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09-05-2008, 02:42 PM
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Frugal hobbies
First post
I've been lurking here for a few months and finally decided to join the fun. I am, by nature, pretty frugal but do enjoy somewhat expensive hobbies. I'm an outdoorsman (fish, hunt, camp....etc.). These aren't neccesarily expensive hobbies but they can be. I bought a 18k boat to fish out of several years ago and a 20 k truck to haul it with. I have, over the years, spent quite a bit on these types of items. I'm not rich, but these were not things I couldn't afford either. I'll never recover the cost of these items in terms of the fish I catch but those who golf or bowl don't get any thing to eat at the end of their day. Cooking is also a hobby of mine, so the things I harvest go to that( gourmet cooking without the gourmet price). I also enjoy gardening and that's a big time money saver. I was just curious if others have what they might consider to be frugal hobbies. I'm not pretending that I've saved any incredible sum from these hobbies but I'm getting something back which feels good. I also own two labrador retrievers which is a whole budget item and "hobby" in and of it's self. Kind of a strange new post, I guess, but I don't have any financial woes at the moment....sorry.  I consider these to be frugal hobbies and was curious if others do things that "pay" them back in some way.
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09-05-2008, 05:39 PM
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It seems that any hobby that involves exercise pays you back in lower medical expenses, tho some sports can get a bit spendy. I love to take my dog for walks ... The only expenses are good walking shoes, a leash, and some suncreen.
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09-05-2008, 06:03 PM
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I like photography as a hobby that can be fairly inexpensive. Most people have a pretty decent digital camera nowadays. Clearly everyone on here has a computer, so add in photoshop software at about $75 and you can do just about anything. It's relaxing and you can add in exercise if you do some hiking to take pictures. As well, we have blown up a lot of our pictures and have bought inexpensive frames for home decorating. As well, we give some of the pictures in frames (of the kids) to family members for holidays. Or, we do calendars, etc...
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09-05-2008, 06:11 PM
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Reading has become my new hobby, golf was a little expensive. Golf will always be my passion, but becoming financially independent is my first priority for now.
My dumb brothers have motorcycles and boats for me to use, but they have no money. I've been giving them books to read, maybe it will help.
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09-05-2008, 06:32 PM
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Quote:
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09-06-2008, 05:11 AM
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I Always Find It Interesting To Hear What Others To To Occupy Their Spare Time. For Most It Involves Spending A Lot Of Money. I Have Been Down That Road. But There Are Many Things To Do That Require You To Spend Your Last Dime.
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09-06-2008, 06:41 AM
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I highly recommend geocaching. Initial set up can be between 50 and 500 dollars, after that, nothing but leg power and a bottle of water in your way. It's fun, its outdoors (Family event) and at the end of the hike there is usually a little treasure waiting.
Check it out: Geocaching - The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site Ray PS. I am mrpaseo on there as well. Last edited by mrpaseo : 09-06-2008 at 06:54 AM. Reason: Spell check in my brain is on the fritz
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09-06-2008, 12:41 PM
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Jogging around the park. It's cheap enough I think. Just need a good pair of shoes and appropriate clothes....
Guitar is also pretty cheap, but only because a friend of my gave me his. It's a low-end guitar, but again, it hasn't costed me a thing yet. I may pick up a few small items for it though (capo, picks, strings), but they're not urgent.
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09-08-2008, 09:15 AM
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I agree that exercise is a great frugal hobby provided you aren't spending a ton of money on a gym membership. I jog some ( partly because of work requirements). I also get paid for passing a fitness test once a year so that makes running a worthwhile hobby. I don't have a gym membership but do have three miles of country road right outside the door. It's like a free gym membership.
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09-08-2008, 10:20 AM
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I bike to work, which is more than frugal - it's a money saver.
I also jog and lift weights (free weights in my basement). I'm not sure I'd call exercising a hobby...I do enjoy it, but it's more about taking care of myself than pure enjoyment. I used to play poker online, which was also a (small) money maker. As a family, we go for bike rides and hikes.
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09-08-2008, 11:22 AM
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At one time I was really into running and working out at home and it was like a hobby to me. I know some runners who are very addicted to this activity so I know it's a hobby to them. I now do it for the health benefits and, as mentioned above, to meet my employers requirements for fitness but not as much as I used to.
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09-09-2008, 01:10 PM
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Volunteering... cub scouts and girl scouts..not quite free but sure does take up my time! (plus you can fish with them double the fun)
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09-10-2008, 09:24 AM
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jamiefic
I think anything you do that you enjoy on a regular basis, and you aren't neccesarily obligated to do, outside of work qualifies as a hobby. If you save or make a few bucks doing so, then so much the better.
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09-10-2008, 07:57 PM
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Outside I like to do gardening and fishing.
Inside I like entering sweepstakes and instant win games. It's a fun hobby that actually pays.
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09-14-2008, 12:40 PM
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When I decided to get serious about not spending a few years ago, I took a good hard look at all the activities avaliable in my area that I had never experienced and realized there's a lot out there that you can do for free, or pretty inexpensively!
I scrapbook, but the old fasioned way of putting pictutes and notes, and momentos is a photo album, with all my own supplies, which costs a fraction of the cost of most scrapbooking things I've seen! I also really enjoy being outdoors, so I go on a lot of nature trails, and hiking trails (also, with my dog!). I try to join some of the locally sponsored trail walks, clean up chores, and historical walking tours. I also camp a lot which doesn't require any new equipment, just gas! And I spend a lot of time floating on the river. I love reading, and keep up on all the new fianciall advice books through the library, along with suggested reading lists of fiction. I also enjoy going to all the free open nights at the local art galleries, and museums. I don't always like what I see, but it is enjoyable. I am just learning how to garden and compost, but after the initial expense of planting, no more added costs. I'm also a big fan of trying new foods, so I do a lot of cooking, which could get expensive, but I generally have everything I need for new receipes. I also just recently started learning how to crochet. The needles were a gift, and the cost of yarn hasn't been too bad. I've found that most of my hobbies, don't cost me much at all-but if there is a small fee, the reward I get out of enjoying myself is worth it.
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