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21 New Hobby Ideas That Won't Cost an Arm and a Leg

These hobbies will add a little spark to your life.

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What do you like to do for fun? It’s a common question when getting to know someone, but with packed schedules and tight budgets, picking up a new hobby can feel out of reach. The good news? Many hobbies require minimal investment — sometimes just a few affordable supplies or items you already have at home.

When exploring new hobbies, start small. If you loved writing as a kid, try setting aside time for short stories or poetry. If you enjoy being outdoors, activities like walking, hiking or nature collecting are budget-friendly and great for stress relief. You don’t have to commit to a rigid schedule or master a skill — hobbies are about enjoyment, not achievement. Whether you dedicate a few minutes or a few hours, it’s entirely up to you.

Looking to try something new this year? We've got you covered. From pickleball to photography, here are 21 low-cost hobbies to explore.

1

Reading

new hobby ideas that won't cost an arm and a leg
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Reading has numerous stress-relieving benefits, and it's a great way to unwind and escape from the daily grind. Getting lost in a good book can boost your creativity and allow you to learn from different perspectives. To save money, head to your local library to stock up on titles, check out your local thrift store or host a book swap with friends.

RELATED: 100+ Creative Things to Do When You're Bored to Pass the Time

2

Doing puzzles

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Putting puzzles together has several brain benefits. It can improve short-term memory, sharpen motor skills and boost mental speed. A good jigsaw puzzle can be purchased for under $10, and when you’re done, you can trade it with a friend or family member or display the finished piece.

RELATED: The Best Puzzles for Adults Who Want a Challenge

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3

Baking

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Baking is a great hobby that offers delicious rewards. Those who bake rave about its therapeutic qualities, and homemade muffins, bread, cookies or cupcakes can earn you “brownie points” with your loved ones. Consider getting the family involved to try out new dessert recipes or swap desserts with friends.

4

Drawing

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Adopting sketching or drawing as a hobby is pretty low cost. You’ll just need a notebook and pencils, but you can also enhance your drawings with colored pencils, pastels or charcoal sticks. There are many ways to draw in your downtime, such as using reference photos, drawing still-life objects or following tutorials online.

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5

Film Watching

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Grab a bucket of popcorn and get seated for an entertaining hobby: watching movies. Instead of passively scrolling through streaming services, make a list of movies you want to watch and organize them by theme, like '80s romantic comedies, black and white westerns or foreign films. Watching movies could spark conversations with friends and ignite other interests.

6

Learn a new language

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It’s never too late to become bilingual or even trilingual, and today, it’s even easier with free and low-cost language apps. Spending just 20 to 30 minutes daily on an app or watching television shows or movies in other languages will make you fluent in no time.

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7

Play cards

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It may be a long time since you’ve brought out a deck of cards, but playing cards is good for your memory and for practicing your problem-solving and decision-making. You can play card games by yourself, like Solitaire, or get a group of friends together to play Rummy, Spades or Crazy Eights.

RELATED: 9 Best Card Games for Kids and Adults

8

Journaling

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Journaling can be a therapeutic and relaxing hobby, allowing you to reflect on your experiences. There’s no need to pressure yourself to keep a daily log or write on a prescribed schedule. Whenever the mood strikes, you can find a quiet place, grab your journal and write down your thoughts and feelings.

RELATED: If You Journal for Mental Health, Try These Prompts

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9

Scrapbooking

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While most of us have smartphones equipped with cameras to document our memories, there’s something special about printing photos and arranging them in a scrapbook. You can head to your nearest craft store to pick up supplies and create a book around themes like holidays, birthdays or family vacations.

10

Gardening

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Starting a home garden has a few tangible benefits. You’ll get to spend some time outside, and you can grow your own vegetables or herbs like basil and mint. If planting your own garden seems a little intimidating, you can start small by tending to a few windowsill plants like aloe vera or bamboo.

RELATED: Best Gardening Subscription Boxes for Indoor and Outdoor Gardens

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11

Dancing

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If you’ve ever wanted to learn salsa or you’d like to dabble in country line dancing, consider it for your next hobby. You don’t have to spring for expensive lessons, either. There are thousands of video tutorials on YouTube, and if you’d like to hone your skills in a social setting, you can sign up for a beginner's meet-up.

12

Learning an instrument

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There's no need to shell out big bucks to sharpen your musical talents. There are several affordable instruments to learn on, like a keyboard, recorder or harmonica. For more expensive instruments like the violin, guitar, flute or clarinet, swing by a swap shop, thrift shop or garage sale to pick up a used instrument at a reasonable price. YouTube is a great resource for lessons, and sheet music is also inexpensive online.

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13

Photography

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Photography can be expensive, with photo equipment costing thousands of dollars. But if you want to practice photography as a hobby, you may already have a perfectly good camera in your pocket. You can practice your photography skills using an iPhone or digital camera and explore local areas, focusing on good techniques like composition, lighting and exposure.

14

Pickleball

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Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports. It’s played on a court smaller than a tennis court with a pickleball paddle and oversized plastic ball, and the low-impact sport is great for all ages. Though the sport has been around since the 1960s, the recent reassurance of the sport means that it won’t be hard to find a free court or a league near you.

RELATED: 10 Key Rules of Pickleball

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15

Knitting

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If you want something that will keep your hands busy, try knitting or crocheting. You can get started for just a few dollars with some yarn and knitting needles and purchase knitting patterns inexpensively. If you're a beginner, you can start with a scarf or potholder and work your way up to knitting blankets or sweaters.

16

Painting

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Want to express yourself with paints? Watercolors are one of the least expensive options. Once you’ve bought a set of paints, you’ll need just a few brushes and paper. Other affordable paint options include acrylic or tempera paints, which can be purchased at your local craft store. You could enroll in an online course, check out a few books for beginner painters, or experiment on your own.

RELATED: 50 Fun Craft Ideas for Adults

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17

Creative Writing

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If you’ve had a story brewing for a while, it might be time to take pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and write without any pressure. You don’t have to be a “natural-born” writer to enjoy creative writing as a hobby. Set aside part of your day to write without distractions and create poems or short stories at your leisure.

18

Nature Collecting

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Nature collecting is both creative and fun. You can collect things like leaves, flowers, seashells or rocks and display them or use them for crafting. Nature collecting can be done at home or during your travels.

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19

Swimming

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Swimming is a great full-body cardio exercise that can be done alone or with friends. All you need is a swimsuit and access to a pool in your community at a gym recreation center. If you’re fortunate enough to live by the water, you can go to the nearest beach or lake.

20

Thrifting

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Thrifting is an inexpensive way to shop for clothes, accessories, or household goods. There’s no pressure to buy anything, and if you like to browse, head to your nearest thrift store, flea market or garage sale to find hidden gems. Some thrifters search for collectibles, while others purchase items to add to their wardrobe or home decor. The best part of thrifting is the element of discovery.

Headshot of Mariette Williams

Mariette Williams is a freelance writer living in South Florida. She covers topics such as travel, culture, books, and wellness, and when she's not traveling, she's lost in a good book.

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