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So…what do you do for fun?

It’s no wonder that age-old conversation inevitably comes up within the first half hour of meeting a new person.

The fact is, our hobbies define us as people. When work, family, commitments and everything else in the ‘real’ world is stripped away, our hobbies are one of the best indications of who we really are as people.

However, for a lot of us, starting a hobby can be off-putting because of the sheer perceived expensive of taking up a new activity. Living on a budget can make it feel like fun is a little out of the question – but I’m here to tell you that this is definitely not the case (phew!). In fact, there are so many inexpensive hobbies that will fit perfectly with a frugal living lifestyle. And they’re great fun.

Personally, I live for my hobbies. I built my freelance business so that I could shape my lifestyle around the activities I love to do! The best part is, very few of my hobbies cost much money to do, either!

If you’ve been looking for an inexpensive hobby to try this year, you’re in the right place. Below is my ultimate list of fun, frugal, and inexpensive hobbies for you to pick from.

Fun Inexpensive Hobbies to Try this Year:

Online Hobbies

Online Surveys

The best thing about doing surveys on the side as a hobby is that you can actually make money by doing it! This is really one of the best inexpensive hobbies you could start because you’ll be having fun and bring in some extra cash while you’re at it.

There are tonnes of online survey sites out there offering cash, Amazon gift cards, points and more in return for filling up surveys, watching videos, participating in online focus groups and even playing games online!

A few of the survey sites I always recommend for their legitimacy and great pay-out schemes:

– Swagbucks

Swagbucks is the first survey company I signed up for, and that’s because it’s one of the leading online rewards sites available. In my opinion, they’re one of the most legitimate survey companies and always pay on time.

You can receive gift cards for Amazon and other retailers, or get cash back from PayPal in exchange for completing online activities such as answering surveys, watching videos, and browsing the web – which is nice when you get fed up of answering questions all the time! Get $5 simply by signing up to Swagbucks with my code here!

– Pinecone Research

Pinecone Research is one of the largest and best-paying survey sites available. It’s free to sign up to, and users can earn money by completing surveys that pay up to $3 each. You can then earn money via PayPal or through vouchers to popular retailers.

The best thing about pinecone research is that it’s completely free to sign up to and use, and the surveys are all very simple and straight forward, and can be filled out in your own time. Check out Pinecone Research and sign up with my link here.

– Inbox Dollars

One of the best things about Inbox Dollars? You’ll get a free $5 sign up bonus for simply registering with them – that’s easy money in itself!

The cash out is at $30, and a great feature of Inbox Dollars is that they have an estimated ‘how much will you earn’ section before you commit to completing a survey. Click my link here and earn $5 for simply signing up to Inbox Dollars.

Win Cashback on Your Receipts

So, OK, this inexpensive hobby might not make you the coolest person down your local pub, but it is a great way to make a little extra money on your purchases. Some people I know are absolutely addicted to this app!

Download ShopKick for free on your iPhone and start tracking your purchases today to earn cashback on your receipts!

Blogging

Starting a blog was one of the best hobbies I’ve ever taken up. My blog started as a bit of fun and is now one of the things I am most passionate about in life and it contributes to my monthly income.

It’s a fantastic hobby to have if you’re creative too, as you learn how to write, code, design images and graphics, you get to meet people all over the world (online) and so much more.

I started my blog with zero experience, and have learned as I go ever since. If you’re interested in starting your own blog, I compiled everything I would have wanted to know when I first started out in my free email blog course – this course will make starting your own blog so much easier.

Online Games

I’m not much of a gamer myself, but I know people who love nothing more than to wind down after a long day by playing online games. There are so many websites where you can find free games, from action and fantasy to simple puzzles and logical games.

Selling/Buying Items

Some people begin buying items and then selling them for a profit online as a hobby, but this is another one of those inexpensive hobbies that can very quickly snowball into a real money-maker.

Just take a look at The Selling Family – what once started as a hobby Amazon FBA store has now turned into a 6-figure business!

One of my hobbies is to do a big clear out of my room, garage or shed once every couple of months, and then sell those items on eBay, Decluttr (great for DVDs, CDs etc), and at car boot sales. It clears the house clutter and makes a little bit of extra money – win-win!

Outdoors Hobbies

Gardening

Get green-fingered and get outdoors by picking up gardening in your own back garden! My mum loves spending summer days outside pruning hedges, mowing the lawn and planting bulbs to make her garden look beautiful, and this hobby can really be as inexpensive as you make it!

Buy a cheap seed kit and you could even start growing your own fruit and vegetable for a super frugal living hobby!

Running

I have a real love-hate relationship with running. You hear about all these runners talking about ‘runners high’ and how amazing running makes them feel…but I just haven’t found that yet! That being said, running is a great inexpensive hobby that will keep you fit and active.

I love sporty inexpensive hobbies the most because they’re a great way to use up your free time and stay healthy all at once!

Hiking

Hiking is the perfect fun inexpensive hobby if you love the outdoors. It provides the opportunity to take in amazing scenery, get some gentle exercises, and all without spending a cent. Look up any national parks or famous hikes in your local area (there’s bounded to be at least one!). Take a water bottle and some energy-fuelling snacks and enjoy the great outdoors!

12 Exercises That Won’t Cost a Thing

Home-Town Tourism

Have you ever thought about what makes tourists come to your town? Often, there are jewels in our own hometowns that we’ve never even noticed before! Make like a tourist and explore your local area, and you never know what hidden gems you might discover.

Volunteer

Volunteer for charities will not only give you a meaningful hobby but will benefit others too. Think of a local charity nearby that you’d really love to give back to, and ask how you might be able to help out. Alternatively, if there’s a cause you’re passionate about but can’t find a charity for, why not start fundraising for them?

Wild Swimming

Swim surrounded by nature! I’ve actually never done this, but it’s one of those inexpensive hobbies that my frugal side and my outdoorsy side are equally excited about (swimming pools cost far too much for my liking!).

Over here in the UK, you’ll have to be really brave to face the cold to give this a try, but if you’re elsewhere in the world this good be the perfect fun hobby for you!

Stay-At-Home Hobbies

Knitting

A pair of needles and some yarn? A couple of dollars, max. The look on someone’s face when you gift them a homemade hat, a pair of socks, or blanket? Absolutely priceless.

Knitting is a skill slowly regaining popularity, and for good reason! I love to knit something from scratch and it’s always a conversation starter to be in your 20s and able to knit!

It’s a soothing hobby that you can do anywhere from the comfort of your sofa, or even on your commute on the bus, and costs next to nothing too. I recent arm-knitted this blanket for my mum, and she should it was one of the best presents she’d ever received! One of the most inexpensive hobbies, but with a huge payoff.

Don’t knock it until you try making something like this gorgeous chunky knit blanket!

Creative Writing

Let the inner writer inside of you breathe by picking up a notepad and pen and making your stories come to life. Creative writing is a great way to keep your mind active and is one of the most budget-friendly hobby ideas here – how much does a pen and paper cost?!

You never know, by the end of the year you could have a book in front of you – well, that’s what I’m hoping for anyway!

Drawing

If you don’t fancy yourself as a writer, why not try drawing? You can express yourself in an enjoyable, freeing way – from sketching to even painting (a slightly larger investment) the options are endless and great fun at the same time.

Yoga

Although many people go for a mat and a weekly class, yoga can actually be practised on your own in the peace of your room. I’ve been practising yoga on and off since I was 16 years old, and I can’t recommend the benefits of starting your own practice yourself.

You don’t even need to purchase a mat – a towel or blanket is perfectly sufficient while you’re learning, although you can get pretty good quality mats online for as little as $12.

Look up a few videos for free on YouTube and away you go! Personally, I love Yoga with Adriene and Gaia online.

Read

Libraries are free to join, and guess what? There’s a whole host of books inside just waiting for you to start reading!

Hobbies definitely don’t have to involve loads of sports and adventure; simply having some time for yourself and getting lost in a good book is a great inexpensive hobby for anyone to start.

Origami

Origami is the art of folded paper and is one of the most budget-friendly hobbies to pick up. Follow a few easy tutorials online to get the hang of it, and you’ll be producing paper cranes with your eyes closed before you know it.

I can speak from experience with this one – anyone who entered my room in my second year of university was accosted by an array of amateur flowers and animals dotted around my window sill – I just fell in love with it!

Skill-Based Hobbies

Baking

Baking can really be as expensive as you make it. You could make huge, decadent 15 ingredient cakes that blow peoples minds, or you could stick to water, yeast and flour and make a lovely loaf of bread for pennies!

I love nothing more than to find all the ingredients for a recipe already stored away in my cupboards – making a delicious concoction from scratch is so satisfying!

Cooking

Become the master of cooking in your own home by really honing in on your skills to whip up a delicious dish. Learning to cook properly definitely doesn’t have to be expensive, and there’s no better way to make a great impression on someone than serving up a gourmet dish that you made from scratch.

My proudest recent creation is this dreamy roasted butternut squash and tomato soup!

Coding

Intrigued by the world of coding and programming? There are tonnes of free websites available where you can learn to code in the comfort of your own home.

Better still, this is another of those fun inexpensive hobbies that could even turn into a way to make more money in the future! Check out Code Academy for a basic free coding course and Udemy for more premium paid courses with huge discounts.

DIY

Fancy yourself pretty handy? Even if you don’t, picking up DIY as a hobby is a great way to get pretty good with your hands! I love browsing Pinterest for fun, creative and inexpensive ideas for things to make around the home, from chairs and stools to bird feeders in the garden!

Feeling inspired? Are you picking up any of these new budget-friendly inexpensive hobbies this year, or any I’ve missed off the list? Let me know if I’ve missed any hobby ideas off in the comments below!

Find a free printable below – pin it to your Pinterest boards for an easy go-to list of frugal hobby ideas!

The Wallet Moth

20+ Super Inexpensive Hobbies You Need To Try This Year