Cheap hobbies

[Whiskers4]

Just wondering if anyone has any ideas for cheap hobbies. Money is really tight, but I still want a few things I can enjoy.

To save money I'm giving up some things (exercise classes and gardening - ie buying plants and other stuff), trying to avoid new recipes that'll cost for fancy ingredients, but I still want something to enjoy. I enjoy reading so am going to check out the library and charity shops for books.

I like
The library
Going for walks
Picnics
You tube workout videos especially fitnessblender

Have you got a bicycle? That helps mix it up a bit.
There are also free public talks or concerts - organ music in the church I sometimes go to

I'm sure gardening doesn't have to be expensive-grow things from seeds and cuttings? My grandad grew loads of things from small cuttings from the park!
Likewise for exercise-running only needs trainers and a sports bra which i guess you've got if you do classes.
Birdwatching
Foraging
Crosswords
Walking
Geocaching
Selling things on eBay or Facebook
Creative writing
Orienteering

Public meetings
House viewings
Open door days
Once a month the museums are free.

Depends if you are rural or in the city or suburban
What you can get to

You could volunteer?

Contact your local library. They often host different events

Newspaper origami (the free ones)
Online puzzles
Learn a language online or do free course - there are loads
Listen to podcasts

If you didn't want to cut out the gardening completely, cheaper shops like LIDL often sell a limited range of seeds that are much, much cheaper than anything you could buy in a garden centre (29p a packet and everything I planted grew fine). Worth bearing in mind for next spring, perhaps.

Free alternative to exercise class when alone in the house: shut your curtains, put on some music and dance like an absolute nutter. The kind of moves you'd never do in front of anyone else. More fun than you might think, and exhausting.

Get a library card if you don't have one already.

Cooking and baking doesn't have to involve expensive ingredients either, and done right could be a hobby that saves you money! Often expensive ingredients can be swopped for something cheaper/what you already have in the house - you don't have to stick to recipes exactly.

I recently discovered a love for campanology. Am in no way religious but I love the chime of the church bells. Very cheap hobby (can even get paid for ringing weddings).

Open university do loads of very short free courses. Not exactly a hobby but still might be something you enjoy in your free time for zero cost.

Art.
Start with coloured pencils, WH Smith pencils are very good.

Some hobbies are great to do indoors whenever, but it's important to get yourself out, so whether it's a walk nearby when you're on your own or out to the park or fields with family do it. You can still do something in your garden, cutting back and tidying in readiness for winter, digging anything over or cleaning some old ornaments up. Focus on this before winter and you can review in the spring if you've got the money to get a few extra things.

Have a friend around for coffee, that's good for socialising and hasn't got to cost a lot - just a drink and maybe a couple of biscuits.

Thanks for your replies. I've made a list of all of them and will see what works for me.

Rain, I do actually like going for bike rides but my tyre has a puncture and neither of us can get the tyre off, so it's going to cost money but it's something I can do on my own and with family, so may need to get this sorted!

If you like gardening, allotment? Mine is £26 a year. Seeds cost pennies (all on clearance now so stocking up, 50p a pack or less), plus you get all the produce that saves you money through the year. And it keeps you fit too.

Another poster suggested art. You can get some how to do it books from the library. As suggested, you can start with a pencil. Just keep looking, assume nothing, look, look, look. It is fascinating and you can sketch on walks, in fact anywhere. You can read about artists. There are some really interesting insights into time past and present. You can visit free galleries and build up a lot of knowledge if you fancy that kind of thing. Warning! It is addictive.