4 Hobbies To Start In 2021 That Won't Empty Your Pockets

A new year signifies a fresh chapter for many people. It's when new ideas are formed, new relationships are forged, and new hobbies are explored. Frequently, however, discovering a new hobby can be expensive. 

If you've ever tried to do a different sport or activity in the past, say kickboxing or professional cosplay, you already know that these activities cost more than an open mind and the courage to venture off into the unknown. While these activities make cost money, here are four that won't burn a hole through your pocket:

Build a Business

Starting a business as a hobby isn't just inexpensive; it’s also potentially lucrative. And since it's a hobby and not some chore or work assignment that's forced upon you, you'll still enjoy doing it continuously. 

Some low-cost and low-effort businesses enough to be categorized as a hobby include digital content creation, pet care services, and consulting. Even if you don't end up building an actual business, reading about potential money-making ideas and testing them out can still be a fun and productive hobby altogether. 

If nothing else, attempting to build a business as a hobby can instill an entrepreneurial mindset that can help you flourish in other life endeavors.

Collect Currency

Although there are still traveling restrictions in place, the roll-out of COVID vaccines may lead to greater leniency in terms of countries reopening their borders to travelers. If you consider yourself a travel bug, currency collecting is a great low-cost hobby that allows you to preserve your travel memories. 

You can collect low-value coins or bills from the cities you've visited. Consider investing in a currency album to help organize your memorabilia and to avoid misplacing them.

There are two main ways to collect currency - travel or purchase it directly. Of course, of the two options, traveling comes as a more enjoyable way of collecting currency. Be sure you know the basics of currency collection, such as collections, interesting serial numbers, star notes, and misprint errors.

Hike

Hiking is beneficial for a myriad of reasons. Not only is it physically exerting and mentally de-stressing, but hiking also allows you to minimize contact with other people amidst the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. 

All you need to hike are some hiking shoes or boots, weather-appropriate clothing, and transportation. Regardless of where you live, there is bound to be at least one hiking trail you can trek on. Consider inviting family or close friends when you hike to maintain social distancing measures while also satisfying your basic need to socialize.

To pull off a fun and safe hike, remember to bring plenty of food and water as well as a first aid kit. If you need special accommodations, such as RV parking or disability ramps, be sure to call the local park authorities in advance. Lastly, be sure to tell someone exactly where you plan on hiking or, better yet, provide a map with an outline of your planned route.

Play Video Games

Playing video games has had a bad rap in the past. Since they were relatively new, video games were demonized as being too violent or negatively affecting one's cognitive function. Modern studies, however, reveal that indulging in video games in moderation can have positive effects on brain function. 

For instance, studies found that video game players displayed improved attention span, resource management, and decision-making skills compared to their non-gaming counterparts.

Furthermore, studies also show that playing video games improved the person's visuospatial skills or capacity to determine visual and spatial relationships between objects. 

And of course, playing video games with other players can help improve your ability to work in teams and communicate with others to accomplish a collective goal. Today, most online games are free to play, so you won't have to spend a dime to play them.

Starting a new hobby is exciting, even more so when it doesn't cost you a great deal of money. These four activities mentioned above are only the tip of the iceberg of low-cost hobbies you can try this 2021. 

Other low-cost hobbies to consider: learning a musical instrument, cooking, learning magic tricks, cycling, etcetera. The choices are endless as long as you are willing to keep an open mind.

Top 3 Most Beloved Novelty Items To Collect In 2021

Novelty items are remarkable. You get to hold a piece of art or history that no one else has. It may represent a significant investment, but you have to figure out what to invest in. The following are three precious novelty items you may want to have in your collection.

1. Vintage Video Arcade Game

One beloved and collectible novelty item that's an absolute must is an arcade game. These are not popular anymore because of the introduction of more sophisticated arcade games, but they're still beloved. People remember going to the arcades, and nostalgia is still worth something.

These games are still playable today, so you can plug them up and play them if you want. They are a symbol of a bygone era that people are always fond of. Find the arcade game you feel most connected to and have it delivered.

Some of these arcades are in pristine condition, so you'll get a lot of use out of them. Those who have enough space could consider investing in more than one to create your indoor arcade room. There are also a few vintage pinball machines if you want to add those to your collection. You may want to have a little get together to share these games with others.

2. Beautifully Handcrafted Clock

One unique and beloved novelty item you must have is the cuckoo clock. Yes, this is one of those cuckoo timepieces that are pieces of art rather than just a clock. Years ago, these vintage works would be meticulously designed and would sometimes tell a story.

Every hour a little bird would come out to tell you one hour passed, or maybe a couple would come out to give you a little dance before retreating into the clock. The possibilities are endless, so if you're going to be purchasing a beloved cuckoo, then you have to make sure you choose one that fits you best.

Some modern clockmakers create unique pieces by hand. It does take some time, but it's all worth it to make sure the clocks do their job for a long time. Some clocks can be mounted on the wall, while others are much larger, so be sure to keep space in mind before making your decision. You should also pay attention to your decor to make sure you're choosing the right one.

3. Personalized Porcelain Doll

If you love dolls and want to own a truly unique one, consider a personalized porcelain doll. Yes, this means the doll is going to be made just for you, and it's going to look like you or your kids. It's going to be a work of art because you'll have to work with an artist.

It may take some time before you can hold the doll in your hands, but once you see it, you'll be happy that you did this. A doll-like this isn't a toy, so if the doll looks like your kids, let them know it's not a toy but a collectible. 

You'll have to place the doll in a safe place because kids can get tempted to pull the head off or a leg, and you don't want that. You want to preserve the doll for future generations.




Porcelain dolls are exceptionally delicate, and kids are not always the most careful with fragile items. You probably will have to do some research to find someone who can get this doll done right. 

Many artists might say they can do what you want but aren't too experienced. Request pictures of past work so that you can see their expertise. When you find the right artist, the next thing to do is choose a picture you love. The artist will use that to create a look-alike doll.

You've got three special and unique collectible novelty items here, so just choose what speaks to you the most. You can always choose all three if you want, or you can keep on looking; maybe you prefer something that involves pop culture, like a fireplace in the shape of the Death Star from Star Wars.

Hobbies to Pick Up in Retirement

For many Americans, one of the ultimate chapters to reach in life is retirement. That’s a crucial part of the American dream, right? To reach the point where we’ve worked enough that we’re set to spend the rest of our lives doing whatever we please! 

Well, sometimes it’s not quite that simple. For many people who reach retirement, the sudden influx of free time can actually be quite shocking. Indeed, there are studies that show this might be reason that alcoholism rates tend to increase at the retirement age. 

The truth is that, like with most things in life, retirement should be approached with a plan of what it is that you want out of it. Here are some potential hobbies that people pick up in their retirement...

Landscaping and gardening

If you have a home that you’ve spent so long building up throughout your career, then there’s a good chance that you’re going to be thrilled to finally spend some time in it. For this reason, one homebound hobby that many retirees get into is landscaping, or gardening. 

This is a great way to improve on your home, and to get yourself outdoors doing something that you love. Sometimes, just finding the right way to perfect your backyard is an incredibly fulfilling hobby that will keep you busy for weeks or months!

Take your cooking up a level

Another great home activity that you can do in retirement is cook; not just cook to take care of your meals for the day, but actually cook for joy and flavor. If you’re a person who loves to cook, then retirement is a terrific opportunity to update your kitchen and spend some more time in it. 

Try making recipes that you always thought sounded good. Or, try bringing the food from another culture into your own kitchen and see how you fare at making it. This isn’t likely to be your only hobby, but it can be a delightful and useful one to take up in retirement.

Traveling

For many people, traveling is something that they’ve always wanted to do, but something always seems to get in the way, whether that be family, their career, or a substantial amount of debt. 

Well, retirement is the perfect opportunity to finally get out there and see the world. After all, you’ve already spent a good portion of your life in the home you had to have so you could go to work. Why would you want to spend the rest of it there? Instead, buy a plane ticket or load up your car and head out to see some places that you’ve always wanted to go and experience.

Serving others

Retirees are often some of the most charitable people, simply by virtue of them having the time and resources to figure out what they want to donate towards. Well, there’s a lot more you can donate than money. 

Giving your time to your community to help with the problems that face it is a terrific and fulfilling way to spend your retirement. 

Giving back to the community is a great way to refocus your work from your career, but to still have a purpose that makes you feel useful.

Active living

Good health isn’t just for the young. When you are older, it becomes more important to engage in healthy activities that keep you feeling great for years. Now that you’re retired, take up some of the physical activities you’d always wished you had more time for. 

Take a morning and hike up a mountain nearby, or simply go for a swim at a local spot. You’ve spent all this time getting to retirement, don’t you want to enjoy it for as long as you can?

Joining clubs of similar interests

There are an immeasurable amount of hobbies that you can take up after you retire, and virtually all of them will be more fun if you are able to enjoy them with likeminded people. 

No matter what your hobby is, take a look at local groups that share the same interests, so you can meet new people and make fulfilling friendships to give your retirement a social scene that encourages you to do the things that you love.