What Hobbies Can You Start For Free?
Hobbies are a fantastic way to unwind, learn new skills, and have something to look forward to, but as great as they are, you’ll often find that they cost money to start at least and sometimes to carry on with. If your budget is tight or you don’t want to spend money on a hobby – no matter how important it might be – what can you do? Will you have to miss out on the benefits that come with having a hobby in your life?
The answer is no because there are many different hobbies you can start that can be done for free (or for very little money), meaning you can enjoy some time to doing something you enjoy and relaxing without having to worry about finding the money for it. With that in mind, keep reading to find out what kinds of hobbies you can start for free.
Reading
One of the easiest hobbies for anyone to do that can be done for free is reading. Books do cost money, that’s true, but what about libraries? A library card costs nothing, and you will surely have a library near you. Even if it’s a small one without a big selection of books to choose from, the entire library network is connected, which means that you can ask them to get a book for you, and within a few days, you’ll be able to pick it up; you have access to any book you want for free, thanks to your local library.
You might not think reading is for you, but that could be because you’ve not yet found the style or genre of book you like best. It’s worth trying a few different types so that you can work out what gets your imagination running and allows you to relax while you’re reading. Once you’ve found that, the possibilities are endless.
Playing Games
Depending on the game you want to play, some will cost money – video games on a console are quite expensive, for example. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t still play games and spend hardly anything (or ideally nothing at all).
Games come in all shapes and sizes, and some will be cheaper than others. A great game like Freecell that you can play online is entirely free – you need a device to play it on (which you’ll already have, so you won’t have to buy it just to play games on), for example. Or what about board games? You could go to a second-hand store and buy a collection of board games for a minimal amount of money and then enjoy them with friends and family – you could even host a regular game night. Just make sure you check the boxes so you know the games have all the right pieces.
Drawing And Sketching
You don’t need expensive art supplies to start drawing and sketching as a hobby – you can manage perfectly well with a pencil and a piece of paper, and with those simple (and cheap) tools, you can be as creative as you like.
Remember, you don’t have to be an amazing artist to enjoy drawing as a hobby, and no one has to see the finished product if you don’t want them to. This could be something you do for yourself because you like the process, so even if you don’t think you’re much good, don’t let that stop you from taking up sketching as a hobby if you feel it would be something you could love. Plus, don’t forget that the more you do something, the better you’ll get, so even if you’re not that great of an artist right now, that doesn’t mean that with some practice, you couldn’t be in the future.
Gardening 
Gardening is an amazing hobby because it’s not only creative and satisfying, but it gets you out into the fresh air, and fresh air is great for your health as it strengthens your immune system. And of course, gardening is excellent physical activity, so it’s a great form of exercise.
You can spend a lot of money on gardening if you choose to, and you can buy all kinds of different plants and accessories to make your garden look gorgeous. However, you don’t have to do that, and just keeping your garden tidy by regularly weeding and mowing the lawn can be enough.
If you do want to grow some plants from scratch, don’t buy the seeds and shrubs if you don’t have to; ask family and friends for some cuttings, for example, or find some out in the wild that you can plant at home and nurture.
