Frugal Living and Hobbies

Following a frugal lifestyle is very helpful if you have a low income or if you’re saving for a special purchase or event, but you need to have fun while you’re saving. Luckily, there are many free or inexpensive hobbies that are very enjoyable.

While any hobby can become expensive if you buy fancy equipment or clothing, the following activities can be performed very cheaply or with no cost.

Don’t buy books; borrow from a library instead. If you have a library that’s easy to get to, you have a huge source of free entertainment and education available. If the nearest public library is not so easy to visit, borrow as many books as you can to last you between trips. Libraries also let you borrow CDs and DVDs. If you do decide to buy books, check out secondhand bookstores to see if there are cheap books that interest you.

There are many sources of free ebooks on the Internet. For example, Project Gutenberg has a huge collection of books whose copyright has expired. The books cover many different topics, so there’s sure to be some that interest you.

Magazines and newspapers can also be read at libraries, and computers with Internet access are often available too. Your library website may have links to sites that provide current online newspapers from around the world, as well as encyclopedias. If you have a computer at home and you belong to the library, you can access the library website from your home.

Where I live, the local libraries have set up an online division, where library members can “sign out” books – including new titles - by downloading them. After a specified time the books can no longer be opened on the library member’s computer and are said to be “returned” to the library. Audiobooks are also available.

Some communities have free newspapers that describe the latest events in the community and sometimes in other parts of the world as well. The newspapers may be delivered to your house, or you may be able to pick them up in stores or distribution boxes. They may even contain crossword or sudoku puzzles. In a big city these free newspapers may be published daily, and there may be several varieties to read. You may also be able to pick up free magazines.

Walking is an easy, fun and free activity. The only equipment you need are things that you probably already have – comfortable shoes, cool clothes for hot weather, warm clothes for cold weather and an umbrella or rain clothes for the rain.

Walking lets you explore places and look at interesting things. Brisk walking improves mood and provides many health benefits. Many people find that walking helps them think and improves their creativity.

Walking is a very versatile activity. A walk can be slow and relaxed, or fast, uphill and great exercise. It can be a solitary activity (but make sure that you walk in safe places), or you can walk with a friend or a group of friends.

All you need is paper and a pen and you’re ready to write stories, poems, essays and books. If you have trouble thinking of things to write about, try brainstorming activities, or go for a walk and write about what you see. Keeping a diary is a fun way to begin writing. This can be a general diary about your day, or could be a specific diary, such as a nature diary, a journal of your observations from your walks, reviews of books that you have read, notes describing what you have learned when exploring the Internet or giving your opinions about you have read on the Internet, or a description of specific experiences that you are having, such as losing weight.

There are Internet sites that let you set up free blogs. Google’s Blogger is one of these sites. A blog is an online diary. Here you can type your thoughts, ideas or research for other people to see. There are also free sites – such as HubPages - where you can submit articles or creative writing.

If you can’t afford a computer this doesn’t mean that you can’t do online writing. If you have a library that you can reach easily you may be in luck. Libraries often have computers that you can use for free if you belong to the library. There’s sometimes a time limit for computer use, so compose your blog entry or article on paper before you get to the library to save time. If you want to illustrate your blogs and articles, there are a number of Internet sites that supply free photos that you can use, such as morgueFile. You can also socialize on some writing sites, which can add to your enjoyment, and it’s fun to read articles created by other people.

Drawing is another activity which can be very inexpensive. All you need to draw is a simple pencil and paper, and determination to practice. “How to” books for drawing can be borrowed from a library, or helpful articles can be read on the Internet. Once you’ve mastered basic drawing skills, drawing, like writing, becomes a wonderful way to document the world around you, to explore ideas and memories or to create and enter a world of fantasy. As you improve your drawing or writing skills, these activities become even more satisfying.

You can create art or sculptures from natural materials like pressed leaves and flowers, seeds, fallen branches, logs, or driftwood and empty shells found on a beach. If you explore nature you will be surprised at how many free art supplies you can find.

In its most basic form gardening requires only seeds, soil and a container. Mustard and cress seeds don’t even need soil. They can be grown on damp paper tissue or paper towel placed on a plate or saucer. As the seedlings grow, make sure the paper doesn’t dry out but is not soaking wet. In a few days to a week your sprouted seeds will be ready to eat.

You don’t need a garden to grow plants. They can be grown indoors or on a balcony or patio. Your library and the Internet will give you some ideas.

Radios can be bought very cheaply. A radio lets you listen to the latest news, learn about topics that interest you and listen to music. Listening to a radio is a great way to keep in touch with your community and the world if you don’t have a television or if you don’t have access to the Internet at home.

If you are able to access the Internet on a computer a huge range of activities opens up to you. All the following activities can be performed for free once you have a computer that you can use, except for the cost of Internet access and powering the computer if you own the computer.

Virtual traveling using free programs like Google Earth and Google Maps with Street View

Exploring museums online

Learning a new language or learning about a subject that interests you

Reading books, newspapers and articles

Solving crosswords and sudoku puzzles

Playing games

Watching certain online tv shows

Creating art (If you do an Internet search for "online image editor" you will be presented with a long list of painting and photo editing programs that you can try.)

Writing and publishing

Communicating with friends, relatives and the world using email and programs like Facebook and Twitter

Listening to music and radio programs from around the world. Many radio stations let you listen online at their websites, and free programs like iTunes offer many Internet radio stations that you can listen to for free.

You can also download freeware or free open source software to your computer. 

If you have free time but can't work, perhaps you can volunteer. Volunteering is a good way to meet people, help others and have fun. Most communities have a wide variety of volunteer jobs available.

Talk is free! Visit friends, or go for a walk with them. Museums and art galleries occasionally have free admission days; take advantage of these times. Sometimes there are free music performances which you and your friends can attend. Play inexpensive games with your friends, like card games, ball games such as basketball, or disc golf, which is free in some parks.

You can probably think of other enjoyable and inexpensive activities which would fit in perfectly with a frugal lifestyle. You can still have fun while saving money!