Whether it’s woodworking or writing, a hobby doesn’t have to be expensive to be satisfying. For as the little as the cost of a few hand tools or paper and pen, a frugal hobbyist can begin exploring the craft and developing creative skills. Sure, you can spend a lot of money on tools and materials launching a hobby. You can also get started with minimal gear, especially if your pastime has few resource requirements (like acting or walking). Along with the happiness that comes with exploring your talents and capacities, an engaging hobby has many other benefits, from career-boosting skills to stress relief.
Here are six unexpected benefits of a frugal hobby.
[See: 10 Fun, Frugal Ways to Spend Your Free Time.]
Networking opportunities. Many hobbies require at least some instruction in the basics before you can progress. Resources abound online — and in the real world. Local parks and recreation departments, arts and crafts suppliers, community groups and even skilled individuals offer classes and workshops in your chosen activity. Ask around. Once you connect, you’ll be among like-minded people from a variety of backgrounds. As you progress, you may decide to take part in fairs, “makerspaces” and other venues that showcase your craft, which will bring you into contact with many more people. At least some of the folks you meet are bound to prove to be valuable contacts for your day job or career.
Career-enhancing skills. One of the main draws of taking on a hobby is the opportunity to acquire new skills. For example, team sports and games may improve your leadership skills and ability to work with others. Any hobby that involves writing will make you a better communicator at work. If your hobby is acting or stand-up comedy, those performance skills can help you become a more confident participant in work meetings or a trusted presenter at conferences. Whatever your hobby, you’ll be making scores of decisions in a low-risk environment, which is bound to improve your decision-making skills in your high-stakes work life.
Stress relief. Many hobbyists cite stress relief as a key reason they enjoy their pastimes, and recent science supports this theory. In fact, the time spent engaged in leisure activities can produce measurable improvements in heart rate and other stress indicators almost immediately, according to research from the University of California–Merced. What’s more, these stress-relieving effects last for hours after the leisure activity has ended. It doesn’t really matter what the leisure activity is — even watching television is beneficial — as long as one is focused and engaged in the activity with few distractions, according to the UC Merced study.
[See: 12 Ways to Be a More Mindful Spender.]
Great gifts. Many hobbies involve arts and crafts, and that means producing lots of stuff. At the start, your creations may be rudimentary, but it won’t be long before you’re proud of your work — and your friends and family begin to ask for pieces of their own. A hobby can be a great source of gifts for holidays, birthdays and other special occasions. A gift created with your skills and creativity is imbued with thoughtfulness and care that the recipient is sure to recognize and appreciate.
Extra income. When you’ve run out of friends and family who want your paper creations and handmade jewelry, consider finding a paying audience. Setting up an online store using a service such as Etsy is a snap. You might also secure a booth at local arts and crafts fairs or in the crafts section of your local farmers market. You probably won’t get rich this way, but you defray the costs of your hobby and perhaps earn a little extra to boost your savings or spend on a splurge.
[See: 8 Big Budgeting Blunders — and How to Fix Them.]
A second or retirement career. If your Etsy shop or booth at the farmers market is a hit, it might be time to consider turning your hobby into a second career. Of course, before taking that step, you’ll have to consider whether you can tolerate the risk of striking out on your own — or the risk of transforming your stress reliever into a stress creator. For those who have already left the workforce but would still like to keep busy, a frugal hobby can become an extra source of income — and a daily source of satisfaction, accomplishment and purpose.
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6 Surprising Benefits of a Frugal Hobby originally appeared on usnews.com
