Starting a new hobby can be overwhelming and expensive.
If you are looking to start an inexpensive hobby while still enriching your life, check out our list of hobbies that you can start for less than $30.00!
1.) Watercolor Painting
Watercolor painting is a great hobby to start on-the-cheap!
Pick up a few brushes, watercolor paper, and a simple paint set and you’ll be good to go. Watch a few how-to videos on youtube to learn some basic techniques and you’ll be well on your way.
Check out our full watercolor painting post here for great beginner resources, supply recommendations and tips to get started.
2.) Yoga
Yoga is an inexpensive hobby that anyone can get started within the comfort of their own home!
There are tons of guided video lessons available online to learn the basics before you ever head to a yoga studio.
While there is a variety of yoga gear you’ll encounter as you progress, all you’ll need to get started is a simple yoga mat.
We recommend this number one best-selling yoga mat on Amazon for beginner yogi’s to get started on the right foot!
3.) Pyrography (Wood Burning)
Pyrography or pyrogravure is the free handed art of decorating wood or other materials with burn marks resulting from the controlled application of a heated object such as a poker. (Wikipedia)
This relaxing and artistic hobby is a great way to express yourself creatively while simultaneously playing with fire! Make gifts for family and friends, create art for your home or sell your creations on Etsy.
Believe it or not, you can pick up a beginner’s Pyrography Set for less than thirty dollars from Amazon here!
4.) Whittling
Whittling, or “Wood Carving” is the art of self expression through cutting and shaping wood into various shapes, items or even faces!
All you need to get started whittling are a few specialty carving tools, wood and a desire to learn…
5.) Adult Coloring Books
Adult coloring books are a great way to stay creative, flex your artistic skills and unwind while not going broke!
There are tons of adult coloring books in various themes available at your local art store, Amazon or even for free download online.
6.) Harmonica
Learning the harmonica is an inexpensive hobby great for musicians on-the-go and on a budget!
Most seasoned harmonica players would recommend that beginners get started with a standard harmonica in the Key of C. We have a full article on getting started with harmonica playing available here…
Pick up the Fender Blues Deluxe Key of C Harmonica and the “First 50 Songs You Should Play on Harmonica” songbook both from Amazon Prime for under 30 dollars!
7.) Board Games
From Dungeons & Dragons to Candyland and everything in between…
Playing board games is a great inexpensive hobby and an excellent way to socialize with friends, family and loved ones.
Break out the old Chess board, fire-up a classic game of Monopoly or make your brother cry playing Risk! Make family game night your new favorite hobby!
Check out the extensive collection of board and table top games available from Amazon Prime here…
8.) Knitting
Knitting is an inexpensive, lifetime hobby for both men and women.
Whether it’s a hat, a scarf or an itchy pair of socks, creating handmade gifts that loved ones will cherish is an awesome hobby!
Keep your hands busy and creative with this Knitting and Crochet Beginners Kit including tons of craft yarn, two crochet hooks, two weaving needles and seven E-books available from Amazon here…
9.) Write Poetry
Writing poetry is an inexpensive hobby that everyone can partake in.
All it takes to get started is a notebook and a pen or pencil!
Write prose, haiku’s, limericks or free verse. Whatever you’re style may be, putting pen to paper is an exciting creative journey and just may be your new favorite hobby…
Check out the subreddit r/poetry to get involved in an active community of fellow poets and writers.
10.) Learn a Language
With tons of online resources, learning a new language is a more accessible and inexpensive hobby than ever before!
We recommend websites or apps like Duolingo, Rosetta Stone or Memrise with straight-forward guided lessons to get started learning a new language today.
Check out our full post on learning a new language with resources, benefits and tips for beginners here…
11.) Start a Blog
Starting a blog is an inexpensive hobby perfect for anyone looking to share their thoughts, expertise or passions with the world.
Take time to come up with a niche that interests you and potential blog topics you would be interested in writing about long term.
Check out our blogger’s toolbox here for all the tools that we use at Fresh Hobby to grow and maintain our website!
We recommend using Bluehost and WordPress to build your blog and start sharing posts today… Fresh Hobby readers receive an exclusive monthly hosting deal for as low as $3.95 a month when using our link here…
12.) Calligraphy
Calligraphy is a visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a broad-tipped instrument, brush, or other writing instrument. (Wikipedia)
Calligraphy is a wonderful, inexpensive hobby that you can practice almost anywhere.
With a simple calligraphy brush set and paper you can get started creating beautiful hand lettering and fonts right away.
13.) Collecting
Collecting as a hobby can take many forms and depends largely on your intestests.
Some examples of items that people collect include stamps, vinyl records, coins, comic books, trading cards and more…
Collecting can be an inexpensive hobby when sourcing your items from thrift stores, garage sales of the “free” section on Craigslist… Be creative!
14.) Thrifting
Thirty dollars at a thrift store can go a long way!
Going to thrift stores and collecting can go hand-hand, and depends largely on the type of items that interest you…
Find vintage clothing, useful household items or gifts for friends and family. Thrifting and finding hidden treasures is a great way to spend the afternoon!
15.) Upcycling
Upcycling, also known as creative reuse, is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials, useless, or unwanted products into new materials or products perceived to be of greater quality, such as artistic value or environmental value. (Wikipedia)
“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” – This quote truly exemplifies the ethos of what upcycling is all about; Finding something that had little or no value to someone, and creating something of value from it.
Check out this article from sustainability-times.com, for more information on the creative opportunities that upcycling can provide.
16.) Candle-Making
Making your own candles is a surprisingly fun and creative hobby that you can do at home!
Creating your own candles provides you the freedom to create your own scents and colors while remaining on a budget.
Upcycle your old glass jars and use a simple kit like this one available from Amazon Prime to get started creating your own homemade candles…
17.) Bird Watching
Head to your local park with a pair of binoculars and see what wildlife you can spot in your own area.
Bird watching is a great inexpensive hobby for people who appreciate wildlife, the great outdoors and getting a decent walking exercise.
Check out our full post on bird watching here for gear recommendations, beginners tips and best practices…
18.) Latte Art
Impress your friends and family with beautiful latte art creations from the comfort of your own home.
Quit spending your paycheck at Starbucks and invest in a new hobby by practicing your own latte art in your free time.
Check out our full article on tons of coffee related hobbies for more inexpensive hobby ideas for coffee lovers!
19.) Hiking
Hiking is a fantastic lifetime hobby for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike!
Open your Google Maps, and search “trailhead” to find the nearest hiking trails in your area…
Hiking is an inherently inexpensive hobby; all it takes to get started is to start walking in the woods. That said, as you become more well-versed in the world of hiking you may feel the urge to invest in more and more gear.
Check out our list of 10 Hiking Essentials for Every Adventure here…
20.) Volunteering
Spending your time helping others is a great hobby that cost you nothing but your time.
Volunteering can be a great way for you to explore your passions, help your neighbors and increase your sense of well-being without spending a dime.
Check out our full post on volunteering here for resources, tips for beginners and ideas to get started…
21.) Lock Picking
Lock picking is the practice of unlocking a lock by manipulating the components of the lock device without the original key. (Wikipedia)
A great hobby for folks that enjoy working with their hands and solving puzzles. Lock picking is an accessible, unique and inexpensive hobby for people of all ages.
22.) Journaling
Keeping a journal is a great hobby to get your thoughts down on paper and process your emotions in a productive and healthy way.
Journaling allows you to express yourself, organize your ideas and keep a record of progress on your goals and habits.
Check out our full post on journaling here including the benefits, various styles and recommendations to get started…
23.) Knot Tying
Knot tying is a practical and inexpensive hobby that you can practice just about anywhere.
Knowledge of common knots is a useful skill that can come in handy throughout your lifetime.
Check out our full post on knot tying for tips, tricks and excellent resources to get started.
24.) Learn Magic Tricks
Learning magic tricks as a hobby is perfect for anyone looking to learn a fun new activity and improve their social skills.
Having a few magic tricks “up your sleeve” will make you more interesting at parties and is a great way to impress your friends and family.
Pick up this Magic Makers Bicycle Stripper Deck with 10 Bonus Tricks available from Amazon Prime here to get started…
25.) Learn to Code
Learning to code is a great hobby for anyone interested in computers and future technology.
There are many programming languages to chose from including Python, JavaScript an C++ to name a few.
Most programs can be downloaded for free online and you can start writing and practicing code right away…
26.) Drawing
Learning to draw is a low-cost hobby perfect for artistic folks and hobbyists alike.
There are many different styles of drawing including caricature, photorealism, still-life, fashion and many more.
Search youtube for drawing tutorials, drawing styles and tips to improve your skills slowly but surely!
We recommend this quality 40-piece H & B Sketching Pencils Set available from Amazon Prime to get started…
27.) Foraging
Foraging for food in the wilderness is an awesome way to connect with the natural world and enjoy fresh local foods.
Check out Wild Edibles full article on foraging to learn the basics before you head into the woods.
Note: Some wild foods are poisonous! Find a mentor, check local resources and do your research before consuming food that you forage from the wilderness!
Check out “The Idiot’s Guide to Foraging” available from Amazon Prime here…
28.) Sushi Making
Skip the takeout and make your own sushi from home!
Creating your own delicious sushi rolls at home is easier and less expensive than you may think. “Sushi Making” makes for a great date-night-in activity!
Check out this affordable Sushi Making Kit available from Amazon Prime, including a Begginer’s “How To” guide here…
29.) Reading
Reading is an awesome and inexpensive hobby to enjoy for a lifetime!
Keeping track of your book lists with apps like Goodreads is a great way to check reviews, see what your friends are reading and set reading goals.
Check out this week’s 20 Best-Selling Books on Amazon here to get started with your reading hobby!
30.) Cardistry
Cardistry is the performance art of card flourishing. Unlike card magic, cardistry is meant to be visually impressive and appear very hard to execute. The term “cardistry” is a portmanteau of “card” and “artistry”. People who engage in cardistry are colloquially known as “cardists”. (Wikipedia)
Check out this article from PlayingCardDecks.com for beginner tips and recommendations to get started with your new cardistry hobby.
All it takes to get started is a pack of Bicycle Standard Rider-Back Playing Cards available from Amazon Prime here…
