A Guide to Enjoying Hobbies on the Cheap in Australia
It’s your free time, so you want to enjoy how you’re spending it, right? However, sometimes our hobbies take a toll on our finances. It might mean that we can’t pursue certain hobbies while we try to budget. Thankfully, just because you’re trying to live within your means doesn’t mean you can’t have any fun or try something new. That’s why we’ve put together a list of cheap hobby ideas that will maximise your fun without breaking the bank!
Overview:
Outdoor Activities
Hiking/Walking
To get started you simply need a good pair of sneakers and/or hiking boots, and then you can start finding the best places to take a walk or hike. This cheap hobby isa great way to reconnect with nature, breathe fresh air and get in shape while you enjoy some downtime.
A plus to this particular hobby is that you might be able to pair it with another—i.e listening to a podcast or audiobook and you get double the fun! Check out Aussie Bushwalking for trails near you.
Jogging/Running
A really cheap way to get in shape is learning how to run. We say “learning” because there’s lots of ways to run that might lead to injuries. Do some research online, find a good tool (like Couch to 5K) and purchase some good running shoes. Then you’ll be off!
Running is a great way to clear your head and stay in shape. You can also try Parkrun for a bit of competition. This cheap hobby idea can also replace your gym membership and save you money!
Camping
This hobby could easily get expensive if you’re buying the top gear and staying at high end campsites at holiday parks. But camping can also be a relatively cheap and fun hobby which allows you to travel.
If you have a good mate who likes to camp, reach out and see if you can join in and then figure out if it’s for you.
Gardening
This cheap hobby idea is relaxing and rewarding. If you have a space at your home or a spot in your apartment complex that you are allowed to use, then a cheap hobby to start is gardening. Gardening can be a relaxing way to spend time. The initial cost of getting seeds and/or bulbs isn’t too expensive, especially when you start small.
If you plant some vegetables, you can harvest them and save a little money on food!
Swimming
If you happen to live near the beach or a lake or even a public pool, then this is a great way to get exercise for free. This awesome cardiovascular activity gets you out and about, and you can work on improving your strokes to change things up if you’re doing laps.
If it’s the beach you’re at, then you can combine your swim with a nice walk on the beach before or after your swim.
Indoor Hobbies
Yoga
Another way to become relaxed and still work those core muscles is by trying yoga. Yoga is an easy, cheap hobby that only requires a mat and a few free yoga classes on YouTube. Yoga classes can also be found through fitness apps that won’t cost much each month.
Yoga is so easy to do any time of the day and you can even take your yoga mat and screen outside and enjoy the beautiful fresh air.
Reading
This hobby could become very expensive or it could be one of the least expensive hobbies on this list. People often forget that you can start reading by heading over to your local library and borrowing a few books each time. Borrowing from the library will allow you to save money on buying books and it allows you to explore different options without wasting your money.
Books serve as an escape, a chance to learn something new or dig deeper into a subject you already like. As well as a cheap hobby idea, you can expand your mind!
Cooking/Baking
Learning to cook/bake or even advancing your skills in cooking will help you:
- Buy and consume less prepared food
- Control your ingredients so you can choose healthier options
- Save money by eating out less
- Boost your self-esteem from learning or improving on a new skill
- Entertain friends and family
- Have fun
You don’t have to get super fancy and spend excessive amounts of money; just learn how to cook and bake your favourite foods that you can incorporate into your regular meal plans.
Check out another blog of ours suggesting 31 Cheap Easy Dinners that you can cook and perfect your skills over time.
Learning a new language
A great way to pass the free time is to start learning a new language. This hobby is educational, entertaining and you can learn different words, phrases or languages everyday. There are a few apps out there that will be able to help you learn a language, whether it be for free or for a cheap subscription cost every month.
Always dreamed of travelling to a foreign speaking country but worried about the language barrier? Take up this hobby, learn the language, and you’ll fit right in!
Sewing clothes
If you are looking for a new hobby to earn some money, why not dust off the sewing machine and start sewing clothes. Whether you start with just altering clothes you already have or buy a cheap pattern from the fabric store and go from there.
Sewing is a great way to fix up clothes and find your unique clothing style at a fraction of the price. This hobby could also be turned into a small business if you want to share your sewing pieces with a broader audience.
Knitting/Crochet
In the last few years knitting and crochet have started to become a popular hobby during downtime. This hobby is a great stress reliever and an outlet to be creative and express yourself in a new way.
This fun hobby can also produce function and beauty in new pieces; whether it’s a piece of clothing, bag, bowl, coasters, book sleeve or cute creature. You can choose what you make and you only need a few needles and some wool.
Journaling
A cheap hobby that usually gets overlooked is to pick up a notebook, grab a pen, and start journaling. Journaling is a great way to put your thoughts, ambitions and goals on paper, a way to express your true self even if you never show your journals to others.
Journalling is also an inclusive hobby where you can write about anything and everything. You could have journal pages dedicated to emotions, habits, reading goals, bucket list ideas, or even tracking the movies and tv shows you have watched.
Scrapbooking
Similar to journaling, scrapbooking can be a fun hobby to express yourself using colours, images and textures. And while you might think scrapbooking supplies are expensive, you can scrapbook with anything including:
- Washi tape
- Fabrics
- Coloured paper
- Movie tickets
- Print outs
- Tea bag tags
- + much more
The joy of scrapbooking is just having fun decorating a page or book any way you want!
Gaming
Board games might mean an upfront cost, but as long as you play the games a few times with friends and family, making a night of it, then you’ll easily feel like it was money well spent. Board games are really fun to play and every game is different so you don’t have to get stuck playing the same game over and over again.
Video gaming, on the other hand, can be a more expensive hobby, but there are ways to make it cheaper. Play games on your computer or laptop that you already own, and you’re saving lots of money there. Buy a used console and games, play until you are bored and then sell the game back to the place you bought it. And like board games, you can get online with some games and play with your friends.
Need some help to kick start a new hobby? Swoosh has you covered!
With Swoosh, you don’t need to worry about finding extra cash for a new hobby. With our easy, quick cash loans we’ll help get you through the initial outlay. You’ll be able to enjoy your new hobby while keeping to your budget. Apply now!
