How to Start a New Hobby Without Wasting Money

From time to time, you might think of taking up a new hobby or activity. Perhaps some of your friends are into a particular sport, or maybe you’ve developed an interest in learning to paint or play a musical instrument.

You might be on a quest for some sort of self-improvement: perhaps you’re thinking of getting gym membership, joining Toastmasters, or signing up for a diet club.

However, I’ll bet you’ve had all sorts of hobbies and interests in the past which were short-lived – where you spent money on classes or items or books which you didn’t really use. So how can you start a new hobby without wasting your hard-earned money?

Even if you’ve already got a particular interest in mind, you may be able to find a cheap way to get started. For instance, losing weight doesn’t need to mean paying for expensive supplements and classes: you could get going for free, just by keeping a food diary and becoming more mindful about what you eat.

• Avoid Subscription Payments
  However keen you’re feeling right now, recognize that your interest might wane after a month or two. Gyms make much of their money from all the people who pay a monthly subscription and rarely or never set foot inside. 

Look for ways to trial a new hobby without paying up-front for weekly classes, a monthly magazine, or similar. Yes, it’s more expensive on the face of it to pay for individual gym sessions or to buy copies of a monthly journal in the store, but if you lose interest after a month or two, it’ll work out a lot cheaper.

• Borrow From Friends
  When you’re starting out with something new, it’s worth seeing if you can try it for free. That might well mean borrowing something from a friend who’s already got equipment.

For instance, if you’re considering getting a netbook, can you borrow one from a friend for a few days to see whether or not you find it comfortable to use? If you want to learn to play a keyboard, could you go round to a friend’s house to play hers for a few weeks?

• Sell Your Old Stuff
  Most of us have a lot of stuff which we’re not using. Exercise bikes, musical instruments, DVDs, computer equipment … all sorts of things which we bought a while ago and haven’t touched in months or years. 

How about selling some of that clutter on ebay? It might be junk to you – but well worthwhile to someone else. With a bit of extra money (and extra space!) you’ll find it much easier to get started on your new hobbies and interests.

• Buy Basic Equipment
  Finally, if you are going to buy, go for basic equipment. I know it’s tempting to get something good, especially when you know it’ll last longer and be a better investment in the long run … but if your interest is going to wane after a couple of weeks, that flashy guitar or professional treadmill is just going to end up gathering dust in a corner. 

You can find basic, entry-level products on ebay or craigslist, secondhand in classified ads, or from places like Walmart. Shop around and look at reviews – you want something which will give you a good introduction to your new hobby, not something that falls apart after a few uses.

Are you taking up any new hobbies, interests or activities? How are you keeping the costs down?