Learning New Skills on a Budget

The Best Frugal Hobbies: Learning New Skills on a Budget

Hobbies offer a great way for people to make friends and develop their passions. One downside is that they frequently cost money, particularly when they require membership in a group or complicated materials and equipment. However, there are many different hobbies that are cheap (or even free, with an internet connection). Award-winning author, speaker and coach LaDonna Marie offers up a few hobbies you and your wallet can both enjoy.

How to Teach Yourself a Hobby

One of the best things about having access to the internet is that you can acquire many different kinds of lessons and education on a wide variety of topics. The key to educating yourself is determination since it is entirely up to you what resources you utilize and what you learn. While conventional teaching methods and group courses certainly have their place, teaching yourself a hobby is freeing and frugal.

Begin by picking a type of hobby to study. While you may not know your passion yet, think about where your general interests lie and how you can delve more deeply. Next, you’ll need to search the internet for resources. Plenty of free programs are available -- try YouTube for quick video lessons, and have a pen and paper nearby to take notes for easy reference later. An added bonus of social media lessons is that you can directly communicate with the creator through comments and direct messages if necessary. Many online resources are high-quality projects, as well, to the point that a growing number of educators are using YouTube in the classroom. There has never been a better time to learn a skill for yourself.

Write for Yourself or Others

Have you ever tried to write poetry or short-form literature? Online resources can help. In addition to providing guidance on poetic forms, characterization tools, story structures, and more, there are also a number of forums and pages online dedicated to creating a community of up-and-coming writers interested in sharing their work. There is an audience for every type of writing -- from fiction to historical non-fiction to philosophical musings.

As with any hobby, the first thing to do is to consider what you want to write. Pick something you love, are interested in, or have never done before, then dive in. The act of writing (and of reading, for that matter) is cathartic, providing a powerful emotional boost that lifts spirits and reduces depression.

As an added bonus, if you have similar literary friends, you could grab a few of them and create a writing group. Meet each week with a poem or short story and pass them around. Not only will this help you develop your work and writer's eye through critiques and exposure, but it will also help you get to know your friends’ writing styles a little better.

Look Into the Science Behind Cooking and Music

Some of the most useful skills can also be some of the most enjoyable. Cooking allows you to experiment with seasonings and cooking styles to your heart’s content. If you are more scientifically minded, you can dive deeply into the science behind different cooking processes, such as how baking powder reacts in a cookie batter while being heated in the oven, or why so many baking recipes require the oven to be at 350 degrees F.

Another useful skill is the ability to play an instrument. In addition to the joy it can bring you and others as you become proficient, once you reach a certain skill level, you can begin to teach others how to play. Music, also, has many deeper levels -- as you learn more about theory, you may find the mathematics of harmony and the sonic components of notes to be particularly fascinating.

In Some Cases, You Can Even Monetize Your Hobby

For many people, a hobby can eventually open the door for generating income. This can be through a craft, like sewing, knitting, metalwork, woodworking, or making jewelry; writing professional content for blogs or websites, or through selling the fabulous cakes you’ve learned to bake or even offering your writing services. You may even find this generates enough income to launch a business. It doesn’t take much to incorporate either. In fact, you can easily choose your structure and form your business in as few as 10 steps.

There is no end to the number of fascinating topics available to learn -- thankfully, the internet offers many different ways to teach yourself. Remember, the key to making the most of your internet self-education is to be determined, stick with it, and, above all, have fun.

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com

Guest Blog writer

Cheryl Conklin, Wellness Central