Enjoy this post about frugal, space saving hobbies from my amazing staff writer, Jordann. As many of you may know, I've spent the last two years paying off over $38,000 in debt. In order to do that, I saved money on rent by moving into a 400 sq. ft. house and becoming a minimalist.
Now that I'm living the minimalist life, I've had to find ways to keep my possessions in check. I do this mainly by learning to live with less.
I have fewer clothes, a smaller number of cooking utensils, and less furniture. I pair down, declutter, and eliminate unnecessary possessions on a daily basis. No area of my life has been left untouched – including my hobbies.
I've had to give up a few of my more space intensive hobbies, in favour of activities that don't take up so much precious square footage in my tiny home. I've been pleasantly surprised to see that I'm also saving a bit of cash by indulging in hobbies that take up a little less space.
Here's some of them:
Photography
I love taking photos. I love capturing special moments and family events. Fortunately for me, photography doesn't cost much. I use an eight year old DSLR that was given to me after my parents had upgraded their model, and some photo editing software that a friend had lying around.
Sure I'd love to invest a little more money and space into it – I could upgrade my camera, try out some new lenses, and maybe even get a tripod, but for now, my second-hand equipment suits me just fine, and doesn't take up much space.
Blogging
Blogging definitely doesn't take up much space in my little house. All you need to start a blog is a half decently functioning computer, and a half decently functioning brain.
Fortunately I have access to both of those things, and blogging has been on my top three list of hobbies for the past few years. Blogging even helps earn a little income, which is always nice.
Reading
Old fashioned paper backs to take up a ton of space, but throw an eReader into the mix, and you've got the perfect minimalist, frugal hobby. I'm an avid reader, but I hate how much space books take up in my home. Fortunately for me, pretty much every book that's been written is available on my tablet, and bonus: They're cheaper than buying the paperback version. I still love to browse book stores for ideas, but I'll probably never buy a physical book again.
There are ton of hobbies out there that take up a lots of space and money. Think restoring classic cars, having a boat, or scuba diving. All of these hobbies eat up space and money like crazy, and are they really more fun than my frugal, space-saving hobbies?
While I'd really like to have some more expensive hobbies, I have a hard time thinking that they might be more fun than curling up with a good book. Fortunately for me, I don't have to make the distinction, because those hobbies really aren't in the cards for me, in my present financial condition.
Do you have any favourite frugal and space-saving hobbies? I want to know!
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Taynia | The Fiscal Flamingo says
October 17, 2013 at 3:38 amI wouldn’t ever list it on a job application as a hobby, but one of my favorite things to do is people watch. I love to sit and observe. Especially down at the beach. It may not be useful or educational, but it’s relaxing and in some ways heart lifting. Typically you see joggers, families and young couples in love strolling hand in hand. Everyone is always happy at the beach.
Jordann says
October 20, 2013 at 4:08 pmI love people watching too! It’s so relaxing and I love making up back stories to go with them. 🙂
Barb says
October 17, 2013 at 4:33 amI am addicted to making beaded kumihimo jewelry. The primary beads used are seed beads when can be quite inexpensive and take up very little space. The braiding process of kumihimo is very meditative.
Jordann says
October 20, 2013 at 4:09 pmThat sounds like the perfect frugal, minimalist hobby!
Mark Ross says
October 17, 2013 at 7:20 amI can’t think of anything besides those but I think those three are the best when it comes to having a hobby that uses less or no space at all. 🙂
Jordann says
October 20, 2013 at 4:09 pmThanks, Mark!
Kelsie says
October 17, 2013 at 7:53 amI like to run. Some people buy a lot of gear, but as long as I have a pair of running shoes, I’m ready to go!
Jordann says
October 20, 2013 at 4:10 pmI’m one of those people who has a lot of running gear, but I agree – the only real piece of equipment you need is your running shoes.
William @ Bite the Bullet says
October 17, 2013 at 8:06 amSome people call it hiking, but I just call it going for walks. Granted, it usually requires some form of transportation to get to the pretty walks, but it takes no living space. Also, being a football watching couch potato takes no space, either. 🙂
Jordann says
October 20, 2013 at 4:11 pmHiking is the best! I can’t go hiking this time of year because it’s hunting season, but it’s one of my favourite outdoor activities.
Matt Becker says
October 17, 2013 at 8:35 amWe spend a lot of time at nearby parks. We can enjoy the outdoors and have plenty of space without paying for it directly in our rent (though you pay for it indirectly with taxes where you live).
Jordann says
October 20, 2013 at 4:11 pmThat’s a great suggestion for someone living in the city!
Leslie Beslie says
October 17, 2013 at 8:59 amPhotography is a VERY expensive hobby! You’re super lucky that you had a nice camera handed down to you!
Jordann says
October 20, 2013 at 4:12 pmDefinitely! I’m very thankful for that, although it’s not considered nice by today’s standards, it’s quite old! I’m still happy to have it though. 🙂
Nate says
October 17, 2013 at 9:48 amBlogging, or any kind of writing, is a great outlet. Most kind of artistic expression don’t require a lot of space, other than maybe sculpture, or playing the drums.
Jordann says
October 20, 2013 at 4:14 pmI totally agree, blogging is a great outlet!
DC @ Young Adult Money says
October 17, 2013 at 9:53 amLOVE this post Jordann! I am a huge advocate of low-cost/frugal hobbies. I keep myself busy with my blog, entering giveaways, and learning more about websites/affiliate marketing/etc. If I had more free time I would likely spend it reading more books (I love to read but feel a need to work on side hustles to pay down student and mortgage debt), learning new useful skills, or exercising more. I actually quit golf and snowboarding solely because of the cost involved.
Jordann says
October 20, 2013 at 4:15 pmSnowboarding and golf are so expensive! I don’t blame you for quitting those. I used to ride horses in high school, but I definitely don’t now because it’s so expensive.
Kali @CommonSenseMillennial says
October 17, 2013 at 10:52 amYou covered writing by including blogging, so I would add drawing to the list, too! Sketching with pencils or painting with acrylics is way to plug into your creative side and it certainly fits the bill for being both frugal and space-efficient.
Jordann says
October 20, 2013 at 4:16 pmI used to draw and paint as well – they definitely don’t take up much space but they do require their own supplies. Definitely not an expensive hobby though.
getrichwithme says
October 17, 2013 at 11:00 amMy wife bought me a kindle when she decided that it was time to “downsize my belongings”. I like it, but find that I can no longer share the books with my friends – they have to buy them instead of borrowing my old copy
Kindle and e readers are a mixed bag – great from a storage point of view, poor on a lending/sharing point of view.
I dont think they save you that much money either on the paper version, and amazon often “forget” to offer you the used book option when you’re searching for new titles
Jordann says
October 20, 2013 at 4:18 pmThe Kindle definitely doesn’t offer much in the way of sharing books, but if you can find a source for the “epub” file version of a book, that can be freely shared and is loadable into most readers. Definitely recommend that as a way to share books!
Stefanie @ The Broke and Beautiful Life says
October 17, 2013 at 11:35 amI have a small corner of my apartment that houses my running shoes and a yoga mat. Exercise is my most time consuming hobby, but space wise, it doesn’t take much at all.
Jordann says
October 20, 2013 at 4:19 pmYoga definitely doesn’t take up much space! I love how easily the mat back be put away, out of sight.
Todd @ Fearless Dollar says
October 17, 2013 at 12:31 pmI think a lot of core fitness activities doesn’t take up much space, such as running or lifting weights. But if you want to have weights at home, rock climbing or martial arts equipment, that certainly can take up a lot of space.
Karla Twomey says
October 17, 2013 at 6:31 pmI like to exercise, craft gifts, do DIY projects and blogging!
Karla Twomey
Kids and Money: Teenagers Guide to Becoming a Millionaire
http://nomorecreditcards.com/?p=3196
krantcents says
October 17, 2013 at 6:38 pmI suppose my bicycle is a space saving hobby! I have been bicycling for over 20 years and I love my bike.
Jordann says
October 20, 2013 at 4:19 pmIt’s also frugal because I bet it saves you a bit on transportation costs. 🙂
Peter says
October 17, 2013 at 7:08 pmI recently started playing tennis and I can’t believe I’ve been missing out all of these free facility they offer at the local park. I believe there are many things like that in America.
Jordann says
October 20, 2013 at 4:20 pmBasketball and tennis are great space saving hobbies if you happen to have a free court nearby – but if you don’t paying to play can be a bit expensive.
MonicaOnMoney says
October 17, 2013 at 11:23 pmYoga and running are two of my favorite hobbies AND they don’t take up much space at all. Even in my small condo, I have space for free yoga using an iPhone app.
Jordann says
October 20, 2013 at 4:21 pmExcellent!
C. the Romanian says
October 18, 2013 at 1:29 amIt’s been months now since I said that I’ll get back to reading and unfortunately I can’t find the time. I have bought so many books in the past several months – great books, I am sure – that it saddens me to see that I simply can’t read them. Is there a hobby for extra time? :))
Jordann says
October 20, 2013 at 4:22 pmI’m the same way – my reading list is so long but I don’t seem to have the time to read anything! The only suggestion I have is to make it a priority and carve out the time.
Kristin says
October 18, 2013 at 12:22 pmMy boyfriend and I like to keep active so we do a lot of sports in the summer with his friends. Every Tuesday we’ll play ball hockey at a community rink, and on the odd weekend we’ll play a game he bought called Spikeball or softball, football, anything!
We also love board games. He usually gets one every year for Christmas and so has a bunch stocked up and I have a few, as well. There will be a “board game” cafe opening up in our city in the next couple weeks or so where you pay $5 to play unlimited boardgames! Needless to say, we’ve been checking up on it pretty much everyday since we first learned of it back in September.
Jordann says
October 20, 2013 at 4:23 pmI love the idea of a board game cafe! That’s brilliant.
Lisa E. @ Lisa Vs. The Loans says
October 18, 2013 at 3:45 pmBlogging is definitely one of my favorite hobbies right now. I used to be really into crocheting, but all that yarn takes up so much space!
Tara @ Streets Ahead Living says
October 18, 2013 at 9:25 pmI’m big on not owning books and movies and junk that just sits there. Unless it’s a book or movie I re-read or really love (and am waiting to give it away to the next perfect reader) I just donate them to charity as they never are worth anything. When you have a lot of possessions, you need a lot of storage and need to dust all the time!
Jordann says
October 20, 2013 at 4:40 pmI totally agree, if I had my way, I’d get rid of every last DVD in my house. My husband loves his collection, however.
KK @ Student Debt Survivor says
October 19, 2013 at 7:42 amI’d add knitting to the list. Yarn and knitting needles don’t take up that much space (you just need a basket to keep them in) and if you don’t want to keep your knitted items you can give them away to friends and family as inexpensive gifts.
Jordann says
October 20, 2013 at 4:41 pmI’ve never tried knitting but I really like the idea of being able to give away the completed projects as gifts!
Rebecca says
October 19, 2013 at 7:15 pmI do plastic canvas, sewing and knitting. I have a huge stock of yarn and canvas to work with to. It’s pretty inexpensive because of my stock and it takes me an hour to a few days or more to finish a project.
DNN says
August 12, 2018 at 6:36 pmI forgot when i discovered your blog but I’m glad I know now. I’ve been meaning to invest in a quality digital camera so I can master the appealing images that’ll earn me more traffic from social networks and search engines. I just use my camera phone for now for taking photos and hosting them either on the website or on social networks when I link to them. I’ve always wondered what specific camera people use for taking awesome photos on Instagram. I need to get my IG follower count up there so I can move more fragrance products. 🙂