Sunday, August 14, 2016

Money Saving Hobbies


One of my favorite hobbies is to read books and blogs about being frugal. I enjoy reading how other people learn to spend less and save more money. I'm hopeful that I will read something or learn something new that I've not heard about before.  

Amy Dacyczyn, author of The Tightwad Gazette, made a hobby out of being frugal. She also wrote about money saving hobbies in her book. 

One of the things she wrote about hobbies was that if people choose hobbies that saved money verses hobbies that cost money, then they would be ahead financially in the long run. 

She also made the comment that having a money saving hobby will help a person to permanently reduce his cost of living. Instead of needing $30,000 to make a living, his money saving hobbies, like hair cutting and gardening, might allow him to get by on only $25,000 a year. 

She also mentioned that money saving hobbies might give a person more job options. And how many people do you know that have turned a hobby into a small business? My own father, after a car accident took his livelihood, took his hobby of knife collecting and turned it into a thriving knife business that he still makes a living from. 

The point of this is to say that it would be to our advantage to have hobbies that are productive. Learning to do something that will either save you money or allow you to earn extra money are good goals to reach for. 

You could learn to bake bread for your family, or to sell for extra money. When I worked at the hospital there was a lady who made cinnamon rolls and sold them for extra money. I also knew of a lady who made sausage rolls and sold them for extra money. The possibilities are endless. 

Money saving hobbies include such things as as gardening, sewing, bee keeping, woodworking, soap making, learning how to cook or how to produce food, learning to hunt, or even learning to build or repair items. 

The ability to build or repair an item will go a long way towards improving your standard of living. You could even teach these skills to other people as a hobby. It could also provide you with skills for barter.

You could also let frugality be your hobby as you continually learn new ways to save more money, so you will learn to live on less money. 

Hobbies that allow us to earn extra money for our families or help us to lower our cost of living are some of the best hobbies for those with a frugal mindset. 

Belinda
~ Living within my means ~

18 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Frugality is my biggest frugal hobby. I have other hobbies like scrap booking, but that is more for keeping memories than anything else.

      What are some of your frugal hobbies?

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  2. your blog is one of my favorites

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    1. Thank you, Debbie. I'm so glad you like my blog. :)

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  3. This is so true, Belinda! For me, my frugal hobbies include remaking thrift-store clothing, gardening for produce, baking, and crafting. What began as a way to make ends meet became a way of life and a part of who we are.

    Have a great Sunday!

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    Replies
    1. Those are such great and frugal hobbies, Lili.

      Remaking thrift store clothes not only saves you money but also helps to save the earth as you are not using new material. It's a win-win situation.

      And growing your own garden saves so much money over store bought produce.

      I love that it became a way of life for you and your family. You would make Amy D. proud. That is exactly what she did as well.

      I hope you have a great Sunday too. :)

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  4. Wow, this post came at an amazing time in my life. Yesterday, a client I felt had been very insulting. He actual pays me (I own a music studio) but I am not the teacher of his children. He knows I own the business, that I teach 90 students a week and we have over 250 students combined. Yet he said to me that I don't have a real job, or career. It is just a hobby. I was fuming. But now you have made me realize that my frugal ways has allowed me to pay all our studio expenses, provide for my family and be able to help people when they need it. My 'hobby' helps children and adults learn how to read music and apply it to various instruments. My 'hobby' (and education) allows me to teach non verbal children how to communicate with a piano. I am pretty darn lucky that I do not have a job. Thanks Belinda, for making me see the better side.

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    1. You're welcome, Ms. Sandie. I LOVE your comment. You are one of the lucky ones who have a career that you love and you help others to find their love of music too. Not everyone is as lucky as that. I hope you have a great week!

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  5. I think that saving money is also a hobby of mine. I apply it to all aspects of my life. Not that I don't spend money, but I love to repurpose and reuse. Sewing is such a blessing to me. Love your blog

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    1. Thank you, Out My Window. :) Saving money is a great habit to have. I love to sew as well. I took 4 years of it in high school. I'm happy to know that it is a blessing to you. :)

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  6. I wonder what ever happened to Amy I have all her books. Her kids must be all grown up now.

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  7. Hi Gill, The Frugal Shrinks interviewed Amy's 3 daughters and posted them online if you would like to read them. Here is the 1st interview...

    http://thefrugalshrink.blogspot.com/2013/05/dacyczyn-interviews-jamie-part-1.html

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  8. I have some frugal hobbies and some not so frugal hobbies...lol...although I suppose they are as frugal as I choose to make them. I love baking, sewing, knitting, and general things like that. I don't know if they are always the cheapest alternative, but I also consider them my entertainment, part of my heritage, and my mental peace.

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    1. Good points, Busy Bee. I like the entertainment aspect as well and mental peace is a wonderful thing. :)

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  9. Busy Bee reminded me that I maintain a list of freebie entertainment, instruction, education, and everything that appeals to me. Within my metro, city art museum and galleries, historical homes, world-class zoo, botanic garden, National Civil Rights Museum = world class, Earthquake Center, school programs at all levels, history and science museum, and more offer weekly free times. Then there are neighborhood biking trails and parks without cost, and much more with public libraries always at hand.

    I have a collection of National Geographical maps that never grow old and mostly cost 10 to 25-cents or were free. Kiddos shower me with autographed books. Audio reading via YouTube = excellent entertainment.

    Machine sewing ranks high. My tall pile of used fabric to cut and sew into pillow cases, wash cloths, dish cloths, and tea towels attest to my up-cycling. Thread and needles fascinate me.

    Frugal "hobbies" have no end. Some of us like to pull weeds. hehe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hehehe, Anna. ;)

      A great list of frugal hobbies! You live in a wonderful city filled with so many great and entertaining things to do. And even when you are not visiting any of those places you still find ways to fill your life with frugal activities that nurture your soul. :)

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  10. I love reading frugal blogs too

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