Does your hobby cost you a lot or can you do it frugally?

**homesteadmamma** · 01-08-2006, 08:19 PM

I could quilt frugally, however I choose not too. Other hobbies I have done though, I've done with little money spent. When I was knitting lots, I always watched for wool at yard sales or thrift stores.

Dh spends quite a bit on his hobby, from tools to wood. However he scrounges around a lot more than I do when it comes to things he needs to do his woodworking. He still has wood that he got for free when we lived in Winnipeg.

**Blessed** · 01-08-2006, 08:24 PM

Couponing is a frugal hobby by nature. I think I'm pretty frugal with my sewing. I got Mom's fabric stash and I mostly rework old clothes into new ones for the munchkins. Maybe frugality is my hobby!

**midwestgal** · 01-08-2006, 08:39 PM

Couponing is a hobby of mine too. It really saves us a lot. However, I have spent quite a lot on my toy collection. I feel a bit guilty about that and am selling a good portion of it on Ebay now. I'm just going to keep some of my favorites. I can be happy with that!

**staceyy** · 01-08-2006, 08:51 PM

My hobbies are couponing, baking and making greeting cards. I spend quite a bit (I have to have the latest baking equipment and the supplies to make the cards are quite expensive). But I plan to turn my hobbies into a business which will recoup my expenses.

**i.m.cheap** · 01-08-2006, 08:53 PM

Couponing is my hobby too. I even teach others how to maximize their savings with coupons.

**KimSecret** · 01-08-2006, 09:09 PM

I do scrapbooking and paper crafts which is quite expensive at times. Im also in a lot of craft swaps which cost me a lot in postage, but its so much fun.

My dh spents a lot on hunting and fishing, but he works so hard for it that I dont mention it.

**Early Bird** · 01-08-2006, 09:21 PM

WELL, if you compare the price of manufactured goods with the cost of knitting supplies, then my hobby is expensive. (Sock yarn seems to START at $6 for enough yarn for 1 pair of socks.)

OTOH, $6 in yarn keeps me busy for at least a couple of weeks. So, it's only RELATIVELY expensive.

**mom2matty** · 01-08-2006, 09:29 PM

I love to tole paint and it can be expensive. The patterns can cost a bit and the paint as well. Wood isn't too bad and it helps that dh is handy with power tools so he can cut whatever I need!

**dwallyfam** · 01-08-2006, 09:38 PM

My hobbies can cost a bit. They are scrapbooking, ceramics, sewing and needle crafts. I am always scouring everything to find it on the cheap or free. Right now I am signed up to be a teachers assistant at the scrapbook expo. For doing that I can find out the latest techniques and get a whole lot of supplies for free.

Kellie

**homesteadmamma** · 01-09-2006, 04:44 PM

I wish I could count couponing as a hobby. We seldom get coupons (at least in my province) and there isn't any in the newspapers.

Early bird I hear you on the costs of knitting.

**SewCrafty** · 01-09-2006, 04:52 PM

I think most crafts can be expensive with initial outlay monies. Especially someone just starting out brand new at it.

For me it is yarn and fabric and yes NOW I can do it frugally but that is only because I have enough of both to start a store of my own!

**Early Bird** · 01-09-2006, 07:21 PM

I'm still trying to finish my first PAIR of socks ... with yarn that I bought in July 05.

So, that $6 has given me many hours of .... frustration.

And some enjoyment too.

**daddys3chicks** · 01-09-2006, 08:07 PM

I sew, crochet, scrapbook and read. Like Dee I have enough scrapbooking stuff and yarn to start my own store. A friend of mine recently downsized her house and she gave me 2 big bag of fabric.

I am working on doing my scrapbooks more simply. It is very easy to get caught up in having all the fancy stuff and embellishments out there. But the important thing is to get the pics into a safe environment and journal about the event.

I am working up crochet items now using my stash. I am in a crochet a long on a crochet site to do a hat a week. This will make a serious dent in my stash and I will have 52 hats to donate at the end of the year. Once that is done I will buy yarn by project.

As for reading - well I never buy books anymore. I use the library, church library and paperbackswap.com.

I guess my hobbies can cost me, but the return it gives me in sanity and satisfaction is well worth it.

**Persimmon Lace** · 01-14-2006, 10:23 PM

Except for the initial costs of good brushes and paint my painting hobby is pretty frugal. I used scrounged stuff to paint and I cut my own wood. My other strange crafting hobbies tend to be very frugal.

**KKCondrey** · 01-15-2006, 03:04 PM

nope not to bad. Angie gave me a lot of scrapbooking supplies so I should be set for awhile, other than that most stickers I may buy are less the $2.00 a sheet and you get plenty.