One of my local thrift shops has a ton of puzzles from between $1 and $3, and I’ve even gotten 3d puzzles from there very cheaply. The best deal was a sealed 3d puzzle of San Francisco for $18.
RE: bread making - I’ve seen top of the line breadmakers at thrift shops for $15 or so. There are usually two or three to choose from, so know what features you want and which ones have them before you shop.
If you find your real interest is in an expensive hobby, look for related volunteering opportunities in your area. When I (so I thought) wantd a saltwater aquarium I volunteered at the local aquarium for a while. A few months experience taught me that even the best maintained aquariums with commercial grade equipment run by professionals with degrees in marine biology can be wiped out unexpectedly. Knowing I could never recover financially from that sort of wipeout, I ended up happily engaged with a freshwater aquarium and have never looked back.
Also, the notes above about checking Craig’s List are right on target. I got my 100gal aquarium and stand for only $150.
Also, I know two guys who are outstanding whistlers. Completely free to learn and practice, and noone can take it away from you. I’m always surprised that folks don’t come out of prison whistling symphonies.
Community theater! If you don’t want to audition for a part, they are always looking for people to be back-stage techies.
If acting or tech isn’t your thing, you can watch plays. Invited dress rehearsals are usually free or deeply discounted to give the actors a chance to be in front of an audience before the actual opening of the show.
My hobby is composting. The only thing I had to pay for was the pitchfork. Compost fodder is free in my area (grass clippings, leaves, yard waste, kitchen waste, and my friend lets me haul away her goat manure / bedding). It’s good exercise (compost heaps do best when turned every week) and produces a nice result (compost!).
For less than the cost of a pitchfork, you can start a worm bin with composting worms. $15-25 for a pound of worms (make sure you get worms bred for composting) and $5 for a plastic bin. Add newspaper and food scraps. Fun and easy–like having very low-maintenance pets. (Or very tiny livestock, depending on your perspective.)
I had no idea how addictive composting could be until I started composting for my garden. I had all the gardeners dumping their grass shaving off at my house. I made trips to the beach so the beach cleaners could load my truck up with sea weed for composting. Trips to the duck farm for manuer. Trips to the lumber yard for wood shavings. My compost pile outgrew me. I think we get addicted to the nice fresh smell from what should smell like garbage.
Collecting stuff that other folks throw out-old fruit jars, dishes and plates, old furniture, etc. Save it all, and restore it…you could become rich some day! On trash collection days, cruise around-its all free!
My ex-wife’s uncle amassed a valuable collection of ceramics this way.
Hell, who wants a fish? You have to clean them and everything. I always throw everything back. Makes for a relaxing evening. I guess I might throw a carp up on the bank, though. Raccoons gotta eat!
What now?
I think it’s a sexual fetish thing. Not sure, though.
Also fun, cheap hobbies to do yourself, if you don’t mind the hippies 
I second running. $100/year for running shoes isn’t a lot and, unless you’re training for a marathon, one pair of sneakers will be fine. “Barefoot running shoes” aren’t cheap, neither.
I also second knitting, if you’re crafty. I had a lovely time teaching myself how to knit. And you’ll have a go-to gift for every baby in your life!
There are plenty of resources if you want to learn to program. Or go buy a Ruby book and have at.
Start a blog and document your hobby search! It’s free and super-easy to start a tumblr blog. People blog about everything-- cooking, crafting, couponing, running marathons, going through divorces, etc. It’s fascinating to see and daily journalling is a GREAT habit to encourage.
You can also write letters to people. Some of them will even write letters back!
And, of course, volunteering locally for a cause you agree with is a great way to spend extra time.
Sounds like the path to a hoarding addiction…
If you love language, constructing languages (conlanging) is free, with multiple forums out there to share your work on or get feedback from. There are also websites to help you learn languages for free. Lernu.net will teach you Esperanto, if you want a fairly useless skill.
Thick wire frame in a cube shape, top has corner bracing to hold the glass top. Sort of like this. It’s a hangover from the 1980’s
I take the glass off, peg the ‘sandwich’ area I’m working on to the sides of the square and quilt that area before shifting and re-pegging.
Kayaker, how you got there from ‘coffee table’ is beyond me.
I’ll second astronomy. Chances are there’s a local club with monthly meetings. Those are interesting.
I’ve always wanted to learn how to knit. Are there any good resources for people, like me, who are easily confused and scared?
:smack: 47 years without ever knowing that particular association.
Could have gone a few more.
Juggling.
Go to any tennis court and you’ll find some discarded balls. Take home three of them and you’re set for life. Take home five or seven and you’re set for several lives.
I taught myself from a book at the library and a lot of trial/error. But most cities/towns of decent size have at least one craft store where someone can help you.