Hobbies can be expensive. As a hobby and craft lover without a lot of disposable income, I have to admit that my wallet hurts a bit when I learn something new. Despite that, I still want to create something, challenge my brain, and go on adventures. Fear not! There are ways to have fun learning something new for super cheap. What’s even better is, you can start learning right now.
Drawing
Starting price: $0 - $3 Tools needed: Pencil, paper, eraser Time needed: Variable Resources: Try out some exercises for beginners
Despite what you might think, doodling can be a hobby. You probably already have a pencil and paper somewhere in your home and getting started is just as easy. A good place to start would be by drawing the things around you like your pet or maybe a character from your favorite video game. It doesn’t have to be the Mona Lisa, just have fun with it!
Sewing Stuffed Toys
Price: $0 to $5 Tools needed: Sewing kit; needle, thread, felt or fabric (old clothes), cotton balls or sponges Time needed: Depends on the project. Small toys can take around 30 minutes to an hour Resources: Try out this easy 30 min sock plush or follow my tutorial to make a D20 plushie
Sewing is a lot easier than it seems, and chances are you already have everything you need. With just a needle, thread, an old shirt, and some sort of stuffing like cotton balls or sponges you can make your own little stuffed toy.
Scrapbooking
Price: $10 - 20
Tools needed: Empty notebook, tape, memories
Time needed: First starting out may take about an hour, after that around 10 minutes every so often
Resources: My beginner scrapbooking tips or Get started in 5 steps
You know that pile of old movie tickets and mementos you’ve hoarded somewhere in your house? With a notebook and some scotch tape, those scattered pieces can become your very first scrapbook. This is probably the easiest hobby to maintain consistently because you can add to it as you make more memories.
Crochet
Price: $10
Tools needed: Crochet hook, yarn of choice, tapestry needle
Time needed: depends on what you’re trying to learn - visit my Crochet 101 post to learn more
Resources: Crochet 101, Ravelry, How to Crochet for Absolute Beginners
Crochet is one of my favorite hobbies of all time! It can be very easy to pick up and is accessible and versatile. You can crochet anything from clothing to blankets to amigurumi plushies, all of which look absolutely stunning. There are tons of free resources and patterns to help you along your journey. I’ve linked some of the best above!
Board games
Price: $2 - $40 Tools needed: Deck of cards or board game set Time needed: Depends on the game, 15 - 45 minutes Resources: Some games that you can play with either a store bought set, a deck of playing cards, or with no cards at all are: Skull, a game all about bluffing, and Mafia/Werewolf, a hidden role game
Board gaming is probably the priciest hobby to start on this list. Even so, there are lots of different games to play with just a normal deck of playing cards, from classics like Spoons to adaptations of Skull or Mafia. I highly recommend trying out board games at a board game café or lounge before buying one for your own collection.
Tabletop Role Playing Game (TTRPG) - Dungeons and Dragons (D&D)
Price: $0 - $12 Tools needed: D&D 5e book, online dice roller, online sheet Time needed: An hour to get familiar and roll your character OR a couple hours to put together a campaign as DM, a couple hours to play each week Resources: 5e book OR this handy startup guide, Roll20 for running your campaign wherever you may be, D&D Beyond for beginners guides, a character builder, and more
A lot of people like playing D&D with elaborate setups, custom miniatures, and fancy dice. You don’t need any of that! There are lots of online resources to help you set up your characters and maps. There are even online dice generators that will save you the cost of buying your own dice! This is the most time consuming hobby on the list, but once you get started, you won’t even notice the time go by while you and your friends embark on your own fantasy adventure.
A new hobby doesn’t need to cost a lot of money, just time, an eagerness to learn, and maybe some friends to join you. Don’t forget that you might not be an expert or the best at it, but the important part is that you have fun and feel fulfilled. No one else’s opinions matter! As you start on your hobby journey, follow mine on Instagram or Twitter @thenerDIYblog. If you'd like your questions live, I stream on Twitch at twitch.tv/finding_doro.