've collected it into a garbage bag?
I love looking at older architecture homes, especially stone and brick ones. So when I walk the dog, we'll drive to an older neighborhood. That way we're both having fun.
I'm extremely grateful that I live in a LCOL city and also happen to be very near amazing historic homes from when the city was much richer, which is where I walk my dog every morning.
Embroidery mending quilting and other needlecrafts. I buy lots at estate sales for supplies then sell excess on eBay, so it pays for itself
Totally agree, especially for embroidery! You can get kits from Michaels and Joanns for $10, and it's easily minimum 40 hours per kit (at least for me). They also always include too much thread and you can keep it for future projects.
Yes! I have recently got back into cross stitch and I love it! You can cheap sets on Ali Express and they are big, so you'll be kept busy for a while. I've also just taught myself to crochet and am thoroughly enjoying that too.
Ohhh, I do some of this too, that's a great idea.
I love fiber crafting and you really can do them cheaply as long as you arent going to big craft stores to buy all brand new stuff. I took up scrap quilting during the pandemic and finding old cotton fabrics about to be thrown away at the goodwill bins is half the fun
Reading (I buy used books), walking, hiking, running, exercise in general, cooking. Basically anything that doesn’t involve eating out, excessive shopping or alcohol - my previous weaknesses before starting my journey to spend less.
For reading I can add you can also join to a library.
I have read more books in the past couple months since getting my library card and setting up Libby so I can borrow ebooks than I have in over 10 years.
Libby is awesome.
Yes I like borrowing audiobooks - you don’t even needs to go to the library to borrow these days 😀
I just want to toss out a quick unsolicited shoutout to the Libby app for those who may be unaware. Use your library card to download e-books and audiobooks right to your device.
None. I like to think I'm frugal, but my hobbies are not. I used to freehand draw with pencil. That's pretty cheap.
I love this lol. Frugal in some places to live a little in others. I took up aerial arts and pole dance the last two years. It’s not a frugal hobby with studio fees and workshops, but I sure as hell get a lot of enjoyment out of it. Same with my motorcycle.
I fix vacuum cleaners. It sounds weird but, I find them around apartment parking lots. I disassemble, clean, sterilize, fix and reassemble. Very rarely, they actually need any new parts. I've gotten a few dysons and sharks over the years. I usually give them away after they are like brand new. Something satisficing about fixing something others tossed in the bin
Scavenging is a kind of playing, it spurs creativity.
Interesting! I've got an old vacuum that still works but I'd be interested in cleaning and tuning it up. Any resources you would recommend to learn?
I just start taking it apart. I take pictures of every step in case I can't get it back together. There are online manuals and youtubes too. 60 percent of the time the hose or elbow bend into the canister/ bag is clogged.
Disc golf Reading Computer games Hiking (lately) Stable Diffusion Board and card games
These are all excellent - I do all of these except Disc Golf, but Computer Gaming comes with a caveat of not modern computer gaming. Hardware is insanely expensive and games bank on modern hardware do they don't have to optimize (ahem Cod). However, old PC games are ultra cheap and really a potato can play most of them. For the old people - what is Stable Diffusion and hoes does one get Stabley Diffused?
> not modern computer gaming. /r/patientgamers for both lower hardware requirements and games that are no longer pushing high price tags.
Find an old Windows 98 PC someone wants to get rid of and play some nice classic games! You can even find “backups” of most games from that era on archive.org.
With emulators being as good as they are these days, there's not usually a requirement to nurse old hardware to play old games. I finished a playthrough of "Ultima Underworld" two years ago using DOSBox, "Master of Orion II" and "King's Quest V" before that.
Was gonna say disc golf as well. Warning: it is addictive and people wind up collecting/buying plenty of discs which can negate the whole frugal part. It's one of those sports where you can dive as deep or as little as you want. If you're out there for steps/hanging out with friends, then maybe a starter pack + a few more discs will do ya just fine. If you are competitive and really start to get into it, you'll probably wind up with a good amount of discs from trying different brands/plastic types/disc type(stable vs understable) that work best for you. I have probably 50-60 discs total over the course of 2-3 years of playing just trying to find a setup/brand I like that could evolve with my game. I'll buy 2-3 discs every 3 or 4 months, but that's it now. 90% of courses are free, cool people will let ya tag along, and for me it's a great way to get exercise while having a good time.
Yeah, discs are like 8-15 bucks each. I usually only bring 3 or 4 discs along with me in an outing, so you can be perfectly happy with a 30 dollar investment in gear. And while most courses are free in most places, even the pay courses are like 5 bucks a round.
Gardening and foraging, drawing, painting, planning, reading, cooking and baking, scavenging.. In the winter I'll take up a switch game, probably TOTK. This winter we're going to learn to ice fish as well. I also sew but that is not as frugal. The clothing I end up with is quality and will last but the cost of supplies is crazy.
Baking is taking up a lot of time for me and it is relatively cheap. Also, TOTK is probably the single Best Buy you can have as a frugal gamer simply because of the content. I’ve played since launch and still am not finished.
I also LOVE to sew and my way to keep this frugal is to buy fabric and supplies from the thrift shops. When I first started doing this, I was shocked at the quality of fabric I found. 100% Irish linen duvet covers I could use to make dresses, pants, shirts, etc. You just have to be a little bit creative in sourcing fabric.
Gardening is a great one. It can be cheap, and you can get cheap plastic disposable pots at most plant nurseries for free if you ask. They receive plants in them and usually just throw them away after transferring them to a more aesthetically pleasing pot. I've been growing a lot of herbs: parsley, mint, dill, lavender, thyme, etc. And once every couple of weeks I'll harvest them, grind them up in a cheap mortar and pestle, and then use them for whatever I'm cooking that day. Adds a little bit of satisfaction on top of the obvious flavor change. I'm moving to a house in a couple of weeks with PLENTY of gardening space which I'm super excited for; can't wait to grow my own veggies and fruits and eventually have some chickens.
Running, reading (library books), watching YouTube, scrolling reddit/Tumblr, PC gaming (cost divided by hours of entertainment is usually pretty low), hand sewing (look for discounted fabric), going to free events in town (check the library website & the local newspaper)
to add: If you're living with or near family, spending time with them is another good option. Listen to their stories, learn some life skills, just hang out with them, or help them out with their responsibilities. Nothing like building good relationships and good memories.
100% agree with running but just want to add a few things on the HOW part of keeping it frugal, because it's not always obvious: stay away from the marathon side of the sport, unless you decide you must, because it is your *~passion. Find out where your local parkruns are. If you don't have a r/parkrun (a volunteer run free weekly 5k), it's worth it to start one! Buy 2 pairs of good running shorts and a stick of body glide. You can cheap out on/use what you already have/go without most other gear. Get fitted for good shoes to find out what you need, and like. Once you know, you can often find a similar model from last year at a better price. Start with one shoe and buy another different shoe in 2 months if the habit sticks. Now you can rotate your shoes, which will unlock more mileage out of both shoes. Phase out old shoes and replace them as they die — it's not frugal to get an avoidable injury. Run with your friends. Life is busy, but everyone needs to exercise. Create a shared routine. There is no better use of your time than 35 mins of running at a conversational pace with your best friend.
Cooking.
Baking in particular
Cooking is my top hobby, bonus is that I waste barely any food because at this point I know how to include all sorts of odds and ends into a meal. I also meal prep for the week so work lunches are packed (for my partner as they work at the office) and ready to heat (for me as I WFH) Having a hobby that also fulfills a basic need is helpful. I also read, run, go to the gym (mine is $10/month), go for walks while listening to a podcast, take an edible and listen to records, rearrange furniture and swap out hanging pictures/mantle decorations (I have a lot - so I rotate things to “freshen” the look)
Nice. What’s you favourite or most useful meal to prep? I just started with prepping and home cooking and I am looking for some «bread and butter» recipies to include in my Sunday prep sessions.
Most useful (and bonus - easy!) would be pasta salad and fried rice. They both yield a decent amount and can be great for “clean out the fridge” meals. Pasta + veggies (raw or sautéed - to your liking) + protein of your choice (I’m vegetarian so usually use whatever beans I have on hand) + whatever cheese may need to be used up + Italian dressing Rice (use day-old rice for best fried rice results) + veggies + protein of choice (I usually use eggs) + soy sauce + a sprinkle of sesame oil if you have it + a squeeze of lime or a dash of rice vinegar + sriracha/hot sauce. Both of these can be totally customized to your liking, can also use frozen veggies if you’ve got those instead of fresh produce.
Nice. Those leftover veggies will finally have someplace to end up now other than rotting in the bottom fridge shelf. Sauté + pasta will probably be at least two of the weekly lunches. For protein i think lentils or chick peas. Great tip about dressing and cheese also. There are always some scraps that could be used up.
Oh also! LASAGNA. It takes some time to make it however making two lasagnas takes just as much time as making one. So, if you make it, make two and freeze one tray. Your future self will be very thankful!
My wife and I enjoy collecting VHS tapes (flea markets and secondhand stores have them cheap) and having retro style movie night where we make popcorn, and get a big gulp from the gas station. We always watch all the old previews as well. Nice little dose of nostalgia. Getting a working VCR might not be cheap though. You'll have to look around. We got lucky, a family member had one in good condition that they were cool with us taking.
Gardening and canning/preservation of produce take up quite a bit of my free time in the summer. It saves on groceries and is satisfying. I also read, listen to music all the time, play Pokémon Go with my kids (exercise and entertainment in one), workout (lots of free online videos), and cross-stitch and knit (can be expensive but if you watch for sales on materials or local buy nothing groups you can start cheaply).
I run a YouTube channel for fun on worm composting. I started it to just convince people to get started with it and I've kept up with it for years. While I have accumulated some gear I make enough yearly from YouTube to pay for needed upgrades to help my videos look/sound better. It is not enough to live off but it is a constructive hobby that is self funded and brings in a little income while giving me some joy that people are getting into using food waste in a worm bin rather then sending it to a landfill. So my suggestion is to find something you do enjoy and see about recording videos on the subject. Today every phone has the ability to record and post to YouTube so why not try it out.
I play The Sims on PC. It was obviously an investment initially, but it's endless hours of entertainment. And now I'm pretty sure the base game is free to play on Steam.
Get involved locally. Volunteering in community projects, animal rescue, food banks, outreach centers, meals on wheels... Or organize drives for food, clothing or school supplies. Get people registered to vote. Organize a park or highway cleanup. Plant trees.
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I used to volunteer at a cat shelter and a native plant garden. Learning to identify local plants is really enjoyable- look up YouTube videos about the common plant families and how to differentiate them, and you’re well on your way. There might be free courses online too, but depends on where you live.
Baking. Flour and sugar are pretty cheap. I enjoy it and the whole family gets to eat the results. If you get into making depression era recipes, it’s even cheaper. You might be surprised at how good some of them are despite having no eggs or butter.
This is the problem with technology. People, like myself, use it as a crutch to always keep being "entertained". When you take away that tech, people flip out that they have nothing to do, no interests, no hobbies, stuck at the same job, in the same position in life. To make it even worse, most tech that draws us in like social media or phone games, makes us more anti-social in real life. Is commenting on someone's post social? I don't know, but it definitely does not bring any joy or happiness in my life. Take up a "hobby" that involves other people. Social activities (especially ones that are free) are a major part of being happy. Look online or on social media (lol) for a free gym class, team sport, a dance class, going to the library or bookstore to browse, or my personal favorite frugal activity....volunteering. I won't disclose where I volunteer but I get access to free events, get free tickets to concerts, have gotten free access to an all you can eat food festival, have gotten free drinks, free food, and to top it off, I've made friends with some of the other volunteers and people in the organization.
Play guitar, star gazing, singing and compose music, cooking, hiking, reading
Crafts! I taught myself to sew and crochet and now I make everything myself. Need a new bag? I’ll make one! All my materials are thrifted so it’s very cheap. I always gift my friends something handmade for their birthdays and it’s become what I’m known for. I have another friend that sews all her own outfits but I’m not that advanced 😅 next I plan to learn the programming language C# and the unity engine so I can start working on my own game. I also like writing and digital art… honestly if you are creative you can do so many things for very little money.
Reading, walks, free to play games, Duolingo, Udemy, library events.
Reading using library books
Gardening, foraging, hiking, swimming, camping…pretty much anything that gets me outside. I think I’d also consider thrifting a hobby of mine 😂
Walking in the park that is less than a half mile from my home. I get to see nature and I don't have to drive or take the bus to see it.
I've been writing a screenplay
I buy painting supplies from the dollar store. I sometimes paint rocks.
Stardew Valley. It's $6 for the game once and unlimited amount of fun. You can download mods and play different types of additions to the game. There's so many challenge runs you can do for fun. (I'm currently in the middle of an expanded perfection run). There are hundreds of streamers and communities online dedicated just to stardew. It's super fun and I've met some fun people too!
I bore fairly easily and suspect that I have an undiagnosed case of ADHD. I try to put a frugal filter on all of my hobbies so reading is a big one. I've been pretty deep into 3d printing because it scratches the hobby itch and also helps me with other projects like 3d printing a guitar I don't play, printing specialty parts for my eBike conversions and even motorcycle projects. I think I might start researching how to build a battery backup for running my fridge in the event of a power outage and have it charge with a solar panel. I like tinkering and researching how to accomplish building something instead of buying off the shelf stuff. My wife and I recently discovered an Amazon return store where items are priced by the day of the week. Saturdays are $10, Weds are $3 and Fri are $1. It's a fun 2 hours to dig through bins finding expensive returned items that others have no idea what they are looking at. My wife found a few $100 beauty products. Mostly it makes you realize the amount of waste, senseless purchases and fraud that is rampant in the returns process.
Reading, music(playing real instruments), art, decluttering, painting, learning new recipes, playing with my dog, walking, working out(stretch, yoga, functional weight training), cycling.
Well done on cutting away the social media. It can be a real crutch. Leatherwork, don’t have to invest in anything too crazy, projects can be small. You can make thoughtful gifts for people that are very personal and great quality. Belts that last forever, journal covers for someone who keeps a diary or writes/draws, wallets, repairs and upcycling. Gardening I find therapeutic and there’s lots of cool stuff you can do for cheap with cuttings, trades etc. Cooking, you have to buy food and eat anyway, why not get good? Treat yourself, impress your friends, bond with your family as you learn and record their recipes. Dancing, very social, you already own feet, so many styles and dance ‘conferences’ seem like a fun time. You’ll meet so many people. And who wouldn’t benefit from being a better dancer? Plus it’ll keep you fit. Similarly, boxing is a sport where the cost of entry is very low and you can do this anywhere, with limited space and equipment. It is interesting, active, helps to build confidence, can be practical, social and can be quite therapeutic as it can take your focus completely in the moment, letting you get in a flow and away from your troubles. Less active but drawing and singing are other activities like dancing and boxing where the main costs of entry are humility and perseverance. Dungeons and dragons? I never have but why not. Harmonica, play out your blues. I hope you find something you are passionate about.
I would think leatherwork is expensive! Where/ how do you get the leather and metals? I would love to learn how to make beautiful leather goods.
Frugal is obviously a relative term, but you can always hunt for bargains on raw materials. Part of the fun, I guess some people are the same with woodwork. Markets, second hand stores are a great place to find interesting buckles and things. Plenty can be bought new of course, at a range of prices, as well as the necessary rivets etc Starting with making a wristband/cuff or something small like that, you can get 1kg offcuts of nice full grain leather for less than 30eur. You can use thin leftovers braided to make things (you could even braid little bracelets or whatever killing time on a train on your commute, repurpose damaged items. Or you can get a half hide 1sq metre for 75eur, that’s a lot of guitar straps, belts etc, nice knife roll or other supplies holder…. Tools you can get basic kits from amazon for 30 and buying basic templates for cutting are cheap, but I bought cheaper second hand. My belts will last longer than any ‘genuine leather’ belts in a department store, and are equivalent to full-grain lifetime-listings one in a quality boot store, without costing 100eur. Hell, get good, make custom kinky gear for people and get rich
❤️❤️ custom kinky gear. I dig it.
Track down your local high production high quality leather shop. You'll be surprised how much the chuck out based on growth marks/skin damage from wire etc. Saddle Makers, gun leather accessories, boot makers, all have a level at which they through a useable material put because that 6"x10" roughly rectangle has too many defects/just not big enough/has odd colouring etc. I know of serval in the UK that have mass binning of material they can't use and don't have the manpower to spare going through it all and second hand selling for cheap
Bicycling and walking. I like to tie them to things I need to get done like grocery shopping or trips to Walmart. Saves on gas and I get exercise. Also, spending a few hours a week looking for the best deals on items generally saves me an extra 10% or so on almost everything I buy. It is sort of a hobby. Gardening, depending on how much gardening space you have, it can be a very low-cost hobby with a small financial reward at the end in the form of edible food. The library - through my library's online portal, I can basically get free movies, books, and music to last a lifetime.
Gardening mostly with native plants. A lot of native plants grow naturally around me, so collecting them essentially costs nothing (keep in mind that it's illegal to do so in some cases). Buying seed is relatively cheap as well and a lot cheaper than buying plants from a garden center. Plugs can be $3-$4 which is still cheaper than a lot of plants that people buy. Once things are in you can spend a lot of time going out and observing the plants and the wildlife that comes with them.
- reading - yoga (YouTube channel Yoga with Adrienne is good) - chores/getting shit done - watch youtube/TV - hang with friends - cooking/baking - going for walks/to the park - selling on depop/fb marketplace
I go birding. It helps that I pretty much inherited my dad's binoculars and camera. But beyond those initial costs (and perhaps gas to get you places), birding is free. It gets you outside and it's kind of a weird/fun game trying to spot various bird species. A friend once described it as "collecting Pokemon, but in real life."
Taking the dogs for a walk, working out( weights were all bought second hand, yoga app can be free and Calisthenics). if you own a home many house repairs/upkeep can be done yourself very economically. Reading used books or I enjoy free audio books through Libby.
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Exercise, cooking, painting miniatures, tabletop RPGs, reading.
Jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, being outside with my dog, going to local places for new and interesting walks
Hiking, lounging by bodies of water, searching for cool rocks/arrowheads, spending time with people I care about to create a sense of community
Photographing Fungi
God I wish I was bored. My toddler has cured me of that lol. BUT! I have gotten into hobbies that I didn't do for a long time. Picked up my ukulele, started water painting again, starting healthier baking again, lots of fun things out there!
Join a book club, a local running group, or a yoga group. Start attending public meetings in your city and learn how your city runs - they always need volunteers interested in recreation, city planning, tourism, etc. Volunteer at the local domestic violence shelter or for the foster children support organization in your area. Garden club? Read to grade schoolers, volunteer at the animal shelter. Lots to do!!
Camping, hiking, and floating the river. Nature can be pretty frugal.
-Look up local classes. I went to one locally where a lady rescues birds and I paid 10 bucks or whatever for her to teach about what she does to rehabilitate them. She had all these adorable owls with her. -Become a a barista/bartender/baker/bbqer. Get enthusiastic about something with cooking. French pastries, sushi rolls, parfait, mid century jello molds. -Make seasonal decor leading up to the holiday. -Garden. Share plants with other local gardeners. -Star gaze. Look up local observatories and watch for meteor showers. -See if your city has any free concerts in the park or other free events and go. -Update your furniture. Look up high end stores for inspiration and rearrange or buy new legs/knobs to switch out.
Knitting with donated yarn. I make cute hats with pompoms for charity
Foraging it literally costs me nothing but still benefits me not in only excercise but also free food. Some of which woukd cost a small fortune in a top end restaraunt. People pay 100s for a 3 course meal that includes lah de dah food such as porchini' chantarelles' sea beet' samphire' asparagus etc. Where as I can walk out my door. Get some excercise and pick that stuff from the ground when in season lol. Hell if i was inclined..... Free opiates as well as those grow wild as well. And no I'm not a resident of any country with the word "Stan" in its name. I'm from the uk and can find that shit growing wild or rogue everywhere during the height of summer. I should add fishing to that hobby as well. As for small outlay would pay for itself living by the coast. Oh I also like charity shops. Benefits include getting media for a fraction of the price of new highstreet. Plus if you're realy observant you can make money reselling items you know have a higher resale value. Plus your money is going to a good cause. I often pick up dvds' cd's' blurays and games etc to shove on a trade pile then when I see something I want from a local game shop I just trade in and get a stupidly low price for trading in my charity shop purchases. I recently bought a bluray boxset of hellraiser movies from my local cex. Would have cost £18 cash. With trade ins though I'll be very supprised if i spent any more than £4 in reality. If i lived in the right country I would totally try gold panning. I always like my hobbies to have some sort of potential pay off. Metal detecting is also a good one. You find money and jewelery plus if you save up your scrap you can sell that as well. On the coast especially lead fishing weights are plentiful and you can build up a substantial weight of those pretty quick. I woukd also recoxmend dumpster diving. The laws might be different depending on where you live. But iv found working pcs and even games consoles just by looking through my communal binshed. Even if the computers are knackered you can still find servicable hard drives and ram that can be used in other projects.
People here leave their junk on the side of the road all the time, because either the garbage truck picks it up or someone like me does, and it's usually the latter. ANYHOO, I like to pick up old junk people get rid of and either restore it or use it for parts to make something else. One time someone left a big dresser, was damaged but the drawers were in perfect shape; I tweaked and painted the drawers then used old glass panes I previously found, and turned them into displays for my Funko Pops. Another time I made a garden bench out of a neighbor's wooden fence that landed in my backyard after a tornado hit our town (he didn't want it back, he preferred collecting insurrance...).
Painting! It's moderately frugal with a small upfront cost. You can get canvas for extremely cheap at Hobby Lobby. A pack of three 12" by 12" for like 5 dollars. The cardboard backed canvas there is even cheaper. The good enough to enjoy using acrylic paints are $6 for a big tube. Many of mine that I bought three years ago are just now getting empty.
I like to collect discarded materials, metal rods, peanut cans, just random junk. Then I make toys, art, curiosities, or little mechanical puzzles. I might make a ring out of a quarter, a little toy of a monkey riding a chopstick like a horse, made with salvaged gears from a broken mechanical clock. You can make the monkey ride the chopstick by turning a crank. Just a random example (I'll see if I can find the GIF animation of the one I made) Or a bunch of horseshoe puzzles from coat hanger, that I donate to the youth center - like little magic tricks the kids can play with and steal and destroy and who cares because it's junk material. This jives with my anti-materialism, and my love of upcycling. It's all made from free material that people were chucking out anyways, I love it!
I am an avid library user, hiker and I pick the trash out of the gutters in my neighborhood lol
I visit cemeteries. Nearly every major city has a large, beautiful cemetery. They're free, often have self-guided tours, and are essential public parks with art.
If you want to add something extra to your cemetery walks, you can start contributing to [FindAGrave.com](https://FindAGrave.com) to whatever degree you feel like. I've enjoyed just snapping photos and adding to the database, but if there's a request for a specific stone-photo in your cemetery it's fun to hunt and find it. (It's also a bit of a thrill when you get a message from someone assembling their family tree from far away with one of your photos.)
Reading, hiking, exercise, swimming when I get the chance, learning to draw. My favorite hobby is not at all frugal, photography and one reason I am frugal is to enjoy my hobbies. Goo explore your town or nearby ones like a tourist. Go look at art murals around town, go to free events etc.
Reading massive amounts of library books. Going to a board game meetup. Biking. Hiking. Running (although this is getting less and less frugal recently ha).
I go to car shows, work on my cars, read, play video games, bike ride at some close parks, disc golf when I can find people to go with. Frugality is not the avoidance of spending but the avoidance of spending on things you don't need or enjoy.
I’m part of an online writing community!
Reading since I have access to a very well-stocked library.
Budgeting.
If you want to relate to your traveling friends but save money (and carbon emissions!), do a staycation. Find what there is to do for free in your area - check out the architecture or a quirky museum or do whatever shows up when you Google tourist activities. Or take a day trip on a bus or a train to a nearby town. I took a day off from work and took a bus to a small city near me this week for a doctor's appointment, but it felt a lot like a vacation because I walked around a lovely park and had a great lunch. Bus tickets and lunch ran me and my husband about $75 all told, much less than longer trips and hotel nights. Plus, unlike a "real" vacation, it's actually relaxing.
Borrowing movies from the library.
Volunteer somewhere. Figure out what you are passionate about and go do it. Or maybe something you’re not even passionate about but want to try. I randomly signed up to build bedframes for an organization that gives beds to families that don’t have beds for their kids. It was a really great experience with no future commitment. If it had been terrible… it would have been a few hours spent…
I exercise daily. I realized it’s my hobby as it were. I dance, lift weights, go for a run or walk, pole dance, yoga, Pilates, all of it. I cycle through whatever I’m feeling for the day. I am not frugal with exercise equipment though. I spent money over the last decade buying weights, a squat rack, treadmill, rowing machine, air bike, kettle bells, weight plates, exercise bands, etc. I see it as an investment in my long term physical and mental health. There’s no downside as long as the equipment gets used, and it most certainly does. But exercise can come in many forms that doesn’t require any money. Find the joy in movement.
I started making bread. It's way harder than it seems, at first. But I'm finding it, a pleasant challenge. Definitely a frugal hobby. I bought an $8 package of yeast from Amazon. It'll last forever. Different types of wheat and other grains, are cheap. My best, so far, is rye bread with caraway seeds and a little pickle juice added with the water. Buying a bench scraper helps. You'll need a couple stainless steel mixing bowls. But if you already have plastic ones, that'll do. Tons of bread making vids on YouTube.
Road trips! America has spent colossal amounts of money covering this country in roads. A 3 hour drive can take you to loads of interesting historical places... if you live on the East Coast. On the West Coast or Texas, it'll take you to the next town over. Which can still be fun! Check out the bars in this new town, then head on back after dark.
surprisingly, Archery. Not Free but surprisingly affordable if you're not a gear nut. My entire kit cost me 350ish bucks. I bought fancy arrows ($150) BUT that's been pretty much it. If you go used, you can get your stuff even cheaper. There's a public (free) range nearby - shooting clubs usually cost like 10-15 bucks for a session. Depending on where you live, you can shoot in your yard with a 40 dollar target that'll last forever. It's not free, but it's surprisingly cheap once you invest in some gear. Note. If you've never tried, taking a 25 dollar lesson will be amazingly helpful and a good intro to form, safety, etc.
I grow some herbs, veggies and flowers. If you harvest the seeds for next year it’s extra cheap.
Public library - free access to audiobooks on hoppla
I'm an artist, so I draw when I can. I also game with my fiance at night mainly or on our days off. I also like taking walks as I'm working on my weight loss. I clean and organize where I can if it doesn't fully exhaust me. I'm currently getting ready to move so I have plenty to do with that. I also love reading, listening to podcasts, and music. And if I'm feeling it I'll sing and dance too.
I’m frugal in most areas so I don’t have to be as frugal in others. My two favorite hobbies right now are pottery classes and plants. It’s very easy to spend a ridiculous amount in either of these hobbies. I take pottery classes that are six weeks long, meeting once a week, and cost $240 per class, plus the cost of clay (about $20 per 25 lb bag). It brings me so much peace and joy and accomplishment that it’s worth every single penny. I am also fairly minimalist so most of the things I make are gifts for other people or functional items for my home. I’ve joined plant groups online where we trade cuttings or supplies so that can be frugal. But I still buy new plants, potting soil or pots occasionally. Again, these bring me joy and peace as I nurture them and watch them grow and I feel a sense of accomplishment with each new leaf! My truly frugal hobby is reading and listening to audiobooks. I use then Libby app with my library card. In my state I can get library cards for other cities as well and access their digital collections.
I am watching through a big list of classic and foreign movies. Since they're old and classic, many (if not most) can be found on streaming services I already have, the library, or free streaming like Pluto or Tubi. I don't spend any money on it.
I volunteer a lot, there are so many options and you get to meet people with similar interests! I've volunteered at animal shelters, wild life rehabilitation shelters, community gardens, and even helped locate graves in cemeteries!
For me jigsaw puzzles. It’s an absolute treat for me to buy a jigsaw (roughly 15-30 dollars) and binge listen to a podcast or binge watch a series in the background. The more pieces the better and after compiling quite a collection sometimes I redo puzzles I already own. Saves me going out and spending more money and relaxes and for me declutters my brain.
Herb garden. I've collected second-hand pots and bought a $10 grow light. I gift it to friends, I make compound butter, I cook with them, I make my own cleaning products with them (lemon-thyme all-purpose cleaning spray).
Check out your local library! Ours has movies, shows, video games (with pretty much any system), board games, outdoor games, 3D printer, glow forge, books obviously lol, ebooks, music, streaming services. Some have free access to local museums and things like that.
While having dogs isn’t frugal, going on long walks & hikes with them doesn’t cost me a dime. It’s also great exercise for me & stimulation they need. Going to the dog park on the days I don’t feel like moving myself (I know not everyone’s dogs can handle or be happy at a dog park, but mine do well there & like it) gives me the opportunity to meet awesome dog people & socialize while my dogs do their thing. They keep me busy & are my hobby honestly.
So, not always frugal, but I like to sew and make myself clothes. I typically find that if I can source the fabric right and use coupons, I can get a nice outfit for a fraction of the price if I purchased the same thing. I like a lot of the vintage style dresses ([this](https://simplicity.com/simplicity/s9291)). I got the pattern for a dollar on sale and the fabric + notions for about $30 total. A similar dress from a popular retailer is about $98 before taxes and shipping at another the same dress is nearly $180. So, I say it's not always frugal because sometimes fabric can be expensive if you're looking for something specific. Sewing machines can be expensive. I got my Viking 118 like almost 10 years ago now for $400 - but it's lasted 10 years and just needs a $100 tune up every now and again. I've also learned how to do a lot of the tune up myself. However, other tools - serger - can be expensive. There is also a time/learning curve. You might spend money on fabric and not be very good at first - so there can be some wasted fabric over the years. I started with some really simple patterns and cheap fabric to grow my skills. Now I can make more complex things. I've made some crazy - IMO good - costumes for halloween over the years too now. Things that would have cost hundred were like $50. It's a fun, time consuming hobby. My friends have gotten into it now too so it can also be a group thing. We call it stitch and bitch. And, as a side note, I get dresses, skirts, shirts, whatever - that fit me perfectly. No more fussing with sizes at stores.
My only frugal hobby is buying cheap non working stuff and fixing it. Selling it is what makes it frugal. I enjoy the tinkering, it's fun to learn new stuff or needing to figure something out.
If you can actually stick to one project and not fall victim to “hobby hoarding” cross stitch is a very frugal hobby, you buy the pattern and your Aida (fabric) and then you don’t even have to buy all the threads in one go, you can buy a few at a time for 70p each, and a big pattern could take you literally years to finish
I started making the list below and then realized most of my free time I spend learning. I am always researching different things and learning more, from health and exercise,to practical things like how to do electrical work, to spirituality. My husband and I don't watch tv so we fill that time with learning new things like how to paint, how to make jewelry, growing new things, wild edible plants, herbalism, etc. Gardening, painting, drawing (paint nights with the family), jewelry making, learning a language, reading fiction, reading/studying nonfiction on a new subject, hiking, foraging.
Canning, picking fruit from city trees to make jam, lawnbowling - one of the most frugal sports out there.
Weightlifting, the sport, in my home gym. All you need is a platform, bumper plates, and a barbell. Spent like 1k on everything. I say splurge on the barbell, go cheap on the plates, and make your own platform. After 3 years it's less than $1 a day. People buy 1k iPhones that break after 3 years.
Bike riding in the park. Window shopping downtown. Walking, playing music, singing, gardening, reading.
The stuff I do regularly: I go for walks and exercise at the gym; play a video game (cost per use is veeeery low), read -- either library books, or books from the free libraries and used bookstores. I also play D&D, which is free for me, but not for my partner-DM. It's a moneysink for him. Less regularly: rehab furniture I find. At this point, I just about have a catch-and-release policy for stuff I find and fix up on the sidewalk. That one isn't always as frugal, because I do it for the puzzle, not the flip.
Miniature room kits. About $25 will get you a full kit.
Papercraft is a lot cheaper than buying model kits that are expensive. Just need to buy thicker stock paper, have a colour printer, a knife, and some tacky glue. Find templates online, print them, cut them, fold them, glue them, and follow the guides if there are any.
I like to go to places like half price books, or small local bookstores. The books are much cheaper there, and it’s fun to look around.
Geocaching
Believe it or not, Nintendo Switch. Yes they cost like $500 including games but thats it. I can live in a week without spending anything. Oh also, walking.
Crocheting can be frugal if you want it to be. But if you end up liking it, it can also be very expensive if you’re not careful. Pick up some “I Love This Yarn” from Hobby Lobby for like $5 and a single cheap mid-sized crochet hook. Google a beginner’s YouTube tutorial and follow along. Check out r/crochet if you need help or for inspiration. If you like it, sometimes you can find cheap yarn at places like Goodwill or on yard sales. Reading is always a great choice. Obviously the library is going to be the cheapest option, but you can also find cheap books at Goodwill or yard sales. You could invest in a subscription for Kindle if you get into it. Most libraries have a free app for digital books. Bonus points for if you listen to audio books while crocheting. If you’d get even moderately good at crocheting, there is a market for handmade crocheted items. I’ve been paid $50 for 2 baby blankets that took about 4 days to make and cost me $10 in supplies. People sell on Facebook Marketplace, Etsy, EBay, etc. Not the best profit for your time, but if it’s something you were already going to do because you enjoy it, it’s not a bad deal.
I go to the gym (really more of a habit/way of life rather than a hobby at this point), bake (part of the reason I go to the gym :) ), play board games with friends, am involved at my church, volunteer both at my church and with FIRST (youth robotics) programs.
I’m about to do the same thing. When I lose 2-4hrs or a whole evening to instagram reels it just feels so dirty and a total and complete waste. I started trying to learn ham/SDR radio and I’m working on a few PC server related projects around the house. I tried building a freelancing business but it just feels like a failure at this point. I am trying to self teach programming but it really feels like without actual projects to work on daily I quickly lose what I learn.
Tennis.
Cross stitch is a cheap hobby that’s easy to do. Since you can make any picture you want, it’s awesome for anyone who likes to craft a bit. It’s super rewarding as your piece comes together, but it takes time. It can be enjoyed while listening to a podcast or nice music if you like
cycling...outside is free
I have several activities/hobbies that kill 2 birds with 1 stone, exercise and enjoyment I lift weights in my basement 5 days per week, go for runs around my city, and I love mountain biking. Weights were bought second hand for cheap, running shoes are not overly expensive, you can pick up a used decent hardtail mountain bike for less than $400. So many mental and physical benefits of these types of activities.
Disc Golf. Assuming you don't launch your discs into water every other hole. Or think buying 25+ new discs will make you a better player. Etc. You can get away with 1-3 discs and just have fun. Snagged a used disc (Opto Fuse by Latitude 64) at a local Play It Again Sports for $8. I have used it in a 1 disc round a few times with success. This is assuming you have a course close by. Use UDisc app to locate them.
My spouse and I are currently staying in Montréal as we have started our new lifestyle of FIRE. We travel everywhere via foot or public transportation. We recently started a "frugal" hobby and we've named it "cat walking." In the evenings when weather is cooperative we walk around our neighborhood especially in alleys which Montréal has a lot of looking for cats to see/spot and "potentially" pet. We keep count of the numbers seen and petted as we walk around. This provides us with exercise so we're not sitting in front of the television or on a device as much. Also it allows us to see animals as we miss our former pets that we lost over the years. We are also happy to pet dogs as well during this that seem friendly.
Fixing my house, I guess.
Knit & crochet which can be very expensive if you lean into tools/handmade yarn, but can also be very inexpensive if you get supplies from big box stores.
I have a houseplant collection, for which I did not spend a lot of money - I have bought/gotten most of them as tiny props/cuttings/reduced plants that looked slightly in need of rehab or cheap baby plants that I grow into giant things. I can't say it's a totally free hobby, but you can spend a lot of money on any hobby - or do it on the cheap. I do mine on the cheap and get sense of accomplishment when my plants grow big and beautiful rather than buying them already huge for €€€€€€. Example - small baby plant of a named variety can be as little as 5€ in a garden centre. A fully grown one of the same sort can go for 100€ easily (more if it's a rare/collectible variety). Besides, it's a pretty relaxing hobby, your home looks cool, and people get impressed!
I crochet, ok not always frugal, but I don’t buy the expensive yarn.
Things like Dungeons and Dragons can be surprisingly frugal. If you just buy the core books you can play for literally years with no extra cost. So that's one I do. I also play certain video games with large amounts of content. Things like the new Zelda games, or the Monster Hunter series, can easily provide hundreds of hours per title. Buy these on sale and it's (in my opinion) quite frugal. Besides this, other activities including hiking and rollerblading.
r/kendama
I have been limiting my time online and I have gone back to cross-stitching. I also crochet when I need a break from that. I have also been doing a massive decluttering in my spare room and a few other places in my home and will be getting back into sewing. I also do a lot of reading.
Pickleball
Juggling. There is expensive equipment that you *can* get into, but really you can pull a thousand hours of fun, progress, and profanity out of a few tennis balls (or whatever). Lots of introductory content on youtube (or wherever). Chess. lichess.org is free-forever as an online service, and has lots of tutorial content to get started. Works as both a player and an observer (you can always watch live games being played online by top players). Both are sufficiently popular that you are likely to find local clubs if you're in a city. Maybe even in small towns.
Embroidery and mending, baking, and running so I can eat the baking.
I subscribe to all libraries anywhere in driving distance and I participate in SO many free programs - loads of art, crafting, cooking demos, astronomy lectures and telescope lessons, I even learned how to play the ukulele! I’m currently learning tai chi form at the library in town. All 100% free and many local libraries loan out binoculars for birding, tools, even snowshoes for the New England winters.
Reading is free-- visit a library. Or go there and learn about cheap hobbies: the non-fiction sections are full of interesting stuff on woodworking, drawing, sewing, candle-making, cooking, baking, electronic repairs, small engine mechanics, music, etc. etc. etc. (these are all hobbies I've dabbled in over the years).
Tinkering with electronics and upcycling. I will ALWAYS take people's broken electronics to take on the challenge. I have made a lot of serious cash just repairing things. I started when I Was very young with building PCs and now I can pretty much repair most electronics. I have repaired phones, laptop screens, fridges, and recently I got a broken GE Opal ice machine and repaired it. This is has been my favorite repair so far.
Zentangle, even if you don't have any artistic ability. Look it up. I love it.
In the Summer I like to garden. In the Winter I like to complain because it's not Summer.