Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

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dubsem
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Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by dubsem »

Holas all. Just wondering if I may please get your ideas for a low-cost and low-maintenance hobby. I have many hobbies that cost money or are free, but am always curious to pick up something new. Low-cost meaning very little start-up costs, and low-maintenance meaning almost anyone can do it. One of my hobbies that I consider low-cost and low-maintenance is hiking. What are yours? :sharebeer
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livesoft
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by livesoft »

Reading, hiking, cycling, photography, teaching, cooking, coaching, investing, dog training, gardening, fish breeding, fishing, camping, cross-country skiing, cross-country ski camping, ….
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DaleMaley
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by DaleMaley »

There is a similar posting from Summer of 2014 about hobbies and their cost...viewtopic.php?t=142794

I will repeat my 2014 posting........


My main hobby is woodworking. The good thing about woodworking, once you make the investment in the main power tools, then the on-going expenses are relatively low......wood and consumables (glue, sand-paper, varnish, stain, etc). I probably average less than $1,000 per year the last 10 years on the consumables.

I have made everything from wood locks......http://dalemaley.webs.com/woodenpadlock.htm

Image


....to wood models......http://dalemaley.webs.com/daleswoodmodels.htm


Image


...........and all types of furniture...

Image

The last few years, the items I make I give as Christmas gifts to family members...........including these wood flowers last year for the ladies..........http://dalemaley.webs.com/woodenlilyflowervase.htm

Image
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by LiveSimple »

Join Toastmasters you will love the company, some great speeches , develop leadership qualities, etc.

https://www.toastmasters.org/

If you want to be competitive, then participate in the Toastmasters contest, all the way up to Internatinal speech contest and become world champion of public speaking

https://www.toastmasters.org/Leadership ... h-Contests
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Rodc
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by Rodc »

Go for a nice walk. All you need is a comfortable pair of shoes and you likely have a pair already. :)
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by jebmke »

Birdwatching. You can get started with a moderate cost binocular and do perfectly well. Obviously you can also pay big bucks for top of the line optics but it isn't necessary to enjoy the activity.
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by SmallSaver »

livesoft wrote:Reading, hiking, cycling, photography, teaching, cooking, coaching, investing, dog training, gardening, fish breeding, fishing, camping, cross-country skiing, cross-country ski camping, ….
I enjoy the idea of cycling, photography, and cross-country ski camping as low-cost hobbies...
edit: and woodworking! :D

My vote is for reading (from the library) and yoga (at home)
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dbCooperAir
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by dbCooperAir »

Ham Radio, you can spend as much or as little as you like. You can join a club if want some eye to eye contact. Its a life time hobby, don't think a person could do every thing it has to offer in a life time + it changes all the time!

The last 10 years I have been a VE (testing the new guys and gals), that's free for the most part, just your time and gas.
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mhalley
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by mhalley »

I haven't tried it but geocaching might be fun. https://www.geocaching.com/guide/default.aspx
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by Jack FFR1846 »

I can give you the other end of the spectrum and say to not start auto racing. It's the sure way to make a small fortune by starting with a large one.
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by TradingPlaces »

livesoft wrote:Reading, hiking, cycling, photography, teaching, cooking, coaching, investing, dog training, gardening, fish breeding, fishing, camping, cross-country skiing, cross-country ski camping, ….
Some of these on the list are EXTREMELY expensive, from my point of view.

Cross-country ski camping? The darn skis can cost the price of a used honda civic.
Investing? Jeeze, man you need what 5,6,7 figures to invest.
Dog training? First you need a dog. I can't even afford a mouse, let alone a dog.
Fish breeding?

Let's just add open your own winery in napa valley, and that would complete the list.

My #1 least expensive, low effort, and high value hobby:

- walk 10K steps every day.

Research-after-research shows that 10K steps a day has a lot of health benefits, not even matched by other types of exercise.
Last edited by TradingPlaces on Sun Nov 01, 2015 1:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
livesoft
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by livesoft »

OK, let me add wine-making to my list. :)
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JMacDonald
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by JMacDonald »

DaleMaley wrote:There is a similar posting from Summer of 2014 about hobbies and their cost...viewtopic.php?t=142794

I will repeat my 2014 posting........


My main hobby is woodworking. The good thing about woodworking, once you make the investment in the main power tools, then the on-going expenses are relatively low......wood and consumables (glue, sand-paper, varnish, stain, etc). I probably average less than $1,000 per year the last 10 years on the consumables.

I have made everything from wood locks......http://dalemaley.webs.com/woodenpadlock.htm

Image


....to wood models......http://dalemaley.webs.com/daleswoodmodels.htm


Image


...........and all types of furniture...

Image

The last few years, the items I make I give as Christmas gifts to family members...........including these wood flowers last year for the ladies..........http://dalemaley.webs.com/woodenlilyflowervase.htm

Image
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by cheese_breath »

Walking.
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BanditKing
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by BanditKing »

I'd second Geocaching - Hiking with a purpose.

These days, any smartphone can serve as the GPS, or a tablet if you want a bigger screen - no need for speciality gear to get started.
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jamacq
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by jamacq »

Stargazing/Astronomy. Runs the entire range of cost.

You can start with your eyes and clear, dark night. Move up to a pair of binoculars and if desired add in a modestly priced Dobsonian Telescope. But at the higher end, you can invest in specialized digital camera, high-end telescopes and on and on. I've run the range over a lifetime of enjoying looking up at night. Some of my results with astrophotography are here: http://www.astroimages.org
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by Steelersfan »

Volunteering at an organization who's aligned with your interests.
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by Tycoon »

jamacq wrote:Stargazing/Astronomy. Runs the entire range of cost.

You can start with your eyes and clear, dark night. Move up to a pair of binoculars and if desired add in a modestly priced Dobsonian Telescope. But at the higher end, you can invest in specialized digital camera, high-end telescopes and on and on. I've run the range over a lifetime of enjoying looking up at night. Some of my results with astrophotography are here: http://www.astroimages.org
Nice images!
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by sport »

Duplicate Bridge. Around here, it costs $6 for an afternoon or evening's entertainment. It keeps your mind active, and you meet some very interesting people. For more info, see http://www.acbl.org
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by small_index »

...
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by sawhorse »

Since your current hobby is hiking, I take it you like outdoor physical activity in natural settings?

If so, bird watching, rock hounding, orienteering, or mushroom hunting?

Whatever your pursuit, I suggest purchasing only when you see the usefulness and/or need to. If you think woodworking might be for you, start out small and take a class or workshop. Don't go out and buy a whole equipment set until you know what you're buying and why.
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warowits
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by warowits »

Pick up a musical instrument. A three hundred dollar guitar and the Internet can keep you busy for decades.
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by DSInvestor »

I like hiking, camping, backpacking and being outdoors. I live in the Pacific Northwest and there are lots of beautiful places to hike, backpack and camp without any fees other than a maybe a Northwest Forest Pass ($30/yr) to park your car at a trailhead. In the winter, I like snowshoeing.

My mom lives in California and there are free tennis courts. This was great for us as we have always enjoyed playing tennis.

When I'm not outside, I like reading and posting at Bogleheads.

I'm finding that I now enjoy cooking and a little bit of baking.
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by Jazztonight »

warowits wrote:Pick up a musical instrument. A three hundred dollar guitar and the Internet can keep you busy for decades.
+1.
Any musical instrument that you are attracted to--the flute is what I'm playing now. You can get good used instruments from a number of different sources. Learning materials can be had for free at your library or on YouTube. People are giving pianos away all over the place; you just need to move them. Music stores sell used rental instruments of all kinds.

Yes, an instrument can "keep you busy for decades" or the rest of your life.

Of course, singing is another option. Choirs you can join are everywhere!
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mlebuf
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by mlebuf »

dbCooperAir wrote:Ham Radio, you can spend as much or as little as you like. You can join a club if want some eye to eye contact. Its a life time hobby, don't think a person could do every thing it has to offer in a life time + it changes all the time!

The last 10 years I have been a VE (testing the new guys and gals), that's free for the most part, just your time and gas.
Ditto to ham radio. I was first licensed in 1957. It's hobby that has many facets to it and never grows old.
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by just frank »

You can buy a mini-quad copter for $36. http://www.amazon.com/Hubsan-H107-Micro ... B009M1PO7W

Get the blade guard and a spare parts kit for maybe another $10, and you're ready to fly in the house or outside.

I got one last month and its been a lot of fun. Pro tip: let it rest a few minutes between battery changes, or you'll burn out a motor.
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by gd »

Yard & property maintenance without powered equipment except chainsaw & walk-behind lawnmower. Compared to what I see around me and read here, it's a profit center. The trick is to keep it sort of messy and relaxed, no chemicals, no fancy expensive nursery plants that require constant life support. Once you figure out that what you thought were weeds are the most interesting thing in your yard, it gets easy. Biggest expenses (outside of the results of using 10% ethanol in my chainsaw): some modest purchases of small native plants from local garden clubs, the occasional new hand tool or wire fencing, nature books I end up buying out of curiosity to understand everything that's going on (both feathered, furry & leafed), and nowadays Ibuprofen. I see more nature looking closely in my back yard than most people do out hiking.
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by livesoft »

gd wrote: I see more nature looking closely in my back yard than most people do out hiking.
I agree. There may be more living species in one's yard than on a coral reef.
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by blueblock »

By chance, I live near a 40-acre dog park. I take the dogs almost daily, so at $75/year, it's cheap. I get much better walking cardio, not having to wait for the dogs to conduct their investigations like I do when they're on leash, in a beautiful grass-and-woodland setting, plus the dogs come home exhausted and happy.

Indoors, I've been cooking a lot more. My partner is the dinner chef; I enjoy investing time in making interesting lunches that I never had time for when I was working, like perfecting my Spaghetti Carbonara or composing a Salade Niçoise. My current project is learning how to use sodium citrate to maximum advantage to make velvety cheese sauces. (The ongoing challenge is keeping portions appropriately small.)

While we don't watch broadcast or cable TV, we do have Netflix and enjoy watching series, an episode or two a day. (We're currently working our way through the first season of The Black List.)

Otherwise, subscriptions to online publications that I enjoy reading (e.g. the New Yorker, NYT, the Economist, the Financial Times). I get much more out of these than I pay for.
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by likegarden »

I am gardening / landscaping. I do all the yard work myself, except for removing trees. I have my 0.45 acres landscaped nicely. Being outside in the yard and gardens is enjoyable for me and provides for good exercise. I spend a few hundred $s each year in acquiring special plants such as conifers for my landscape, and that has become a specific hobby with contacts on the internet and within a local garden club.
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by Statch »

Drawing can be a really low-cost hobby. You can start with a <$10 set of pencils and find plenty of tutorials on YouTube for any kind of drawing you might want to do. Zentangle is an easy (no artistic abilities necessary) form of meditative pattern drawing that can be very beautiful and very relaxing. Adult coloring is a huge business now and a great way to play with color and figure out what you like for cheap. You can get started with a set of 50 Crayola colored pencils for <$20, and there are lots of free drawings online that you can print and color. (Artists post them for free to get publicity for their adult coloring books.) There are also lots of Facebook groups for all of these where people post what they've drawn/tangled/colored, and YouTube is an amazing resource for learning all of it. (There are a surprising variety of techniques for making the coloring look great.) If you have artistic talent, of course you can go much further into drawing and painting for not much money.
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by tim1999 »

Vegetable gardening, if you have a yard. Cheap initial cost for seeds, small tools, etc. and you can eat the produce.
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by kramer »

I would focus less on finding a low cost hobby and more on 1) Finding one you really enjoy that 2) is not overly expensive. In other words, for something so important to your life, I wouldn't avoid moderate or middle cost hobbies.

Also, there is a personality issue. At one time I did some skiing and scuba diving. I find skiing just way too expensive. But I find both just too much trouble to build a trip around and I don't want to do something that I can only do once in a while or have go to a special location far away to do (which I define as more than 15 minutes from my house).

I have regular hobbies like running and traveling. But my uncommon hobbies are playing pool and frisbee. I have turned playing pool from low cost to a middle cost hobby but it really fits my lifestyle and surroundings. I am a dedicated runner but at age 50 I know that someday that may be taken away from me by injuries as I age. But hopefully I can always play pool.
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by mbk734 »

Music: Learn to play an instrument: harmonica is the lowest cost I can think of. Digital pianos have come down in price. You can get a good beginner guitar for $200 or less. You can spend years playing music. Open mic nights are usually free at bars.

Fitness: running and swimming are two of the cheapest if you have a lake nearby. Weightlifting is inexpensive after the initial equipment investment. Sports: fun and cheap sports: basketball, volleyball, tennis (if you have public courts nearby). Since you already hike, you might like nature photography especially landscapes.

Cooking: you have to eat, might as well make something good and you can do it inexpensively.
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by TradingPlaces »

YttriumNitrate wrote:
TradingPlaces wrote:Some of these on the list are EXTREMELY expensive, from my point of view.
Indeed, many hobbies can be astronomically expensive or rather low-cost depending on what you make of them. For example, you can get into competitive sailing for a few hundred or you can spend considerably more.
Well, I read both of your articles. I know that sailing is the ultimate "i-am-rich-b!@#$" sport/hobby, much more so than golf, tennis, or even polo.

However, I happen to disagree with respect to calling your first type of sailing as hobby. So you need to be consistent, responsible, good learner, and basically show up WHEN THEY WANT you to.

You know what else fits that definition? My job. I happen to like it. I spend very little money on my job. As a matter of fact, they are paying me well over 6 figures to just show up to work.

If only IRS would agree that my job is a hobby. I could be in heaven.
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by TradingPlaces »

mbk734 wrote: Fitness: running and swimming are two of the cheapest if you have a lake nearby. Weightlifting is inexpensive after the initial equipment investment.
Very sound advice. My insurer has a $20 /M gym plan, using which I can join some national gym chains.

So for $20 a month, I can attend gym equipped with the following:

- very good classes (aerobics, boot camp, yoga, kick-boxing),
- excellent equipment (aerobic, weight lifting, free-weights),
- pool.

You can't argue with $20 a month, can you? At that price, I would not want to make my home a gym.
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by Epsilon Delta »

DaleMaley wrote:My main hobby is woodworking. The good thing about woodworking, once you make the investment in the main power tools, then the on-going expenses are relatively low......wood and consumables (glue, sand-paper, varnish, stain, etc). I probably average less than $1,000 per year the last 10 years on the consumables.
Startup is less expensive if you just use hand tools, and you'll use less wood. 8-)

As a hobby it's supposed to be fun. So automate the parts you find tedious, but some people enjoy cutting a dovetail with a handsaw and chisel or hand finishing to a fine sheen. Ornamental carving with just a pen knife also has its adherents.
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by DonCamillo »

TradingPlaces wrote: If only IRS would agree that my job is a hobby. I could be in heaven.
Not a benefit. The difference between a job and a hobby to the IRS is that for a job you get to deduct some of your costs. For a hobby, all income is taxable. :oops:
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by white_water »

I play guitar and mandolin with a bunch of AARP eligible pickers/singers. We play gratis one night a week in a senior center. After a 40 yr layoff I started again with a $75.00 garage sale Yamaha 6 string.

Gardening: 30' x 50' vegetable garden with much produce given away much to a food bank.
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by Rodc »

Cell phone photography, if you already have a smart phone.

Only half in jest. Finding ways to take fine photographs within the limitations imposed could be an interesting challenge.

Remember, it is a poor craftsman who blames the results on his tools! (or her tools).
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Epsilon Delta
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by Epsilon Delta »

DonCamillo wrote:
TradingPlaces wrote: If only IRS would agree that my job is a hobby. I could be in heaven.
Not a benefit. The difference between a job and a hobby to the IRS is that for a job you get to deduct some of your costs. For a hobby, all income is taxable. :oops:
That doesn't seem right.

For a job all expenses are deductible, (you can have a net loss) for a hobby expenses are deductible only up to the amount of hobby income (so no net loss).

Of course over the long term one of the differences between a hobby and a job is that the job makes a net profit, so limiting job expenses to job income would only be a timing issue.
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by theunknowntech »

dubsem wrote:Holas all. Just wondering if I may please get your ideas for a low-cost and low-maintenance hobby. I have many hobbies that cost money or are free, but am always curious to pick up something new. Low-cost meaning very little start-up costs, and low-maintenance meaning almost anyone can do it. One of my hobbies that I consider low-cost and low-maintenance is hiking. What are yours? :sharebeer
For the low cost of a decent smoker, you could smoke meats. Hey, you've gotta eat anyway. This has the added benefit of allowing you to sit out on your patio and drink beer all day, while you tend the fire. Welcome to Austin.
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by profnot »

I like needlepoint.

When pricing a pillow canvas and yarn, it seems expensive. But the needlepoint work takes so long that it comes to less than $2 an hour. Since I can only put in several hours a week, the projects take a long time.

I design my own canvases btw.
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Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by sawhorse »

TradingPlaces wrote:
livesoft wrote:Reading, hiking, cycling, photography, teaching, cooking, coaching, investing, dog training, gardening, fish breeding, fishing, camping, cross-country skiing, cross-country ski camping, ….
Some of these on the list are EXTREMELY expensive, from my point of view.
I had the same reaction. It depends a lot on your personal financial situation. dubsem, what do you consider low cost?
Jazztonight wrote:
warowits wrote:Pick up a musical instrument. A three hundred dollar guitar and the Internet can keep you busy for decades.
+1.
Any musical instrument that you are attracted to--the flute is what I'm playing now. You can get good used instruments from a number of different sources. Learning materials can be had for free at your library or on YouTube. People are giving pianos away all over the place; you just need to move them. Music stores sell used rental instruments of all kinds.

Yes, an instrument can "keep you busy for decades" or the rest of your life.

Of course, singing is another option. Choirs you can join are everywhere!
If you live in an apartment or condo complex, please do not do this. I suffered many years listening to beginner instrument students. I had one neighbor who was a brilliant pianist, and I didn't mind getting woken up on Sunday morning by his piano. Then his daughter began violin lessons and his son began clarinet lessons. :twisted:
YttriumNitrate wrote:Indeed, many hobbies can be astronomically expensive or rather low-cost depending on what you make of them.
Totally. I recommend buying as you go rather than diving in with all the best equipment. If you join a class, which I recommend, your teacher will likely be able to tell you when you should upgrade. With classes, there are often more advanced students selling their used equipment.
Statch wrote:Drawing can be a really low-cost hobby. You can start with a <$10 set of pencils and find plenty of tutorials on YouTube for any kind of drawing you might want to do.
In my experience, drawing is something you can get very good at with a short course of lessons, but it's hard to improve quickly on your own. I improved more in 5 two hour sessions of a painting class than I did in dozens of hours trying to learn myself.
Rodc wrote:Cell phone photography, if you already have a smart phone.

Only half in jest. Finding ways to take fine photographs within the limitations imposed could be an interesting challenge.

Remember, it is a poor craftsman who blames the results on his tools! (or her tools).
The photographs people have taken with a smart phone or basic phone are amazing. Fancy equipment is necessary in certain photography situations, but smart phones can take great pictures in ideal outdoor lighting situations.

In terms of blaming the tools, I'd say it depends on the skill. Someone with great talent and/or who has already mastered the craft can get away with using pretty much any tool. But for beginners, there is sometimes a major advantage with using fancier tools. Case in point, experienced ice skaters can skate decently with bad blades and ill fitting shoes. For a beginner, especially if they have unusually shaped feet, bad skates can totally prevent them from advancing and can even lead to physical problems. On the other hand, starting with a Steinway grand piano doesn't help a beginner pianist at all.

Your teacher can give you guidance about buying equipment.


dubesm, do you have a sense of what you'd prefer in terms of the following? That can help us provide more specific suggestions.

*Solitary, small group, or large group? Who would be in the group?
*How much personal interaction with others?
*Budget
*Outdoor or indoor?
*How much physical activity?
*Limitations due to personal factors (e.g., mobility, athleticism), geographical location, type of residence?
*How often would you participate (daily, weekly, monthly)?
Topic Author
dubsem
Posts: 221
Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2015 12:25 pm

Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by dubsem »

dubesm, do you have a sense of what you'd prefer in terms of the following? That can help us provide more specific suggestions.

*Solitary, small group, or large group? Who would be in the group?
*How much personal interaction with others?
*Budget
*Outdoor or indoor?
*How much physical activity?
*Limitations due to personal factors (e.g., mobility, athleticism), geographical location, type of residence?
*How often would you participate (daily, weekly, monthly)?
No real specifications as I'm open to anything new. I've loved the responses so far, and I enjoy seeing what other bogleheads recommend to spend their leisure time. I might start up some very basic woodworking and see where it goes from there.
G.O.O.D.
User avatar
timboktoo
Posts: 865
Joined: Sun Mar 31, 2013 3:42 pm

Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by timboktoo »

Reading books from the library, yoga and other exercises at home that just use your body weight.

- Tim
TravelforFun
Posts: 2799
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 10:05 pm

Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by TravelforFun »

Join Chess.com and play against people from around the world. It will give you your mental exercises, it's fun to watch your score go up and down, and it's free!
TSR
Posts: 1252
Joined: Thu Apr 19, 2012 9:08 am

Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by TSR »

I get a $25/month gym membership and lately I've taken up swimming. I like the quiet, the solitude (though I've made some friends), and of course the exercise. Pretty cheap -- goggles, suit, gym membership.

I have played guitar most of my life, but lately I've been taking piano lessons. The piano wasn't cheap, but the lessons give me something to do every day for two weeks in between. Pretty reasonable.

If you live in a town with a non-profit indie movie-house, become a member there and go once a week. Good value, great entertainment, and you might learn something.

Lastly, I fear I'll be laughed out of the room for this, but video games are easily the best bang for the buck out there. Modern games give you 100+ hours of compelling play time (e.g., Witcher III, Metal Gear), and they cost $60 -- you can do the math on the value vs., say a movie. Add in the cost of the console and you're still way, way up.
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White Coat Investor
Posts: 17413
Joined: Fri Mar 02, 2007 8:11 pm
Location: Greatest Snow On Earth

Re: Low-cost and low-maintenance hobbies?

Post by White Coat Investor »

dubsem wrote:Holas all. Just wondering if I may please get your ideas for a low-cost and low-maintenance hobby. I have many hobbies that cost money or are free, but am always curious to pick up something new. Low-cost meaning very little start-up costs, and low-maintenance meaning almost anyone can do it. One of my hobbies that I consider low-cost and low-maintenance is hiking. What are yours? :sharebeer
My cheap hobbies are disc golf, rock climbing, running, computer games, movies, road cycling, and reading.

My expensive hobbies are hiking, ice hockey, skiing, traveling, mountain biking, and especially boating (wakeboarding, wakesurfing etc.)

If hiking is cheap for you, you're doing it all wrong. :) Here's a picture from my hike last week:

Image

By the way, the hike at the bottom of the picture is one frequently recommended on this board. The hike at the top of the picture is a little more, shall we say, technical? :)
1) Invest you must 2) Time is your friend 3) Impulse is your enemy | 4) Basic arithmetic works 5) Stick to simplicity 6) Stay the course
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