How to Save Money on Your Hobbies

*This is a collaborative post on how to save money on your hobbies

Having hobbies is important for so many reasons. Some help us to relax, some help us stay active, and others get us out into the world and allow us to build a community. But, with the cost of living ever increasing, many people are finding it hard to put aside the necessary money needed to engage with their hobbies in the same way they used to. This being said, just because you’re saving money doesn’t mean you have to abandon your hobbies altogether. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular hobbies and offer cheaper alternatives that will keep both your mind and your bank account happy.

Video gaming to iGaming

Video gaming is a hugely popular pastime, and it’s easy to see why. Engaging with this tech lets us get away from the world for a while, relax, and even experience a dopamine rush that thrills us and keeps us on our toes. But video games, especially when it comes to new releases, are far from cheap, and sometimes we simply can’t justify forking out such an expense for our own hobby of gaming.

Luckily, there is a significantly cheaper alternative to video gaming out there that can provide much of the same thrill: casino gaming. First of all, it is free to access online casinos and there are countless available to UK players. Although wagering is part of the fun, many of these platforms offer incredible bonuses such as free spins and cash back that make the gaming experience as cheap as possible. Plus, with casino gaming, you always have the chance to win any money wagered back, a luxury not afforded to video gaming.

Book buying to borrowing and other alternatives

There is no better feeling than settling down with a new book. However, high street stores sell both hardback and paperback volumes at very high prices. If you’re someone who reads quickly and can get through a novel in no time, it might become difficult to keep buying books every time you want something to read.

That being said, there are numerous cheaper alternatives to buying books from well-known shops like Waterstones. First of all, make sure you’re signed up with your local library. Nowadays, borrowing does not just involve physical copies; but you can also borrow ebooks from the library after making a Libby account. Additionally, the platform Librivox provides its users with countless free audiobook options. Even if you’re someone who likes to own a physical copy, online used book stores such as World of Books have thousands of copies at incredibly good prices.

Paid classes to learning at home

Paid classes are a wonderful thing, but in an ever-expensive world, they are becoming a luxury that many of us can’t afford. Now, this isn’t to say you should cancel all your classes, as getting out there and being amongst other people cannot be replicated, but perhaps you could reduce the number of classes you take during a month period and instead set time aside to teach yourself the hobby at home.

The internet has come a long way in recent years, and there are endless free-to-access online resources on just about every hobby imaginable. Learn an instrument through YouTube tutorials or improve your foreign language skills with a free language learning app. If you do have a little money to spare, paid platforms such as Skillshare and Masterclass are great, cheaper alternatives to private paid classes that can still give you that teacher/student feeling.

Paying every time to subscribing to a membership

If you have a hobby that requires you to pay every time you engage in it, such as going to the cinema or visiting a trampoline park, why not see if the place offers membership deals? If it’s a hobby you engage in regularly, paying for a month or year period often works out a lot cheaper than paying every time. On top of this, having a fixed sum to pay out regularly will make it a lot easier to budget for your hobby.

Also, it should be noted that a lot of these membership plans can be bought as gifts. So it could be a good idea to mention one of these next time your family or friends ask you what you’d like for your birthday or Christmas.

Free alternatives

If your hobby involves paid activities, like visiting museums and galleries, or visiting National Trust sites, you could try to find cheaper alternatives to help you save money. Just as a lot of museums charge, many are free to access. Even if you have to travel a little further, visiting these places can save you masses of money and means you don’t have to miss out on your hobby. Similarly, there are countless rural walking routes and nature reserves across the UK that are just as stunning as paid National Trust sites but are completely free to visit. Making them an ideal alternative if you want to save some cash.