Cheap hobbies, fun & treats

purple_mara

Just wondered what cheap pastimes people found to cheer themselves up during the journey to a black bank balance.

I enjoy crafts and embroidery, but the materials are so expensive that I don't indulge too often. Walking and running in the countryside are free, but only fun when the weather is favourable. I'm also a Guider which is fun and keeps me busy (and therefore not spending money!).

Does anybody have a perfect pastime?

charlotte46

I have to say that my perfect pastime is just cuddling up on the sofa with my boyfriend. (Yes i am being soppy)

Other than that I really enjoy reading and quite a few of us at work swap books which is a big help.

I also can't wait till I finish my latest course and the weather gets a bit more reliable so that we can go out walking a bit more.

Chrismojam

I've have always wanted to get back into drawing and arty stuff......not particularly brilliant at it but when I was young it always kind of took me off to another place....which I needed...

Have the stuff....have the paints, the pastels, the pencils, the paper etc......lacking the motivation......and actually somewhere to do it! So not all my fault!! (House is like a building site and the table is stuck in a spare room longing to be put together

Chrismojam

Actually, that sounds rather nice.........mmmmmmmmmmmm

OH is playing computer games downstairs and I'm upstairs on here! Saying that....couch isn't big enough for the both of us....that'll teach us to go for form over comfort.......won't be doing that again......no matter how sloppy it looks!!

Emmzi

craft wise, origami is pretty cheap! lots of weird models to try out, all for price of a square of paper. If you save gift wrap paper, you can make all kinds of nicely patterned intricate boxes and stuff for wrapping pressies in, too.

Do I count as semi old style now???

QueenB.

I have loads of craft supplies due to my pre MSE days so i have to say i love to do that.

Also enjoy reading, the library is great for so many reasons, and i enjoy spending many hours there.

I write as well which is a great free but challenging hobby and i am hoping, fingers crossed to get some published, not that i think i can make it a full time thing but the positive side of me says what have i got to lose in trying.

Aside from also enjoying coming on line especially here, i also just love spending some time with mates, cheap and plenty of fun, plus its possible to do no matter what the weather.

alyth

knitting! I have reynauds, so in the wintertime my hands get really cold, so I knit - throws, cushions, sausages as doorstoppers to stop draughts - I am by no means skills, I can't do more than knit and purl and anytime I try to follow a pattern I end up increasing stitches or mucking it up somehow, but i have beautiful cushions I've made, and am working on throw just now - 12 balls of gorgeous wool from ebay, a cushion takes 1 99p ball of wool and £2.25 for the cushion pad, occasionally I'll put ribbon or something round them to match the room, and I just find it so therapeutic - calms your mind somehow!

Chrismojam

That's another thing I keep meaning to do.......I know I have plenty to write about....even bought one of those writers bureau courses donkeys years ago.....got plenty of encouragement from first assignment......but I never carried on (???)....I made too many excuses for myself I think!

As somebody famous once said...........need to apply the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair.....or something along those lines....if I do.....I might actually end up getting paid for it...........that'll get rid of the debt a bit quicker!!

fannyadams

We have the forest on our doorstep so it's almost rude not to walk up there, take the nippers and off we go. Don't care about the puddles or the mud just annoyed with the dog walkers IYSWIM.
Cycling - well we got a good price for the 'bikes as their previous owner was moving away and didn't want to take them with. Don't forget the helmets.
When we were little we used to 'go out for a drive'. we'd got an OS map of our area and we took it in turn to stick a pin inthe map and driect my da' to the place.
Means I can read a map and give concise directions now.
Although I think petrol was a hec of a lot chepaer then and I wouldn't dream of 'going out for a drive' now.

Chrismojam

I used to knit all the time when I was younger..(got that from my mum)....and my sister and mate have both tried to teach me crocheting.....which I kind of get for five minutes...then forget about!? Actually think I'd prefer that..........also remember reading about macrame years ago........out of one of those old 70's knitting books my mum used to get....I think I'd like that aswell............I think if you don't make that initial effort it just doesn't sink in and it all gets forgotten?!!

Jaymz

There are not many cheap hobbies which a 21 year old has
The only free one I can think of is exercise, whether it being football down the park or to go out running in the evening.