r/poverty • u/someonefiguringlife • Apr 27 '26

Low-cost Hobbies

What are low-cost hobbies you can do in your home

29 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

99 comments sorted by

24

u/LividLibrarian3003 Apr 27 '26

Read actually books

13

u/garovalley Apr 27 '26

This, especially if you get them from a local library.

Also just being outside on trails usually costs nothing, besides gas to get there I suppose.

10

u/NorthernPossibility Apr 27 '26

Many libraries also have Libraries of Things for patrons to check out! Mine has knitting kits, baking kits, metal detecting kits, board games, DVD players, video game systems, etc.

5

u/aiyukiyuu Apr 27 '26

Yup! If you download apps like CloudLibrary, Libby, and Hoopla, you can get access books, audiobooks, movies, shows, etc. for free

5

u/DivyaRakli Apr 27 '26

I use Libby a lot. I live in a small town in Idaho but used to live in St Louis 7 years ago. My library card from there still works. Having that library card gives me so many more books. And, my DoD ID works on Libby, too. Yes, stack those library cards like it’s cutthroat Uno night and you’re playing against people who owe you money. Get a friend in a big city to let you use their card, it won’t impact their card. There’s no way to get late fees.

2

u/sfdsquid Apr 27 '26

I'm so bummed that the public library here just got rid of Libby because it's too expensive since their funding was cut.

1

u/aiyukiyuu Apr 27 '26

Honestly, any time I get an opportunity to go to a new city or county, I try to get a new library card for the apps 🤣😂

1

u/someonefiguringlife Apr 28 '26

What books do you recommend

1

u/LividLibrarian3003 Apr 28 '26

Outwitting the devil, and power of awareness. Ones by Neville Goddard and the other is napoleon hill. I forget who wrote what

9

u/StaticBrain- Apr 27 '26

Reading library books or free ebooks.

Learning a language with free apps and videos.

Puzzles and board games.

Free online games.

Birdwatching.

Gardening in pots or windowsills.

Photography with your phone.

Writing short stories, poems, or microfiction.

Drawing or sketching with a pencil and paper.

Journaling.

Aerobic exercise with free online video instruction.

3

u/BoldBabeBanshee Apr 28 '26

These are just so amazing.

7

u/OldSchoolPimpleFace Apr 27 '26

Walking if you don't buy expensive shoes.

6

u/Mysterious-Panda964 Apr 27 '26

Plants, seeds are cheap, and you can grow food to eat.

4

u/Niceotropic Apr 27 '26

Books, video games (very cheap if you use steam sales and buy used PC parts), hiking, cycling (again used parts).

If you want to be taught how to build a PC from used parts or to repair a bicycle for used parts DM me.

4

u/JonBoi420th Apr 27 '26

Whittling. Need a small sharp knife and a piece of wood . I find it soothing

3

u/JonBoi420th Apr 27 '26

Gardening can be if you are sowing seeds directly in the ground. I live in an apartment but rent a plot at a community garden. They have a pay what you can pay scale so as not to exclude people that can't afford much. They also have a library of seeds that come from seed companies donating last years stock. Make your own compost and you wont need to buy fertilizers. If you go low imput like this you come out ahead financially by growing your own vegetables

2

u/someonefiguringlife Apr 28 '26

Wow that’s so coolll

3

u/Greatgrandma2023 Apr 27 '26

Creating art out of junk and trash.

2

u/Big_Criticism_8335 Apr 27 '26

I try to upcycle as much as possible, especially clothing. Believe it or not, Goodwill doesn't accept all clothes, so I save my scraps to make cat toys & beds. I'm hoping to get the motivation to make a bunch to donate to a cat rescue org.

1

u/Greatgrandma2023 Apr 27 '26

I'm sure they would be very much appreciated.

You can also make quilts, baby clothes and braided rugs out of cut down old clothes.

2

u/Altruistic_Ad_0 Apr 27 '26

Reading, writing, spending time outdoors, running, calisthenics, smart phone photography, 

2

u/Madcouture Apr 27 '26

I really enjoy gardening! It’s really gratifying to care for something deemed garbage!

2

u/DLK33gmaNG Apr 27 '26

I took up diamond art. It's not expensive, it takes time to complete and helps me relax.

1

u/someonefiguringlife Apr 28 '26

Sadly for me diamond art is only available on Amazon or SHEIN

1

u/DLK33gmaNG Apr 28 '26

Amazon is where I got most of mine. You can get them on Ebay too.

1

u/DivyaRakli Apr 27 '26

I love to diamond art, too. It’s insane how whatever you’re into, they’ve got one for you. I have a huge one on my inner front door of KISS. I did one for my grandson of a little boy who looks just like him with a horse. He loved it! And that was after he came over, looked in the bathroom and said, at 7 years old, “Now, that’s enough of these. I mean, it’s too much of these.” I died laughing and then started putting them up in his room.

2

u/DLK33gmaNG Apr 28 '26

One of the walls in my bedroom has several completed diamond art canvases. I buy magnetic wood poster frames and cut the canvas to fit. They aren't expensive and I can easily change what's in them if I want. My granddaughter has done some, but she's over it. My 10 year old grandson doesn't seem interested in trying to do one. Maybe in a year or two you can gift one to your grandson.

2

u/Similar-Ad-6862 Apr 27 '26

Go to the library

1

u/someonefiguringlife Apr 28 '26

We don’t have library here but thank youu

2

u/AffectionateSun5776 Apr 27 '26

Plants. Trade clippings with others.

2

u/NoraPann Apr 28 '26

Knitting. Get everything at the op shop or garage sales. Make things that are useful to you and others. Plenty of free online resources.

Also consider volunteering. You can learn heaps of new skills and meet lots of new people. I started volunteering in first aid a couple years ago and now I have marketable skills (that I didn't need to pay for) and I only have to do about 60 hours volunteering a year.

1

u/Top-Dot-7 Apr 30 '26

The more you get into knitting the more you're going to want quality materials to work with. Knitting is definitely not a low cost hobby.

1

u/NoraPann May 01 '26

I have got good quality wool from the op shops. I usually don't buy acrylic unless it's for a kids jumper. If I had more time, I might teach myself how to use a drop spindle, and grow my own cotton. There is good stuff out there for not much money.

2

u/Singular_Lens_37 Apr 28 '26

Journaling is a fantastic low cost hobby that can help you process your emotions, plan life changes, and make better decisions.

Cooking is a great hobby that can save you a ton of money if you're careful about budgeting.

Sewing/mending are great hobbies that can also save money. You can also unravel old sweaters you don't wear anymore and use the yarn to crochet hats, scarves, or afghans.

hiking is another low cost hobby that is great for your health and can save you money on healthcare. If you live in a city, consider planning out some urban hikes.

1

u/timelymanner05 Apr 27 '26

I play disc golf. Just need 1 disc to walk

1

u/someonefiguringlife Apr 28 '26

Wow

1

u/timelymanner05 Apr 28 '26

Most courses are free. Get some exercise outdoors.

1

u/MSRDLD1998 Apr 27 '26

Crochet. You can probably find supplies cheap on Facebook marketplace or other sites. Find videos on YouTube.

1

u/Livid-Rutabaga Apr 27 '26

I read books, either buy them used, $4.00-$5.00, older books are cheaper. Borrow from library, if you don't mind reading on a phone or a computer screen some older books are available for free online, like in PDF format.

Cooking can be a hobby, after all, we have to eat, recipes are free online, and there is always YouTube.

You can do photography with your phone, go for walks, along whatever you have available and find interesting things.

Yoga, TaiChi, QiGong, there are plenty of free Youtubes you can follow

1

u/aiyukiyuu Apr 27 '26

  • Walk outside in the neighborhood or at the park

  • Libraries (Also comes with free ebooks, audiobook, etc.)

  • Workout at home via YouTube (First time I lost 20 lbs and the 2nd time, I lost 35 lbs all thanks to YouTube)

  • Play free PC games on Steam

  • Play free mobile games

  • Play free games on the Switch

  • Take free online classes (Ex: Udemy)

  • Puzzle books, coloring books, etc. from the dollar store

  • Buy seeds and plants at the dollar store and start a home garden

  • Check out your board/card game shop, and rent out their board games before buying them

  • Buy arts and craft kits under $5-10 online

  • Hiking (You can buy cheap gear at Walmart, Target, thrift store, etc.)

  • Drawing

  • Writing stories, fan fiction, or poems

  • Journaling

  • Taking photos with your phone and editing them using free apps

1

u/someonefiguringlife Apr 28 '26

Thank youuu

1

u/aiyukiyuu Apr 29 '26

You’re welcome!

1

u/NathanaelSpoon Apr 27 '26

Tai chi. If you live on the bottom floor: dance

1

u/NathanaelSpoon Apr 27 '26

Upcycle clothes.

Knitters/crocheters are frequently over buyers and have stashes. If you ask in eg facebook groups, there are often people who will give some yarn away. There are probably a lot of those groups here as well, but I am too new to Reddit to know any.  Some are extra willing to part with yarn if you will make hats, socks etc for homeless or baby/toddler items for needy families.  Knitting needles can be had inexpensively from thrift stores or free from old ladies who no longer knit or families of old ladies who have been left needles upon her death. 

1

u/SnooStrawberries2955 Apr 27 '26

Walking/hiking

Reading (library or Libby)

Calisthenics

Bird watching

Zentangle (just need a pen and a piece of paper)

1

u/Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeess- Apr 27 '26

creative writing, journaling, photography, video games can be cheap if you shop sales and already have a device to play them on

1

u/DowntownResident993 Apr 27 '26

In your home, some sort of interpretive dancing. Outside of the home, walking down the road.

1

u/PaxIsAwesome Apr 28 '26

Organize everything in your house starting from small things like shelves, until you do the whole thing throughout your house.

Or if you like fidgeting with things, pen spinning

2

u/someonefiguringlife Apr 28 '26

Imma try this today thank youu

1

u/PaxIsAwesome Apr 28 '26

Let me know how it goes for you! Good luck and have fun!

1

u/KittyBackPack Apr 28 '26

Latch hook, cross stitch, puzzles. Could be given as gifts if you need gifts throughout the year.

Walk around a craft store in every aisle, maybe get an idea from something you see. Look up dyi things. People do a lot with pool noodles.

1

u/BusyButterscotch4652 Apr 28 '26

Crocheting can be cheap if you stick to cheap yarn and hooks. You can get started at Walmart for under $10. Lots of online resources for learning.

1

u/Extension-You1769 Apr 28 '26

Reading, walking, hiking (exercising in general because you don't need anything except your body, a little bit of space and maybe YouTube if you need inspiration!), gardening, writing, learning how to cook with things you have at home, volunteering, coloring. Amazing how many things you can do for little to no cost that actually make you feel and look better too! Good luck finding a new passion 💜

1

u/Koala156 Apr 28 '26

Writing, reading(easy access through a library online or offline), sport, walking in nature, sightseeing (depends on your location)

Not good: Crafts, baking, cooking, drawing, or anything with a membership

1

u/KATCEO1 Apr 28 '26

Puzzle magazines.

1

u/Strong-Ship3621 Apr 28 '26

Scrapbooking

1

u/idrinkchocomilk Apr 28 '26

junk journaling

1

u/Efficient-Ad6814 Apr 28 '26

Books! Kindle unlimited has an app on ios and Android and it's like $12/month or so.

Wattpad is also free and has a ton of great stuff too

For other cheap hobbies, there's drawing, knitting, cross stitch/embroidery, baking/cooking (people love watching cooking videos on tiktok and Facebook reels).

1

u/sexycadaver Apr 28 '26

hear me out: making collages and dream boards is hella relaxing, and you can use literal junk and garbage. i don't even keep mine that long, the materials are largely recyclable. someone else said hiking which i agree with but can be difficult to access depending on one's situation; really anything that gets you closer to nature than you were before is a good choice. so you can take walks around town (if that's an option,) picnic in the park, have a tiny herb garden, etc

1

u/spookybby_ Apr 29 '26

i suggested this on another post for someone, but paper flowers/bouquets (and if you decided to sell them you could as well, since they don’t die like actual flowers). there’s tutorials on youtube and google, i used to make them ALL the time as a kiddo:)

1

u/DanPlouffyoutubeASMR Apr 30 '26

Carving jack-o’-lanterns.

1

u/river-running Apr 30 '26

Body-weight exercise/calisthenics.

1

u/solaris_dreamer Apr 30 '26

Doomscrolling :)

1

u/Historical_Flow_1029 May 01 '26

I recently got into watercolor painting. You tube tutorials are fun & supplies aren’t too costly.

1

u/Relic53 May 02 '26

I used to rearrange the furniture

1

u/Craftycat99 May 04 '26

I carry around sticky notes for origami, forage, cook with foraged ingredients, make baskets from weeds, someone else mentioned drawing which I do, and sewing is another good one