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Last Updated: 22nd September 2021

Cheap Fun Hobbies You Can Start Right Now

Time flows differently for many people. For individuals who have a lot of things to do, time may seem to run too fast.  For those idle with not much to do, time would appear to run so slow, and boredom will start to creep in. The ongoing pandemic has contributed to most people having extra time on their hands with no idea how to handle this situation. An effective way to spend time productively is to find cheap, fun hobbies. 

Written by: Piggyy

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While staying at home, you can tap into your inner child and do the activities that give you happiness. Rediscover your hobbies or develop new ones so that you can spend the extra time wisely.

 

Transform Mental Stress to Mental Happiness

 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released data showing a significant increase in the percentage of U.S. adults exhibiting depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic data. The CDC projects it to still grow as the pandemic lingers.

 

Observed Period%
Pre-pandemic (January to June 2019)11
During Pandemic (December 2020)42

 

In an online article by the Mayo Clinic Staff about COVID-19 and mental health, one way to care for your mental health is to stay busy by having hobbies that you can enjoy at home. You may be pursuing a  new hobby or rediscovering old ones, but your main goal should be eliminating and converting your mental stress to mental happiness.

 

Benefits of Having a Hobby

To neutralize the adverse effects of the pandemic on your overall well-being, the importance of hobbies cannot be ignored. It will be beneficial to your health to be doing an activity that you are familiar with and one that calms your mind.

 

Some benefits of having a hobby are that:

  • It relieves stress and anxiety.
  • It prevents wasting time.
  • It offers new experiences and opportunities to earn.
  • It improves self-confidence.
  • It promotes creativity.
  • It promotes eustress or good stress. 

 

The positive effects on a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being are the main reasons why hobbies are important.

 

Physical Health

Having a hobby is one way to improve your physical health. Constant movements of your body while gardening or dancing should improve your mobility and flexibility. Exercising, doing yoga, and other fitness activities would help strengthen your body as performing them keeps you active.

 

Aside from the health benefits of having a hobby, leading an active lifestyle reduces the risk of suffering from serious ailments such as heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.

 

Based on a CDC study, the lack of physical activity:

  • Increases the probability of heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high blood cholesterol
  • Heightens the risk of cancer of the bladder, breast, colon, esophagus, kidney, lung, stomach, and uterus

 

Therefore, to remain physically healthy, you should pursue hobbies that keep your body active and strong.

 

Mental Health

Equally important to a healthy body is a healthy mind. A stable mental state would also mean a steady emotional condition.  

 

Some of the psychological benefits of having a hobby would be that it helps declutter the mind and brings a sense of control to the person. A hobby is also effective to destress and deal with depression.

 

The pandemic has caused much suffering to everyone’s mental health. In a Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) report, the number of adults suffering from anxiety and depressive disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic stood at very high percentages:

 

Adults%
Aged 65+29.3
Ages 50-6439.1
Ages 25-4948.9
Ages 18-2456.2

 

An inexpensive yet efficient way to counter these depressive disorders affecting most people would be to have a hobby that releases all the stress away and relaxes the mind. 

 

Business

While a hobby is normally pursued by the physical, mental, and emotional benefits it offers, you can also turn hobbies into a business.

 

The pandemic caused some businesses to closure, which means the displaced workers needed to find a new job or find ways to earn money. Most people are advised to stay at home, and they cannot get out unless warranted. Their only option would be to look for a vendor or supplier who meets their requirements.

 

Having a hobby that produces an item that another person would like to buy helps you earn money. Turning your hobby into a business also helps you learn time management. You should be able to strike a balance between enjoying what you are doing and earning simultaneously. You also have some tax advantages when turning your hobby into a business. For example, if you own a long-term care insurance you can deduct it as a business expense.

 

Creativity

Having a hobby helps you explore your talents. Hobbies for creativity are those leisurely pursuits that are geared more toward your innate and imaginative talents. 

 

Some hobbies like drawing or painting require your artistic side to be realized. Other endeavors like crafting, origami, or clay molding tap into one’s creativity to produce novel or one-of-a-kind products.

 

Sometimes, developing a hobby would require releasing your creative persona, which would benefit your physical and mental health, which may also be beneficial to pursuing a profitable business venture. 

 

Hobbies That Don’t Cost Money

Taking up a hobby does not mean that you need to spend money. Many pastimes can be done without any cost. Free hobbies should be your goal if you are on a budget with no extra money to spare.

 

Aside from being free, rely on your creativity to come up with an activity that will fill your daily schedule. Be resourceful by making use of the materials at your disposal during your downtime. Boost your confidence and self-esteem knowing that you have made quality use of your time at no cost at all.

 

Teenagers and Young Adults

Many hobbies for young adults and teenagers contribute to their maturity and personality improvement.

 

  1. Learn calligraphy – Calligraphy has been defined as the “art of producing decorative handwriting.” This handwritten lettering is usually done either with a pen or a brush. This hobby is suitable for those with beautiful, artistic handwriting. You can sell your calligraphy skills to those looking for handwritten wedding invitations or personalized gifts.
  2. Starting a Pinterest board – Pinterest is an online social network where members do image sharing. It can be a representation of your life goals, dreams, or anything that showcases your passions or ambitions. Having a Pinterest board allows you to be creative in how you arrange the images on your board. 
  3. Hula hooping – A hula hoop can both be a game and an exercise. Hula hooping is a fun and cheap activity where you can challenge yourself for how long before the hula hoop falls. As a form of exercise, hula hooping will benefit your physical stamina as it burns unwanted fats and calories.
  4. Playing video games – Players can enjoy many benefits playing online or video games. You develop creativity and problem-solving skills while accomplishing your tasks and passing the different levels of the game. Minecraft, for example, challenges your imagination to overcome the challenges before you. It has online Minecraft groups or communities, allowing players to communicate with each other and improve their socialization skills. This social interaction is helpful given the restrictions imposed brought by the pandemic.
  5. Start journaling – Journaling means expressing your thoughts in writing, similar to keeping a diary. This hobby helps improve your writing skills and broaden your vocabulary. It is also beneficial to your mental health since you can convey your thoughts and feelings. Start your journaling using a notebook if you want to keep it private. You can also have your blog when you are confident enough to share your views with an audience.
  6. Flower pressing – is an art form where you try to preserve the colors of the petals and the leaves.  The process involves placing the dry flowers on parchment paper, pressing them down with books, and drying them for weeks. The final product can be framed and used as a home decoration or given as a gift. This hobby allows you to be creative on what type of flower to use and how to arrange it before pressing.
  7. Scrapbooking – A nice way to preserve your life’s memories is through scrapbooking. By putting together pictures, articles, tickets, recipes, or any memorabilia piece, these would remind you of specific times in your life where you may feel happiness, sadness, or nostalgia. Scrapbooking is a stress-reliever as this activity can be a source of happiness. It will also help enhance your organization skills on how you present your memories.
  8. Making art collages – Unleash your creative juices when making art collages. A collage is usually made of paper cut-outs, pieces of fabric, and other photographs. Another relaxing and cheap activity, art collages, is easy to do if you have an idea in mind. 
  9. Cosplaying – Costume playing is very popular among young adults as they can be whoever they want to be. While some people can afford to buy ready-made costumes, you can opt to be innovative by making your costume out of the readily available materials. Cosplay can be a fun and rewarding experience.
  10. Redecorating your room – Your room is your haven, and doing a makeover will be a fun activity. This is also a cheap pastime if you are not planning a major overhaul.  

 

You can decide on how to rearrange the furniture in your room to make it more comfortable. It will also inspire you to think of ways on how to make improvements without spending money.

 

Students

There are some hobbies for college students that would benefit them in their future job applications. These pastimes can lead them to the right career path.

 

  1. Reading – helps widen your knowledge and vocabulary, which can be helpful when discussing the latest news with others.
  2. Creative Writing – you may be a budding novelist or a journalist in the making.
  3. Singing or playing instruments – you can establish your career as a singer or part of a band. You can be a composer if you know how to compose songs.
  4. Starting a YouTube channel – on top of boosting your self-confidence, you might become an influencer that can sway your followers’ preferences.
  5. Strategic mind games like chess or Sudoku determine your type of person – patient, analytical, and loves challenges. You will thrive well in the field of science or mathematics.
  6. Surfing the web – allows you to read about the latest trends and learn something new every time. You can acquire innovative skills online and apply them in applying for a job.
  7. Learn computer programming – can help you carve a career as a programmer, especially if you have the skills.
  8. Solving Rubik’s cubes – can help you find a career that involves solving complex problems or figuring out different solutions to a problem.
  9. Learning a new language – will be an advantage if you want to work in a multi-cultural organization. You can be employed as a translator or an interpreter.
  10. Playing online video games – will allow you to chase a career in game development.

 

Adults

The following hobbies at home are just some of the activities adults can do without spending anything.

 

  1. Yoga and Meditation – you just need a mat and a towel, then sit quietly and meditate.
  2. Exercising – watch and follow the exercises available online.
  3. Watching documentaries – you will not only feel relaxed but your mind will be nourished as well.
  4. Frugal cooking – when money is tight, come up with recipes or meals based on a small budget.
  5. Dancing – is one way to release the tension and make your body feel good. 
  6. Learn magic – watch online tricks and perform them next time in front of your family.
  7. Gardening – communing with nature is a healthy way to spend your time.
  8. Listening to podcasts – enjoy your favorite shows or programs while using your imagination.
  9. Mentoring – your willingness to help another person would be good for your emotional and mental well-being.
  10. Volunteering – develops your socialization skills and fosters camaraderie with your fellow volunteers.
  11. Composting – recycling organic materials give back to Mother Nature and will be good for your mental health.

 

Low-Cost Hobbies

Most hobbies are free, but others might require you to shell out some cash to pursue them. Fortunately, a lot of cheap hobbies are available. These inexpensive hobbies will still allow you to use your time productively with minimal spending involved.

 

Some of the budget hobbies may be suitable for the whole family, the men or the women.

 

For the Family

Family members are mainly staying in the same household nowadays, given the pandemic. Cheap, fun hobbies would come in handy to amuse them.

 

Many hobbies at home can be done as a group, including cheap but fun hobbies. Some of the fun, cheap hobbies to start by the members of a family are the following:

 

  1. Playing games (board games and card games) – with many games to choose from, the family members will surely enjoy playing them.
  2. Stargazing (just need a second-hand telescope) – you can even start a game of identifying the different constellations.
  3. Kite building – is a teamwork activity that the family can do together.
  4. Painting (can include Paint by Numbers if you’re a beginner) – this is a fun hobby for the creative family.
  5. Puzzles – a challenging task made easy if you are working as a family.
  6. Origami – the art of paper folding as a group pastime will be interesting to do.
  7. Watching movies – whether a marathon or series binge-watching will be a memorable family bonding. Netflix subscriptions are very affordable.
  8. Doing comedy – Acting out skits can identify which are the true comedians in the family.
  9. Decluttering – spring cleaning to be done by everyone can lead to some profitable second-hand selling.
  10. Visiting museums – art appreciation by the family should lead to better appreciation.
  11. Hula Hooping – you can find out which family member can hula hoop the longest.

 

Men/Guys

There are many cheap hobbies for men to choose from. Whether you are athletic or not, most of the listed cheap hobbies for guys are doable and fun.

 

  1. DIY Projects – a lot of projects are accessible online, which can be a worthwhile experience.
  2. Woodworking – the special ability to produce items from wood.
  3. Metalworking – a more challenging way to create items made of metal.
  4. Home renovations – the necessary tools and technical know-how should go together for this endeavor.
  5. Bike riding – combining nature appreciation with exercise.
  6. Barbecuing – not limited to cooking but covers the art of preparing and marinating the meat. You can experiment with your recipe.
  7. Parkour – learning how to run, climb, jump, and swing over obstacles is a fun but challenging sports hobby. 
  8. Fishing – a relaxing hobby that can be exciting if you manage a huge catch.
  9. Kayaking – using paddles to maneuver a small craft requires physical and mental strength, flexibility, and stamina.
  10. Camping – the usual man vs. nature test of adaptability.
  11. Fermenting wine – takes time to perfect and can be the start of a new business venture. 
  12. Weight Lifting – focus and strength benefit mental and physical health.
  13. Hiking – a demanding interest but gratifying once you meet your goal.
  14. Beer brewing – should know the technique for producing the ideal brew.
  15. Running – the complete workout for a healthy mind and body.
  16. Restoring furniture – requires skill on how to repair and refurbish old or damaged furniture.
  17. Bird watching – a calming hobby as you learn the different bird species.
  18. Study mixology – if you enjoy drinking, then you will have fun mixing drinks or cocktails.
  19. Wood carving – creativity, accuracy, and patience are needed for a nice output.
  20. Geocaching – a treasure hunt for caches with GPS receivers -an activity suitable for the technical guys.

 

Women

Cheap hobbies for women are equally plenty. The list of fun hobbies for women follows:

 

  1. Cooking – hone your skills by trying on different recipes and putting your twist.
  2. Baking – with some creativity, come up with unique cake designs or pastries that you can sell.
  3. Flower arrangement – flowers have their meaning, and artistically arranging them can lead to a new business.
  4. Sewing – create your patterns to produce your fashion line.
  5. Knitting – produce unique items that you can give out as gifts or put on the market.
  6. Body painting – a body art form, you can incorporate your designs or interpretations.
  7. Crocheting – create distinctive crochet stitches that will make your work stand from the rest.
  8. Couponing – a valuable saving skill that is also fun to do.
  9. Embroidery – make one-of-a-kind designs that you can retail online.
  10. Pottery – choose a technique where you can produce exclusive pieces. 

 

Hobbies That Can Earn you Money

Certain hobbies are not meant to remain mere pastimes. Enterprising individuals have turned their hobbies into business, which in many cases turn out to be profitable hobbies. 

 

Below are some fun hobbies that can be turned into a business with minimum capital:

 

  1. Freelance writing – if you love writing, you can work as a blog, article, or Wikipedia writer or editor. You can also explore writing product or movie reviews, copywriting, or other ghostwriting jobs. 
  2. Photography – if you have an eye for beauty, snap some photos and sell these. You can use your phone camera or whatever is available to take pictures. You do not need to use SLR for this activity.
  3. Digital art – start beefing up your portfolio as a graphic artist or a logo design maker.
  4. Jewelry making – create unique designs that are hard to replicate.
  5. Web design – web presence is important to many businesses, and you can help them make an impact.
  6. Selling online – sell either new or old stuff. Offer dropshipping as added service.
  7. Game streaming – very popular among gamers since you can earn cash by charging those who watch you play. 
  8. Podcasting – make your voice be heard and capture the audience that you need.
  9. Thrift shop flipping – hunt for old treasures, restore or refurbish them, and then resell them at a higher price.
  10. Candle making – start by giving your handmade candles as gifts. If there are inquiries, start selling.
  11. Investing – in stocks, bonds, or other passive income.
  12. Budgeting – teach how to manage cash flows.
  13. Zumba classes – earn while staying fit.
  14. Video editing – aside from weddings, this service is also needed in the movie industry.
  15. Pickling and canning – preserve food and then sell them.

 

Popular Businesses that Started from a Hobby

  1. Amazon – incorporated by Jeff Bezos in July 2005. He named it after one of the world’s biggest rivers, the Amazon since it was how he envisioned his store to become.
  2. Yankee Candles – in 1969, 16-year-old Michael Kittredge had no money, so he melted some crayons to create the first scented, homemade candle as a Christmas gift to his mother. 
  3. eBay – in September 1995, its founder, Pierre Omidyar, launched AuctionWeb. He did it after writing code on his personal computer during a Labor Day weekend. In September 1997, AuctionWeb was renamed eBay.
  4. Mrs. Fields – was founded on August 16, 1977, by its founder, Debbie Fields. She baked her specialty cookies, pretzels, and brownies. 
  5. Tom’s Of Maine – founded in 1970, its founder, Tom Chappell, and his wife created their brand of personal natural care products since they did not want to buy brands that used artificial colors, fragrances, flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives.  
  6. Harley Davidson – founded in 1903 and incorporated in 1907, it was made up of William Harley and brothers, William, Walter, and Arthur Davidson.
  7. Sew What? – founded in 1992, it began its design, manufacture, and installation of stage curtains and theatrical drapes.
  8. The Game Crafter – or TGC, is a game publishing company first to offer web-to-print. It created an online publishing platform for simplified tabletop games. 
  9. Darn Good Yarn – established in 2008, founder Nicole Snow wanted to provide awesome yarn and sustainable employment.
  10. K’Nex – founded by Joel Glickman and introduced in the U.S. in 1992, the company is involved in the construction toy system.

 

How can you transform a hobby into a business?

This task is harder than it seems. Resolving the issue of how to choose a business hobby may take more time and effort than you think.  You need to do the following:

 

  1. Set your goals – ascertain what you want to achieve in shifting your hobby into a business. 
  2. Do your Research (for example: is there a demand?) – study the market you want to enter, know your competitors, your customers, and the demand for the product you plan to offer.
  3. Learn the marketing basics – also, learn how you are going to market your product/services? Example: Website, social media.
    Understanding the type of product or service you offer will determine your marketing strategy. Focus on the marketing tool that will yield optimal results in terms of possible sales.
  4. Start slow, but be consistent – the quality of the product or service must be constant.  Fulfill only the demand you are capable of supporting. 
  5. Develop effective time management skills – do not feel overwhelmed by the tasks. Try to do it one step at a time with confidence.
  6. Plan ahead – Prepare in advance on what you will do under different scenarios. Know how you should react if demand increases, and conversely, what will be your strategy if it fails.

 

When should you turn it into a business?

  1. When the income of your hobby is significant – a good sign that you need to focus on your business hobby to capitalize on the demand.
  2. You love doing it more than your day job – nothing is more important than doing what you love, especially if the income is better than what you receive from your full-time work.

 

How to Choose a Hobby

People would often wonder how to choose a hobby as it may seem so easy. However, the real question should be how to choose a hobby that suits you or, if you have outgrown your previous pastime, how to choose a new hobby.

 

Some Steps to Guide You:

  1. Determine what you already enjoy and make it a hobby – if you are fond of writing, then continue it. If you would rather create things with your hand, then do it. Focus on the thing that brings you the greatest joy and nurture that skill.
  2. Try out some ideas and see if you like it or not – if you are feeling adventurous, try other things before settling on it as a hobby. Selecting a pastime is not set in stone; change it if you want to.
  3. Bring back childhood interests – recall the activities that made you happy as a child. Determine if the feeling is still the same now or perhaps, your preferences have changed.
  4. Your past hobbies – identify past hobbies that you missed doing and would make you feel satisfied now. If you do not feel excited about it, then it is not worth it.
  5. Assessing yourself (Example: What is your goal? For fitness? Creativity? Earn money?) – remember that your interests have evolved and ask yourself what you want to fulfill in your life.
  6. Choose your hobby and work on it – After going through these steps, stick to it and make it work for you.

 

Conclusion

Having an enjoyable hobby is beneficial in many ways. You can achieve physical, mental, and emotional wellness and transform your fun and cheap hobby into a profitable business.

A hobby is not a one-size-fits-all activity. You need to choose the pastime that makes you happy and excited. If you want to turn your hobby into a business, make sure that you do not lose sight of doing this for your satisfaction.

Piggyy

״The secret of happiness, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less״ - Socrates

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