Low to No Cost Hobbies

Cloud and weather-watching. Get a basic book on cloud formations and what they mean and track the weather.

+1

Go for a hobby that is not cheap, but actually makes money, without becoming a real pro and having to be real pro about it. Like repairing bikes, or gardening.

Maybe not considered low cost, but I picked up banjo as a hobby a year and a half ago. Love it. Banjos come in many price ranges, and there is lots of free instruction on line. And /or get an instructor. My guy is $40 hour. I go every 3 weeks.

I just turned 52 and have never played an instrument in my life. I’m having a ball with it. Not a bad deal.

Learn a language. Again, maybe not so low cost because I’m doing Rosetta Stone. But the time just flies. And it’s something I’ll always have. Just like the banjo.

Get yourself a stuffed tiger, and maybe a big cardboard box, and with a vivid enough imagination, you can have all kinds of adventures!

Oh. “Hobbies.” Never mind.

I enjoy calligraphy - its a relatively low cost to get started in, and everyone I have taught has found it to be very “zen” - its all about breathing and letting the letters flow.

I try to write at least one handwritten letter a month completely in a calligraphic script, something my friends find very cool when they receive one. I know, I know, in these days of instant communication, letter writing seems strange, but I have found that I write now more about thoughts and reflections then about day to day events, and those who receive them tend to love them.

You can also combine this with another cool and free hobby - get a penpal! Specify that you specifically want someone willing to wait a bit for a letter because you intend to practice your calligraphy. It’s a fun way to make your letters stand out!

You don’t need expensive running shoes to run a marathon, in fact, they will do you more harm than good. Super-padded and “supportive” shoes cause bad form, which causes injury.
Barefoot running is the way to go.

I have 3 folders now, the house I expect to get, the house I’d build if I won a massive lottery and the house I’ll build when Skald comes through on some of his offers and I become a multi billionaire.

They’re all fun. Sometimes I wonder if I should have been an architect but then I talk to a couple of them and decide it’s better that it’s fun for me.

Gardening has been mentioned. Done right, a vegetable garden can be net savings…it does take some years of experience to get to that point, IME. Still the learning is not all that expensive, just frustrating at times when things don’t go well.

If you learn to enjoy cooking, you can make excellent meals at home. You have to eat anyway, and you don’t need much equipment to replicate diner food, and not much more to compete with even expensive places. Yes it will cost more than a straight Raman diet, but even that is pretty expensive when you factor in the cost of treatment for scurvy. Crappy fast food with a coupon is about the only way you can eat out as cheap as home cooking.

I like fixing things. I probably spend about half of what we save on tools. In the last year I have fixed: Washing machine (twice, replacement timer died after 1 month). Coffee maker. Cars (several times) Replaced failing heaters in two bathrooms. Various small plumbing repairs and home improvement projects. I’m pretty sure we don’t spend well over $1000/yr. because of these things. Heck, it is very easy to drop that much on one car repair bill. Of course this means you have to like the old car, old washing machine, old coffee maker, etc. Some people like new stuff. Liking new stuff is not a cheap hobby.

My bicycling hobby is actually mostly commuting and running errands on my bikes. As a result, I have not only saved a lot of money on fuel, but it is not a problem that holiday stuff has kept me from fixing my truck for a couple of weeks…so I don’t have to pay a mechanic either. Bike doesn’t generate huge net savings, as I spend too much on bicycle toys, but my savings accounts have really taken off since I basically parked my truck. Also my health is much better for the bicycling. Probably saved some on doctor visits, but you can’t measure that with a small sample space. Better health has given me confidence to start going to a gym…so there is that expense.

Project Gutenburg, and the library have tons of free books.

Sewing can be a pretty cheap hobby, and even generate savings if you get good at it. Though it is hard to compete with the cost of thrift store clothes.

Real Estate Reconnaisance. (IE, looking at houses and properties with zero intent to buy, but just for fun)

I spend a fair amount of time on real estate sites looking at houses and properties. Mostly local, but sometimes out of state, sometimes big ranches in other states, sometimes vacation properties I’ll never (and would never) buy.

Doesn’t cost me a cent.

While I don’t do it nearly as much as I used to, pre-internet, getting out of the house and making the rounds of open houses is a good way to blow a Sunday afternoon. You can wander through houses way out of your price range with zero (or minimal) guilt. Doesn’t cost you anything but a little gas money. Go see those grand old houses in your town when they’re having an open house. Neighbor’s house having an open and you’ve always wondered what the inside looks like? Head on over!

For the past 15 years I have been making all wood bows and arrows. Before that I did bonsai, before that I trained bird dogs, maintained a natural backyard pond, falconry, fishing, etc, etc.

Finding a hobby that suits you is almost like finding a mate, we need to stay open minded about experiencing new things. A great hobby has the potential to become a great addition to your life and lifestyle. I tend to choose hobbies that allow for a good amount of creative thinking and problem solving. I would think a better question might be “How do I go about finding a hobby that suits me?”

Chances are you have people you are attracted to for one reason or another, find out what they are doing with their time. Do a bit of self examination. What types of articles or TV shows tend to grab your attention? Don't be afraid to try new things, watching something and actually getting into it are far different experiences. Good Luck! Let us know what you find.

You try that in Chicago. Between the broken glass and the frostbite, you’re not going to be happy.

This can actually be a below-zero-cost hobby: With a little practice you can make bread that’s both better and cheaper than what you’d otherwise buy. And an elegant loaf of bread can make a more-appreciated (because unusual) host present than a $10 bottle of wine.

Learning banjo here. TONS of online instruction, tabs, chords, music, YouTube videos, etc. all available.

I took an Adult Ed. intro class … something like $17 for 6 weeks. Entry-level banjos are very affordable.

FUN & foolish! I’m 63.

That can be true for any cooking, if you compare it to eating out (or take-outs). You don’t need expensive ingredients to get creative.

Archery is a great, low cost hobby.

My indoor archery league is around $50 for a half year of once a week shooting. Outdoor shoots for field archery and 3D shooting are everywhere and usually are under $10.

Of course, you have to get archery tackle, but as HoneyBadger points out that can be made from scratch. Or you can get them cheaply for used stuff.

Everyone should have a good pair of 10x50 binoculars to observe things in both day and night conditions so you can have multiple hobbies to do, regardless of time of day, or season.

[nitpick]
Especially for birding, the mainstream view seems now to be that 10x is a bit too much for handheld use (you can’t hold the binocs steady enough) - 8x is smaller, more tolerant of movement, and less expensive for a given level of quality.
[/nitpick]

I thought fishing would be a nice hobby. It was fun when I was a kid. And it can be either a solitary or social activity, if you like the company of other fishermen.
About the last thing I want though is a fish.

However, America needs fishermen and fisherwomen in it’s fight against the Asian Carp. Enlist today!
I think I’m like a lot of people in not really having a hobby. I’m mostly just wasting time. I need to get organized.

[further nitpickery]A spotting scope can also be used as a tool for the hobby of voyeurism[/further nitpickery]