5 Ways to Overcome Your Expensive Hobby!
Many people have expensive and enjoyable hobbies. Popular male pastimes include fishing, boating, and hunting, but these activities can be expensive. Fortunately, there are ways to enjoy these hobbies on a budget.
Find a less expensive version of your hobby
If you're really into an expensive hobby, it's not a bad idea to look for ways to do it on the cheap. Consider renting rather than purchasing a new pair of skis. If you enjoy golf but don't want to spend thousands of dollars on equipment, consider disc golf instead (a sport that uses a flying Frisbee instead of a ball). If cooking appeals to you but is out of your price range, consider taking a cooking class at one of the many community colleges or adult education centers.
If none of these options appeal to you and there isn't another hobby that has the same qualities as the one that is currently enriching your life (don't bother), consider what else you could do. Who is able to grant this inexpensive wish? A walk around town with nearby friends, for example, can be as enjoyable as a walk alone in a natural park; playing a board game can be as satisfying as attending a sporting event; and reading books by authors from around the world can provide as much intellectual stimulation as attending lectures at prestigious universities across America. There is always something else waiting for us if we are only open enough to see it!
Participate in your hobby less often
You can keep doing your hobby, just not as frequently. If you give up your hobby, you will save money because it will no longer be a part of your life. For example, if you enjoy painting and spend $500 per month on materials and supplies, reduce your monthly spending on painting supplies by $200. What if you only paint every three months instead of every week? This is preferable to having no time at all due to the costs of your hobby.
In this case, we're talking about making minor sacrifices in order to continue enjoying our expensive hobby; however, if we shift our perspective a little (and I know this sounds counterintuitive), we might find ways to save money by forcing ourselves away from our expensive hobbies.
Just buy used equipment
Buying used tennis or snowboarding equipment is one of the best ways to save money on a hobby. If you're unsure how much your used skis will cost, go to eBay and search for the make and model to see what they typically sell for.
If you don't want to wait for an auction, go to your local sporting goods store; many of them offer deep discounts on gently used equipment at specific times of the year, such as after the winter sports season is over.
Visit local classifieds and garage sales as well; sometimes people will sell their equipment for less than the original price if they just want to get rid of it quickly. Finally, see if there are any Facebook groups in your area where people list items they no longer need or want!
Obtain discounts and coupons
Look for deals and coupons, and look online for coupons for your hobby, whether it's skydiving or fishing. If you don't have the time to search, ask your friends and family if they've recently discovered any good deals. You can also subscribe to a coupon aggregator service, such as Coupon Sherpa, to be notified whenever a new coupon code becomes available. Look for used or refurbished equipment for sale in your area (such as used cars). When buying used equipment, make sure it is still safe before listing it on Craigslist!
Make it part of your own hobby
The next step is to figure out how to incorporate your costly hobby into an existing hobby. For example, if you enjoy drawing, you could take an art class related to your expensive hobby. This way, you can learn more about what it takes to succeed in both arenas while also honing your skills in both.
Another possibility is to work with others who share your interests! If I wanted to take ballet classes again (but they were too expensive), I could ask a ballet-loving friend to be my partner, and we could go together and split the cost of our lessons 50/50. It doesn't have to be exactly 50/50; figure out what works best for both parties!
This could be a good time to review your current expenses and see if you can make any changes. You might be surprised at how much money you waste on things like cable TV when all you need is Netflix or Spotify!
Source: jago.com