Frugal Hobbies and Activities

 

This is a guest post by blogger and published author Jessica Bignell. I love checking out her blog as she always rocks awesome content and is an advocate for females with mental health and anxiety issues. I know you are going to find things here that will change your outlook on work-life balance, in a frugal way.

This post contains affiliate links which allow us as bloggers to get a small kickback if you purchase a product. There is no extra cost to you.

Living frugally is a hot topic right now. Saving money and having more control over your expenses can and does feel like quite an accomplishment. There’s no better feeling than having control over the family finances.

But how can you stay frugal when so many hobbies and activities cost money? Just going out for some food can stretch the purse strings. Visiting local castles and monuments come with a price tag. It can be very easy blowing the monthly budget on outings that could be done for free.

So how do you do it? Well, it’s easier than you might imagine. Here are some easy tips and ideas to get you going:

Walking

There’s nothing better than getting out into the open air. Even better is doing some exercise to go with it! Not only is walking great for your mind and body, it’s a fab way to explore your surroundings.

You don’t need a car to go on a walk either.

Having a stroll around your local area (think parks, shops or open areas) could be just around the corner and you wouldn’t even know they were there.

For example, I’ve discovered little cafes and handy shops just by going out and walking. Having a car means you tend to miss them.

Have friends over rather than going out

There’s something heart-warming about having friends or family over. Not only does it mean you get to catch up and have a good natter, but you’ll be saving yourself mega bucks, too.

The cost of eating out can often be quite costly, depending on where you go. Although it’s nice to go out somewhere, staying a home can be just as fun. Entertaining at home is more intimate and relaxed. Here’s a post filled with fun ideas that the girls have done.

So, why not invite your friends round for a nice home-cooked meal? Grab the essentials and cook up a love meal for you all. I bet you could find some nice recipes on Joleisa.com’s Pinterest account.

Do some baking

The initial costs of baking can be quite high. Buying the ingredients to start off with means a little investment, but results in a big cake-inducing return.

Baking can be fun for all of the family, and not just for you! Plus, who doesn’t like cake?!

So, why not start a new hobby and bake?

There are loads of cheap baking books you can buy from the internet and in your local shop if you need inspiration. Or you could do a quick search on Pinterest to get the creative juices flowing. This leads me nicely onto my next point.

Turn a hobby into a business

What better way to keep enjoying doing these hobbies than by making a business out of it? There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing cash flow in from your hard efforts.

For example, if you’ve started enjoying baking, or something along those lines, you could sell the products to your friends. You could start offering your services to your friends and family whenever someone needs something baking.

If you really wanted to, you could start selling your recipes online too. T

Crafting is another great idea for your mental health. The ideas are limitless.

Grow your own fruit and veg

I’ve really caught the gardening bug! I love gardening. It’s one of the most frugal hobbies you could start on. You only need a patch of soil, or a few flower pots to get yourself started.

Most vegetables you buy at the shops can be reused and regrown into fresh plants. Some examples include celery, tomatoes, spring onions, potatoes and lettuce. As long as you keep them watered, they’ll continue to produce more for you time and time again. You can even get free seeds to start a flowers garden.

Not only that; but the feeling of accomplishment is always a good feeling. There’s nothing better than seeing the fruits of your labour (excuse the pun!) flourish into a plant.

Sell some of your old stuff on Ebay

We all have stuff we could throw away. I know I do!

There’s junk everywhere. Most of could easily go onto Ebay for someone to make use of. This is another great hobby to bring in a bit of extra cash and for you to get rid of the stuff you don’t want.

Making an account on eBay is easy. Just sign up and start selling.

Any money you make from selling your wares could be saved up and used for a rainy day, or for a nice family trip out.

Find free/low-cost days out using Groupon/Wowcher

This is one of my favourite hobbies!

I love finding deals and cheap days out. Voucher sites like Groupon and Wowcher are PERFECT for this. Not only can you pick up bargains on items like makeup, household items and gifts, but you can find days out on there too.

Honestly, some of the trips and activities on there are some I’ve never even heard of and that’s what makes them so fun!

Oh and by the way. I bought my fiancé a ‘lord’ title through Groupon for his birthday! You should definitely check it out.

So there you have it. We’ve covered some really easy and fun activities to enjoy. Not only that, but they’re low-cost and frugal at the same time! Not only are you broadening your own horizons, but you can enjoy them on your own or with your friends and family too.

Enjoy!

Jessica, we’d like to thank you for putting this post together for us.

 

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