Even if you have plenty to spare, it’s always smart to make your money go as far as possible. Below, we help you do just that by revealing five affordable hobbies to enjoy during retirement.
Wildlife watching is essentially free! All it requires is an outdoor space and your eyes (and a pair of binoculars if you’re really into it).
This activity gets you walking outside and breathing fresh air, which does wonders for your mental and physical health. It can also be educational. With free guides from the library or an app on your phone, you can identify and learn about new animals on your outings.
Quilting is a great way to exercise your creativity in an affordable way. Many crafts require expensive supplies to do well, but you can get started in quilting with just needles, thread, and scrap fabric. You can buy your fabric at a thrift store, make it from old clothing, and ask for donations from friends and your community.
Whether you want to pen your memoirs, try your hand at fiction, or start a blog, writing costs almost nothing. All you need is paper and a pen or access to a computer.
Jigsaw puzzles offer hours of entertainment and mental stimulation. Plus, even if you buy brand-new, you can easily find hundreds of 1000-piece images for under $10. Better yet, search your local thrift store or library for even more affordable (or free!) options.
Puzzles are the perfect activity for those days when the weather keeps you indoors. They’re portable, require no special equipment, and can be worked on at your own pace.
Reading is relaxing and a great way to educate yourself every day. It can also be a social activity! All you have to do is join a local book club or start one with your friends.
The best part is it can be completely free if you frequent your library. However, even buying your books can be inexpensive. Thrift stores and garage sales might have recognizable titles for less than a dollar.
Wildlife Watching
Wildlife watching is essentially free! All it requires is an outdoor space and your eyes (and a pair of binoculars if you’re really into it).
This activity gets you walking outside and breathing fresh air, which does wonders for your mental and physical health. It can also be educational. With free guides from the library or an app on your phone, you can identify and learn about new animals on your outings.
Quilting
Quilting is a great way to exercise your creativity in an affordable way. Many crafts require expensive supplies to do well, but you can get started in quilting with just needles, thread, and scrap fabric. You can buy your fabric at a thrift store, make it from old clothing, and ask for donations from friends and your community.
Thread can be very cheap, and a one-time investment in nice needles (or a quilting machine) will last you years and years.
Quilting is meditative and also practical since the results are usable pieces that make great gifts. What’s not to love?
Quilting is meditative and also practical since the results are usable pieces that make great gifts. What’s not to love?
Writing
Whether you want to pen your memoirs, try your hand at fiction, or start a blog, writing costs almost nothing. All you need is paper and a pen or access to a computer.
If you don’t have a computer, you can use one at your local library and store your musings on a web-based word processor (like Google Docs).
Puzzling
Jigsaw puzzles offer hours of entertainment and mental stimulation. Plus, even if you buy brand-new, you can easily find hundreds of 1000-piece images for under $10. Better yet, search your local thrift store or library for even more affordable (or free!) options.
Puzzles are the perfect activity for those days when the weather keeps you indoors. They’re portable, require no special equipment, and can be worked on at your own pace.
Reading
Reading is relaxing and a great way to educate yourself every day. It can also be a social activity! All you have to do is join a local book club or start one with your friends.
The best part is it can be completely free if you frequent your library. However, even buying your books can be inexpensive. Thrift stores and garage sales might have recognizable titles for less than a dollar.
Moreover, many classic novels are public domain, which means you can access them online for free. Project Gutenberg is a website that compiles public domain literature for easy searching and downloading.
Retirement doesn’t mean your most interesting days are behind you. Rather, you can enjoy these affordable hobbies to stay active, exercise your mind, develop new skills, and entertain yourself—all without spending hardly anything.
Retirement doesn’t mean your most interesting days are behind you. Rather, you can enjoy these affordable hobbies to stay active, exercise your mind, develop new skills, and entertain yourself—all without spending hardly anything.
We hope something in this list appeals to you and inspires a new hobby for your golden years!
